The First Bank & Trust Virginia Tech Mailbag: An Emptying Student Section, A Dream ACC Scenario And More

43 Comments

1. 

   JJCJM48 October 27, 2023 at 8:11 AM

   Andy well done. The best way in my opinion to fix this is, make a system where you are tracked entering and exiting the stadium. Then use this data for tracking and develop 3 tiers of when to get student tickets. If you stay all game, first choice, leave early, you have to go against everyone else. Forces students to stay. Also make something cool like a bar or party atmosphere under the north endzone, there’s space to do it there and would be cool to have such a nice bar to watch and take a few minutes off from standing. There’s many solutions, but some are more harsh than others so we will see.
2. 

   moneal October 23, 2023 at 8:46 AM

   That’s gold Jerry. Gold! We need a Seinfeld episode for each week now
3. 

   hokierobbie October 22, 2023 at 9:59 PM

   If the students are leaving early why are we moving the to prime seating displacing Alumni who stay for the entire game!
4. 

   Cheesehokie October 22, 2023 at 12:41 PM

   Re: the students leaving early (TIC): The gals leave early because they’re dressed too scantily to stay warm during foul weather and/or dropping evening temps. The guys leave because the gals wanna leave. Both genders wanna leave by the end of 3Q because alcohol sales are over, and they wanna get into TOTS before the line gets too long. /s
5. 

   rferrell95 October 22, 2023 at 12:25 PM

   Outstanding work on the Seinfeld plotlines! You nailed them.
6. 

   ME96:hokie October 22, 2023 at 11:04 AM

   Students leave early because they got homework and studying to do so they can enjoy the other fun stuff.
7. 

   No_Limit_Hokie October 21, 2023 at 6:05 PM

   "Giant keg parties in the bleachers? (I might actually leave the press box to partake in that.)" I knew there was something I liked about you! Loved the Seinfeld angle. The best possible in that regard, is of course working in a Soup Nazi reference! Hmm... I wonder if Hokie MCPO has any ideas...
   1. 

      squarerootof1 October 22, 2023 at 8:13 AM

      X2. LOVED the Seinfeld angles.. and I tell my students, “ Stop looking at your phones and get off TickerTocker!”
8. 

   jcphokie72 October 21, 2023 at 8:12 AM

   It seems the route more often taken for a three-star is going to a P5 school, not fully developing enough or getting appreciable playing time, then transferring to a G5 (or even FCS) and finishing out his career.
9. 

   Hokie67 October 21, 2023 at 7:57 AM

   The students have been there for every opening kick-off. Enter Sandman has been louder than ever for a 3-8 team. Think about this. In the re-seating for 2024 - there are more student seats being added - because of the student demand for tickets. BTW - how many sellouts have there been this season. Andy - the Steinfeld bit was really clever. A nice adventure to the outside world beyond football. Thanks.
10. 

    HokieKoch October 20, 2023 at 9:41 PM

    Andy, thank you for your answer to my question. The whole college kids think they have better things to do, was not what I was hoping to hear, even if it’s true. I remember college very differently, football was the thing to do. But perhaps that is just my glorified perception in my old mind. It never really is how you remember it.
    1. 

       Novahokie`99 October 21, 2023 at 12:36 AM

       I've had season tickets since I graduated in 1999. We still get to about 3 or 4 games per year but I'll admit that I leave at halftime at least half of the time. It doesn't really have much to do with how good the game is, more that I know I can get to Hokie House in 15 minutes and watch the second half on TV with plenty of beers and plenty of bathroom access. It's better now that they serve beer in the stadium but honestly it's just not that big of a deal. The last game that I remembered meaning everything to me was 2011 vs. Miami. Since then we're a .500 team playing against a bunch of other .500 teams. If you want fans to stay, be a great team. From 1995-2011 I never left a game early, including the ACC Championship in Charlotte and many road games, because you didn't want to miss a thing. When you're .500 it's way easier to not really care. When we get back to going 6-0 or 6-1 at home and playing meaningful games, students (and everyone else) will stick around.
       1. 

          Tallwino October 21, 2023 at 1:33 PM

          You sound like a part time or around only for the good times fan. A true Hokie fan is a full time fan. With the teams through thick and thin; good and bad. GO HOKIES!!!!!!!
          1. 

             GoFightingGobblers October 21, 2023 at 2:36 PM

             I'm in your camp
11. 

    KiloZulu October 20, 2023 at 9:02 PM

    I may be the only one, but I have never watched a single episode of Seinfeld. The characters I know just from clips here and there over the years but an entire episode. Nah.?‍♂️
12. 

    vt78hokiehi October 20, 2023 at 8:20 PM

    Tech runs the ball more at Marshall Yada yada yada and win?
13. 

    Freighttrain October 20, 2023 at 7:56 PM

    I’m looking for to a “Serenity Now” game.
    1. 

       Freighttrain October 20, 2023 at 7:57 PM

       …forward…
14. 

    132960Hokie October 20, 2023 at 6:31 PM

    Tech going away from the run while all coaches say they UNDERSTAND the need to establish the run, as Jerry told the car rental associate, I DON'T THINK YOU DO.
    1. 

       Andy Bitter October 20, 2023 at 6:46 PM

       Perfect! "I know why we run the ball, sir." "I don't think that you do!"
    2. 

       syee74vt96 October 21, 2023 at 10:07 PM

       ?
15. 

    B Hokie October 20, 2023 at 6:26 PM

    Good article. Right before halftime of the WF game, I was stampeded by obnoxious students leaving the game. Frustrating to know I'm probably gonna lose the seats I've worked on for years to accommodate students that leave at the half. AS a WVU fan who was sitting beside me said last year, real fans don't bail on their team. I do agree that not having cell service at games absolutely sucks. Can't even pull up a roster card on TSL! (I've since learned to pull them up before I enter the stadium so I'll have it in my downloads).
16. 

    joe_marsh October 20, 2023 at 5:58 PM

    I'm still trying to FaceTwit.
    1. 

       tspoon5 October 20, 2023 at 8:31 PM

       I think it's YouTwitFace.
17. 

    HokiefromBedford October 20, 2023 at 5:42 PM

    As Kramer would say, “Giddy Up !!”
18. 

    MidloHokie October 20, 2023 at 5:10 PM

    Contrary to popular perception I was surprised at the number of students still in the stands during the 3rd quarter of the Pitt game. Perhaps those questioning student attendance should observe the high-dollar seats on the west side at kickoff. Lots of empties there for many games.
    1. 

       GreenvilleVT October 20, 2023 at 6:50 PM

       Lots of parking spots in several of the lots close to the stadium last week. We sure we want to start criticizing who’s showing up and when they are leaving?
19. 

    HokieTC October 20, 2023 at 4:41 PM

    The 3-Star question was both a great question and interesting answer - thanks for both. 5-stars to both the question and answer. Could say the same about the Seinfeld plot lines - but I couldn't fully enjoy it as I burned the tape of the Marshall and Rutgers games. Thanks
    1. 

       frankyfrankerson October 20, 2023 at 10:05 PM

       yep- great stuff there! i feel like that challenge should exist for every post game review!!
20. 

    4dhokies October 20, 2023 at 4:39 PM

    The Seinfeld stuff alone is worth reading this article. Hearing from my nephew about his experience in the student section- as most know its general admission so to get the in the endzone they have to be there like 90 minutes early. Then if they leave to go to the restroom, etc they risk losing seats. So I can understand kids leaving early. (he doesn't though)
    1. 

       HokieKoch October 20, 2023 at 9:38 PM

       You bring up a good aspect I was not aware of. When did they make student tickets GA? For me freshman year was a lottery, but seats were assigned. After that I bought season student each year, again with assigned seats. Between that and dependencies on smart phones, plain call/text cell phones were just becoming common place while I was in college, this could explain some tendencies to leave.
       1. 

          moneal October 23, 2023 at 8:49 AM

          It’s all co confusing to me. When I was there in the 80’s we sucked. Tickets were all GA. Student section was packed. And the students stayed for the whole game cheering like hell to kick a field goal instead of botching it in the red zone yet again I suppose the main difference is the game wasn’t on TV
21. 

    DW Hokie October 20, 2023 at 4:12 PM

    All your Seinfeld analogies were super, but Marshall is by far my favorite. I think because I'm still bitter (small b) about the Marshall loss, when there was so obviously a path to victory. How could an offensive coordinator BE THAT INEPT? Like I said, still bitter.
22. 

    hokie0611 October 20, 2023 at 4:00 PM

    That's gold, Jerry! Gold! Awesome job with the Seinfeld references. Keep it up!
23. 

    proudhokie2001 October 20, 2023 at 3:55 PM

    stopping the run is so important. its not coach speak.
    1. 

       HokieTC October 20, 2023 at 4:34 PM

       So is out-scoring your opponent. TIC
24. 

    RhinoVT October 20, 2023 at 3:29 PM

    Every mailbag, every one, needs a segment like that last question.
25. 

    DADEC52 October 20, 2023 at 3:17 PM

    Not even a Seinfeld fan and that was still terrific - well played!
26. 

    MOvatechgrad October 20, 2023 at 3:06 PM

    Fantastic!
27. 

    billweeee October 20, 2023 at 2:48 PM

    Well played on the Seinfeld plots - thanks for obliging the request.
28. 

    Two4VT October 20, 2023 at 2:36 PM

    Thanks Andy! Now I know how to set up my Saturday viewing schedules.
29. 

    VTLongball October 20, 2023 at 2:28 PM

    As a Seinfeld fan, those takes are priceless. Nice work sir.
30. 

    Hokies93 October 20, 2023 at 2:26 PM

    Andy, well done! I am so glad you are on the TSL Team. My favorite aspect of TSL has always been the different styles that writers bring. You bring a unique style that blends well with the others.