Rooting for the Hokies, Now More than Ever

Today's a big day in the history of Virginia Tech athletics. Tech's baseball team faces the Evil Empire at 3 p.m. today at English Field in Blacksburg. The Yankees are making the trip to Blacksburg to honor the victims of April 16, 2007.

Click here to watch the game for free

For that, the Evil Empire is to be commended. However, as a die-hard Red Sox fan, I sincerely hope they get beat by 20 runs. I'll be wearing my 2007 World Series Champs hat at work while watching on the Internet and rooting for the Hokies. Don't worry about my productivity, I'm a multi-tasker.

Kudos to the Yankees for not leaving any of the big-time position players at home for this one. Jeter, Rodriguez, Posada and the centerfielder who is dead to me are all on the traveling roster.

The pitchers are a different story. Seven of them made the trip. I haven't heard of six of them and the other is former Oklahoma RedHawks closer Jose Veras. Veras set the RedHawks single-season saves mark in 2005 with 24. The record was previously held by former Hokie Brad Clontz, who had 18 in 2004.

Here's hoping the awful pitching the Yankees brought to Blacksburg means they get pummeled.

The game is getting Hokie Baseball a lot of press...
AP: Yankees expect emotional day...
MLB.com: Yankees honored to visit Va. Tech
Newsday: Yankees play exhibition at Virginia Tech today
Newark Star-Ledger: More than a game for Yanks
NY Daily News: Yankees will play Hokies
NY Times: Yankees to take on Hokies
Collegiate Times: Virginia Tech head coach (and former BC head coach) Peter Hughes grew up in Brockton, Mass., and grew up hating the Yankees.

I hope the attention garnered by today's game means the baseball team's attendance increases. I really don't like college baseball, but this is good for the program. It'll help recruiting for Coach Hughes and bring more attention to Hokie sports and the university.

Update: Tech lost, 11-0. Friggin' Yankees.