If you’ve ever been to a sporting event in Blacksburg, Va., then you’ve likely heard Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” blared over loudspeakers. The song came out in 1991, but it became a tradition at Virginia Tech in 2000 when the school played it during the season opener for football at Lane Stadium.
The song has stuck around the Hokies ever since and has been embraced by the women’s basketball team, which has a No. 1 seed in this year’s NCAA tournament.
But while the Hokies earned the right to host games at Cassell Coliseum this year, the NCAA aims to keep its on-campus host sites as neutral as possible. One way the NCAA does that is by threatening to fine the host if it plays its traditional hype songs during tournament games, like Virginia Tech’s “Enter Sandman”.
While the NCAA can stop that music from being played over speakers, it can’t stop fans in the building from singing. So, that’s exactly what Hokies fans did on Friday night when Virginia Tech tipped off against Chattanooga.
The "Let's Go Hokies" is deafening. In a few moments, Cassell Guard will sing "Enter Sandman" a cappella, as the NCAA has prohibited the PA from playing the actual song at a neutral event
— Ishan Lamba (@IshanLamba3304) March 17, 2023
And it was pretty awesome, and authentic, and probably more memorable than it would’ve been by just playing the song.
After @NCAA banned Enter Sandman from being played at tip-off, this is how Hokie Nation responded. pic.twitter.com/uN2wDYdW1I
— Riley Wyant (@rileywyantTV) March 17, 2023
Elizabeth Kitley and the Hokies topped Chattanooga 58-33 on Friday in front of an announced crowd of nearly 9,000 fans.
And the Virginia Tech fans did it again on Sunday as the Hokies were tipping off against No. 9 South Dakota State.
“Enter Sandman” a cappella as Georgia Amoore swishes the first 3 of the game. #ncaaW pic.twitter.com/LwaoQ19kMJ
— Mitchell Northam (@primetimeMitch) March 19, 2023
This is happening at other schools too, it was just the most noticeable at Virginia Tech, where fans took the matter into their own hands. At Duke on Saturday night, folks inside Cameron Indoor Stadium didn’t hear Cascada’s “Every Time We Touch” before the Blue Devils thrashed No. 14 Iona.
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