Virginia Tech’s New York Yankees helmets draw range of reactions
Virginia Tech is in New York to take on Maryland in the Pinstripe Bowl on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium. New head coach Brent Pry won’t be on the sideline as J.C. Price will serve as interim head coach, a role he’s held since the firing of Justin Fuente in November.
The Yankees hold a special bond with the Virginia Tech community. Shortly after the April 2007 shootings that saw 32 people killed, the team donated $1 million to a fund set up in memory of the victims. The Hokies baseball team also played in an exhibition game at Yankee Stadium in 2008.
On Tuesday, the program announced special helmets that it would wear during the game that featured the “VT” logo on one side and the Yankees’ interlocking “NY” logo outlined in burnt orange on the other:
In appreciation to the @Yankees for their longstanding relationship with the #Hokies, as well as the many gestures of compassion that they have extended to @virginia_tech over the years, we are proud to announce a special addition to our helmets for the @PinstripeBowl pic.twitter.com/grEl7DPbgX
— Virginia Tech Football (@HokiesFB) December 28, 2021
While some were not on board with the idea, the reaction to the helmet seemed to be positive, as you can see below:
Not a Yankees fan but that right there is some kind of awesome ?! @hokiesports please tell me these helmets will be up for auction post-bowl game #Hokies #neVerforgeT??????
— Daniel P. Lundberg (@BackInTheBurg) December 29, 2021
Classy, beautiful gesture. Not a Yankees fan but will always have a warm spot in my heart for what they did after 4/16
— HunkerDownHokies (@HunkerDownHokie) December 28, 2021
LOVE the helmets as a nod to the Yankees. They will always and forever be part of our Hokie family. Always grateful for their support post April 16.
— CEOFisherFam (@CEOFisherFam) December 29, 2021
https://twitter.com/Jawnny_Bravo/status/1475981084554891269
Sell me one lol..that is awesome!!!! I wish the NYY new era hat with the vt logo on it would be released again, I need a new one, or two :) @WhitBabcock
— Dexterity (@dexteritynj) December 28, 2021
Best. Unis. Ever. And the helmets are terrific!!!
— Keith Verspoor (@hokeith9) December 28, 2021
The first time I’ve ever wanted to own a college football mini helmet!
— Shane Ronan (@djrok212) December 29, 2021
Not a Yankees baseball fan, but as a 2007 Hokie grad, classy move and right on point!
— Andrew Churchill (@AChurchillSK) December 29, 2021
@Orioles fan here but I love these helmets and the reason for honoring them this way
— Valerie Ore (@VLOHokie) December 29, 2021
https://twitter.com/JackMacCFB/status/1475989846644727813
Did they really slap the New York Yankees logo on the Virginia Tech Hokies helmets? https://t.co/nq0jItV375
— Simon Gibbs (@SimonGibbs26) December 29, 2021
Kickoff from Yankee Stadium is set for 2:15 p.m ET on ESPN.