College football fans greet the start of the season with a mix of optimism and excitement. That is certainly true at East Carolina University and at Virginia Tech, where the football teams serve as touchstones for their communities.
In the stands of Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Va., on Sept. 1, grief and sorrow tempered the proceedings as the Virginia Tech community mourned the 32 students and instructors killed on April 16. However, through those tears came gratitude — for the thousands of Pirate fans who made the trip and East Carolina's actions after the tragedy.
Those in attendance will not forget the experience. And one can hope it demonstrates how fans can approach the fiercest of rivalries with respect, recognizing that the desire for a win should never eclipse kindness or decency.
Virginia Tech fans pride themselves on making Lane Stadium one of the most intimidating facilities in college football. Though it only holds 66,115, the noise generated by the Hokie faithful regularly provides a marked advantage for the home team, rattling opposing quarterbacks and creating mistakes.
Last weekend, the electricity common to the stadium was replaced by a more gracious and accommodating fan base eager to welcome their guests in purple and gold. East Carolina was among the first to step forward after April 16 with a pledge to help, and Chancellor Steve Ballard and Athletics Director Terry Holland presented a check for $100,000 to the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund prior to the game.
In response to that ceremony, Virginia Tech fans responded with a call-and-response cheer of "Thank you" and "Pirates," loud enough to shake the mountains of the nearby Blue Ridge. The gratitude was genuine and palpable among those fortunate enough to be in the bleachers that day. Many East Carolina fans in attendance have expressed how touched they were by the gesture.
An equally notable experience occurred outside the stadium before and after the game, where East Carolina fans were treated with respect and appreciation almost without exception. Tech fans wanted to win the game, of course. But they wanted their guests to enjoy the visit and ensure they were made to feel welcome.
When asked how April 16 would be reflected by the university in the future, Virginia Tech Head Coach Frank Beamer said, "I do believe that this school will come back tighter, stronger, more together, more caring, more respectful of each other than ever before."
The Virginia Tech community does not want a deranged gunman and a terrible tragedy to define the university. Instead, it hopes to show the world that it can respond with kindness and compassion in the face of that horror.
East Carolina fans were the first to experience that perspective. And they can be the first to unfurl that caring and compassion at their tailgates before the Pirates' home opener.
A sibling rivalry takes center stage in Greenville today when the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill comes to Greenville for only the second time to play East Carolina. The game is one hotly anticipated by fans of both schools, but particularly among the Pirates, who relish every opportunity to topple the Tar Heels.
While passions are expected to run high, they should be tempered by the same measure of respect and hospitality evident in Blacksburg last weekend. Coach Holland has urged Pirate fans to warmly greet all of East Carolina's opponents this year, starting with North Carolina. He, too, was moved at Virginia Tech, and desires a similarly welcoming approach to game day guests while maintaining Dowdy-Ficken's raucous enthusiasm for the home team.
Pirate fans want to walk away with the win, and they will play a part in establishing a home-field advantage. But a victory will taste sweeter if their guests leave impressed with the fan base and this community, as well as a talented football team.
Brian Colligan is the editorial page editor of The Daily Reflector and a graduate of Virginia Tech and East Carolina University.
