Hokie Stone helmet will make its debut on national TV, like it or not

Hokie Stone helmets are sure to be the talk of the college football world Friday morning.

That’s what they’re calling the new headgear Virginia Tech will be wearing during their nationally televised game against Georgia Tech on Thursday night because that’s exactly what they look like.

There’s probably many people who don’t know what a Hokie is (a made-up word from the late 19th century that has become the nickname of all Virginia Tech teams), let alone Hokie Stone.

Hokie Stone is a type of rock that is mined near the Blacksburg university and used on a lot of buildings on campus. The helmet is designed to look as if it was constructed in a similar fashion.

“When you look at this helmet, it’s not flashy, but it means a tremendous amount to this university,” Coach Frank Beamer said in a statement. “The outside world may have to do a double-take, but the Hokie Nation will know exactly what it is: Hokie Stone! And it’s something we’re proud of.

“The reason I like it is because it represents what this program and this university are built on. Each piece, in its place, serving its purpose, doing its job, and when it’s all working together, it’s rock solid and it’s something special.”

Some fans don’t exactly agree with Beamer’s sentiments.

“Do they have people at VT who just sit around all day trying to think up ideas on how they can make the ugliest uniforms and helmets to embarrass the team!?!?” Michael Crowley wrote on the Facebook page of Andy Bitter, the Hokies beat writer for the Virginian Pilot. “Leave the uniforms ALONE already!!! The fact that this will be a nationally televised game makes it even worse!”

On the same Facebook page, John Verrier added: “The national TV audience outside of the VT community will certainly pick up on the meaning of this very quickly -- not. At lease debut them at home, not on the road.”

Some shared their feelings on Twitter:

Last weekend, the Hokies wore camouflage designs on their helmets and uniforms as a salute to the military.

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