Orange Affection

Photo: Matt Gentry, The Roanoke Times via AP

Orange Affection
By Mark Reif

The past few seasons for the Virginia Tech Football team have had a lot of ups and downs. While able to compete with just about any team in the country, the Hokies have never seemed to reach their full potential. An example would be taking Notre Dame to the edge of a home loss in the fall of 2019 but not being able to quite close it out. Another would be traveling to ODU in 2018 and suffering a disastrous defeat that crushed the momentum generated by an opening win against Florida State. As these disappointments have piled up, many Hokie fans have pointed to various reasons, whether technical football ones or others, that seem like pure superstition. Among the latter reasons are the Hokies don't perform well while wearing orange. But after Tech's dominant, exhilarating victory on September 3, 2021, over #10 UNC wearing a full complement of the feared color, I think it's time to embrace it as something good. Here's why I think orange symbolizes some of the best elements of Virginia Tech and the Hokies Football Team

Orange for the electricity of Lane Stadium. Going back to the late '90s, I've been to quite a few Hokies football games. And yes, there have been some amazing moments where the crowd stood and roared, and the team was firing on all cylinders. But I've never experienced an environment like the one on September 3, 2021. Before the game, as fans dressed in orange filled the stadium, it was reminiscent of the calm before the storm. There was the usual low noise from fans talking, but something hung in the air, and it seemed every Hokie fan was feeling it. With the pre-game predictions making the Hokies look like a mere stepping-stone, it seemed Hokie Nation was ready to give their all and ensure that not only did our team fight hard; they would win the game. And all night long, play after play, good moments and bad, the same dynamic energy persisted throughout the crowd. All while the stadium looked like a giant, orange concert hall.

Orange for the swarming Lunch Pail Defense. On September 3, 2021, wearing orange jerseys and pants in a shade reminiscent of the WIN on the Lunch Pail, the Hokies D looked organized and energized. Each man appeared to know his role and have fun despite the pressure-packed stage and continued to feed off Lane Stadium's energy. What stood out to me about the defensive performance was an enduring persistence despite being thrown back on the field over and over after the offense sputtered. What if UNC made a comeback and stole the win? The Hokies just kept going and playing, displaying grit time and time again, their bright orange uniforms shining under the lights.

Orange for the pride of Virginia Tech. Just about any alumni of any school will tell you how great their college is. But the thing about Virginia Tech is, it really is. Other than providing world-class education, Virginia Tech is a welcoming, unpretentious place. Nestled among the mountains of the New River Valley, Virginia Tech is as ideal a setting for a college experience as I can imagine. We have a football team that plays hard not only to be the best they can be but to show what our school is made of. We're a school of hard workers that want to compete yet are unaffected and decent. And we are proud of that.

Orange for Hokie Nation. Something about the color orange embodies what I feel as I walk through the parking lot towards Lane Stadium and see everyone getting ready for the game. There isn't a feeling like that at any other event I've been to, and it is a combination of fun, camaraderie, and anticipation. Any direction you turn, you'll be greeted by a festive smile. And though we're all happy to be there and can't wait for kickoff, more than anything, we're there to support our team. Virginia Tech has experienced highs and lows, as well as tragedies, and through it all, we've stuck together and continued on, the love of our school guiding the way.

It's time to embrace the color once derided by many as a hindrance to our football team. Two of the finest Tech games I've been to - both against UNC in 2017 and 2021 - featured orange jerseys and are something I'll never forget. On September 3, 2021, the Tech defense played lights out while covered in striking orange uniforms, securing a pivotal win against a top-ten opponent. Like a bright, burning fire, orange symbolizes the heart and passion of Hokie Nation and the energy they bring to Lane Stadium time and time again. Now we can look at the color orange as a positive and the perfect complement to Chicago maroon.