First, let me make something perfectly clear: Virginia Tech football is not facing a discipline crisis as ESPN would have you believe. Yes, there have been some incidents as well as room for improvement, but perfection is not possible. None of our players have been involved in felony breaking and entering (UVa.), been associated with armed robbery (Louisville), publicly questioned the direction of the coaching staff (FSU), or participated in a royal rumble with a winless team (Miami).

Penalty yards do not reflect the moral character of a team. Facemask penalties are the result of poor tackling technique not the result of a player?s character. Did you know that teams that have more penalty yardage on the season include such ?despicable? universities as Boise State, Southern Methodist, Utah and Brigham Young? Man, those Mormons must be a bunch of thugs. Faced with the frustration of mistake after mistake, passionate players may argue on the sidelines. Would you rather have them smile and laugh about a game-breaking mistake like Terrell Owens when he drops a pass?

Now that I?ve got that off my chest, let me get to my real point. I have been to every single home game since the 2003 season, and I can say with authority that the crowds this season have been the most subdued of my time at Virginia Tech. That must change Thursday night. Anyone who says that the crowd can?t help never saw the Miami game in 2003, which happens to be the last time we were home underdogs. Hardly anyone outside the student body will ever hear this plea of mine, but remember enthusiasm is contagious! I want to see us in our seats 30 minutes before kick-off warming up our vocal cords and jumping in anticipation for ?Enter Sandman.? Clemson thinks their stadium is loud; I want Lane Stadium to make Death Valley seem like a library. Don?t wait for Clemson to line up, start screaming before they even break the huddle, and then keep screaming until (you cough up blood) and then scream some more. On offense, it should be so quiet that Kirk Herbstreit can hear Glennon?s snap count from his press box. I want the stadium to shake, the crowd to drown out the Skipper, and see people cheer so hard their face turns that hideous shade of Clemson purple. I guarantee our team will bring their A-game Thursday night, and I want us as fans to do the same. LET?S GO HOKIES!

John Stanley

Senior, Electrical Engineering