A taste of Hokie hospitality
Little did I know that I’d find the Tailgaters of the Week in a bar all the way across campus from Lane Stadium, several hours before kickoff.
When I wandered into the Hokie House after lunch, I was looking for a cool, frothy beverage to get me ready for an afternoon of walking. But as I squeezed my way up towards the bar, I encountered a group of Virginia Tech faithful, one with an accent that sounded a little too familiar. I was convinced I heard the voice of someone from South Louisiana, somewhere a bit west of New Orleans but east of Gonzales.
It turned out to be one of a set of siblings, each in town with their spouses, who were born and raised in coastal northern Virginia. Lee, as he introduced himself, was the only one with an out-of-place accent, as if a remnant from a previous life lived on the bayou. In this life, though, Lee was a Hokie House OG — a bartender from the early years of this Blacksburg mainstay returning to visit his old stomping grounds.
After we all discussed college football, Lane Stadium’s greatest moments, and my various college football travels over a couple rounds of beer, the group graciously bowed out to go set up their tailgate, with Lee giving me rough directions to the Chicken Hill lot where they’d be setting up in case I was able to swing by later.
Hours later, after hopping around to check out Top of the Stairs, the infamous Center Street student tailgating, and the Virginia Tech marching band’s walk to the stadium, I heard someone call my name. I turned to see Joe, another member of the group, waving to me from the tailgate.
As I walked over and joined in, I was immediately bombarded with offers of beer, grilled chicken wings, and cigars. There was music, both from speakers and from the marching band proceeding to the lot across the street and into Lane Stadium. We even celebrated a birthday and ate cupcakes. It was the perfect last stop before heading into the stadium for Tech’s electric pregame festivities.
So here’s to Lee, Joe, and crew, whose tailgate hospitality made this short trip a memorable one.
CFB Travel Guy 