AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2008 > April > 16 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USRemembering Virginia Tech
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In many ways it feels like yesterday.
In other ways it seems like a lifetime ago.
But it was a year ago today that the horrible word came from Virginia Tech that 32 sons and daughters and mothers and fathers had been murdered by one sick individual.
I’m thinking about Virginia Tech today and all of the parents whose hearts are breaking for the millionth time since getting the awful news.
I’m thinking about the incredible resilience of the students at Virginia Tech who were determined that one madman was not going to destroy what they loved about their university. When the television cameras showed up and indulged in the inevitable excesses of the 24-hour news cycle, we didn’t see young people wringing their hands and falling apart. What we saw was a steely resolve. I was very impressed by those kids.
And I’m thinking about the role that football played in the healing process. Head coach Frank Beamer and his staff gathered the Virginia Tech players together and when all were accounted for, he called off the rest of spring practice. He told his players to take as much time as they needed away. If they wanted counseling, he would get it for them.
Then he challenged them. The coming weeks and months would be difficult for everybody. But there was going to come a time when collectively, Virginia Tech would have to move forward. The Sept. 1 season opener against East Carolina would be such a time and Beamer wanted his men to be ready to do their part.
They were. I’ve spoken to a number of people who were in Blacksburg that day and they told me it was one of the most emotional experiences they could ever remember. That wound, of course, will never be completely healed. But that day told everybody at Virginia Tech that it was okay to keep on.
My main point is this. There are a lot of problems with college football. All of us, this writer included, sometimes take the game far too seriously.
But for all the excesses of college football, and there are many, there is so much more that is good. At its core, college football unites large numbers of people in a way that no other sport can. It brings families together on beautiful fall afternoons. It reunites long, lost friends and helps others to maintain friendships year after year.
My best two friends in the world are Carl Brantley and Tom McMillen. College brought us together 30 years ago but college football has kept us together because I know I will see them every year at the Georgia-Florida game in Jacksonville. You can’t put a price tag on something like that.
When Virginia Tech needed help a year ago, college football was there to play a small, but significant, role in helping that campus deal with its grief. It’s just another reason we love the game.
Comments
By Roswell Ed
April 16, 2008 9:26 AM | Link to this
One mentally ill little pri<* caused so much death and destruction.
Sad tragedy.
By Steeledawg
April 16, 2008 9:31 AM | Link to this
I think that what takes college football to the next level for most of us is that connection to campus and close friends that we only see during the fall.
The games and the drama they provide are great, but what really seperates the college game from the NFL are the memories that being back on campus with old friends and generations of family members create.
College football, especially in the south, has the ability to bring together an entire state, regardless of religion or political party everyone can get together and pull for good ole State U.
By Ross Davis
April 16, 2008 9:43 AM | Link to this
Tony,
Your words are so true. We do blow football way out of proportion far too many times, but it does help bring so many of us together in ways that nothing else can. I feel VERY privileged to know you, Carl, and Tom and can’t wait to see all three of you back in Statesboro soon!
By Bamafan
April 16, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this
Tony, You paint a beautiful picture about what is good about college football. The Virginia Tech people will have my prayers today!!
By ATL Hokie
April 16, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this
Tony,
This was an excellent article. Hokie football was a welcome distraction and a way to bring everyone together on campus after the events in April. And now living in Atlanta, my closest friends from college have decided to come to the VT @ GT game every year it’s played in Atlanta for a reunion.
By ATL Hokie
April 16, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this
Tony,
This was an excellent article. Hokie football was a welcome distraction and a way to bring everyone together on campus after the events in April. And now living in Atlanta, my closest friends from college have decided to come to the VT @ GT game every year it’s played in Atlanta for a reunion.
By Miles
April 16, 2008 10:51 AM | Link to this
As honorable as it is that you’ve remembered the anniversary of its victims, the shooting at Virginia Tech, and at Northern Illinois as well, had nothing to do with college football. Speaking with the families of those who died, I’d suspect not a word about Hokie football would come from their lips. Sometimes we do take the game too seriously. It appears that this is one of those times.
By Rob the Dawg
April 16, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this
My heart is with anyone associated with VT today, and this Dawg wishes them all the best. If it were my school that went through that, I’m not sure how it would affect me, but to be able to rally behind the school’s teams would be a big part of the healing. The things that divide us as team and competitors are suddenly forgotten about in times like that.
By Rob the Dawg
April 16, 2008 11:42 AM | Link to this
Miles, I don’t think Tony is saying that VT football was the answer for the families or all of those who were grieving and had ties to the school. But it did help some, and that has nothing to do with how seriously you or anyone else might take it.
By Buck
April 16, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this
Mike Vick, Meangelo Hall, Jimmy Williams are some of Va Tech’s and Frank Beamers finest…how are we going to heal this knuckleheads?
By jmt
April 16, 2008 12:36 PM | Link to this
It only takes one fool to ruin a blog and Bud the only thing you can say is said these are human being too. What if we said all white people are as sick as you are, that is called sterotyping. Everyone who posted feels what these people have been through, I will pray that someone gives you a hug and maybe you will feel some happiness in your life. Will pray for you
By GT
April 16, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this
If there is something more American than college football they haven’t invented it yet. Little towns like Blacksburg, Athens,Auburn and Clemson are taken over by father and son, husband and wife, first dates and grandparents. In Norman Ok. they wear cowboy hats in Knoxville they arrive by boats, South Bends has its touchdown Jesus, Durham its blue devil. There is the black lady jumping up when her son is hurt on the field, being comforted by an old white guy telling her “your son will be alright”. Its the fat tuba player sharing the sideline with the bouncy cheerleader. The jets flying over in salute, the flag waving high. It is a church without a religion, where all that mean well are welcome. Where better to bury our sorrow and to remember what is right about this country. Every once in a while I have got to stop hating those Dawgs long enough to remember how sad this world would be without em. GO YELLOW JACKETS!!!
By Dawg Fud
April 16, 2008 2:04 PM | Link to this
Born and raised in Virginia (attended UGA), my thoughts and prayers are with the Hokie Nation and the people of Virginia.
GO HOKIES!
By m
April 16, 2008 2:05 PM | Link to this
The trajedy at Virginia Tech caused lives to be lost unnecessarily. The trajedy at Ga. Tech, of Chan Gailey, caused football games to be lost unnecessarily. Thank God and Greyhound that both schools nightmares are over.
By azcat225
April 16, 2008 4:12 PM | Link to this
Miles and Buck, I have to agree with jmt. I have no idea why you were compelled to post what you did, other than unhappiness and/or bitterness with your own lives. Here’s hoping that some day you find some sort of peace and happiness.
m, I am getting weirded out by your sick obsession with Chan Gailey. Move on—-get a life—-(insert appropriate phrase or cliche here). At the least, you could have passed on your Greyhound post for this one day…
By J
April 16, 2008 8:10 PM | Link to this
Football does bring people together. And many of those that died that day would be alive today if the students with carry permits would have been allowed by VT to safely carry & conceal.
By Atlanta Gator
April 16, 2008 8:20 PM | Link to this
It is truly shocking how much lasting harm a single deranged individual can cause, and how little our system is able to do to prevent such occurrences. My heart goes out to the Virginia Tech community here in Atlanta and across the country. God bless you, every one.
By Bill Morris
April 16, 2008 10:06 PM | Link to this
There is something that can be done to reduce the body count or stop these kind of shootings for the most part. Let faculty who pass stringent psycological testing and firearms training carry concealed weapons. It would also help to make it very publicly known. These psychos know all to well they’re facing an unarmed and helpless group of victims. In EVERY state concealed carry laws have been passed many types of violent crime have decreased-without exception. Psychos don’t give a rats rearend about more and more anti gun laws. Simply allowing people to defend themselves has and will ALWAYS be the most effective way to deter and prevent violent criminals from carrying out their twisted plans.
By Signal Mtn Dawg
April 16, 2008 11:26 PM | Link to this
Tony - excellent article.
The point is this - college football served as a rallying point for many to get together - hug one another - be proud in the spirit of their school - remember the lost loved ones - and to take another step toward healing.
Yes - we make a big deal out of a game. But we - especially in the south - have made these games into events.
UGA football is a rallying point for me and my two brothers as we are scattered. We call each other during games. We try to meet in Athens and tailgate once a year.
Even during the bad Goff years - some of my best memories are being in Athens and tailgaiting with family - listening to the band - watching our young kids play with and dance around. Eating excellent food lovingly prepared by our wives.
What makes it special is there are only 6 games at home. So it’s not like basketball of baseball.
The game is special - but only part of the event.
My families thoughts and prayers are with the Hokies this evening.
By Laura Collins
April 17, 2008 9:04 AM | Link to this
EXPERT GROUP DISCOVERS 5 REASONS WHY COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ARE NOT SAFE
The SERAPH Research Team, consisting of education and law enforcement experts, has discovered five reasons for unsafe college campuses.
The SERAPH Research Team provides a bi-yearly school-safety report for Congress and in 2006 prepared an assessment of the “The Virginia Tech Review Panel Report”.
In its analysis of security concerns at colleges and universities across the country, SERAPH has determined:
However, our survey of college and university security directors and police chiefs shows that few have had this training. Two reasons were given: Administrators often do not want to pay for the training or in some cases bar campus security/police from participating in training to avoid what they perceived to be a “militaristic campus atmosphere”.
College administrators have no training in security or police operations and as a result micromanage security operations on their campuses. This is problematic because of the obvious delay it causes in response time. In addition, when a college or university has a police department, administrative micromanagement can violate state law regarding obstruction of justice.
A proper security audit is vitally important to campus security. However, our survey of security directors / police chiefs indicates that most college administrators will not allow these assessments to be done out of fear of liability exposure and the chance the audit would require changes in management systems.
Threat assessment as a science has existed in the United States since the early 1940s. Predication and prevention of violence is a critical aspect of campus security and one that, in SERAPH’s experience, seriously is lacking on higher-education campuses. All Resident Assistants, security / police and department administrators should be trained to identify violent behavior in students, staff and visitors.
A lack of systematic monitoring of people on campus contributes to crime.
Training is important for the effective management of an emergency by key personnel. You cannot ask untrained people to do what trained people do.
SERAPH Research Team: http://www.seraph.net/about_seraph.html
By Dadgum
April 17, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this
Indeed, April 16 will always be a sad day the rest of my life and I am sure many many others. In fact I feel it will be remembered as easily as April 4. It is a shocking unfathomable part of US history and the sadness and reality that someone could devalue his own life enough to take 32 others with him.
Virginia Tech is an absolutely beautiful school with great qualities and great people. They have been pure class since all this unfolded on that somber day. Adversity doesn’t build character it reveals it. Virginia Tech’s light is shining brightly on the world stage.
We love Virginia Tech for all the reasons everyone loves their college. My daughter is a senior at VT and will graduate in a few weeks. She gave campus tours for two years but not this one. She needed the break. I called her yesterday to see how she was doing. Why? Because I could. She said the campus mood was somber but healing. They have moved on but will never forget.
When I am in Lane Stadium on May 9th for the graduation, I will be a proud parent for certain. Surely I will reflect like we all do back to the days of her first day at school but I will also reflect on the parents who have gone through the unspeakable horror of losing a child. A child that should have been walking across that stage. I will shed a tear I am sure when I stand in front of the memorial on the drill field. Many of the New York Yankees did that same thing a few weeks ago. It is a sad reminder and I hope it never happens again anywhere.
p.s.
Bill Morris…your post above sir is ignorant and quite uncalled for and I am not sure you are really human. In fact you have just won the title of worst blog post ever. Congratulations!
By Zeb McKluskey
April 17, 2008 2:34 PM | Link to this
Dadgum, slow down sir. There was nothing ignorant about Bill’s post at all. Do you have something against carrying a weapon? While that’s certainly your perogative, calling someone ignorant for having a different opinion than you is what’s “uncalled” for. I sir, am exmilitary and an ex-police officer. Do you want to take guns away from both of those forces? Bill’s post is very logical and he carry’s the views of a lot of people. Criminal’s like to feed on weakness and opportunity. If you can take even one of those out of the equation, you will have a better chance of survival.
By bbtick
April 19, 2008 1:10 AM | Link to this
As a VT alum and a HUGE Hokie fan, I feel the need to step in and defend some of the comments made by Miles and others. Frankly, I knew on April 16th that there was going to be a tremendous amount of pressure on the football team last season. How did I know that?…because sports has lost its place as a pastime in our culture. Sports are now a part of our lives in an unprecedented fashion. We are not addicted to sports…we have moved beyond that stage. Sports are now needed for our individual and collective survival. If the entire population of the world vanished, save 4 of us in Virginia, one of the first decisions that we would make would be whether or not to cancel the spring game. To be clear…we know longer have the ability to “place sports in their proper perspective”. Why not?…because that perspective is no longer valid. As it stands now, caring less about sports would be as difficult as not eating, bathing, or watching television.
That being understood, it should not be surprising that many Hokie fans had a difficult time separating the trajegy of 4/16 from our expectations for the 2007 college football season. As a culture, we no longer completely separate anything. We think that everything is transcendent, or at least overlapping. There are no lines, just space. This was represented by ESPN’s decision to stage GameDay in Blacksburg on September 1st and continue to refer to 4/16 in its promos about the season and Tech players throughout the season. All of this placed an enormous amount of pressure on our players. There is no question that on September 8th, as LSU was grinding us into orange and maroon Hokie Stone dust, many of our players were standing on the sidelines thinking that they had let the school and the entire Hokie Nation down…that’s shameful. The idea that sports help us heal is pure mythology…sports help us forget. Actually, it was as if September 1st was a season unto itself. By 1AM on 9/9, many Hokie fans were no longer thinking about how the team was going to help re-build the spirit of the community…we needed better quarterback play…immediately.
Again, sports are not part of any “healing process” as I have had to hear 1Billion times since last April. Healing from tragedy, both collective and personal, requires humility, understanding, and most often…change. Sports can offer us many things…but not THOSE things. True healing is not expressed in chanting “GO HOKIES!” at a convocation…it is writing what a family member of one of the victims wrote to CHO on a piece of paper left at the memorial…
“I FORGIVE YOU”
By Sir DAWGness
April 22, 2008 8:13 AM | Link to this
This DAWG celebrates VT. I remember during the Peach Bowl the intensity of the VT fans…who travel so well, yet were Southern Gentlemen and Ladies in a close game that didn’t go their way. Virginia was the Captial of the Confederacy and I love when Southerners and Southern Schools support each other. Nothing like college sports.