BLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech football team returns to Lane Stadium this Saturday, Sept. 25, for a non-conference clash with in-state foe Richmond. Kickoff is set for noon ET, with a high of 72 degrees and partly cloudy skies in the forecast.
Tickets to Saturday's game are still available starting at $45. Click here to find tickets.
Below are five things to know ahead of this Saturday's matchup between the Hokies and the Spiders:
1. Richmond makes its first visit to Lane Stadium since 1985. Virginia Tech has faced in-state foe Richmond plenty of times in its history - 51 meetings, in fact. The two squads met on a near-annual basis from 1933 to 1986, and the 51 previous meetings marks Tech's fifth-highest total against a single opponent. The Hokies own a 37-10-4 edge in the all-time series, including a 22-3-1 record in Blacksburg.
Current Tech wide receiver Kaleb Smith's father, James, was a standout safety for the Spiders from 1987-91 and would go on to get drafted by the Houston Oilers, while his mother, Kimberly, also played basketball at Richmond. On top of his parents, Smith's cousin, Kerry Wynn, played defensive end at Richmond and earned All-CAA honors his senior year in 2013. Click here to read a feature story on Kaleb Smith's growth from walk-on to standout wide receiver.
2. Download mobile tickets BEFORE arriving at Lane Stadium. Guarantee the smoothest entrance into Lane Stadium by downloading mobile tickets ahead of time. Having the HokieSports app on a mobile device and being able to see tickets is not the same as having downloaded tickets to Apple Wallet or to Google Pay. The HokieSports app requires the internet to access a ticket account, but once tickets have been downloaded from the app to Apple Wallet or Google Pay, they live on that device. No internet is necessary to access mobile tickets once they are downloaded to Apple Wallet or Google Pay.
For those fans needing last-minute assistance in downloading their mobile tickets, complimentary WiFi will be available in Hokie Village and at all gates (excluding Gate 8). Fans should look for a network called HokiesTicketsFREE to access their ticket account on their mobile device.
Visit HokieSports.com/MobileTickets for complete details, including step-by-step instructions and FAQ's.
3. It's Hokie Kids' Club Day! Current Hokie Kids' Club members on the maroon plan are invited to an ice cream sandwich party courtesy of Southland Dairy Farmers (while supplies last). The festivities will take place from 9 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. in Hokie Village, located in the Moseley Practice Field across the street from Lane Stadium.
Want to learn more about joining the Hokie Kids' Club? Click here for full details on becoming a member.
4. Tech's men's track & field squad will be recognized. This past February, the Virginia Tech men's indoor track & field team were crowned ACC champions after winning five events, earning four silver and three bronze medals and dominating the competition at the league's indoor championships meet in Clemson, S.C. This Saturday, that Hokies squad will be recognized on Worsham Field during the first quarter.
5. The Hokies' AD Honor Roll recognition is set for halftime. Following the Marching Virginians' halftime show, this year's Tech student-athletes who earned a spot on the AD Honor Roll will be recognized on the South goal line. To qualify for the AD Honor Roll, a student-athlete must earn a 3.0 GPA or higher during the previous semester.
