Weekly Editor's Blog: You’ve Gotta Believe!

[Associate Travel Editor]

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By the time the fourth quarter rolled around at muggy, rain-soaked Jordan-Hare last Saturday
night, the atmosphere inside the stadium had grown quite tense. Auburn was trailing Kansas
State 13-9 in its season opener, and the offense seemed incapable of scoring a touchdown.

That’s when it happened.

A sprightly orange-and-blue clad fan in Section 15 stood up and began to yell at his fellow
Tiger supporters. “You’ve gotta believe!” he implored, arms wide, palms turned toward the
sky. “You’ve gotta believe!”

After every series of downs, he continued his tirade. To his delight, Auburn went on to win
the game 23-13, scoring twice in a span of 50 seconds late in the game. But this optimistic
fan sums up the thing I love most about the kickoff of college football season.
Everybody believes!

Need proof? Ask the boys who play for Appalachian State. This obscure little David rolled
into Michigan’s Big House and felled the Big Ten’s Goliath, all because they believed they
could. Arkansas State gave mighty Texas a run for its money, while Georgia Tech’s Rambling
Wreck hung 33 points on Notre Dame, avenging last year’s opening loss.

Still, the most moving display of hope and optimism came during pregame festivities at
Virginia Tech. Both the Hokies and the East Carolina Pirates honored those slain in last
spring’s brutal massacre. The event proved a healing balm for students, faculty, staff,
and the entire Tech community. What’s more, it showed what college football can be—no,
what it ought to be.

[brdgebldr]

I believe! Woo-hoo! War Eagle!

[scarlettdouble]

And what about those CLEMSON TIGERS stomping all over FSU!! :D

[Associate Travel Editor]

You're right! Clemson manhandled FSU, but I had already written this entry by the time the game ended. Chalk one up for Tommy B.!

[luckydog]

Still, the most moving display of hope and optimism came during pregame festivities at
Virginia Tech. Both the Hokies and the East Carolina Pirates honored those slain in last
spring’s brutal massacre. The event proved a healing balm for students, faculty, staff,
and the entire Tech community. What’s more, it showed what college football can be—no,
what it ought to be.

I couldn't agree more! What a truly special day it was. Truthfully, the game was almost "beside the point".

The week of the Va Tech tragedy, ECU challenged their fans & Pirate Club members, to raise money for Va Tech's Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund. The Pirate Club has been raising money, since April, & ECU fans were given the opportunity to donate $25.00 each, when they purchased their game tickets. ECU officials presented these funds to Va Tech, right before the game.... a heartfelt check for $100,000.

Outside the stadium, during the tailgating, Hokie fans invited ECU fans to join them, & Pirate flags were flying, right along side their own. Signs thanking ECU for their support, were all around.

A moment of silence was held, before the game, to remember those who lost their lives. Tears were shed. Likewise, the crowd fell silent, viewing a 2 minute video montage of images after the shooting (the music played, was by a Va Tech alumni). There was a flyover by 4 F-15s. Orange balloons were released into the sky...one for each of the 32 victims.

Tradition was broken, as the Pirates entered the stadium, with the Hokies. There was no trash talking or taunting, as they met each other midfield. Hokie fans stood up & cheered. One side of the sold-out stadium cheered "Thank you", & the other side chimed in afterwards "Pi-rates!". The Hokie quarterback, Corey Gordon, paused to clap for the Pirates. Tech's wide receiver, Justin Harper, kneeled to kiss the ribbon of remembrance, painted onto the field's sideline. The ECU band wore ribbons of remembrance, for the slain Hokies, on their uniform, as did ECU's athletics director. All the Hokie players wore ribbons on their uniforms & Hokie fans donned "Hokies United" t-shirts.

Despite not having their star quarterback, & being tremendous underdogs, against the 9th seeded Hokies, ECU refused to roll over & they played a great game of football.

At the conclusion to the game, ECU officials commented to Tech officials, that they should be very proud of the way their fans received the Pirates, & warmly offered them their cheers of thanks...saying they had "set the bar" & served as a truly admirable model, we'd be proud for our own fans to emulate, in the future. And they hoped other teams would follow our example, & show their support for the VA Tech, as well.

After the game, the Pirates joined the Hokies, kneeling at the 50 yard line, in prayer, together. Then, they stood & sang the Hokie anthem.

As a Pirate, myself, I was so very proud to be an alumni, that day. What I witnessed, on behalf of both teams & their fans, was very powerful & emotionally moving. I wholeheartedly agree with our officials...the Hokies are to be commended for their enormous strength & also for their generous show of gratitude. What a class act both teams were!

What a wonderful day of remembrance, support & healing....and football!

[Belle205]

luckydog, I realized I hadn't seen you post in a few days and I was in search of your name when I saw this. I cried as I watched this on TV Saturday and DH commented that I would have never made it thru the day at that game. Your accounting of the activites of Saturday have brought me to tears again. Thank you my friend for sharing this with us.

[luckydog]

Well it's good to be missed miss belle....I'll head over to the front porch & fill you in, so as not to hijack this thread.

That game was really awesome though wasn't it?!!! I thought it was a very special day & one that just made you feel so good/proud inside, just to watch. It was sad...but yet so powerfully hopeful & healing too. You could just feel that both the Hokies & the Pirates really meant the sentiments they were expressing, with their hearts. It made my day...even just watching it on TV!

I can't wait to go to the ECU Pirates/UNC Tarheels game, this coming weekend...ECU's first home game! And what a huge game it will be...we were so excited to get tickets...it's been sold-out for a while.

It will be the first time DD will have ever been to a college football game...I imagine it will make a huge impression on her. This game will be a particularly big deal & is a local rivalry thing. The city of Greenville is cloaked in it's game day attire already, & has been, this entire week...the flag's & decorated cars & signs are already up! The town is simply bathed in purple & gold & the excitement is in the air. We've been invited to the annual Ayden Collard Festival, before the game. We wouldn't normally attend that, but this year, the mayor of Ayden made a bet with the mayor of Chapel Hill...that he could out collard-eat him in a contest, before the game! We've been invited to attend, by close friends/relatives of the mayor, & witness the pregame fun & they really want us to come. So, we'll likely do both.

DD is a tad bit confused though...we normally pull for the Pirates & the Tarheels. It's just very rare, for them to play each other. She just can't understand why Mommy & Daddy are telling her they are going to be cheering for the purple & gold this time... & forget the heels this time! She's refusing to turn her back on the blue & white!:eek: She wants to wear all the colors & support both!:p

Now if we can just keep the churning hurricane/tropical storm, off our NC coast, at bay, until after Saturday!!!!:eek: That would surely rain out all our fun. We're all keeping a very watchful eye on it.

[Associate Travel Editor]

Wow, luckydog! Thanks for the post about Virginia Tech. I hope to attend a game in Blacksburg later this season.

In the meantime, we'd love to hear about DD's first game. Someone wrote about the Pirates' last week when readers commented on gameday traditions. It sounds like a blast!

After sitting in the rain last week at Auburn, I'll pray that you have fair weather...