Go the Distance
by Dan Mazanek
Williamsburg, Virginia – Class of 1989
November 16, 2018
As I watched the fans leaving Lane Stadium in the third quarter with the Hokies trailing Boston College by only seven points, I was mystified. I thought to myself, where is everyone going? This game is far from over! The exodus continued in the fourth quarter and my frustration turned to sadness. The ethereal voice from the iconic sports movie Field of Dreams drifted into my mind – “Go the Distance…”
I’ve been a season ticket holder for almost 20 years and I have witnessed some painful defeats and many more amazing victories. I thought about last season’s incredible goal line stand against Pitt in the final seconds that the early-exiting fans missed. I hugged my two teenage daughters (my oldest is a freshman at Virginia Tech this year) and celebrated the incredible victory with Hokie Nation that day in Blacksburg. Tech’s defense definitely went the distance that afternoon, and I couldn’t help but wonder why every fan couldn’t do the same.
I have fully embraced Virginia Tech’s “This is Home” campaign. A huge reason I decided to attend Tech was because it truly did feel like home to me… and in your home, what do you have? Family. We are more than Hokie Nation – we are a Hokie Family, and there is one thing that families should never do, and that is give up on each other. I think of our student athletes as members of my family and believe that every Hokie fan should too. Would you leave your son or daughter’s sporting event if they weren’t winning? Would you get up and walk out of your kid’s piano recital if they were struggling? As I watched the stadium steadily empty during the fourth quarter, I thought about the effect on the players. They can see us, just as easily as we can see them. Their energy is impacted by our energy. They can’t leave Worsham Field until the final whistle blows, and I sincerely feel that we should resign ourselves to gutting it out too. I hate losing, but losing and winning is part of the game and part of life. After losing three home games in a row, my buddy and I drove to Pittsburgh last weekend hoping to see a Hokie resurgence. Alas, it was not to be, but seeing Heinz Field half-empty at the beginning of the game made me appreciate the fans we have in Blacksburg all the more. We should never take the atmosphere at Lane Stadium for granted, and we should be committed to maintaining that atmosphere for a full 60 minutes of football.
Virginia Tech has arguably one of the most spectacular entrances in college football. The “Enter Sandman” frenzy makes a huge impression on our visitors, and more importantly on recruits, which are the lifeblood of any collegiate program. However, a full Lane Stadium at the end of the game, cheering the never quit, “lunch pail” attitude of the team, would be much, much more impactful. Just imagine what impact a full Lane Stadium at the end of the loss to Notre Dame would have had on the 100+ recruits in attendance. I know that it’s tempting to throw in the towel when we’re losing, especially when it’s cold or wet, but considering the long hours that the players put in practicing and conditioning, I feel that we should be able to commit to three hours on a Saturday to cheer on our beloved Hokies – win or lose. The after-game tailgate can wait.
Tech has a mountain to climb to reach a national championship and the fans are the foundation that can help ultimately lead to that achievement, but if we never reach that pinnacle, I know that giving it our best effort is much more satisfying than quitting. I’m not sure if it’s serendipity or just coincidence, but for anyone that’s seen the recent viral video of the baby bear in Russia trying to climb the steep, snow-covered mountain, I found it to be a perfect metaphor for Tech’s journey and our Hokie Family commitment. The mother bear is climbing with her cub and then is waiting at the top while the cub struggles repeatedly. As she waits, maybe she’s frustrated that the baby bear can’t get up the mountain slope, but she still doesn’t leave. The cub falls even farther down the mountain, but it perseveres. What would happen to the cub if it’s mom just left it? Would it just give up? I don’t know for sure, but I know that mother bear waits for the cub to finally join her – the cub never gives up and neither does she.
What is a Hokie? The best definition I can think of is “a loyal Virginia Tech fan.” Loyalty is a virtue that we should show the team every single game. Loyalty means going the distance. The team needs Hokie Nation and our Hokie Family more than ever right now. I know that many fans are tempted to not make the trek to Blacksburg because they just don’t want to see another loss. If you don’t want to come out to support the football team in trying to win our final two games, that is your prerogative. If you do show up at Lane Stadium, I urge you to stay the entire time and cheer on your Hokies… and like that “crazy” Iowa corn farmer who built a baseball field in the middle of his crop, go the distance!