I've read this thread with great interest and amusement. From my perspective, if my fellow hokies won't/can't buy all their tickets - go for it. I do know that many hardcores gave up on buying throught the school years ago because of the crummy tickets. Mine in Gainsville in 1994 really sucked. In the interest of full disclosure, I grew up on TN football (dad is grad from Maryville, sister is grad as well and lives in Jacksboro, grandfather died at a UT game 9/30/61). An uncle was an original in the TN navy decades ago. After the beatdown at the Gator in '94, when I got home my dad had all his UT memorabilia out on a table with a dummy in a UT sweatsuit sitting behind it. He said, "Before you can pick up your children, you need to bow down to the mighty Vol." My kids were 6 & 4 at the time. Hmm, I wonder what they are up to now, it's been 15 years 
At any rate, it's been 15 years since we played and I'm looking forward to it. Most of my family is going and I will be completely outnumbered by my family as to team affinity, but no matter we'll have a great time win, lose or draw.
My son and I were at both the VT/UNC game and the UT/USC(e) game. I pretty much go to all Hokie home games and some away. He is looking at UT as a college option, but VT is tops on his list. My observations from those two games:
Concessions: Hokies have outstanding smoked turkey legs; At UT could not find a "local" specialty
Crowd: Weather was bad at UT, but the crowd that was there was fired up. One guy told me that UT had not sold all their season tickets for the season; Tech was less than enthusiastic as was the team for the UNC game
Entrance: Running through the T with the black jerseys was fantastic; I'm old and still like jumping to Metallica
Bands: Pride of the Southland >>>> Marching Virginians - they are a relatively new band (I still prefer the Hightie-Tighties - old school)
Teams: As we left the UT/USC game, I mentioned to my son that we (Hokies) may have a chance to play UT in a bowl (little did I know) and what his thought was on that was that UT looked really stout. Two plays stood out in my mind. The first was Hardesty's spin move on a TD run and the second was the 2 pt. conversion (an innovative and gutsy play that Hokie OC BS would never call). The D right out of the chute was on point with 2 TO in the opening minutes; The Hokies have a stout D not up to past year standards, but still very good. If Beamer lets Taylor do his thing (audibles and ad libs) and RW continues his strong running (check out youtube of him dragging and NCST player 10 yds for a TD), the game will be tight.
Tailgates: Nobody touches Nebraska tailgates so I won't compare our two.
Stadium size/attendance: UT is located smack dab in a population center similar to Richmond and VT is located 3 hrs. from a similarly sized area. That does affect attendance, but the Hokies sell out just about every game.
All in all, I'm looking forward to the game. I'm counting on a close game, but would not mind a blow out my way.
BTW, we did lead UA going into the 4th qtr. and you should have beat them.
At any rate, it's been 15 years since we played and I'm looking forward to it. Most of my family is going and I will be completely outnumbered by my family as to team affinity, but no matter we'll have a great time win, lose or draw.
My son and I were at both the VT/UNC game and the UT/USC(e) game. I pretty much go to all Hokie home games and some away. He is looking at UT as a college option, but VT is tops on his list. My observations from those two games:
Concessions: Hokies have outstanding smoked turkey legs; At UT could not find a "local" specialty
Crowd: Weather was bad at UT, but the crowd that was there was fired up. One guy told me that UT had not sold all their season tickets for the season; Tech was less than enthusiastic as was the team for the UNC game
Entrance: Running through the T with the black jerseys was fantastic; I'm old and still like jumping to Metallica
Bands: Pride of the Southland >>>> Marching Virginians - they are a relatively new band (I still prefer the Hightie-Tighties - old school)
Teams: As we left the UT/USC game, I mentioned to my son that we (Hokies) may have a chance to play UT in a bowl (little did I know) and what his thought was on that was that UT looked really stout. Two plays stood out in my mind. The first was Hardesty's spin move on a TD run and the second was the 2 pt. conversion (an innovative and gutsy play that Hokie OC BS would never call). The D right out of the chute was on point with 2 TO in the opening minutes; The Hokies have a stout D not up to past year standards, but still very good. If Beamer lets Taylor do his thing (audibles and ad libs) and RW continues his strong running (check out youtube of him dragging and NCST player 10 yds for a TD), the game will be tight.
Tailgates: Nobody touches Nebraska tailgates so I won't compare our two.
Stadium size/attendance: UT is located smack dab in a population center similar to Richmond and VT is located 3 hrs. from a similarly sized area. That does affect attendance, but the Hokies sell out just about every game.
All in all, I'm looking forward to the game. I'm counting on a close game, but would not mind a blow out my way.
BTW, we did lead UA going into the 4th qtr. and you should have beat them.
