University of Virginia Library

From The Sidelines

Turkeys
Invade

With Tom Bell

VIRGINIA TECH COMES TO TOWN SATURDAY for
what has to be the biggest game of the season for both teams,
and the biggest game in the state this year. The Hokies are
always a great natural rival for the Cavaliers, and this year's
game is especially interesting as both teams have new coaching
staffs which are claiming that their team will soon be the best
in the state. Also, Gobbler quarterback Don Strock leads the
country in passing statistics.

Both squads have had trouble at times this season, but are
showing signs of strength. VPI (&SU) has won two of its last
three, and the Cavaliers are coming off a win over N.C. State, a
team that had won 12 straight from them. Both teams have
won two games.

STILL THE GAME SHAPES UP AS MORE than a battle
of losers. It is a battle for supremacy in state football. Tech
has beaten William and Mary, so the winner of the game will
win the Big Five title, unless Richmond knocks off W&M. A
record crowd is expected at Scott Stadium where a number of
temporary bleacher seats will be put in to handle some of the
overflow. As of yesterday, only 1,200 tickets remained.

A win is important for both teams and would aid in
recruiting within the state, an area in which there will surely
be much competition this winter. Also, beating the intra-state
rival would help both teams salvage something from a losing
season.

THERE SHOULD BE MORE EXCITEMENT centered
around this game than any that has been played in Scott
Stadium since the last time the Hokies were here in 1966. At
that time the intense rivalry between the two teams was
growing to major proportions, but suddenly it was cut off, and
there were no more games until last year when the Cavaliers
triumphed 7-0 in the season opener at Blacksburg.

Football excitement is high in Blacksburg where the
administration seems determined to build a major football
power. A swarm of screaming Turkeys will certainly descent
upon Scott Stadium Saturday, whooping it up for a Gobbler
win.

HOPEFULLY, THERE WILL BE MORE THAN
ENTHUSIASTIC FARMERS in the Stadium Saturday. "There
isn't any question that any type of enthusiasm or crowd
support will make a difference," said Cavalier coach Don
Lawrence yesterday. "This is the first time in years that there
has been a game like this in the state, and there is no question
that our boys would really appreciate some support."

It is hard, certainly, for a school to give enthusiastic
support week after week to a team that is not winning. But it
is also hard for a team to play good football week after week
for a school that seems to care little.

THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT IS MAKING a big
push to build enthusiasm for Saturday's game. They have
ordered bumper stickers that say "Yes, Virginia", met with
many students and the local press, changed the location of the
pep band so that more students will be able to hear, set up a
banner contest, and asked students to come out to practice
Thursday between 5:00 and 5:30 p.m., all to build some
excitement for this important contest.

The reaction of the typical Wahoo to this attempt to build
enthusiasm is likely to be negative. The University has never
been known for its rah-rah type enthusiasm. But some people
have said that part of the problem with recent Cavalier teams
has been the lack of enthusiastic backing. The enthusiasm
which came with the success of the basketball team last year
certainly has some effect on their performance as a look at
their home and away record will show. There is certainly a
chance that the same thing could happen to the football team.

THE UNIVERSITY IS NOT A BIG TEN SCHOOL, and
should not attempt to imitate one by bringing in flying
gymnasts, acrobatic cheerleaders, giant marching bands,
homecoming queens and the other trimmings that appear at
other large state universities (and even VPI & SU). The
atmosphere at Scott Stadium is not like that at a lot of places,
and no one really wants it to be. Enthusiasm, however, does
not have to be bush league. A large, loud crowd in Scott
Stadium Saturday could certainly help the Cavaliers in their
biggest game of the season.