Almost six years ago, Virginia Tech experienced one of the worst tragedies in American history and while it was difficult for many to see any light in such a dark day, the Hokies have been able to rise out of the ashes to share their new-found light with everyone whose lives were changed Dec. 14, the day of the Sandy Hook shooting.
On Friday when they played Rutgers in the Russell Athletic Bowl, the Virginia Tech football team donned a special decal on their crimson helmets as tribute to the victims of the Newtown Massacre.
Hokies coach Frank Beamer said that the school feels tied to Newtown, Connecticut after overcoming their own school shooting and that’s why they wanted to honor the 20 children and six adults killed at Sandy Hook.
“It’s just one of those things where we’ve been through what those people up in Sandy Hook are going through,” Beamer told The Olympian. In 2007, Virginia Tech lost 32 of their own in a shooting on the university’s campus.
Beamer explained the significance of the number 58 on the helmet decals. “We got 58 on the helmet there – the number of guys between us and them that (were) needlessly killed,” he said. The decal is an orange and green ribbon with “VT” and “SH” imprinted on it. Written across the number ’58’ is the word “Prevail” in bold letters.
“We prevailed in Blacksburg (Va.),” Beamer said, “And I think, if anything, it brought us closer and more determined.” And the Hokies coach promises “the same thing is going to happen there.”
Beamer, along with the rest of the coaching staff, wore the same ribbon pinned on his hat during the game.
As Newtown grieves, Virginia Tech offers hope in this one simple gesture. “I can just tell that community is coming together,” Beamer said.
