Our second game of the season is against Virginia Tech. We have never played them before, but Virginia Tech has a long history of successful football. They played their first football game in 1892, about 17 months after Ohio State's first game. The uniforms were gray and black, but apparently the fans thought they looked too much like prison uniforms, so they were changed to maroon and orange. In their early days, the Virginia Tech nickname was the Gobblers or Fighting Gobblers, but now they are known as the Hokies.
Much like Ohio State, Virginia Tech played in a local conference in their early days. Ours was the Ohio Athletic Conference; theirs was the Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Association. In 1912, we joined the Western Conference (now the Big Ten) and in 1921 Virginia Tech joined the Southern Conference. The major football schools left the Southern Conference and formed the SEC and ACC. In 1965, Virginia Tech left the Southern Conference to compete as an independent. The Hokies joined the Big East in 1991, but left to join the ACC in 2004, where they still compete today.
Virginia Tech's only undefeated season came in 1954, the year the Buckeyes won the national championship. We also went undefeated, 10-0, including a victory over USC in the Rose Bowl. At the time, Virginia Tech was still playing local schools with basic football programs, but an undefeated season is always something to be proud of. The Buckeyes know that, we have had ten undefeated seasons and are proud of each one. In the late 1960s, Virginia Tech built Lane Stadium, where they still play today. The home field crowd is reputed to be very intense, giving a real edge to the Hokies when they play at home.
Virginia Tech's best shot at a national title came in the 1999 season, when quarterback Michael Vick led the Hokies through an undefeated regular season only to lose to Florida State in the Sugar Bowl. Since then, they have been a strong contender in their conference every year. Playing in the ACC since 2004, they are one of the teams that makes the conference strong, along with Florida State, Clemson and Boston College. Virginia Tech currently has a streak of bowl appearances stretching back to 1993, with nine wins and twelve losses.
With such a long history and so many bowl games, it is surprising that the Buckeyes have never met the Hokies on the field. This year the game will be our home opener, after the away game at Navy to start the season. If we had to travel to Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, VA to face the Hokies on their own turf, I might be worried. But, since they will have to face the emotion and clamor of Ohio Stadium in its first football game since November 23rd, we should have them on their heels right from opening kickoff. This is a prime time game, so we will take to the field at 8:00 PM.
Program Duration: 1892 - present
All-time record: 701-441-46
Record against Ohio State: 0-0
Bowl Appearances/Wins: 27/10
National Championship(s): none
Heisman Winners: none
Much like Ohio State, Virginia Tech played in a local conference in their early days. Ours was the Ohio Athletic Conference; theirs was the Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Association. In 1912, we joined the Western Conference (now the Big Ten) and in 1921 Virginia Tech joined the Southern Conference. The major football schools left the Southern Conference and formed the SEC and ACC. In 1965, Virginia Tech left the Southern Conference to compete as an independent. The Hokies joined the Big East in 1991, but left to join the ACC in 2004, where they still compete today.
Virginia Tech's only undefeated season came in 1954, the year the Buckeyes won the national championship. We also went undefeated, 10-0, including a victory over USC in the Rose Bowl. At the time, Virginia Tech was still playing local schools with basic football programs, but an undefeated season is always something to be proud of. The Buckeyes know that, we have had ten undefeated seasons and are proud of each one. In the late 1960s, Virginia Tech built Lane Stadium, where they still play today. The home field crowd is reputed to be very intense, giving a real edge to the Hokies when they play at home.
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| Howard "Hopalong" Cassady hopping into the end zone against Michigan in 1954. Photo is from Cleveland.com |
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| Michael Vick playing in the 2000 Sugar Bowl against Florida State. Photo is from blog.nola.com |
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| Ohio Stadium pumped up for a night game. Photo is from Dan Harker of the-Ozone.net |
Virginia Tech Hokies Football Facts:
All-time record: 701-441-46
Record against Ohio State: 0-0
Bowl Appearances/Wins: 27/10
National Championship(s): none
Heisman Winners: none
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