Athletic traditions

Fight song



“Tech Triumph,” the university's most popular fight song, was composed in 1919 by Wilfred P. Maddux (Class of 1920) and his neighbor, Mattie Eppes. It was officially adopted by the student body in December 1919.

Techmen, we’re Techmen, with spirit true and faithful,

Backing up our teams with hopes undying;

Techmen, oh, Techmen, we’re out to win today,

Showing “pep” and life with which we’re trying;

V.P., old V.P., you know our hearts are with you

In our luck which never seems to die;

Win or lose, we’ll greet you with a glad returning,

You’re the pride of V.P.I.

Chorus:

Just watch our men so big and active

Support the Orange and Maroon. Let’s go Techs.

We know our ends and backs are stronger,

With winning hopes, we fear defeat no longer.

To see our team plow through the line, boys.

Determined now to win or die:

So give a Hokie, Hokie, Hokie, Hy,

Rae, Ri, old V.P.I.

"Alma Mater"



The "Alma Mater" was born in spring 1939 when Ernest T. Sparks (Class of 1940) composed music and L.G. Chase (Class of 1941) wrote lyrics for a student contest.

Verse:

Sing praise to Alma Mater dear,

For V.P.I. we'll ever cheer;

Come lift your voices, swell the song,

Our loyalties to her belong.

Chorus:

So stand and sing, all hail to thee.

VT, all hail to thee.

Verse:

The Orange and Maroon you see,

That’s fighting on to victory;

Our strife will not be long this day,

For glory lies within this fray.

Verse:

All loyal sons and daughters, one,

We raise our banner to the sun;

Our motto brings a spirit true,

That we may ever serve you.

“Enter Sandman”



Written and recorded by the heavy metal band Metallica, “Enter Sandman” has been played in Lane Stadium since 2000 as the football team enters the field. The tradition of students jumping up and down during the song started on December 1, 2001, when a Marching Virginians band member started jumping during the song and was joined by his colleagues. The tradition eventually spread to the basketball teams’ entrances in Cassell Coliseum.

The lunch pail



The famed Virginia Tech lunch pail symbolizes the blue-collar approach of the Hokies’ football defense, developed by assistant head coach and defensive coordinator Bud Foster. Foster’s Lunch Pail Defense Foundation provides scholarships for high school students from the New River and Roanoke valleys, as well as assisting the families of those awaiting organ transplants.