Legacies of Lane: How one former Hokie discovered an undying love for Blacksburg

BLACKSBURG – Nestled just thirty minutes outside of Blacksburg in Radford, Virginia, Preston Chrisman was deeply entrenched in all things Hokie football from a young age. Behind a mother who attended Virginia Tech, he grew up going to countless football games, joining 66,000 other faithful supporters for many seasons as a local fan. 

“[I was] born and raised in Radford...half of us either went to Virginia Tech and the other half went to Radford [University],” said Chrisman. “We were pretty avid Virginia Tech football fans, and my family has had season tickets since the season that [former Virginia Tech quarterback] Michael Vick was there.” 

Chrisman would later attend Virginia Tech as a fisheries sciences major, joining the only state university that boasts a program such as his. What made his arrival at Tech so profound, however, was how he saw Blacksburg and the country rally around each other in some of its darkest moments. 

On April 16, 2007, 32 of Virginia Tech’s brightest minds tragically lost their lives in a senseless act of gun violence. A high school senior at the time, Chrisman watched in real time how his community, alongside his family and friends, lifted each other up after being knocked down so horribly. 

“Growing up in Radford, I was very close to everything throughout the recovery from the tragedy. We got to see firsthand how the community rallied together and [allowed us] to help ourselves heal,” said Chrisman. “Everything from the candlelight vigil that was so emotional, and late [poet and Virginia Tech professor] Nikki Giovanni’s speech inside Cassell Coliseum...we were right there.” 

What made the magnitude of the recovery so special, said Chrisman, was the fact that the outpouring of support was not just from the greater Blacksburg area. The nation, including national coverage such as ESPN’s College GameDay, showed up in big ways for the Hokies. 

“One of my favorite memories of Lane Stadium was that home opener against East Carolina, just a few months after the shooting on April 16,” said Chrisman. “Having College GameDay there on campus for a relatively minor game, and [sports broadcaster] Lee Corso was great for honoring the fans and the victims...it showed how not just the community around Blacksburg [was rallying].” 

Chrisman likened the triumph of the 2007 home opener to former United States President George W. Bush throwing the first pitch of the 2001 World Series. Behind a country that was reeling after the attacks on Sept. 11, Bush threw a perfect strike in front of a raucous Yankee Stadium crowd.  

“That sports moment,” said Chrisman, “was trivial compared to what had happened, but it was something that could unite us all...I think that East Carolina game was the same thing for Virginia Tech and Hokie Nation.” 

While the way in which Chrisman witnessed Blacksburg’s community was the tipping point for his college decision, the four years the Radford native then spent at Virginia Tech were some of his best. 

“Those four years were awesome,” said Chrisman. “The couple years we had season tickets down in the end zone with all of the students...[they were] some of the highlights of my time in school.” 

The Radford native spoke fondly about his time at Tech, recalling how electric the crowd was during a handful of moments during his time as a student. He specifically remembered how the Lane Stadium crowd erupted when former Virginia Tech tight end Logan Thomas scored a fourth-quarter touchdown against the Miami Hurricanes on Oct. 8, 2011.  

After a unique late-game “Enter Sandman” bellowed through the loudspeakers, Chrisman was truly shocked: “I don’t recall it being louder than that in those last few minutes of the [Miami] game. That was something that I’ll never forget.” 

The middle child of three brothers, Chrisman and his entire family are all passionate fans of college football both in and out of Blacksburg. As admirers of the sport, he and his siblings started an annual tradition of traveling to, as he called them, “more random football games.” 

“We’ve been to Penn State, we’ve been to Michigan State, Notre Dame, Florida State, Clemson...[we go] to a lot of big games that we have no connection to, but just to experience all these cool atmospheres.” 

Yet, Chrisman holds the opinion of likely every fan of Virginia Tech football: You just can’t beat Lane Stadium. 

“It seems like, to us, the fanbase at Virginia Tech is just so much more well informed about football itself, and they are so engaged,” said Chrisman. “We are participants in the game.” 

Now living in South Carolina, Chrisman doesn’t attend games as frequently as he once did but always tries to come up for Virginia Tech’s Homecoming festivities. This year, said Chrisman, he’s excited to see both new players and schemes for the Hokies. 

“It’s the first big period of change in a few years where we have two new coordinators and other assistant coaches,” said Chrisman. “I’m excited to see how that’s going to shake out...I don’t even care about the opponents that we play, I’m just excited to watch us play.” 

Yet, through both his time as a local, a student, an alumnus, and overall, a fan, Chrisman will never forget what Lane Stadium means to him. It is the place of some of his finest memories, and the place where new memories will continue to be made over the course of seasons to come. 

Legacies of Lane Campaign 

Tech Athletics launched a multi-platform brand campaign celebrating Lane Stadium through the eyes of those who know it best — the fans. Over the course of the summer, Tech will spotlight Hokie fans and their favorite game day memories, capturing the passion, pride, and tradition that define the Virginia Tech experience. Fans can share their stories for a chance to be featured. 

As the memories that define Lane Stadium are honored, there’s no better time to create new ones. Whether it’s a fans' first time in the stands or hundredth, the 2025 season is a chance to be part of the next chapter in Hokie history. Don’t miss a moment — use the virtual ticket assistant to see which ticket package is best for you.