From: cockrel@shab06.larc.nasa.gov (Charlie Cockrell)
Subject: Turkey Dinners (Re: Hokie/Gobbler - the REAL answer)
Originator: cockrel@shab06.larc.nasa.gov
Organization: NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA  USA
Distribution: na
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1992 19:41:01 GMT

In article <1992Apr14.152304.20832@walter.bellcore.com> kevink@fugitive.soac.bellcore.com (Kevin Klinge) writes:
>In article <1992Apr14.113949.6716@news.larc.nasa.gov>, cockrel@shab06.larc.nasa.gov (Charlie Cockrell) writes:
>> In article <1992Apr13.210529.12310@rice.edu> rbutera@sawwhet.owlnet.rice.edu (Rob Butera) writes:
>> >
>> >Back when I was at GT and we played Virginia Tech, there was a bit of campus
>> >folklore that said that a Hokie (I think that's what they're called) is
>    ^^^^^^^^
>That's about what it is - folklore.  I'll explain below...
>
>|> It's true - although some won't admit to it.                               
>   ^^^^^^^^^
>
>Charlie is only half correct.  It's only true to UVa people who'd like to 
>believe this, but not to those of us Hokies who know the origins of these 

Then how did it spread down to Atlanta? 

	(Lot's O' Turkey Trivia deleted)

>The VT student you talked to wasn't as up on the Hokie origins as I'll
>explain below.  You should have come over to the west side of the stadium
>on the grass where I was Charlie, and I would have straightened this out.:-)
>Although by the second half after some more drinking and a probable defeat, 
>I wasn't much in the talking mood...

I suppose you were part of that group who tried to turn the "V" on
the North Hillside into "VT" with those orange twirly things. :-)
I believe the spelling error was quickly corrected.

>
>The word "Hokie" was coined by O. M. Stull (class of 1896 for those of
>you still reading this) in his spirit yell "Old Hokie."  Originally, 
>the word had no specific meaning and was used as an attention getter
>(much like UVa's Wahoo I'd imagine - right Charlie?).  The word has become
>a popular nickname for all Tech alumni, students, and team. 

The term "wahoo" came from the Wahoo-wah cheer and was tagged on to
UVa students by VMI students during an intense baseball rivalry sometime
around 1890. The term "Cavalier" came about in 1923 as a result of some
contest held by the college newspaper.

>BTW Charlie, you are right about our mascot needing a new costume. I'll 
>grant you that.  I personally liked the one before that existed in the 
>mid-80's.

Well, thanks for the interesting bit of trivia (seriously). I'd still like
to know how the turkey thing spread (and please don't tell me it was some
viscous UVa plot). 

At any rate, you should remember not to mess with the Cavalier - he's
already sent a turtle to the hospital, imagine what would happen to
a turkey. Of course, now that we have one that rides out on a horse, he
can just trample the bird and be done with it. :-)

Just think, only 4 1/2 more months of this. 


-- 
Charlie Cockrell                          VV     VV 1991 Men's Soccer Champs.
NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va. VV   VV  1992 Men's NIT Champions  
U.Va. School of Engineering, Class of 1990  VV VV   1991 Women's ACC BB Champs.
(These are my opinions only)                 VVV                        
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college