Inside HokieSports 7/2: We're In The Game!

Hokies Test Out New EA Sports College Football 27

July 02, 2026

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What all are we covering in today’s edition, Hokies? Check it out below!

🙌 The Next Generation
📚 Class Acts
⏱️ Countin’ Down: 65 Days
🦃 And much, much more!

🦃 THE NEXT GENERATION OF HOKIE NATION

Welcome to NextGen Hokies – the youth engagement membership club for the next generation of Hokies!

Now in its second year, NextGen Hokies is a rebrand of Hokies Kids’ Club that reflects our commitment to growing the next wave of Hokie fans and leaders. The new membership club better represents the inclusive and forward-looking spirit of our youth engagement efforts, with enhanced benefits, intentional opportunities, and increased access to Virginia Tech Athletics.

✍️ ALL NEW ROTH REPORT

Brian White’s introduction to Hokie Nation was just part of a busy month of June in Blacksburg.

🔼 Welcome To The Fam. The new leadership team is growing.

On Wednesday, Virginia Tech Vice President and Director of Athletics Brian White announced the hiring of Ryan Gottlieb as Deputy Athletics Director and Chief Strategy Officer. 

In this newly created role, Gottlieb will serve as the department's chief strategist for commercial growth and innovation, helping shape Virginia Tech Athletics' long-term vision in an increasingly dynamic collegiate athletics landscape. As a member of White's executive leadership team, he will focus on developing enterprise-wide strategies that enhance revenue opportunities, modernize business operations and position the department for sustained success. 

An accomplished industry leader with nearly two decades of experience in college athletics, Gottlieb arrives in Blacksburg after serving as Deputy Athletics Director and Chief Commercial Officer at Florida Atlantic University.  

🔼 Class Acts. The mound and the circle weren’t the only places that the Virginia Tech softball and baseball squad piled up aces this spring.

This week, 17 different Hokies were named to the 2026 All-ACC Academic Teams with 10 from the baseball squad and seven from the softball program.

🏈 COUNTIN’ DOWN: 65 DAYS

Throughout the summer, we will be counting down the days
to the return of Virginia Tech Football this fall. The Hokies will host
VMI on September 5 at 7:30 p.m.

A dominant force up front for the Hokies in the early 1960s, #6️⃣5️⃣ Newt Green earned All-American accolades in both 1962 and 1963.

Green was an impact player during Tech's 1963 Southern Conference Championship season. During the game against Florida State that season, Green blocked a punt that was returned by Jake Adams for a touchdown; the Hokies defeated the Seminoles by a score of 31-23.

He was also key in maintaining Tech's dominance over UVA. In 1963, Tech defeated UVA for the sixth consecutive season; that was the longest winning streak against the Wahoos at that time.

✍️ FROM OUR NEW LEADER

Less than a week after being formally introduced to Hokie Nation, new Director of Athletics Brian White sat down to pen his first letter to the best fans in the country and share his vision for the future of Virginia Tech Athletics

🤔 HOKIE TRIVIA

In Tuesday night’s game between the Miami Marlins and Colorado Rockies, former Hokie TJ Rumfield squared off with fellow Tech alum Zach Brzykcy.

It marked the fifth time in program history that a Hokie batter and Hokie pitcher have ever played for opposing teams in the same MLB game.

How many times have two Hokies faced off, pitcher vs. hitter, in those games?

Got a guess?

Scroll to the bottom and find out!

📆 THE DAYS AHEAD

*all times are ET*

Saturday, Sept. 5
🏈 Football vs. VMI @ 7:30pm | ACC Network | Listen | Live Stats | Buy Tickets

🤝 SPREAD THE WORD

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🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: One time! Tuesday’s matchup between Rumfield and Brzykcy was the first!

🦃 Have a great one, y’all!