Sept. 26, 2017 by The Collegiate Times

THE

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The Hokies face the Clemson Tigers on Sept. 30 in a rematch of last year’s ACC Championship. page 6

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September 26, 2017

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FILE 2007 ESPN’s Lee Corso puts on the Hokies’ headgear on the set of College GameDay during the show’s last visit to Blacksburg, Sept. 1, 2007. Corso coined the phrase, “I don’t know what a Hokie is, but God is one of them,” after his rental car was struck by lightning when he picked the Hokies to lose in 2000.

COLLEGE GAMEDAY IS BACK

ESPN’s College GameDay comes to Blacksburg this Saturday for the first time since 2007.

NATHAN LOPRETE assistant sports editor

The last time College GameDay visited Blacksburg, the Hokies were in the midst of one of the most trying times in the university’s history. On Sept. 1, 2007, Virginia Tech took the field for the first time since the shootings that took place on April 16, 2007. Now 10 years later, College GameDay heads to Blacksburg for a completely different reason. Virginia Tech is on the edge of national recognition and the cards have aligned for

possibly one of the best college football games in 2017. Virginia Tech fans have had their eyes on this game since the Hokies came up just short against Clemson in the ACC Championship game last year. With both teams off to a 4–0 start, this game could determine who will have the inside track in the ACC, and for Virginia Tech, it’s an opportunity to make a statement to the nation. Head coach Justin Fuente has turned around the direction of a program that struggled to stay relevant and, as a result,

had fallen out of the national spectrum. ESPN made its College G a m eD ay d ebut in Blacksburg in 1999. The Hokies were ranked No. 4 in the nation and led by Michael Vick and Shyrone Stith, Virginia Tech routed No. 16 Syracuse, 62–0. That wasn’t the last trip GameDay made to Blacksburg during the magical ‘99 season. When No. 19 Miami came to town in November, the Hokies were ranked No. 2 in the nation. The Hokies defense see GAMEDAY / page 4

MATT JONES / COLLEGIATE TIMES A panel discusses Greek life in the Ambler Johnston Hall Great Room, Sept. 21, 2017.

Town-Gown goes Greek Members of Virginia Tech Greek life participated in a panel as part of the monthly series of meetings. MATT JONES editor in chief

Thousands of students at Virginia Tech are involved in Greek life as members of over 50 different chapters of fraternities and sororities. And with plans for continued growth of the university, that number is likely to increase. With such a large population of fraternities and sororities, university administrators and members of the town have interacted with each other frequently. That relationship between fraternities and sororities at Tech and the surrounding

community was the subject of this academic year’s first Town-Gown meeting on the evening of Sept. 21. The meetings between both members of the town and university are held in the Ambler Johnston Great Room with the intention of spurring conversation between the two groups. Steve Ross, deputy town manager for Blacksburg, and Lee Hawthorne, chief of staff for the department of student affairs, chair the Town-Gown Committee. Hawthorne is filling in for Frank Shushok, senior associate vice president for student affairs who

had helped start the meetings several years ago, with Ross. Participating in a panel discussion were Byron Hughes, director of fraternity and sorority life; Chase Ginther, president of the Interfraternity Council (IFC); Travis Bauer, president of the campus chapter of Phi Gamma Delta (Bauer is an opinions contributor for the Collegiate Times as well); and Kristy Keohane, president of the Panhellenic Council at Virginia Tech. One of the topics that the discussion focused on is see MEETING / page 3

Down goes No. 1 Notre Dame Virginia Tech men’s soccer defeated No. 1 ranked Notre Dame on Friday night at Thompson Field.

STEPHEN NEWMAN sports staff writer

ALEXA JOHNSON / COLLEGIATE TIMES Jakob Bluemler (31) prepares to kick the ball with pressure from UVA, Sept. 15, 2016.

A TALE OF TWO BRUNCHES Of all the places in town, where will you brunch? page 5

Virginia Tech men’s soccer followed up a 2–1 win over Davidson at Thompson Field with a thrilling 2–1 home upset over the No. 1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The offense came out on the attack early and prevented the Irish from getting comfortable shots. The Hokies came out as the aggressors to start the game. Forward Marcelo Acuna had a shot in the sixth minute that appeared to go in, but was actually just wide. However, he came back a minute later with a goal to give the Hokies a

ACC CHAMPIONSHIP REMATCH VT welcomes Clemson to Blacksburg on Saturday. page 6

quick 1–0 lead. “We knew we hadn’t been starting well in games,” said head coach Mike Brizendine. “But if we came out with energy, we could capitalize very quickly, and we did it.” He added, “We’ve conceded goals in the first 5–7, and we really wanted to get out of that type of game.” Despite the dominant start for the Hokies, Notre Dame actually controlled the flow for much of the half. The Irish outshot Virginia Tech 10–6 in the first half, but were unable to put the ball in the net. Goalie Ben Lundgaard knew he was in for a long

night, but was pleased with the relatively low percentage of shots that came his way. “They’re the number one team in the nation for a reason … but keeping them out of the 18 (yard area from the goal) was definitely helpful,” Lungaard said. The best chance the Irish had to knot the score in the opening period was when Jon Gallagher had a free kick opportunity in the 37th minute, but missed high. Notre Dame continued to put up more shots than the Hokies into the second half. The Irish made Tech pay in the 50th minute when see SOCCER / page 4

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PAGE 2 September 26 2017

opinions

column

Reclaiming NASCAR culture: A seasoned spectator speaks out

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CHUCK MEYERS / TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE The U.S. Treasury Department building in Washington, D.C., is seen on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2013.

column

‘Mythbusters,’ debt ceiling edition: Why Congress should raise the fiscal roof Recently, the debt ceiling has been a prominent part of the news cycle after it was announced that President Trump and the congressional Democrats made a deal, shocking the nation. Pundits on various networks expressed their amazement, as well as their confusion as to why the president, a Republican, would be in favor of increasing government spending. This is an incredibly misleading and dangerous statement to make. To begin, it is important to note a few things. First, the United States has nearly always spent more money than it has made. Debt is a normal part of the economy. Other developed nations, such as France and Singapore, have experienced a similar increase in their debt as their economies have grown. Second, the debt ceiling and the federal budget are not the same thing. The debt ceiling is the money used to pay for goods and services that the U.S. has already bought and does not directly affect spending. The budget is a bill that actually purchases the desired goods. Every year, Congress must vote to raise the ceiling, which would allow the United States to pay for the things that it has already bought, or they can pass a stopgap measure, which would pass a bill to spend as much as the previous year. The Department of the Treasury cannot borrow this money unless Congress allows it to. Think of the federal budget as the money you plan on spending with a credit card. When you buy items with a credit card, you are not the one spending the money. Instead, the company through which you got your card is purchasing your items. However, each month, you have to pay back this company for all of your purchases. The equivalent to this is raising the debt ceiling. C u r r e n t l y, the

government is funded through Dec. 8, 2017, after Democrats and the president struck a deal. This angered Republicans because they wanted to strike their own deal and fund the government through the midterm elections next year, while the Democrats are now in a better position to bargain for spending that they want. The debt ceiling was first introduced in 1917, toward the end of World War I. Congress used to have to approve every single purchase that the government made, which became tiresome with an expanding economy and a war going on. The debt ceiling appeased fiscal c o n s e r va t ive s while reducing Congress’ workload. Before 2011, raising the debt ceiling was never really considered to be a controversial issue. Congress would argue about passing a budget and would sometimes threaten to not raise the debt ceiling if certain amendments were not made to the bill, but these debates were generally thought of as a routine part of a functioning government. During Newt Gingrich’s tenure as Speaker of the House, he and his fellow Republicans attempted to hold the government hostage, only to cave after President Clinton vetoed their initial bill and the U.S. faced a decrease in its credit rating. It only became a major issue after the Tea Party came into power after the 2010 election. They believed that raising the debt ceiling was equivalent to increasing the national debt, and the voters who sent them into Congress had charged them with opposing every one of President Obama’s actions, which brought the U.S. economy to the brink of collapse. Now there is talk about completely abolishing the debt ceiling. This would be entirely possible, but some other means of payment would have to be put in its

place, most likely legislation first proposed by Rep. Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.) in 1979, which would tie payments to the federal budget. If Congress never passes a bill to raise the debt ceiling, it is unknown exactly what would happen, but a few outcomes can be predicted. The United States would be forced to default on its debt. The Treasury would be forced to make some tough choices as to where to spend the remainder of its money. It would likely choose to pay as many bills as it can while cutting all government spending. These cuts could include anything from closing national parks to refusing to pay active and former military members until it is able to borrow once more. The uncer tainty in the U.S. economy would a lso be devast ati ng. Foreign investors would demand thei r money back. Interest rates would skyrocket, raising mortgages nationwide and causing production and consumption of goods to slow dramatically. The value of the dollar would plummet, making most goods and services unreasonably expensive, while also devastating the global economy, as most currencies in the world are tied to the value of the U.S. dollar. In short, the U.S. might never recover from defaulting on their debt. Refusing to raise the debt ceiling is not an option. Congress can either raise it once more or abolish it altogether, but continuing to equate either of these actions and increasing government spending is not only dangerous, but irresponsible. The American people have a right to know what their representatives and senators are doing, especially if lives could potentially hang in the balance. SALLY DUKES • opinions columnist • junior/political science

Voice your opinion. Send letters to the Collegiate Times. All letters must include a name and phone number. Students 365 Squires Student Center must include year and major. Faculty and staff must include Blacksburg, VA, 24061 position and department. Other submissions must include opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com city of residence and relationship to Virginia Tech (i.e., alumni, parent, etc.). We reserve the right to edit for any reason. Anonymous letters will not be printed. Letters, commentaries and editorial cartoons do not reflect the views of the Collegiate Times. Editorials are written by the Collegiate Times editorial board, which is composed of the opinions editors, editor in chief and managing editors.

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Many of us have family traditions or interests that are constantly being shaped by modern culture, trying to reflect the practices that are becoming increasingly prevalent and popular. Sometimes, these interests draw attention from an audience that previously expressed no desire to explore a heritage unfamiliar. For my family and friends, the sport of NASCAR has been a long-time favorite, especially for the greasedrenched males in the family who are always found under the hood of a car. Despite your immediate assumption, everyone related to me owns a toothbrush. They just have remnants of dirt under their fingernails and the most defined farmer’s tan a man can adorn.

“

NASCAR races don’t require a slick pair of penny loafers to be admitted through the gates.”

My family has been attending NASCAR races since before I was born, and I can remember sitting in the stands with an oversized pair of earmuffs strung across the top of my head when I was barely old enough to care that it took four hours for 43 racecars to drive in the exact same pattern for 400 laps. When I went to the Federated Auto Parts 400 in Richmond on Sept. 9, things were no different, except for the new fans who filled the bleachers. There, I was exposed to the 2017 culture of NASCAR.

It has long been evident that NASCAR is not the most entertaining sport, nor does it draw the most high-class fans. NASCAR races don’t offer whiskey on the rocks or require a slick pair of penny loafers to be admitted through the gates. A Budweiser, please. And for the dress code, a No. 88 T-shirt with a pair of jeans will keep me cozy in Dogwood Tower on Turn Three at Richmond International Raceway. But, it appears that kind of style for a NASCAR race isn’t contemporary. The preferred race attire consists of r id icu lous-lo ok i ng American f lag jumpsuits (one with tassels if you really want to make an impression), cut-off shorts, cowboy boots, cowboy hats and tied-up flannel shirts. Or — my favorite — a brand-new T-shirt from a driver’s vendor, with the sleeves cut off. There are no boundaries when trying to make a statement. To me, this was nothing more than a costume party. This kind of fashion showed the attendees’ inexperience and lack of knowledge about the NASCAR race. Furthermore, this choice of wardrobe illustrated disrespect and reinforced stereotypes of true NASCAR fans. Though NASCAR is known as one of the greatest American sports, obnoxiously standing in others’ line of sight while wearing an American flag onesie with a pair of sunglasses at at nighttime race does not accurately represent the enthusiasm fans have for the sport. The genuine passion for our nation is wonderful. But this racing culture loves the age-old sport of

America, not “’Murica.” This mockery of the NASCAR culture is an improper interpretation of NASCAR and what its fans stand for. The fans that customarily attend races and tune into their TVs every Sunday enjoy the nature of the sport — it’s not in their nature to stand up for every lap pointing the cars in a direction to imply that there is a turn up ahead. They’re aware. RIR is neighbor to Virginia Commonwealth University, and for college students, a professional sporting event is a justifiable enough reason to tailgate. But mocking true NASCAR fans and their favorite heritage does not reflect one’s interest in the sport, if there is any at all. The sport of NASCAR has made changes of new rules and regulations, and the scoring system over recent years, including the evolving culture of the sport, attempting to be more socially acceptable to draw attention from crowds that historically have not been interested. Strides have been made in media, advertising, sponsors and even the inclusion of a female driver, Danica Patrick. Modern times call for adjustments. As an influential sport, NASCAR is deserving of respect toward its competition and fans as the heartbeat of a professional American sport. There is still more than a month until Halloween.

EMILY GEORGE • opinions columnist • senior/multimedia journalism

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MEETING: Panel contemplates fraternity-town relations from page 1

what happens when something goes wrong in the relationship between the Greek community and the town. All four of the panelists emphasized the importance of clear communication when there is an issue. “We have neighbors, and sometimes they come out and say, ‘Hey, it’s way too loud,’” Bauer said during the discussion. “We’re not infallible. I only ask only to be able to correct some of the mistakes we’ve made.”

A debate is currently raging across the country about the relationship between fraternities in particular and the rest of the college community. Over the summer, Harvard Un iversit y a n nounced penalties for members of single-gender social organizations in an attempt to control Greek organizations and final clubs. The chapter of the Psi Upsilon national frater nity at Cornell University was shut down earlier in September after an alleged hate crime was linked to members.

After the death of a student at Pennsylvania State University, that university’s president called for an end to “self-governance” for fraternities. Hughes and the other members of the panels said that the strong relationships between the town, university and Greek organizations helps mitigate problems before they become critical. The day before the meeting, Sept. 20, members of the IFC and Panhellenic Council met wit h Blacksburg Chief of Police Anthony Wilson to discuss

a major issue of importance to both the town and Greek life — tailgating on Center Street near Lane Stadium. A number of fraternities sponsor tailgates in the area which, when combined with the tens of thousands of people in the area for home football games in Lane Stadium, can create an unsafe situation. According to Hughes, Wilson came to the fraternities and sororities because there was an opportunity for cooperation. “We t a l ke d about gameday; we talked about

Clemson, for example,” Hughes said after the meeting. “In that regard, Chief Wilson is coming in and saying, ‘When I look around this room, I see partners. I don’t just see students who are here to follow our policies and make sure that they don’t break the law.’” Hughes says that in some circumstances, the correct action is to immediately send cases to Student Conduct. But, in other situations, there is an opportunity to “slow down” and have a more significant

conversation, particularly when there is a clash of lifestyles between town residents and members of Greek life. “They may realize, ‘You know what? We can actually figure this out together,’” Hughes said. “Or what they may realize together is that, ‘Wait a minute, there are some other solutions that are needed.’”

@Jones_MattRyan

CNRE honors 25-year legacy of excellence at anniversary celebration The College of Natural Resources and Environment looked back at the past 25 years during anniversary events. IZZY ROSSI news editor

COURTESY OF VPI CAVE CLUB

VPI Cave Club celebrates 75 years of adventures Past and present VPI Cave Club members reflect on the history and traditions of the nationally recognized club. IZZY ROSSI news editor

The VPI Cave Club at Virginia Tech will celebrate its 75th anniversary this year. The club is an official student grotto (chapter) of the National Speleological Society (NSS). “Back when it was just the Corps of Cadets and the National Speleological Society was just getting formed, there was a handful of three to five people that got together and said, ‘Let’s form a group here,’” said Richard Cobb, Virginia Tech Class of 1979 alumnus and Cave Club vice president from 1979–80. “So they were the first student grotto in the country. It was also only the third chapter in the entire U.S.” The long history of the club benefits current members. Like Cobb, many past members of the club stay in the Blacksburg area and are able to offer training and advice to new members. “There are a lot of people who hang around in the area after they graduate because this is such a good area for caving, so along with students, we have a lot of people who are five to 10 to 20 years out of school that are really able to provide a lot of tips and knowledge to members now,” Cobb said. Cobb attributes the change in overall attitudes of club members to the changes made within the membership system used to train and induct new students. “To me, at least, what made the club so vibrant was in the early 60s … they came up with the membership system we have now where

anyone can come in and pay dues and become a prospective member, but to become a full member of the club, there’s a whole series of requirements you have to meet,” Cobb said. “You need to have 40 hours of caving experience. There are tests for tying a series of different kinds of knots that you would need among other requirements.” These requirements that students must go through before they are allowed full membership has helped the club establish a reputation for safety and knowledgeability all across the country. “When a person goes to any other area of the country to go caving, normally groups want to know you have a certain amount of skills,” Cobb said. “If people say they’re a VPI club member, the immediate reaction is ‘Oh, they’re good; they know what they’re doing.’” That exp e ct at ion and reputation of safety continues with student members of the club today. “We are one of the safest grottos in the U.S. and that reputation assists us all around the country,” said Eric Hahn, current VPI Cave Club vice president. “We get called in for rescue trips in caves all the time, as long as we’re close enough, because actual rescue personnel sometimes don’t know caves. It’s something that can be very tricky so we receive a lot of training for that.” Hahn stresses that while caving can be a very difficult and demanding sport, there are also opportunities for novice cavers. “We have an extensive

training program, so I think that drives the message of safety, but with that, it does take a while sometimes to become a full member so it also drives commitment,” Hahn continued. “There certainly is a large group of students who do it for fun. They don’t want to become a full member, they just want to hang out and go on some cool caving trips and that’s OK too. We encourage students to do the amount they’re comfortable with.” The physical and mental intensity of caving is an aspect that helps cavers to learn about themselves and their own boundaries. “We’re in this intense environment; there are things we have to do to get out of certain situations,” said Phillip Moneyhun, current VPI Cave Club president. “So, if it turns out that you have a fear of heights for instance, well that’s something that you learn quickly and come to terms with and that you may have to work through if you want to go on some of the more difficult trips.” Among other aspects, the club focus heavily on the bonding between members that takes place because of the difficult situations that members sometimes face. “In caving, it’s never a competition. You really have to trust the people you’re with because one minute my life may depend on yours, then 10 minutes later your life may depend on me,” Hahn said. “I think a lot of those things have formed a means of bonding that not a lot of clubs have.” @IzzyRossiCT

This past weekend, the College of Natural Resources and Environment (CNRE) celebrated its 25-year anniversary. The college celebrated with a series of events on Friday and Saturday. The college also produced and debuted avideo about the history of CNRE. “We’ve been planning for about six months to celebrate. We’re all so busy, but we said ‘let’s celebrate,’” said Paul Winistorfer, dean of the College of Natural Resources and Environment. “So we celebrated our 25th anniversary and we had a planning committee of faculty, staff and students. Our goal was to bring alumni and friends and some retired faculty back and have a fun weekend.” The CNRE also took time to look back on its history. The college was created in the 1992–93 academic year. Prior to the creation of the CNRE, all of the departments were part of the School of Forestry and Wildlife in the College of Agriculture. “So, when we became a college, we were the College of Forestry and Wildlife. Then we changed the name to the College of Natural Resources,” Winistorfer said. “The expertise of the faculty had evolved and become more broad, so the reflection around the

country was well we’re really working in natural resources broadly.” The college stayed the College of Natural Resources for ten years. Winistorfer became the dean in 2009 and felt the department had broadened even further beyond just natural resources. In 2010, the college changed names again to the College of Natural Resources and Environment. “We really are the environmental college on campus, everybody works in the environment,” Winistorfer continued. “From c iv i l engineers working on infrastructure, to people in agriculture working on water quality and soil, people in biological sciences, people in geosciences, people in urban affairs, architecture. Everybody really has a rightful place in the environment, but if you look at the portfolio of this college, it’s heavily slanted toward envi ron ment a l t h i ngs broadly.” A long wit h the benchmark anniversary, the CNRE also celebrated past and present accomplishments. “The college is a recognized leader nationally. It’s our third year in a row that we have the No. 1 ranking in natural resources by the USA Today college edition,” Winistorfer said. “It’s really gratifying to know we’re the No. 1 ranked college in the country. We have a lot

of incoming students who say they’re coming because it’s the best program in the country.” Within its distinguished departments, the CNRE has some of the top research awards at Virginia Tech. “We’re really proud of our research portfolio. We have two of the top 10 departments on campus in research awards, dollars of research awards,” Winistorfer said. “They’re our Department of Forest Resou rces and Envi ron ment a l Conservation and our Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation. Not just last year, but over a many year average, they’ve been in that top 10. We are a research-intensive, student-centered culture.” Winistorfer stresses the importance of students to the success of the college. “For me and for the college, it’s about the future,” Winistorfer said. “That’s great, you’re No. 1, you celebrate 25 years, but you can’t just park yourself. So, it’s about looking forward. It’s about being flexible and adaptive. It’s about trying to anticipate the kinds of courses we need to develop and the kind of curricula we need to continue to develop to best serve our students and to best serve society.”

@IzzyRossiCT

TUAN TRAN / COLLEGIATE TIMES The College of Natural Resources and Environment celebrated its 25th anniversary with several events, including a cookout at Smithfield Plantation, Sept. 15, 2017.

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PAGE 4 September 26, 2017

SOCCER: Luck of the Irish runs out from page 1

Gallagher connected for the game-tying goal. Acuna countered by scoring his second goal of the game, and team-leading sixth of the year, in the 71st minute to put Virginia Tech back on top. “We went on an excellent run, so I aimed toward the post and just hoped it would go in,” Acuna said. Notre Dame had a couple of chances to even the score late, highlighted by a Sean Dedrick shot that was blocked and sailed over the net, but was unable to find the back of the net. In total, the Irish outshot the Hokies 23–10 and 11–7 on goal. Lundgaard had a career high 10 saves. “We tried to have this kind of game against UVA, but I didn’t have my best game, so I put that on me,” Lundgaard said. Br izendine clea rly wasn’t surprised with Ben’s

performance. “It was what I expected of him, as a guy who’s the best goalkeeper in the league,” Brizendine said. As for the game as a whole, Brizendine added, “We’re definitely happy, especially considering they’ve only conceded three goals coming into this game.” With the win, not only did the Hokies hand the Fighting Irish their first loss of the season, but it was also Tech’s first conference win of the year and first ever victory against Notre Dame (0–6–1 entering the night). The victory also brings the team back up to the .500 mark, at 4–4 for the season. The Hokies will look to extend their winning streak to three games when they take on Longwood on Tuesday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m. at Thompson Field.

@Stephen_Newman1

GAMEDAY: Blacksburg to host ESPN from page 1

recorded three interceptions and Virginia Tech routed Miami 43–10. Ga meDay visited Blacksburg two times during the 2005 season. The first meeting came when the Hokies beat Georgia Tech 51–7. Virginia Tech was No. 4 at the time. The second game came in November when the Hurricanes came in ranked fifth in the nation. Virginia Tech was third, but it was Miami that rolled to a 27–7 win. This will be the 11th time Virginia Tech has been associated with GameDay. The Hokies are 4–6 overall, with their game in 2000 being canceled due to weather. While the game was in a delay, football analyst Lee Corso had his car struck by lightning, leading him to coin the phrase, “I don’t know what a Hokie is, but God is one of them.” When Corso came back to Blacksburg in 2005, he picked the Hokies to win. Corso’s headgear pick

study break

FILE 2007 Virginia Tech fans hold up signs in support of the Hokies during ESPN’s College GameDay, Sept. 1, 2007.

wait to find out. Col lege G a m e D ay will begin at 9 a.m. on the campus of Virginia Tech. Game time is at 8 p.m. and ABC will be broadcasting the game nationwide.

Clemson hasn’t skipped a beat since winning the national championship. Either way having a national audience tuned into Blacksburg is something Hokie fans haven’t experienced in a decade. Will Corso bring out the HokieBird or will he go with the Tigers? Hokie fans can’t

is one of the signature moments for the show. The savvy analyst is a perfect 10–0 when picking games Virginia Tech is involved with. That will add even more intrigue when it comes time for Corso to put on the headgear. The Hokies are 4–1 at home with GameDay, but

@NathanLoprete

Today’s Birthday Horoscope (Sept. 26): Push personal boundaries and limitations this year. A profitable endeavor initiated this autumn takes off over two years, with tight coordination. Get into a satisfying homebody phase this winter. Group changes lead to new passion, blossoming romance and fun. Follow your heart.

FOR RELEASE SEPTEMBER 26, 2017

Beat Clemson

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

ACROSS 1 Sales pitch 6 Outback birds 10 Sunup 14 Café lure 15 Clickable webpage word 16 Home to billions 17 Grass shortener 18 Apart from that 19 Slightly wet 20 Julie Andrews’ “The Sound of Music” role 23 Risk, e.g. 24 Healthful berry 25 Jimmy Fallon hosts it 31 “Homeland” spy org. 32 Taxi 33 Nebraska city 34 “Apocalypse Now” setting, familiarly 35 Gathering for fans of graphic novels, anime, etc. 38 Delivery vehicle 39 Painting need 41 Microwave 42 Valuable rock 43 Avengers member with a patriotic shield 48 Tolstoy’s Karenina 49 Dutch cheese 50 9/26/1957 Broadway debut featuring the consecutive songs found at the start of 20Across, the middle of 25Across and the end of 43-Across 55 With 50-Down, tightrope walker’s place 56 Oscar winner Kazan 57 Aquafina rival 59 Craving 60 Accelerates, with “up” 61 Foolish 62 Military meal 63 Cafeteria carrier 64 V-formation fliers

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Find the gameday-related words and cheer for the Hokies on Saturday, Sept. 30.

9/26/17

By Peter Gordon

DOWN 1 “Casablanca” pianist 2 Formal school dance 3 Corn Belt state 4 Rise into view 5 Cattleman’s rope 6 Late morning hr. 7 Venus de __ 8 Disentangle 9 Quick drawing 10 Arp’s art movement 11 Right away, in a memo 12 Namby-pamby person 13 Midday snooze 21 Gas brand that had a torch in its logo 22 Florida’s Boca __ 25 Pageant winner’s crown 26 Exaggerate, as a stage role 27 Spanish island in the Mediterranean 28 Devastation that’s wreaked 29 Scarlett of Tara 30 Decrease in intensity

Monday’s Puzzle Puzzle Solved Tuesday’s Solved

31 “Closing Bell” channel 35 Repetitive shout at a protest 36 Required little effort 37 Newspaper opinion pieces 40 Secret supplies 44 Add to text, as a missing letter 45 Carpenter, at times

9/26/17

46 Suitable for all ages, filmwise 47 Apple software for creating videos 50 See 55-Across 51 Omelet ingredients 52 Prima donna 53 Ready for picking 54 Toy dog’s barks 55 Play a kazoo 58 TV’s “Science Guy”

Hokies Hunter Lane Stadium Skipper Slye

Swinney Tailgating Tigers Touchdown

Brewster Rockit: Space Guy! by Tim Rickard

Where you go, we go. collegiatetimes.com

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lifestyles

September 26, 2017 PAGE 5

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The base of the pyramid: Tech’s male cheerleaders These guys form half of Virginia Tech’s cheer squad, an essential part of the legendary Hokie gameday experience. KATIE RICE lifestyles staff writer

Cheerleading is one of those sports where petty high school stereotypes are left behind upon coming to college. Guys who were relentlessly ridiculed in high school become the athletes with whom fans want pictures. “The first thing a lot of people say is, ‘Oh, you must be strong because you’re throwing people above your head,’” said Chris Gallegos, a 2016 graduate and the assistant coach of cheerleading at Virginia Tech. “I’ve never had anyone comment that it’s girly or feminine or anything derogatory.” Gallegos became a cheerleader his junior year and did not hesitate to say yes when he was asked to return as an assistant coach this year. Like many of the other men on the team, he had no prior experience with cheerleading or gymnastics; he grew up snowboarding and playing soccer with other boys his age. In college, some guys aspire to be fit and try something new. For many of the men on the team, their

friends convinced them to try cheerleading when they expressed interest in weightlifting. “95 percent of the guys on the team come from different backgrounds like football, wrestling or soccer,” said Dane Pizzo, a fifth-year senior studying biomedical systems engineering and human nutrition, foods and exercise. “Most of the guys have never cheered before, so it’s new to everyone.” Out of over 20 men, only two on this year’s team have prior gymnastics or cheer experience. At this point in the season, over half of the men on the team can now do backflips. “I never thought I’d do a backflip in my entire life,” said Liam McLaughlin, a senior in industrial and systems engineering, who joined this year. In order to master feats like stunting — when the guys throw the girls in the air — and back tucks, they all have to let go of fear and practice constantly. “It’s definitely not like riding your bike,” Pizzo said about back tucks. “You’ve got to do it every week or else you’re going to lose it.” To the casual observer,

cheerleading might sound less high-risk than a full contact sport; however, looks can be deceiving. “Before this, I did rugby for two years and got hurt too much. So, I decided cheer was safer. But now I realize it’s not,” Pizzo said. The guys went on to talk about the dangers of the stunts they perform. An elbow to the face is a common injury for the men; concussions happen occasionally for the girls. They do go long periods of time without serious injuries, however. Gallegos noted that the guys take their responsibilities very seriously, making sure to spot the girls so that they do not drop eight feet out of the air. “These guys make it look so easy,” Gallegos said. “The best of the best make it look like it’s effortless, and it’s hard. Our guys are in there three times a week.” As kids, girls are largely encouraged to do sports like cheerleading and dance. Boys, on the other hand, are typically pushed toward sports like football and basketball. So, it doesn’t occur to men to try cheerleading until later in college. “Playing football in high

A tale of two brunches

school, you’re kind of always around that spirit culture,” McLaughlin said. “It was always fun, so I figured why not join?” If there is a gender divide in collegiate cheerleading, it’s in the marketing. The spotlight is on the girls most of the time. McLaughlin and Pizzo joked that they are just there to hold them up higher so people can see them. “It’s more about the girls than it is about us,” Neil said. “It’s funny because when you see pictures, it’ll be our hands and then the girls.” Though the guys aren’t in as many pictures, they’re not in it for the publicity. They’re in it for the experience and the close bonds they have formed on the team. Access to the athletic weight room is a nice perk too. “My favorite part is being in the middle of the field for ‘Enter Sandman,’” Pizzo said. “That’s the most unreal experience I’ve ever had. You’re sur rounded by 60,000 people who are all jumping.”

@KatieRice_CT COURTESY OF DANE PIZZO

Our writer experiences the weekend’s best meal at two Blacksburg favorites; see which dishes are worth a taste. MEGAN MAURY CHURCH lifestyles staff writer

Like so many of my peers, I am absolutely crazy about brunch. It is one of the only things that I will drag myself out of bed for on a weekend morning. Eggs, hash browns, fruits, pancakes and waffles are some of this world’s purest creations. In one weekend, I went to two local restaurants for brunch for the first time: 622 North and Cabo Fish Taco. For a review of another brunch at Our Daily Bread, see a past article. I’ll start off with saying that both get 5/5 stars from me. Here is why: 622 North Brunch at 622 North is served on Sundays and Saturdays from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. With natural lighting, a casual atmosphere, a piano in the corner and cloth napkins, this is the casual-meets-sophisticated brunch experience you crave after marathoning Sex and the City. They have a full, two-sided brunch menu full of everything you could want. The sections are: Sweets & Starters, Brunch Entrees (i nclud i ng t he chef ’s specialties subsection,) Eggs, Sandwiches, Salads, Beverages and Morning Spirits (including a whole subsection for Bloody Marys.) I ordered hot tea to start and got the greatest treat of the weekend: they brought an actual china teapot to my table. Drinking from an actual tea cup, refilling it every so often from the pot, I felt like a lady of Downton Abbey. My main order was the 622 benedict, a non-traditional version of eggs benedict. Served open-face, from the bottom up it goes: toasted

sourdough bread (that put Panera to shame), grilled capicola ham, sun dried tomato jam, two perfectly poached eggs and topped with pesto hollandaise sauce. It may sound like too much, but it works together perfectly. I even ordered mine without the ham and it did not feel like it was lacking anything. Pesto hollandaise was something new to me, but it was just traditional hollandaise with the addition of pesto in the mix, which was herby and savory together. These flavors balanced out the tangy tomato paste and sourdough toast. On the side I had breakfast potatoes, which were excellent. My dining partner got the chicken and waffles, which came as two sandwiches. This included four of the best waffles I have ever tasted, and the fried chicken was glazed with both sausage gravy and honey mustard, which was overall surprisingly more sweet than savory, and the perfect brunch item. On the outside, 622 North looks expensive but really isn’t that bad. You can expect to spend about $15, which for this brunch experience is worth it. Cabo Fish Taco Cabo Fish Taco is a local favorite, so when they announced their new weekend brunch a few months ago, we were all excited. However, the combination of fish, taco and brunch doesn’t seem to jive; it was not until I read their brunch menu that I decided I could not stay away any longer. There are six items on their brunch menu: chorizo breakfast burrito, chicken and waffle taco, huevos rancheros, baja biscuits and gravy, shrimp and grits and

bourbon apple stacks (the latter three items are new yet wildly popular additions). Additionally, there is a brunch cocktail selection: bloody mary, mimosa, moremosa and orange juice. I read between the items frantically, unsure of which to choose. One of my dining partners was immediately drawn to the Bourbon Apple Stacks by the inclusion of homemade whipped cream. She scraped every last bit of it off the plate. My other friend picked the chicken and waffle taco with a side of cheesy grits, which the waitress deemed the best southern grits she had ever had. I had to just make a decision, and also went with the chicken and waffle. The taco was fantastic. If you get it, brace yourself for the “honey sriracha bourbon maple syrup,” a perfect combination of so many fantastic things. The fluffy taco shell was filled with waffle-battered fried chicken, scrambled eggs and cheese. My only complaint is that, as it oozed with the honey-syrup glaze, it was a wonderful mess. Along with the bourbon apple stacks, my friend ordered the potato hash, which looked and were reported to be fantastic. When the other took her first bite the cheesy grits, her eyes went wide and she just nodded her approval. Despite the brunch-specific side options, I ordered the guacamole pasta salad, the side I would have ordered at lunch or dinner. The variety of options was fantastic. I loved brunch at Cabo Fish Taco as much as their regular menu. It is the restaurant that just keeps giving.

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THE

EXTRA POINT

Tech completes shutout Virginia Tech’s defense shines as the Hokies cruise past Old Dominion in first-ever meeting between the two schools. MADDIE THOMPSON sports staff writer

CAT PIPER / COLLEGIATE TIMES Steven Peoples (32) breaks through the Old Dominion defense, Sept. 23, 2017.

Peoples shines against the Monarchs’ defense The Hokies got a huge performance from junior running back Steven Peoples who accounted for three touchdowns. CHASE PARKER assistant sports editor

If Virginia Tech running back Steven Peoples was eligible to be on fantasy football teams, owners ever ywhere would be kicking themselves for not starting him this week. Peoples had a career day against Old Dominion. The pride of Galax, Virginia, put together the first multitouchdown game of his career, reaching the end zone on three separate occasions. His first score came midway through the second quarter following an interception by Hokies defensive back Divine Deablo. From 17 yards out, quarterback Josh Jackson delivered a screen pass to Peoples, who was then escorted by multiple lead-blockers all the way to the end zone. “That was actually my first screen pass ran in a game,” Peoples said. “I get a lot of them in practice, but I don’t get much of them in games. But usually it’s never that wide open. It was pretty wide open today. I had like, two blockers out there, so I just followed them and got in easily.” It didn’t take long for the

junior running back to score again either. The next time the Hokies had the ball, Peoples’ number was called on the 1-yard line and the hard-nosed runner punched it in, securing his second touchdown. His most spectacular score of the day, however, came in the third quarter. With a 24-0 lead, Tech quarterback Josh Jackson launched a 43-yard bomb down the left side of the field for Cam Phillips. When the ball came back down to earth, it bounced off of Phillips’ arm and fell perfectly into nearby Peoples’ hands for the touchdown. “I guess that was a big-time catch,” Peoples said. “Because, it’s Cam; I thought he was gonna catch it. So I just sat back and waited on him to catch it, but then as soon as it bounced off of him, I caught the ball. I was like, ‘Man, this is a big-time catch.’” While the fans and Peoples loved the way the play turned out, Fuente wasn’t pleased one bit, and he gave Jackson an ear-full when the play was over. “Not happy,” Fuente said about how he felt about the play. “We got lucky on that

so I made sure (Jackson) knew about it. He’s tough. He understands stuff and he’s still young. He thought he had a chance one-on-one there, and he probably did before he threw it. He waited another three seconds.” When the dust settled, Peoples had rushed for 63 yards on 13 carries, and had hauled in 73 receiving yards on three catches. Since Peoples grew up about one hour outside of Blacksburg, he knows that high school players in southwest Virginia don’t get as much attention as recruits out on the east coast of the state do, which makes his outstanding performance all the more sweeter. “It’s kind of cool because there’s always a lot of talk about the 757 and all of them,” Peoples said. “But the local guy gets the shine today, and I guess that’s pretty cool.” If the junior running back plans on giving an encore performance, he’ll have to do it against No. 2 Clemson on Sept. 30. Kickoff for the game is set for 8 p.m.

@ChaseParker_VT

A slow offensive start for the Hokies turned into their second shutout of the season in Lane Stadium, as they toppled the Monarchs in their first-ever matchup against Old Dominion, 38–0. The Hokies were slow out of the gate. Tech was able to get on the board first after a 29-yard screen pass to Cam Phillips, which put the Hokies on the ODU 12-yard line. Joey Slye got his second chance at scoring, after missing his first field goal attempt earlier in the quarter, this time putting up three points from 31 yards out. On that same drive, Phillips broke his second program record of the season by hauling in a catch in his 31st consecutive game. “It’s a blessing really, just to be that consistent. And like I said, the hard work is really paying off, and I guess more people are starting to notice me now, coming back here every Saturday,” Phillips said after the game. “It’s special, just to have that streak.” Falling victim to the leading defense in sacks, Josh Jackson felt the Monarchs live up to their name in the second quarter. He hit the ground after ODU’s Tim Ward snagged his first sack of the season during Tech’s first drive. Keeping its foot on the gas, the Monarch defense remained steady.

Early in the second quarter, Jackson threw his first interception of the season. Old Dominion’s Sean Carter made the pick. H oweve r, on the Monarchs’ ensuing drive, Divine Deablo snagged an interception of his own, snapping the Hokies out of their flat start, which was his first career interception. This led to a 17-yard touchdown pass to Steven Peoples to start Tech’s offensive momentum. Peoples remained a bright spot for Hokies, punching in their second touchdown just minutes later, snatching his first multi-touchdown game in his career. “It felt pretty good, getting it in (the end zone) more than once during the game; it’s my first time doing that so it’s pretty special and I can hopefully do that again,” Peoples said. Catching his third-career re cept ion touchdow n, Peoples couldn’t help but put a few more points on the board for Tech. The junior running back stood on the receiving end of a 43-yard pass that was tipped off Phillips’ hands, as Jackson launched the ball up toward the end zone, hoping Phillips would be able to beat his defender. “The fact that they stayed with it the entire time, that’s kind of who (Peoples) is,” head coach Justin Fuente said. “He is a hustler — he knows one speed only. I do feel good about him catching the ball.” The fate of the game

was sealed late in the third quarter as wide receiver C.J. Carroll caught his firstcareer touchdown pass on a 5-yard slant pattern, which put the Hokies up 31–0. In the fourth quarter, running back Deshawn McClease added insult to injury, scoring the game’s final touchdown, pushing Tech’s lead up 38–0. Bud Foster’s famed “lunch pail defense” showed out strong, as they were able to shutout their second team of the season, both being at Lane Stadium. Halfway to their goal of four or five shutout games, the Hokies racked up 40 total tackles against the Monarchs, led by whip Mook Reynolds, who tallied up four solo tackles on the day. “Shutouts are always huge, especially at this level. I think we almost played a perfect game today, defensively,” said defensive tackle Ricky Walker. “Coach Foster tells us after every game that we have not played our best ball yet, and we still haven’t today, we gave a few plays away, but we came out and we executed and I think that a couple more (shutouts) would be pretty good.” The Hokies will be back in Lane Stadium next Saturday at 8 p.m. in their highly anticipated matchup against No. 2 Clemson. It will be the Hokies’ first ACC game of the season and a rematch of last year’s ACC Championship. @CTSportsTalk

CAT PIPER / COLLEGIATE TIMES Cam Phillips (5) tries to elude Denzel Williams (25), Sept. 23, 2017.

No. 12 Virginia Tech and No. 2 Clemson set to face off The Hokies will try to avenge their loss in the ACC Championship this Saturday against the defending national champions. RYAN WILSON sports staff writers

Vi rgi n ia Tech has finished its non-conference schedule undefeated for the first time since 2011 and are finally set to begin ACC play against the defending national champion Clemson

Tigers in Lane Stadium this Saturday night. Clemson leads the series all-time against the Hokies 21–12–1, and are 4–0 against Virginia Tech since 2011. This will be thought of as a revenge game for the Hokies, having lost to Clemson in the ACC

Championship Game in Orlando last December, 42–35. After the game last year, head coach Justin Fuente said of the effort, “Obviously we came up a little short, but it wasn’t because we weren’t out there competing.” He would very much like to flip the script

CAT PIPER / COLLEGIATE TIMES Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney puts his arm around coach Justin Fuente after Clemson defeated Virginia Tech 42–35 in the ACC Championship game, Dec. 3, 2016.

in 2017, with this game in rowdy and raucous Lane Stadium. Clemson (4– 0) is led by Dabo Swinney in his ninth year as the Tigers head coach. Already with a national championship under his belt, his team looks just as poised to repeat this year, having impressively defeated ranked teams Auburn and Louisville, leading to its No. 2 rank in the AP Poll. Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant began this year with the daunting task of replacing the legend of Deshaun Watson, who played phenomenally in his two national championship appearances, the second of which he won over Alabama. Bryant has started the year very well, passing for 873 yards, rushing for another 268 and racking up nine total touchdowns. Virginia Tech has a tough task ahead of it as it tries to

slow him and the Clemson offense down. On the defensive side of the ball, Clemson looks just as stout as last year, giving up an average of just 227 yards per game and only 9.5 points per game. Even with Virginia Tech’s strong start on offense this year, facing this Clemson defense is a completely different animal. Virginia Tech is also 4–0, its best start to a season since 2011. Serendipitously, the last time the Hokies were 4–0, they hosted Clemson in the fifth game of the season and lost 23–3, starting their current four-game losing streak against the Tigers. Virginia Tech desperately wants to stop their skid against Clemson, and will need to score early to do so. Since 2011, Virginia Tech has averaged only 16 points per game against Clemson in four losses, two of which were in ACC Championship games.

Freshman QB Josh Jackson has been absolutely stellar in his first four games at Virginia Tech, throwing for 1,127 yards and 11 touchdowns with only one interception. He has taken control of Coach Fuente’s offensive system and is looking to build on that success. Playing well against the No. 2 ranked team in the nation at home on a prime-time stage will do a lot for his confidence as the season goes on. Virginia Tech can now officially focus on the Clemson Tigers, and if it’s anything like the conference championship was a year ago, expect to see some big plays and a bit of trickery from both teams. The game will be played at 8 p.m. and nationally broadcasted on ABC.

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