[Sly Fox]

Thanks again for the espionage, smoothie.

OK, I'll bite. What is a Hokie stone?

[bigsmooth]

hokie stone from what i know is just the stone that the bulidings at VT are made from....nothing special to it, , but just a name.

[El Scorcho]

You guys are killing me with the imageshack popups. Blech.

[Flamesfanva]

Here's a picture of Hokie stone and a little history courtesy of Wikipedia.

On the main campus of Virginia Tech, a major university in Virginia, USA, most of the buildings incorporate Hokie Stone as a building material. The name originates from Hokies, which is the official name for the university's sports teams.

Hokie Stone is a medley of different colored limestone, often including dolomite. Each block of Hokie Stone is some combination of gray, brown, black, pink, orange, and maroon. The limestone is mined from various quarries in Southwestern Virginia, Tennessee, and Alabama, one of which has been operated by the university since the 1950s.

The majority of the buildings on campus are made of Hokie Stone.

[Sly Fox]

So is the mansion on campus made from this Hokie stone?

[Flamesfanva]

The mansion on LU's campus?

[Sly Fox]

Yeah, Carter Glass' place where the admin offices are located. It has some stone on its exterior.

[Flamesfanva]

Hmmm, good question. I don't think it is, but I'll have to take a closer look next time I'm up that way. I love the way the Hokie stone gives the VT campus a very unique look.

[qkslvrsrfrboy]

the wall of the waiting room for Jerrys office that is that stone looks more like it is 10%stone 90% mason(this may not be the correct word for what im trying to say, but i just got off working two jobs in a row from 2 pm to 6 am, so give me a break) idk if anyone else knows what im talking about, but when i was there in april i noticed that, and how messy Jerry's office was

[new flame]

Sorry to actually talk about the new field on this thread when there's such a nice rock discussion going on . The trench being dug around the field along the front of the stadium isn't a footer for a brick wall. Because the new field turf will extend all the way to the edge of the stadium, they're having to adjust the drainage system. The new turf will begin being laid tomorrow.

[thesportscritic]

thanks for that update new flame.

[LU'90KJ]

Is this the first time the turf has been replaced?

[PAmedic]

welcome aboard! I believe this is the second time it has been replaced - I know the original was put down back in MY era (1988 or 89 as I recall) and I read somewhere it was redone in the mid 90's ? I could be wrong. SOMEONE on here will correct me!

[thepostman]

I am new to the board...4th year at LU...anyways I just wanted to add my excitement for the new turf, the other turf looked like crap and I am excited to see the finised product. I have been around on campus all summer working for building services, so I've seen the slow progress...I am excited to see the turf!

[PAmedic]

good to have you here POSTMAN

I gather you're a bit excited about the turf

[PastorZack]

The original turf was replaced in 1997-1998. I remember graduation in 97 with Billy Graham and the field was horrible for grad. The ruts in that field were like the ruts in the Vet up here in Philadelphia. What I remember the most about the original turf was not the turf itself, but the sand that was underneath it. The sound of the sand under the field was great. After a few series, you could see the sand starting to come up from under the field. But the best part was before the games they would water the turf down to try and keep the sand down from coming up through the turf. I would have hated to play on that old rug.

[PAmedic]

thanks for backing me up ZACH- I was pretty sure the original stuff had long been replaced. Its just funny- remember like it was yesterday them excavating the big hole in the ground- putting down shredded tire rubber and then turf, then laying TONS of sand over the turf until only the last 1/2 inch or so of "grass" stuck out. I had the opportunity to run on that surface when it was new- at least until security chased us off. Weird feel to it. (Spent an hour in the guardshack for that one)

[bigsmooth]

yes the original turf was called "balsam turf" the company that made it went under about a year after that rug was installed at LU.

[BJWilliams]

My only commentary on the turf they just ripped out is that your knees take an absolute pounding. Even pickup games before band practice on gameday would leave me lookin for an ice pack

[LU'90KJ]

The original turf was put down in '89 and really was not that bad to play on. I certainly played on much worse (Appy. State)The turf did have a lot of give to it so it was much better than the old astroturf fields.

[LU'sbestmanger]

werent they supposed to lay the turf down a couple of days ago? did it rain or something?

[BJWilliams]

Its been raining off and on the last couple days

[LU'sbestmanger]

i have a friend that went down for early orientation today and he said that they put a little of the turf down and its looks good.

[PAmedic]

tease. Absolutely HORRIBLE tease.

to put that out there w/out pix is unconscionable

or maybe I'm overreacting

[Libertine]

i have a friend that went down for early orientation today and he said that they put a little of the turf down and its looks good.

I just walked over there to see this storied patch of green. Tell your friend to put down the pipe. Ain't nothin' there but a vast flat expanse of gravel gray.

That, by itself, however, is encouraging because the dozers and rollers are gone and the auxiliary drain excavation has been filled in. It looks like we're ready to put down some rubber.