The Hokies Pep Band Takes on March

The Hokies Pep Band shows its support on Virginia Tech Women’s Basketball as it competes in the 2025 WBIT Tournament (Joey Bachert)

While the arrival of spring is often tied to longer days and warmer weather, the college sports world also celebrates the high-octane March Madness Tournament. This year, both Virginia Tech Men’s and Women’s basketball fell short of making the tournament, with the women’s team being the first team out of the women’s NCAA tournament. 

Although, for the first time since 2017, Virginia Tech will not be competing in March Madness, the women’s team did receive an invitation to the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT). Since Tech was the first team out (or in other words being the best team that didn’t qualify for the NCAA Tournament), the Hokies received the first overall seed in the WBIT.

In its first-round matchup hosting North Carolina A&T, Virginia Tech came away with a 61-45 victory against the Aggies. Although it may be the postseason, the band was in its usual spot as it cheered for the Hokies.

(Joey Bachert)

Virginia Tech will square off against Texas Tech in Cassell Coliseum on Sunday, Mar. 23 at 2:00 p.m.. In the event they win that game as well as the game after, they will travel to Indianapolis for the semifinal and championship rounds. If they do so, the band could possibly travel with them.

Though Virginia Tech Basketball was unable to qualify for March Madness, the women’s team’s season is not over just yet. With that, there is no doubt that the Hokies Pep Band will cheer them on until the end.

New Look, Same Pep: A Glimpse Into the Hokies Pep Band for the 2024-2025 Season

With winter approaching and the college football season coming to an end, the Hokies Pep Band has taken to Cassell Coliseum to get fans excited for the men’s basketball season at Virginia Tech.

Photo courtesy of Evan Bainer.

Like it does every year, the Hokies Pep Band has returned to Cassell to cheer on the men’s basketball team for the 2024-2025 season. The band, known for its relaxed vibe and great sound, has been an integral part of creating a fun and energetic atmosphere within the coliseum.

However, the band will have a new look this season, as it has relocated to sections closer to the court in order to have a greater effect on the game atmosphere. This change came after ongoing discussion between Chad Reep, the director of the Hokies Pep Band, and the Virginia Tech athletics department. Prior to this season, the band was located up towards the back of the coliseum and was adjacent to the student section. With a view looking down onto the court, the band would project its sound across the entirety of the stadium rather than just to the court itself.

The initial move was down directly in front of where the band previously was, which also put part of the band directly across the court from the opponent sideline, allowing the sound to travel directly towards the opposing team during the game.

However, after Virginia Tech’s first trio of home games, the band was relocated to within the student section for the matchup against Jacksonville University. Now, the ensemble is located at the front of the section with a head-on view of the court. With the new seating came a plethora of opportunities for the band to be featured not only on the screen in Cassell, but also on TV on channels such as the ACC Network. 

Photo courtesy of Evan Bainer.

The new seating arrangements have also allowed the band to be more immersed in the student atmosphere. As the band and the students regularly do their in-game cheers and traditions, being closer to the student section has allowed the band to create a beneficial impact on the game for the Hokies. Brody Semones, an alto saxophone in the band, added to this sentiment as he spoke positively about the new seats.

“I think [the new setup] is great,” said Semones. “It gives us an opportunity to engage more in the game and with the other spectators, and it also makes our presence more known.”

As Virginia Tech’s season continues, the band will stay in its new section for the foreseeable future. Regardless of where the band is, however, Reep noted the overall importance of the ensemble supporting the basketball team.

“Our job is to be the biggest fans and to play great music,” Reep said to the band. 

Whether it’s through chanting “Let’s go Hokies” or playing Tech Triumph, the Hokies Pep Band will continue its support of the basketball program here at Virginia Tech this season as it cheers on the men’s team in Cassell Coliseum. Now that it is within the student section, the band will look to be even more energetic and supportive for the Hokies.

Pregame: VT v. Boston College

It was Thursday night college football under the bright lights in Lane Stadium, and the energy and fans did not disappoint!

In its most recent home game this past Thursday, Oct. 17, Virginia Tech squared off against the visiting Boston College Eagles in front of a sold out crowd in Lane Stadium. Sporting their new orange jerseys for the Orange Effect game, the Hokies played through the chilly Blacksburg autumn weather.

The Commonwealth. (Photo credit: AJ Joseph)

In the press conference the Monday prior to the game, Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry noted the tradition the Thursday night atmosphere would bring to Blacksburg.

“ESPN Thursday Night Football [and] Virginia Tech go hand in hand,” Pry said. “This series is tied 3-3 on Thursday night against Boston College, so it’s a rubber match.”

Virginia Tech quarterback Kyron Drones also commented on the game as well as the energy that the sold out crowd would bring on Thursday.

“I was glad to be a part of it last year... Even on a Thursday night it’s sold out, so I’m glad to have these fans behind us and then just going out there and giving them a show Thursday.”

Pregame

Along the lines of tradition, the Marching Virginians performed one of our favorite shows Thursday night in our annual Pregame show. Cued by a drumline cadence, the MVs began their run onto the field, outlining the shape of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the process. Once set, the band performed its traditional Fanfare from “Superman,” and the piece’s grand ending marked the start of the pregame performance. 

Next came the well-known pieces in the Shenandoah Chorale and March, VPI Victory March, and Tech Triumph, which came after the controlled chaos that is the “toilet bowl.” 

Hi, Hokie Bird! (photo credit: MV Online Content)

After Tech Triumph came the melodic “Copland Colors,” where the nation’s colors were marched out onto the field and were presented for the national anthem which soon followed.

Once the national anthem finished, and the cannon fired off, the band played Tech Triumph once again, and set up the tunnel for the football team’s run on to the classic “Enter Sandman” entrance.

First Half

After Boston College was unable to score on the opening drive of the game, the Hokies got off to a hot start with quarterback Kyron Drones running in an 11-yard touchdown on Tech’s first offensive drive of the game. This was later followed by two turnovers by the Eagles which led to two Virginia Tech scores, another one from Drones and then one from running back Bhayshul Tuten. Then, in the last two minutes of the half, the Hokies drove down the field and scored another touchdown on a reception from Tuten. By halftime, Virginia Tech had a commanding 28-0 lead.

Second Half

The Hokies got off to a slow start in the second half, starting off their first three possessions with a punt, interception, and fumble on their first three drives. Boston College responded to these miscues, scoring a touchdown on each of their answering possessions. The Eagles very quickly put up 21 unanswered points, and the score was 28-21 in favor of Virginia tech midway through the third quarter. The stress was slowly increasing in the MV stands, but as always, we figured Virginia Tech would pull through.

Hi, Thomas! (photo credit: Andrew Single)

The Hokies did just that as they erupted for 14 points in the fourth quarter. Bhayshul Tuten led the charge on offense, as he scored another touchdown on the board and then delivered the final blow to the Boston College defense with a 61-yard touchdown to put the Hokies up by 21 points. In doing all of this, Tuten also set the single-game rushing record in Virginia Tech program history with 266 rushing yards on the night. Boston College would be unable to score the rest of the game, and the Hokies would come away with the 42-21 victory. Virginia Tech now sits at a 4-3 record on the season, and is only two wins away from becoming bowl eligible for a second straight year. 

We’ll be back in Lane Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 26 when Virginia Tech takes on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in another pivotal ACC matchup. For that game, the band will be performing our homecoming show at halftime! 

As previously mentioned, the annual pregame show is one of the favorites among the Marching Virginians. From the run-on to the toilet bowl to setting the tunnel for “Enter Sandman,” we love every minute of the tradition the band brings to gamedays, especially on nights like the one this past Thursday. The tradition the game brought, not only for the football teams but for the band as well, serves as a reminder of what creates the backbone for the Spirit of Tech in its 50th year.