East Carolina University has a special relationship with Virginia Tech University. ECU was the first team to play VT on national television after the shooting tragedies on that campus. As a consequence of Terry Holland's leadership, the efforts of the athletics staff and our generous fans we showed up with a check for $100,000 to add to the fund for the victims' families.

Even before the announcement of our donation, as we rolled in on game day on the ECU team buses, the VT tailgaters waved and gave us lots of thumbs up. On the field just before the start of the game and after an emotional video remembering the lives lost, the check was presented. Instantly the Hokies cheerleading team led a chant three times from on side of the stadium to the other, “Thank you - Pirates.”

Last year Chancellor Ballard and I again checked in at the ECU team hotel in Roanoke the night before another greatly anticipated game with the Hokies. On that occasion we enjoyed a well-attended Pirate Club event.

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