All-American Bruce Smith, one of the NFL’s all-time defensive greats, is among the most familiar names in Virginia Tech’s proud football history. FORMER VIRGINIA TECH PLAYERS AND COACHES IN THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME Hunter Carpenter back, 1900-03, ’05 inducted in 1957 Carroll Dale split end, 1956-59 inducted in 1987 Frank Loria safety, 1965-67 Hunter inducted in 1999 Carpenter Carroll Andy Gustafson Dale coach, 1926-29 inducted in 1985 Jerry Claiborne coach, 1961-70 inducted in 1999 Jerry Claiborne Frank Andy Loria Gustafson THE FIRST YEARS OF FOOTBALL AT VIRGINIA TECH efforts of this organization Blacksburg campus on Oct. worn in a football game “It was not football during its early years were 21. The game resulted in a against Roanoke College on and yet we had concentrated on football. 14-10 victory for VAMC with Oct. 26, 1896. At the urging of a few Anderson scoring the first A student contest was held some fun … interested students and touchdown in Tech history. to produce a new school yell suits were ordered, faculty during the fall of 1891, After studying a book of and O.M. Stull won a prize for a number of students rules, Professor Smyth took his new yell, the now famous footballs of various assembled on campus to play the leading role as the Old Hokie. Stull’s yell, in its descriptions bought pick-up games of the new team’s mentor. As a result, original form, was: sport. A year later, largely he came to be known as the and general through the efforts of father of modern football at Hoki! Hoki! Hoki Hy! enthusiasm Professor W.E. Anderson, Virginia Tech. Tech! Tech! V.P.I. ! Professor E.A. Smyth and Sola-Rex Sola-Rah prevailed.” cadets H.B. Pratt and J.W. Old Hokie Polytech-Vir-gin-i-a! Stull, Tech’s first football team In 1896, the words Rae, Ri, V.P.I. — The Bugle, was organized. Anderson Polytechnic Institute were Virginia Tech’s Yearbook, played right tackle and served added to the college’s name At some point an ‘e’ was describing the school’s first as the captain. Smyth was the and it became known as added to Hoki and the name football practices in 1892 “trainer” (or coach) and Virginia Polytechnic Institute, stuck as a nickname for Tech business manager. which in turn became teams and the school’s spirit. Football at Virginia Tech It was necessary for the Virginia Tech. With the When asked about his yell, officially kicked off on Oct. 21, organizers to go into the change in names came Stull admitted that the words 1892 when the school was barracks every day and beg other changes. he used had no hidden or known as Virginia Agricultural men to come out to play The school colors symbolic meaning and Mechanical College. Its because those who were not changed from black and whatsoever, but had been start, however, was slow. placed on the first team one gray to Chicago maroon and thought up in an effort to grab With VAMC President day would refuse to return the burnt orange. The colors attention. His effort was John McBryde’s approval and next. were chosen by the Corps of successful, as thousands of support, an athletic The first game was Cadets and adopted as the fans attending Tech athletic association was organized in scheduled with St. Albans of official college colors in the contests over the past century September 1891. The major Radford and played on the fall of 1896. They were first can testify. VIRGINIA TECH FOOTBALL 231 be a charter member of the newly formed Southern Intercollegiate Conference. The other charter members were Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi State, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington & Lee. In 1922, the league added Florida, LSU, Mississippi, South Carolina, Vanderbilt and Tulane. The University of the South joined the conference in 1923 and in December of that year, the league’s name was officially changed to the Southern Conference. The membership shifted over the years. In 1932 the 13 Hunter Carpenter led his teams to some big wins in the early 1900s. southern-most members formed the Southeastern The Great Carpenter Carpenter was never The VPI-VMI series Conference. In ’36, six new A true Virginia Tech named to the All-America continued as a Thanksgiving members — The Citadel, legend, Hunter Carpenter team because Walter Camp, Day treat through 1969. The William & Mary, Davidson, played in Blacksburg from who named the team at the teams made their last Furman, Richmond and Wake 1900 to 1903 and again in time, said he would never appearance in Victory Stadium Forest — were added. Virginia 1905. His Tech career had name a player who he had on a Saturday in 1971. withdrew in 1937, and George intrigue, controversy and not seen play. Others, Washington and West Virginia greatness. including his former coach Fast Company joined in 1941 and 1950, Carpenter arrived at Sally Miles, placed him on a During its early years, the respectively. In 1953, seven college at age 15 weighing level with Red Grange and Tech football team competed colleges withdrew to form the 128 pounds. He waited two Jim Thorpe. He was named in the South Atlantic Atlantic Coast Conference. years before becoming Tech’s to the College Football Hall Conference. But things Tech remained in the starting right halfback. When of Fame in 1957. changed dramatically for the league until June 1965, when he did get a chance to play, he school with the announcement it withdrew to become an used the alias Walter Brown The Military Classic on Aug. 22, 1921, that it would independent. because his father had of the South forbidden him to play football. For years, Virginia Not until his father saw him Polytechnic Institute and star in a 1900 game against Virginia Military Institute VMI in Norfolk did he give clashed in the “Military approval to young Hunter’s Classic of the South.” Both sport. schools had corps of cadets In 1903, Carpenter helped and a budding rivalry by the Tech defeat a powerful Navy time the series was moved club, 11-0. In that game, he to Roanoke in 1913. kicked a 46-yard field goal Beginning in 1921, the VPI- and, according to published VMI game was played on reports, played much of the Thanksgiving Day and it game without jersey or became the centerpiece of a stockings, which were torn gala affair. from his body. The Tech Corps of In 1905, he scored 82 Cadets would march from points and helped boost the train station to the Hotel Virginia Polytechnic Institute Patrick Henry and the VMI to a 9-1 record that included Corps would march to the Tech’s starting lineup in 1909 averaged just 172 pounds, wins over Army, North Hotel Roanoke. On game but that didn’t stop the Hokies from posting an outstanding Carolina, South Carolina and day, both corps would 6-1 season that started with a 6-0 win against Clemson and Virginia. Carpenter scored five march to Victory Stadium. ended with an 18-5 victory versus North Carolina State. touchdowns in the South The teams were playing for New head coach Branch Bocock, who came to Tech from Carolina game and helped the pride and a 22-inch high the University of Georgia, was the Hokies’ first truly Hokies outscore their Chamber of Commerce professional coach with a full-time salary. opponents 305 to 24. trophy. 232 VIRGINIA TECH FOOTBALL Prominent People who recruited Paul “Bear” stretch, he Several Virginia Tech Bryant to play for the Crimson accumulated rushing players from the early days Tide. and return yardage reached prominent positions in In 1926, a University of of 306, 314 and 353 Southern football. The 1916 Pittsburgh graduate named yards. Tech team featured fullback Andy Gustafson took over the Peake’s coach, Henry “Puss” Redd who was football reins at Tech and Andy Gustafson, said Tech’s head coach from 1932- coached the Hokies’ “Pony he had never seen 40. Teammate William “Monk” Express” backfield. Gustafson Peake’s equal under Younger played defense so would go on to build the a punt. In the 1928 well in New Haven against University of Miami football season, Peake Yale that college football machine as head coach and injured a hip. Though kingmaker Walter Camp athletic director. still recovering, he labeled him “the Southern came off the bench Panther.” Frank Peake and the in the Virginia game As Tech’s Pony Express to run back a punt for athletic After Virginia Tech’s a touchdown on his director in freshman team won a game by first play of the 1941, a wide margin in 1925, a sports game. Peake was Younger publicist nicknamed the team’s named an All- saw his offensive backfield the “Pony Southern halfback team Express”, taking off on Notre his senior year and is upset Dame’s famed “Four still considered one defending Monk Younger Horsemen.” The leader of that of the greatest national group was Frank Peake. He players ever to play champion Georgetown, 3-0, on was joined by Scotty MacArthur, the game for Tech. a field goal by Roger McClure. Herbert “Mac” McEver and The captain of the 1918 Tommy Tomko. The 1932 Team eleven, Hank Crisp, lost his Peake was a fleet back who Virginia Tech’s right hand in a childhood loved the open field. He scored 1932 eleven was one accident, three touchdowns in his first of Tech’s finest but varsity game against Roanoke teams.