Virginia Tech Football Facts and History
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- The first season of VA Tech football was 1892 when then Virginia
Agricultural and Mechanical College played its first game on October 21.
The opposition was the Albans Lutheran Boys School who fell by the score
of 14-10.
- School Colors: The early Virginia Tech football teams took the field in cadet
gray and black. However the colors of Burnt Orange and Chicago Maroon
have adorned Virginia Tech football jerseys since the school adopted those
colors in 1896. The committee formed to find VT football uniform colors,
liked the fact that the selected color combination was unique to college
football.
- University Fight Song: Tech Triumph was composed in 1919 by Wilfred P.
Maddux (class of 1920) and his neighbor, Mattie Eppes.
- VA Tech conference affiliations have varied through the years with many
seasons logged as an independent. The school's football teams have
competed in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association, the Southern
Conference, the Big East Conference and the ACC. Hokie fans wore Big
East merchandise from 1991-2003, but have fashioned Virginia Tech ACC
gear since 2004.
- VA Tech's most decorated individual player is Bruce Smith. The
defensive star won the Outland Trophy in 1984 and was later selected with
the first selection of the 1985 NFL Draft.
- Legendary coaching figure Frank Beamer has guided VT since 1987 and
has led the Hokies to three conference championships. Beamer was a
consensus National Coach of the Year in 1999 when he guided VA Tech to
and undefeated regular season and a national championship game
appearance against Florida State. Beamer also donned a Virgina Tech
football jersey as cornerback for the university from 1966-69.
- Tech's most heated rivalry is the annual Commonwealth Cup game
played against Virginia. The Hokies lead the series against the Cavaliers
- VA Tech's nickname is the Hokies. The term is derived from an old school
cheer. Although in various forms, the word has been around since 1842
and people have exclaimed it to express approval, excitement, hooray and
more.
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