Hokies Turn To Tie Dye For Support

Most people ask, “What is a Hokie?” Now they ask, “What is a Flying Hokie?”

The “Hokies On Fire” program was created by the Student Government Association to bring back a big basketball culture on campus, and show that Virginia Tech is a basketball school according to the SGA website.

The 2007 football season brings in sales for shirts of Orange Effect and Maroon Effect game shirts, and basketball wants a piece.

“Virginia Tech basketball needs to be on student calendars and home games cannot be an afterthought,” states the SGA website. “The sale of T-shirts, campus posters with reminders about coming games will increase the overall awareness of the student body.”

The new basketball shirt is an orange tie-dye T-shirt with “Hokies on Fire” on the front and “Cassell Coliseum: The only place you can see a flying Hokie” on the back.

The shirts are on sale for $7 and are available at the University Bookstore, Volume II Bookstore and the new Coliseum Hokie Shop.

The “Hokies on Fire” men’s game is against Duke. Students are asked to wear the shirts. Duke has proven to be a strong competitor, and the game will be televised on ESPN.

 “Not only will the shirts create unity among the fans and school spirit among the university,” said Alexandria Sarris, a committee member for Hokies on Fire, “but they will serve to help support those who have lost their homes and belongings in the wildfires that have affected Southern California”.

SGA also created the campaign “Fighting Fire with Fire”, giving all the proceeds from the T-Shirts will go to the Red Cross according to Sarris.

With football coming to an end, students still have a sports outlet to go and support. By purchasing a “Hokies on Fire” shirt they can support their team, and help others.

For more information, visit the SGA website at http://www.sga.vt.edu/hokiesonfire/.