Virginia Tech
When Max, Heather and I were visiting Blacksburg, VA to attend Devin Cass’ wedding, we walked around the Virginia Tech campus and noticed how impressive it was. We also noticed how crazy everyone was about the “Hokie Bird” mascot. They are everywhere! So, after we found out that a “Hokie” is a type of local turkey, Max suggested that we take pictures of them when we could find one. It didn’t take long:
(Each of the pictures below can be enlarged by clicking on it, so click on the picture for an enlarged view.)
The best representation of a Hokie Bird (I thought) was found in the Lobby of the ______ Coliseum, where the basketball and volleyball games are played. It is a big bronze statue |
…. and Max seems positively small in comparion:
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| It turns out that someone has created a plastic form that makes replicas of the Hokie mascot, and local artists and businesses are invited to decorate them to give them slightliy different personalities. Here is one that is an architect or a builder or somthing, with some blueprints in his left hand. Max adopted the same pose, below:
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| The “Architect Hokie” (like all of them), had special markings on his tail. We couldn’t quite figure this one out — looks like a factory?
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.. then Max urged me and Heather to pose with Architect Hokie. So, we did: |
Next was the “All American Hokie” |
… and Max, of course, is an All American boy!
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| Next was a Hokie with a bicycle helment, wristguards and tailfeathers that list the bike paths and trails around Blacksburg. There are many of them, including the Appalacian Trail.
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Here’s the tail feathers for “VeloHokie”:
Of course, Max then had to help the Hokie get his biking shoes on (below): |
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| Next was a Hokie that had badges from many of the businesses in downtown Blacksburg
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And this one was in the showcase window of a bank … a “Banker Hokie? … holding cash in his hand. |
This one is called Freedom Hokie |
And Max embracing his own Freedom! |
I’m not sure what this one is / was, but it inspired Max to pose like this … so let’s call it “crazy Hokie”, OK? |
And this is the tailfeathers on this one. Seems a little new age-y, no? |
Here is the downtown merchant’s hokie: |
Here is Max posing with it: |
Here’s its back… |
And its feet:
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| So what’s boy to do after stalking the hokie all day? Well, order the “ten inch donut” from the diner next door to the hotel (right).
It was so big that Mom had to help cut it! |
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