I recently returned to my alma mater, Virginia Tech, for the football program’s annual spring game. It’s always a fun event but it was made even better for me because there were several planned events for all the former Tech players – some sponsored by the university, some arranged by my former teammates.
The university provided the former players with tickets in a large box suite where many of us watched the game. As I moved around the room meeting players from all of the different eras, I was amazed at how much we all had in common in terms of our feelings about the experiences we shared at Tech. It became apparent to me that we were all part of a very special fraternity of ex-players.
The beauty of this fraternity is that all who played the game are welcome. No matter what your race, religion or ethnic background, whether you’re from the hills of southwest Virginia or urban Washington, D.C.: you’re part of the fraternity for life if you played. We may have played on the same team or we might be separated by several generations, but we are bonded by the sweat, effort and struggles of playing college football.
I suppose this is why I get so emotional meeting these fellow players and am so surprised and pleased at how much we still seem like a unit when we get together. We shared some great times, and we also paid a dear price together. We shared the highs of winning and the lows of defeat.
As our tailgate party was winding down in the parking lot outside the stadium after the game, we got a surprise visit from none other than Frank Beamer, the Hokies’ head football coach and the winning-est active college football coach in the United States. He popped right out of his car and joined the party, sharing hugs and stories with all of the ex-players.
After Coach Beamer left we all felt pretty pumped that he had showed up and hung out with us. One player wondered aloud why he would make an appearance at the ex-players’ tailgate party. A few of the former players at the party had played for him but some of us were older and, like me, attended Tech long before the Beamer era. Another ex-player answered the first: “Because he’s one of us.” He shared the same unique experience that we all did, as a player and as a coach.
I must admit that I have recently fallen into the “What have you done for me lately?” view of our football team. The power of that visit and the unity it showed has turned me around. Coach Beamer’s situation reminds me of the song lyric, “Is this the beginning or is this the end?” It doesn’t matter which – I am going to support him and the Hokies either way. I think given Coach Beamer’s record he deserves the support of all of Hokie nation for what he has done for our program over the many years he has been our head coach.
I also want to say a huge thank you to “Mugsy” Meade, “Mongo” Meade, “Big” Smith, “Bucky Wheats” for organizing so much of this great weekend, and to the legendary Lester Karlin for coming by as well.
Have a great weekend,
Ro