I went to the Military Bowl. Had front row seats on 15 yard line the right behind our bench. Was just walking down to our seats when we returned the opening kickoff for a TD (to the end zone opposite the one I was closer to).
That’s all I remember from that game. I think my brain and body froze shortly thereafter and I have no recollection of anything else before I was in my car driving home.
Oh man I remember seeing that score come in. Absolutely brutal.
09 vs Tech is another brutal one. I was out in the parking lot tailgating with a few old school hoos. Walked in at the start of the 2nd half watch throw a pick on the first play I saw, didn’t even make it to my seat, walked right back out to the parking lot and fried a turkey.
Can’t imagine how miserable that must have been.I was in pain in my cozy den watching my big screen tv (and thinking, “It must be miserable out there”)
For me, the worst game experience was at Tech in ‘90. Got the tickets about halfway through the season (before GT), thinking this would be the game that sealed 11-0 and a bowl appearance that would let us play for the national title.
Of course after GT the wheels fell off…Shawn got hurt in the Maryland game and didn’t even play against VT. It was freezing cold and windy in Blacksburg (shocking)…their fans were especially obnoxious that game…and we got stomped. All around miserable experience.
I was at that game with my father and brother. My enduring memory is of the Tech students throwing saccharine packets onto the field late in the game to mock our Sugar Bowl bid (back then, the bowl committees extended invitations before the season was over). Like you said, from the weather to the on-field action to the fan behavior, everything about that night was awful.
It’s definitely not competitive in the last 2+ decades, but my point was it just means more to them. Neither team is good this year, but at the end of season game I’d expect as many or maybe more Hokies in Scott than Hoos.
Since Welsh left it feels like I’ve watched a team (on our side) that saw it just as another game. It’s never “just another game” for them.
I remember as far back as Fall 95 – which was an interesting game for sure – older dudes claiming that UNC was a much bigger rival, when my actual experience of the intensity of the rivalry among people my own age was significantly different.