Inside HOKIE SPORTS | Vol. 14 No. 3 | December 2021

F ormer Virginia Tech quarterback and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians and his wife, Christine —both of whom are proud Virginia Tech graduates—made a substantial and impactful commitment to the Virginia Tech Football Enhancement Fund this past October. This gift represents another notable investment in the Reach for Excellence capital fundraising campaign that aims to raise $400 million to fund major initiatives within Virginia Tech Football and Virginia Tech Athletics. “Virginia Tech football is a special brotherhood, and creates a bond for all Hokies,” Arians said. “I’m not able to get back to campus very often, but I have and will continue to wear the VT proudly supporting our program. Blacksburg is such a special town and an amazing place to develop as a college football player. It’s my hope that this gift provides the opportunity for our program to continue to strive for excellence, developing these student-athletes both on and off the field.” To honor the Arians’generous contribution to Virginia Tech Football, the quarterback meeting room will now be known as the Bruce Arians Room. The room, which is used daily by Tech student-athletes and coaches, is located in the Merryman Athletic Center within Michael Vick Hall. Arians played quarterback for Tech from 1971-74 and started his coaching career in Blacksburg as a graduate assistant (1975-76) and running backs coach (1977) for the Hokies. As a player, Arians rushed for 11 touchdowns during the 1974 season, a Tech quarterback record that stood for over 40 years until Jerod Evans surpassed it with 12 rushing TDs in 2016. A two-time Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year with Indianapolis (2012) and Arizona (2014), Arians guided Tampa Bay to a 31-9 win over Kansas City in Super Bowl LV. A three-time World Champion, Arians also earned a Super Bowl XLIII ring as offensive coordinator for Pittsburgh and served as the Steelers wide receivers coach en route to their Super Bowl XL victory. Arians and his family made a trip back to Blacksburg for the Hokies’ 35-14 win over MTSU in September. It was his first trip back to a Virginia Tech football game in nearly four decades, and Hokie fans graciously welcomed the former QB with cheers and requests to see his Super Bowl ring. “As we continue with our Reach for Excellence comprehensive campaign, it is encouraging to see a former Hokie student-athlete give back to ensure the best experience for our current and future football student-athletes,” Tech Director of Athletics Whit Babcock said. “Virginia Tech made a tremendous impact on his life and career. He is a Hokie to his core. We are proud of him and incredibly grateful for his generosity. Coach Arians is such a renowned figure in the National Football League, the best of the best, and we are so happy to have him supporting our vision to continue the march forward from a challenger to a champion brand.” To learn more about how to get involved and support the Reach for Excellence campaign, visit Reach.HokieSports.com. MAKES GENEROUS CONTRIBUTION TO VIRGINIA TECH ATHLETICS ARIANS FAMILY 4 Inside Hokie Sports