The answer leads all the way back to 1896 when Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College changed its name to Virginia Polytechnic Institute. With the change came the necessity for writing a new cheer and a contest for such a purpose was held by the student body. Senior O.M. Stull won first prize for his "Hokie" yell which is still used today. Later, when asked if "Hokie" had any special meaning, Stull explained the word was solely the product of his imagination and was used only as an attention-getter for his yell. It soon became a nickname for all Tech teams and for those people loyal to Tech athletics. The official university school colors - Chicago Maroon and Burnt Orange - also were introduced in 1896. The colors were chosen by a committee because they made a 'unique combination' not worn elsewhere at the time.

The official definition of "hokie" is "a loyal Virginia Tech Fan".

The HokieBird The bird is a "HokieBird" which has evolved from a turkey.

Virginia Tech teams were once called the "gobblers"!

"Old Hokie" Cheer
Hokie, Hokie, Hokie, Hi!
Tech, Tech, VPI
Sol-a-rex, Sol-a-rah
Poly Tech Vir-gin-ia
Ray rah VPI
Team! Team! Team!

Damn, that's a sad story... These people in Virginia just don't have a life do they?

BANA Class of '89

So it has nothing to do w/ castrated turkies then? Shucks.

I though it was what one did right before the Pokie.

Take a look at our yells .. they would seem a bit strange to an outsider. Same with a lot of over schools whocse traditions date back to the 1800s.

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The colors were chosen by a committee because they made a 'unique combination' not worn elsewhere at the time.

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Not worn elsewhere since, either.

When my brother and I were younger, we would play college football on the old, old sega. We were VT and we couldn't figure out what a Hokia was, but we thought it looked a lot like a turkey. Thus, the infamous "swarmin' turkey defense"!

Its like soccer on ice, but with a stick and a smashed beer can.

"My wife is in hell, where I sent her. She could make good biscuits, but her bahaviour was terrible" Po Campo

I thought it was a sandwich

maroon and burned orange...

Sounds like a Red Raider fans worst nightmare.

Peace without Freedom is Slavery.

Yep, I had a VT buddy of mine check out the story and he said it's fully verifiable.
Nice research.

I'll bet the VT folks are saying
"What's an Aggie"

i thought someone branded a turkey 13-0 after we played them a long time ago.

PurdueAg: It helps when your source is a VT website.

It never fails! Whenever the 'What is a Hokie?' question is brought up, someone has to mention the castrated turkey. I'm afraid that is just a rumor started by some uva fan long ago that has yet to die out. uva people are much like your 'horn rivals, so I would advise not to head to such nonsense. Whine and cheese, anyone?

"I don't know what a Hokie is, but God is one of them!" - Lee Corso

Is an aggie a castrated farmer?

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Twin brother of the POKIE ...

a sandwich

The irony of a maroon and burnt orange combo shouldn't be lost on us.

Although the "Hokie" is a pretty funny mascot, have any of you seen the West Virginia "Mountaineer" at games?

From what I understand, they have a hillbilly that comes out of a trailer home parked on the sideline and shoots his musket whenever they score. Seems like this would be a great mascot for NASCAR as well.

If a HOKIE comes before a POKIE
Then Hokie = FOREPLAY!!!!!!!

I'll bet we have them dominated on number of overalls with names on them, number of fat people making out in the stands, number of jacked-up pickups complete with confederate flag or calvin pissing or "ain't skeered" sticker, number of wrangler jeans worn with white tennis shoes, and many other crucial white trash categories.

I've read this board for a couple of years but never needed to post anything. However, on the subject of the term Hokie, I'm going to have to chime in.

The best response I've ever heard came from an old Hokie player, the NFLs Bruce Smith. He was receiving alot of razzing in the locker room (probably froma UVa grad) about what a Hokie was. He finally had enough and said "It's an ass-kickin chicken!" I've always liked that answer.

PSULLY...
I guess I am white trash because I like to wear Wrangler jeans with white tennis shoes ?

I am so hurt.

Isn't that when you ditch school for a day?

I think the only tennis shoes I have are white.

Does Levi's with white tennis shoes count?
What if they are dirty off-white tennis shoes?

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I think a lot of A&M's yells came about the same way. Didn't Hullaballoo, Caneck, Caneck come from an old yell?