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August 31, 2021
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VTU hosts first in-person Kickoff Concert since 2019
Opener Carter Ward and main act B.o.B. perform on the Drillfield packed with Hokies eager to attend in-person social events. MOMIJI BARLOW news editor
On Friday, Aug. 27, the Drillfield was packed with students who had gathered to watch the annual Kickoff Concert hosted by the Virginia Tech Union (VTU) and the Class of 2023. This year’s opener was Virginia Tech alum Carter Ward of Fordson Labs, followed by B.o.B, an American rapper who rose to fame with charttopping songs such as “Airplanes, Pt. 2” and “Nothin’ On You,” according to Genius. After over a year of limited group gatherings due to COVID-19, many students are eager to get back into the swing of social events. Izzy
Perham, a sophomore majoring in mechanical engineering, said she went to the Kickoff Concert because she wanted to be a part of the community. “I’m just excited to be back to a normal event,” Perham said. “Being trapped with masks on indoors sucks, so this normalcy, and seeing all these beautiful faces, is so good.” The event was organized by VTU, a student organization founded in 1969, whose purpose is to “provide quality educational and social entertainment that represents the diverse culture of Virginia Tech’s students and its community,” according to its website. Its Facebook page also states that VTU is a University Chartered
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Student Organization and has remained “the largest student programming board on campus” since its founding. Mia Toser, a senior majoring in public relations, is the current concerts director for VTU. Toser said she joined the organization after attending Soundfest, another live music event VTU throws, during her freshman year and hearing about the position. “People get to work with the artist, and the sound, and production and everything, and I was super intrigued in that,” Toser said. “I just emailed the then-president and started immediately my sophomore year, and then I applied for the position after only being in the club for
maybe three months. So I was really grateful for this opportunity –– it’s really one of the coolest things that I’ve been able to be involved with at Tech so far.” Reflecting on the concert, Toser says that it was one of the largest concerts she has thrown so far, and that planning for it was a process that started back in the spring. “I think with it being one of the first concerts post-COVID(-19), everyone was a little rowdy, and it definitely was not perfect, but overall it was a really special concert, and I’m really glad I got to be a part of it,” Toser said.
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MOMIJI BARLOW / COLLEGIATE TIMES The B.o.B concert hosted on the bright Drillfield, Aug. 27, 2021.
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August 31, 2021 PAGE 3
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A Gobbler’s ‘guide’ to Lane’s delicacies Take a satirical peek into the concessions of Lane Stadium for all of your game day cravings.
ABBIGALE EVANS managing editor
Game days are back — and so are the heavenly grounds of the North End side of Lane Stadium. If you are so lucky as to survive Center Street, with its precarious live music stages, collapsing pong tables and the occasional frat boy carrying what looks like a bamboo tree, then you will experience the joys of Hokie football. With these great games comes some great hunger. When you are standing in the North End, several things might cross your mind. How will I stay on this bleacher? My calves are in severe stress from this jumping. Why is there a horse on the jumbotron? Where did my roommate go? Why am I so hungry? Being a Hokie fan at football games is no easy task — but at least the food is easy to find. Turkey Legs Of course, the classic. Nothing screams being a Hokie more than cannibalizing your mascot. If you think your girlfriend is cute, wait till you see her turn into a full caveman right next to you as she gnaws off chunks of turkey meat straight from the massive drumstick. You might want to watch your fingers and toes if you go home together. Many rumors have circulated about where these delicious legs come from. Is that what happens to the forearms of unruly concession stand workers? Do incoming freshmen have to sacrifice a limb of their firstborn to get into engineering? Is the meat really just made of the ground-up hopes and
dreams of students thinking they’ll ever pay back their student loans? Maybe so. But one thing is for certain — when you find yourself as hungry as a lost Otter Sandman in the Duck Pond, that turkey leg will revive you faster than GPAs drop after leaving online classes. Nachos There are few things as unappealing as the way snot-yellow cheese slithers out of the nacho cheese pump — but when you’ve got a hankering for some dietary troubles, this is truly the one for you. These might be a better snack for later game days. In the warmer, earlier game days, you often will find yourself being cooked alive on the skillet of North End, so you most likely will not find burning the inside of your mouth as well as the rest of your body to be desirable. This snack can be messy, but don’t worry, you’ll find plenty of napkins standing right in front of you (located on the backs of your peers’ spirited game day apparel). Everyone knows that maroon and orange look best when streaked with nacho-cheese yellow! If your friends try to steal this tasty treat from you as you walk back from concessions, be sure to inform them that it is “not-yo cheese” and they will certainly think you’re the funniest person alive and respect your wishes. Hot Dogs If you can shove one of these bad boys down your esophagus all at once, you will be the champion of North End. Especially if you are a freshman. Upperclassmen will not harass you; in
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.
fact, they will most likely stay very far away from you. Even if you don’t finish your hot dog, just put it in your pocket for later. Everyone needs a midnight snack after a game day! Beer If you did not beat the lines to get into various bars in Downtown Blacksburg (and if you are 21+) you can now top off your game day with some beers at the concessions! Everyone surely wished this was available at the six overtimes of the University of North Carolina game in 2019. The rain might have seemed a little less cold and miserable then, especially if you happened to be one of the unfortunate souls who did not have an interest in finishing the game but was staying for a friend. One of the beers available was even released by Virginia Tech itself, the Fightin’ Hokies Lager! Now, if you haven’t given Virginia Tech enough of your money through tuition, Hokie spirit gear and season ticket passes, you can donate more by buying some spirited drinks on game days.
West End Last but not least, even though West End technically is not located in the concessions of Lane, it is an easy and tasty place to get food after all that jumping. Especially if you leave before the first quarter — which is about as bad as telling an engineering major that they’re not that smart. Whenever you do leave the game, there is the warm comfort food of West End waiting to embrace you with open arms. West End has everything from the thick quesadillas of Grab and Gobble, the succulent steak of J.P.’s Chop House or even (if, for some reason, you’re feeling healthy after a game day) the giant salads from Leaf & Ladle. It’s also a great place to find your roommate if you’re a lost freshman after a game day. No matter which game day food you decide to go with, make sure you enjoy every second you’re in those stands. If 2020 has shown Hokies anything, it’s how quickly things we took for granted continued on page 4
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collegiatetimes.com until my junior year, which of course was impossible when the time came. I’m a senior who hasn’t attended a single football game as a Hokie. This feels blasphemous. Football is such a huge part of the culture that I hear so much about, and I’ve never even set foot in the stadium in my time here — outside of getting a COVID-19 test. Thus, I decided that this semester I would get season tickets. This Friday is my first time experiencing a homeopener for the Hokies, and I’m excited to see
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having a year of social spontaneity during COVID-19. I can’t wait to meet Hokies new and old in the student section without it having to be through a breakout room. I’m not going to spend all my time socializing, of course. I am a football fan at the end of the day, and I’m excited to see how the Hokies will do this season. It’s fair to say that Virginia Tech has underperformed since 2018, posting a 19–18 record in the previous three seasons. In addition, the
“Football is such a huge part of the
culture that I hear so much about, and I’ve never even set foot in the stadium in my time here — outside of getting a COVID-19 test. WINTER IN ICELAND (3 credits) and/or SUMMER IN LONDON (6 credits) ALL MAJORS INVITED Contact jwemhoen@vt.edu for flyers & information session dates continued from page 3
can be taken away. So during this football season, be sure to jump extra high on those bleachers, take the biggest bite out of your turkey leg and hug your friends extra close. After a
year and a half like this past one, it’s due time for the Hokies to fill up Lane again.
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Born-again Hokie: Experiencing Virginia Tech football for the first time as a senior
Lifestyles writer and senior Matthew Harris reflects on what he missed about this famed Tech tradition. MATTHEW HARRIS lifestyles writer
It’s no secret that the Hokie experience has been atypical for anyone enrolled since Spring 2020. With COVID-19 sweeping the nation, many students have been in a social time
capsule since the start of the pandemic. With in-person classes this fall, many are taking a step out into a new landscape and rediscovering what they missed about Hokie culture. I am no exception to this rule. Because I’m a procrastinator by nature, I didn’t decide to go to a football game
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what it is like. My time on campus has given me a few insights into what I might be in for. However, an obstacle for myself and other students will be overcoming the state of Virginia Tech’s parking. In my two years on campus, I noticed how crowded Blacksburg was for each home game. The stadium lot still exists, but it seems like every other lot has been demolished for construction, so it’s a mystery where the overflow will go. I’m dreading the bus ride to campus Friday, but I’m sure the journey will be worth it. Once we’ve reached the stadium and kickoff is imminent, Hokies are going to do something they haven’t done for at least a year now: jump to “Enter Sandman.” I haven’t done this since my freshman orientation, and that was early in the morning so I can’t say I was feeling the hype. It sounds like jumping to “Enter Sandman” before a football game is a magical experience, and I hope I can learn how to do it from everyone this Friday. After we finish jumping, I’ll be sitting in a stadium seat for the first time since 2019. I got very comfortable with the luxury of watching sports from my own home during COVID-19. Watching sports live from the cheap seats is going to take a bit of getting used to again. Personally, I’m looking forward to it — the air of competition always feels a bit different when I can be there to see it. I just hope I’ll be able to tell what’s going on. Another plus of live sports returning is being able to bond with new people over football. Although I don’t lack a social circle being a senior, I missed
Hokies lost four of their last five at the end of the 2020 season and are slight underdogs to the visiting Tar Heels, judging from ESPN’s Football Power Index matchup predictor. Despite this, I have hope for this season. The beauty of a new football season is that everyone starts out with the same record, and I hope the Hokies can approach this season with a fresh mindset. Going to a home game for the first time as a senior and with lightened COVID-19 restrictions makes me feel like a freshman again. I am re-learning ou r const r uction-r iddled ca mpus, re-adjusting to ta k ing in-person classes, and becoming acquainted with Hokie football for the very first time. Everything about the Hokie experience feels fresh again, and I can tell by observing campus that others feel similarly. Hopefully, Hokie football feels this renewed energy going into the fall 2021 season. I want a good show for my last semester.
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Sports
Previewing the Hokies’ season opener against UNC
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Our defense stopping Sam Howell is key to a Hokie victory. DEVIN SHEPARD sports editor
The Virginia Tech Hokies will open their season against the No. 10 North Carolina Tar Heels this Friday in Lane Stadium. After a rough season last year that saw Virginia Tech finish with a losing record (5–6, 5–5 in the ACC) for the second time in the past three years, the Hokies will look to start this season off with an upset over a North Carolina program that’s been on the rise for the past several years. The Tar Heels finished with an 8–4 record in 2020 and are looking to contend for an ACC title and maybe even a College Football Playoff appearance in 2021. However, a great performance from Virginia Tech could throw a wrench in their plans this season.
North Carolina has a dominant offense, finishing fifth in the country in yards per game last season according to teamrankings.com, thanks in large part to their Heisman hopeful quarterback, Sam Howell. However, the loss of their two running backs (Javonte Williams and Michael Carter) and top two receivers (Dyami Brown and Dazz Newsome) will surely hurt the Tar Heels’ offense. That group — all NFL draft picks — combined for 4,761 of North Carolina’s 6,444 scrimmage yards (74%) and 48 of their 66 offensive touchdowns (73%). That’s a lot of production to replace, but fortunately for the Tar Heels, they still have Howell, Tennessee transfer running back Ty Chandler, and road grading offensive guard Joshua Ezeudu. On defense, North Carolina has some
www.foxridgeliving.com • 833.217.2209 ANISHA KOHLI / COLLEGIATE TIMES Hokie defense piles on top of its UNC opponent, Oct. 19, 2019.
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talent, but the unit struggled a lot in 2020, finishing 68th in the country in yards allowed per game according to teamrankings.com. Linebacker Tomon Fox enters his sixth year with the Tar Heels and has proven to be a consistent headache for opposing teams with his ability to stuff the run. He finished last season with 10.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks. On the back end, North Carolina has one of the best cornerback duos in the country in Storm Duck and Tony Grimes. When all of these pieces play well for the Tar Heels, they become an extremely tough team to move the ball against. On offense, expect North Carolina to try to establish the run early on. In last year’s matchup, the Tar Heels racked up 399 yards and five touchdowns on the ground against the Hokies, so it won’t be surprising if they try to do it again. Defensive coordinator Justin Hamilton will likely try to force Howell to throw to unproven receivers by stacking the box, and the Virginia Tech defense will have to capitalize on mistakes. There’s a good chance Howell is good enough to overcome the lack of talent on the perimeter, and if that happens, it will be a long night for the Hokies. When the Hokies have the ball, they’ll have to try to run it as much as possible and keep the ball away from North Carolina’s offense. Using quarterback Braxton Burmeister in the option running game will likely bode well for Virginia Tech. It’s unlikely the Hokies will be able to move the ball well through the air against the Tar Heels, as it will likely lead to turnovers and stalled drives. Virginia Tech’s best chance to pull off an upset on Friday will be capitalizing on the lack of chemistry Howell is likely to have with his new weapons. If he’s making plays, there won’t be much the Hokies can do to slow him down.
Devin’s Score Prediction: UNC 35 / VT 28 @CTSportsTalk
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Season opener against the Tar Heels set to be memorable The recent history behind the Hokie-Tar Heel rivalry brings big stakes to this game. RORY AILOR sports contributor
At last, it is time to start jumping. Lane is expected to have full capacity for home games this year and students are excited to get back to life as normal. Virginia Tech Football will play in a packed house for the first time in almost two years, but that is only one of the many storylines that are at play in what should be one of the most exciting games in the recent history of Lane Stadium. Of course, this all compounded with the overhanging issue of COVID-19, which has dampened the sports world for almost two years. Starting off the first in-person experiences with a win could make Sept. 3 an extremely memorable night in Virginia Tech history. There are seniors who have been stripped of a full season of football games, along with sophomores who have spent a year at Virginia Tech without ever experiencing “Enter Sandman.” The first major storyline is the concept of rematch. The Hokies will be taking on the preseason 10th ranked team in the country. The Hokies and Tar Heels’ last few matchups have been box office material, as each matchup has been filled with exciting plays and last minute finishes. In 2018, Virginia Tech edged UNC on Ryan Willis’ touchdown pass with 19 seconds left to win 22–19. In 2019, UNC lost to the Hokies after six overtimes in a freezing cold Lane Stadium. Last year’s matchup with UNC became a 56–45 shootout that ultimately resulted in a loss. UNC racked up a staggering 656 yards of offense in a game that was plagued with injuries and COVID-19 protocols. This year, North Carolina is led by preseason second team All-American quarterback Sam Howell. Howell threw for 257 yards and three touchdowns in 2020 against Virginia
Tech’s defense, so an emphasis on slowing him down will be important. This rematch will be one in which UNC is favored, but the fans in Lane would likely beg to differ. Outside of Clemson being extremely dominant, the ACC is up for grabs this year for everyone else. UNC appears to be the favorite to win the Coastal division, making the Friday night matchup even more appealing. The next interesting storyline surrounding the team is the quarterback position. Braxton Burmeister’s first year at Virginia Tech was unique after transferring from the University of Oregon. Burmeister started the season as what many considered to be the third string quarterback, but after injuries and some coaching decisions, he was brought into the role of starter. In fact, last year’s game against UNC featured Burmeister starting, but after struggling, he was replaced by Hendon Hooker. Every team needs a leader, and that is what the Hokies are looking for in the now more experienced Burmeister. “I think everyone is confident in his ability to perform and make plays,” said Virginia Tech wide receiver Kaleb Smith, who is looking forward to Burmeister at the helm. “He has definitely taken his leadership to the next level (by) making this his offense and making sure we are all on the same page.” It will be interesting to see how the team rallies around one quarterback and leader as opposed to a multitude of quarterbacks and potential leaders. Smith has high expectations for this season. “I feel the best I’ve had since I’ve been here about my production and contribution to the offense with the ball in my hands,’’ Smith said. “Hopefully (I’ll be) getting an opportunity to wear (Frank) Beamer’s (number) 25 jersey this year.” The wide receiving group at Virginia
Tech is loaded this year, from Tayvion Robinson to Tré Turner to star tight end James Mitchell. It will be exciting to see how the talent is displayed on Friday night. The final interesting storyline is in regards to head coach Justin Fuente, who, according to 10News in Virginia, signed a contract extension last December that was reported to be around $4 million annually through 2024. Fuente’s career at Virginia Tech has been under great criticism from fans and media alike. Taking over the Virginia Tech football program after Frank Beamer was a seemingly impossible task — they were big shoes to fill. Fuente has done well at Virginia Tech, but the bar is still so high. Fuente has yet to beat a top 10 opponent during his time at Virginia Tech, going 0–7 in the process. He was closely monitored after the past few seasons due to the debacle regarding the starting quarterback position, as there have been four different starting quarterbacks over the past two seasons. Embarrassing losses to Old Dominion and Kentucky in the bowl game did not help his case, not to mention breaking the 15-year streak of defeating the University of Virginia. After winning 19 games in his first two seasons, Fuente has only gone 19–18 over the past three seasons. The program has taken on a new identity since the exit of not only Beamer, but the retirement of the legendary defensive coordinator Bud Foster, which puts even more pressure on Fuente. This game against UNC serves as a chance for Fuente to prove himself to Virginia Tech fans in a couple of ways: A win would help inspire confidence in Fuente’s ability to win big-time games and would also draw momentum into the program for recruiting. A school that cannot beat top 10 schools will continue to struggle finding top recruits. Fuente’s been under fire for a while for valid reasons, but a win against UNC could be the
editor@collegiatetimes.com from page 6
start of a new era in Virginia Tech football. This season looms large with opportunities for good wins, as Virginia Tech will also host Notre Dame in early October and then have two important ACC home games against Syracuse and Pittsburgh. These storylines should all come together to create one of the most meaningful Virginia Tech football games in the past decade. @CTSportsTalk
collegiatetimes.com and battling for playing time throughout 2020, Burmeister did not face much competition for the starting quarterback role after Hendon Hooker and Quincy Patterson II transferred from Virginia Tech. Last season, Burmeister started the first three games because then-starter Hooker was sidelined due to a health issue. Burmeister struggled to begin the season. Across these three games, he completed only 23 passes on 50 attempts, for a lackluster 46% completion percentage. Burmeister was benched when Hooker returned from COVID-19 and he was further sidelined with a foot injury that kept him out until December.
Braxton Burmeister named starting quarterback for the season After playing five games last season, Burmeister is set for a bigger role this season.
ANISHA KOHLI / COLLEGIATE TIMES Braxton Burmeister (3) pushing through during summer training, June 1, 2021. STEVEN ROWAN sports staff writer
Unlike the last few seasons, the Hokies will go into the 2021 season with a clear starting quarterback in Braxton Burmeister. After transferring from Oregon in 2019
Burmeister returned against Clemson on Dec. 5 and looked like a different quarterback. It appeared that the time on the sidelines did him well
and he looked much more confident in his return. Although the Hokies were routed by Clemson, Burmeister impressed by completing 10 of his 12 passing attempts in his short time on the field. But he saved his best performance for the next week in the Commonwealth Cup. Burmeister led the Hokies to a big win over UVA, completing 15 of 22 attempts and passing for 212 yards and a touchdown. Burmeister flashed his potential in the last two games. He has arm strength and deep ball ability as well as dual-threat ground speed. Burmeister’s big play potential was showcased last season. Although he was struggling with
August 31, 2021 PAGE 7
consistency, he had at least a 45-plus yard pass play in four of his five games last season. Burmeister’s biggest struggles have been injuries and consistency. If he can stay on the field and refine his accuracy, he may be able to lead the Hokies to an impressive season and become the quarterback that Justin Fuente has been looking for since he became head coach. Hokie fans are hopeful that Burmeister can solve the quarterback problem that has plagued Tech for the last few years. The season opener against No. 10 North Carolina will allow Burmeister to show what he can do this season.
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Hokies announce 2021 football captains Five veterans have earned their spot as leaders for the 2021 season.
AMBER WILLIAMS sports editor
Virginia Tech Football revealed Friday who will serve as the Hokies’ captains for the 2021 season ahead of their first game against the University of North Carolina. The announcement came via Twitter and included a collage of the five new captains. Among those to receive this honor were No. 1 Chamarri Conner, No. 3 Dax Hollifield, No. 76 Brock Hoffman, No. 79 Tyrell Smith and No. 82 James Mitchell. Each of these players are veterans to the Chicago maroon and burnt orange jerseys. Chamarri Conner, Defensive Back Conner was a huge asset to the Hokies in the cornerback position for the 2020 season, leading Tech with a total of 81 tackles, 60 of which were solo. The junior has played a total of 37 games for the Hokies since beginning his college career in 2018, starting in every game since the 2019 season. Conner earned ACC Defensive Back of the Week and the Jim Thorpe Player of the Week Award following his performance last season. Conner seems to be living up to the No. 1 stitched on his jersey and has the potential to take the team far this season. Dax Hollifield, Linebacker Coming from Shelby, North Carolina, Hollifield jumped straight into action in 2018 as a freshman at Virginia Tech, starting in six of his 13 appearances on the field. Hollifield followed this up by starting in every game of the 2019 season and came in fifth on the team in tackles with 67. Hollifield put up three interceptions in the same season to close
out as fifth in the ACC. Last season he impressed with 13 tackles, a career-high, against Miami. Hollifield will serve as a role model for younger players in his position. Brock Hoffman, Offensive Lineman Hoffman was an obvious choice for captaincy after his incredible first season at Virginia Tech. The Hokies led the ACC in rushing yards last season, in part due to his prowess at center. Hoffman raked in the accolades in his debut season with the Hokies, earning 2020 All-ACC Honorable Mention and ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week two times. After seeing what he can motivate this team to do in terms of rushing, Hoffman will be essential to helping the Hokies keep their lead in the ACC statistics books. Tyrell Smith, Offensive Lineman Smith is a familiar name to everyone in Hokie Nation as he has been around since 2014. The graduate student is familiar with captaincy as this will be his third consecutive year serving as one. In 2019 he was voted to the position by his teammates, but was unfortunately sidelined after the first four games due to an injury playing against Duke. Last year, he was team captain and competed in 10 of the Hokies’ competitions. His primary role last year was with punt coverage. Smith’s experience as captain and his history with the Hokies will translate well as he helps lead this squad. James Mitchell, Tight End Another junior on the list, Mitchell has played for Tech since the 2018 season. In his initial year with the Hokies, his time on the field was focused on the special
Aries horoscope, Aug. 31
Aquarius horoscope, Aug. 31
You will hear good news about your recent quiz and will not fail the midterm exam of your class. Avoid jaywalking. Blacksburg Transit will not tolerate your lack of signaling when biking. Wear a helmet, or else. You will not be ghosted by anyone in Greek life this week.
Listen to your professors. Even if they cannot figure out how to unmute themselves on Zoom, they still have wise words for you. Your dining dollars will not run out this semester, and you will not have to beg friends to swipe for your food. Your stomach will not make loud noises during quiet moments in class.
Editor’s note: These weekly horoscopes are written with satirical intent.
ETHAN CANDELARIO / COLLEGIATE TIMES Dax Hollifield (4) hypes up the Virginia Tech section of the crowd at the Belk Bowl, Dec. 31, 2019.
teams unit, but he saw his first action in his current position against Marshall. During the 2019 season, Mitchell started in eight of his 13 appearances with the team and was a part of the magical ACC tight end duo with Dalton Keene. Last season he started in nine of his 10 games played and finished the year with 26 receptions for 435 yards. He also led the team in touchdown catches with four. Mitchell was a smart addition to the captaincy list. The Hokies will hopefully be in good
hands with this group leading them. They each bring unique experience to the team and all are well-versed in what it takes to play in Blacksburg. Coming off a very irregular season, their leadership will be needed more than ever as the Hokies head into a highly anticipated season with fans eager to return to Lane Stadium to watch Tech compete at a high level.
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