Hokie Bird
Encyclopedia
The HokieBird is the official mascot of Virginia Tech
. It has been named as one of the top college football mascots in the United States, and spawned a series of children's books featuring college and pro sports mascots, including Hello, HokieBird, published by Mascot Books
.
Regardless of the true origin, the "Gobbler" nickname had already been popularized by 1913 when local resident and VPI employee Floyd Meade trained a large turkey to perform various stunts, including pulling him in a decorated cart before a football game. Meade and other mascots to follow continued having a live turkey on the sidelines of games into the 1950s.
spearheaded a campaign for a new look and name for the mascot, which debuted at the 1981 football game against Wake Forest. The turkey-like figure was referred to as "the Hokie mascot," "the Hokie," and "the Hokie bird" (derived from the "Old Hokie
" cheer), which resulted in changing the official designation of the Virginia Tech mascot to the Hokies.
The costume worn by today's HokieBird made its first appearance in 1987, when Frank Beamer
returned as coach. Although he reinstated the Gobbler to the football team's scoreboard, by then the Hokies nickname had already become the most prominent. The current HokieBird debuted at that season's home opener against Clemson, arriving in a white limousine.
The HokieBird has won national mascot competitions and has been so popular that the mascot landed an appearance on Animal Planet's "Turkey Secrets," shown annually around Thanksgiving
. Now, when referring to Virginia Tech, the term "Hokie" generally refers to a Virginia Tech Student.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, popularly known as Virginia Tech , is a public land-grant university with the main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia with other research and educational centers throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and internationally.Founded in...
. It has been named as one of the top college football mascots in the United States, and spawned a series of children's books featuring college and pro sports mascots, including Hello, HokieBird, published by Mascot Books
Mascot Books
Mascot Books is the largest publisher of licensed children’s sports books in America. Based in Herndon, Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C., Mascot Books creates children’s books for professional teams, colleges, and even elementary schools...
.
Gobblers
Fans of Virginia Tech athletics have referred to the teams by the nickname Fighting Gobblers since the early 20th century. According the Virginia Tech university relations, the name originated in 1909, when football Coach Branch Bocock initiated his players into the "Gobbler Club", a name which appeared in print that same year. Another popular legend regarding the origin of the "Gobblers" moniker refers to when the university was a military college known as the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College (VAMC). As future military officers and gentlemen, cadets were not allowed to look at their plates as they ate. To do so was termed "gobbling" your food and was a cause for punishment. Athletes were given increased portions of food and in consideration of the limited meal time, were allowed to "gobble" their meals. Because of this, the sports teams for VAMC became known as "The Gobblers".Regardless of the true origin, the "Gobbler" nickname had already been popularized by 1913 when local resident and VPI employee Floyd Meade trained a large turkey to perform various stunts, including pulling him in a decorated cart before a football game. Meade and other mascots to follow continued having a live turkey on the sidelines of games into the 1950s.
Fighting Gobblers
The first permanent costumed Gobbler took the field in the fall of 1962, when a civil engineering student raised $200 to create a costume which had a head resembling a cardinal and included real turkey feathers dyed in school colors. This mascot debuted at the then-annual Thanksgiving Day football game between military school rivals VPI and VMI. This costume was modified in 1971 to include a long neck, making it more than seven feet tall, and the name was changed to the "Fighting Gobbler".HokieBird
In reaction to the earlier myths about students "gobbling" their meals, football coach and athletic director Bill DooleyBill Dooley
Bill Dooley is a former American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He served as the head at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University , and Wake Forest University , compiling a career college football record of...
spearheaded a campaign for a new look and name for the mascot, which debuted at the 1981 football game against Wake Forest. The turkey-like figure was referred to as "the Hokie mascot," "the Hokie," and "the Hokie bird" (derived from the "Old Hokie
Old Hokie
Old Hokie is a spirited cheer, often used by fans of Virginia Tech's athletic teams. It was coined by O.M. Stull in a winning student body contest entry to mark the changing of the university's name from Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College to Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1896...
" cheer), which resulted in changing the official designation of the Virginia Tech mascot to the Hokies.
The costume worn by today's HokieBird made its first appearance in 1987, when Frank Beamer
Frank Beamer
Frank Beamer is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University , a position he has held since 1987. From 1981 to 1986, Beamer served as the head coach at Murray State University...
returned as coach. Although he reinstated the Gobbler to the football team's scoreboard, by then the Hokies nickname had already become the most prominent. The current HokieBird debuted at that season's home opener against Clemson, arriving in a white limousine.
The HokieBird has won national mascot competitions and has been so popular that the mascot landed an appearance on Animal Planet's "Turkey Secrets," shown annually around Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...
. Now, when referring to Virginia Tech, the term "Hokie" generally refers to a Virginia Tech Student.
Traditions
- The HokieBird is an active supporter of all Virginia Tech athletic teams, particularly the Virginia Tech Football and Basketball Teams.
- Before football games, he leads the charge onto the field as students jump up and down in the stands to MetallicaMetallicaMetallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
's "Enter SandmanEnter Sandman"Enter Sandman" is a 1991 song by the American heavy metal band Metallica. It was released as the first single from their eponymous fifth album, Metallica. The music was written by Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich...
". - After scores in football, the VT cheerleadersCheerleadingCheerleading is a physical activity, sometimes a competitive sport, based on organized routines, usually ranging from one to three minutes, which contain the components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting to direct spectators of events to cheer on sports teams at games or to participate...
carry out a bench and weights for the HokieBird to perform bench pressBench pressThe bench press is an exercise of the upper body. For bodybuilding purposes, it is used to stimulate the pectorals, deltoids, and triceps. While on his or her back, the person performing the bench press lowers a weight to the level of the chest, then pushes it back up until the arm is straight...
es. He does one press for every point VT has scored. Sometimes, in lieu of bench presses, the HokieBird has done situps or pushups. - The HokieBird has also been known to crowd surf from the bottom of the student section all the way to the top of the stadium.
- At the graduation ceremony, students who portrayed the HokieBird are allowed to wear the giant orange bird feet. In theory, no one is supposed to know who the HokieBirds are until graduation day.