ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, November 27, 1996 TAG: 9611270034
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
This billboard along the U.S. 460 Bypass in Christiansburg is not a prank. Instead, it's a gesture of friendship from Virginia Tech President Paul Torgersen to visiting Wahoos, who will be invading the New River Valley for Friday's football showdown between the Hokies and the University of Virginia at Lane Stadium.
Tech spokesman Larry Hincker said the sign, which is draped over another advertisement, is a salute from one university to another. This year, U.S. News & World-Report ranked UVa as the 21st best school in the country. But the 20 schools ahead of Virginia were all private, making UVa the best public university in America. Two other Virginia schools, Virginia Tech and the College of William and Mary, were ranked in the top 100. The sign is meant to acknowledge the commonwealth's excellent representation of schools, Hincker said.
Notably absent from this year's billboard is the photo of Gov. George Allen - a former UVa quarterback - in full Hokie regalia that welcomed football fans to the 1994 game, which Tech lost 42-23. The Hokies haven't won at home against the Hoos since 1990.
LENGTH: Short : 30 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ALAN KIM. color.by CNB