With winter approaching and the college football season coming to an end, the Hokies Pep Band has taken to Cassell Coliseum to get fans excited for the men’s basketball season at Virginia Tech.
Photo courtesy of Evan Bainer.
Like it does every year, the Hokies Pep Band has returned to Cassell to cheer on the men’s basketball team for the 2024-2025 season. The band, known for its relaxed vibe and great sound, has been an integral part of creating a fun and energetic atmosphere within the coliseum.
However, the band will have a new look this season, as it has relocated to sections closer to the court in order to have a greater effect on the game atmosphere. This change came after ongoing discussion between Chad Reep, the director of the Hokies Pep Band, and the Virginia Tech athletics department. Prior to this season, the band was located up towards the back of the coliseum and was adjacent to the student section. With a view looking down onto the court, the band would project its sound across the entirety of the stadium rather than just to the court itself.
The initial move was down directly in front of where the band previously was, which also put part of the band directly across the court from the opponent sideline, allowing the sound to travel directly towards the opposing team during the game.
However, after Virginia Tech’s first trio of home games, the band was relocated to within the student section for the matchup against Jacksonville University. Now, the ensemble is located at the front of the section with a head-on view of the court. With the new seating came a plethora of opportunities for the band to be featured not only on the screen in Cassell, but also on TV on channels such as the ACC Network.
Photo courtesy of Evan Bainer.
The new seating arrangements have also allowed the band to be more immersed in the student atmosphere. As the band and the students regularly do their in-game cheers and traditions, being closer to the student section has allowed the band to create a beneficial impact on the game for the Hokies. Brody Semones, an alto saxophone in the band, added to this sentiment as he spoke positively about the new seats.
“I think [the new setup] is great,” said Semones. “It gives us an opportunity to engage more in the game and with the other spectators, and it also makes our presence more known.”
As Virginia Tech’s season continues, the band will stay in its new section for the foreseeable future. Regardless of where the band is, however, Reep noted the overall importance of the ensemble supporting the basketball team.
“Our job is to be the biggest fans and to play great music,” Reep said to the band.
Whether it’s through chanting “Let’s go Hokies” or playing Tech Triumph, the Hokies Pep Band will continue its support of the basketball program here at Virginia Tech this season as it cheers on the men’s team in Cassell Coliseum. Now that it is within the student section, the band will look to be even more energetic and supportive for the Hokies.