Virginia Tech
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, commonly known as Virginia Tech and by the initialisms VT and VPI, is a public, land-grant, research university with its main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia. It also has educational facilities in six regions statewide and a study-abroad site in Riva San Vitale, Switzerland. Through its Corps of Cadets ROTC program, Virginia Tech is also designated as one of six senior military colleges in the United States.
Skipper (cannon)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University (Virginia Tech) was founded in 1872 as a military school, originally named, "Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College" (VAMC). Since the end of World War II, Virginia Tech's students have been primarily civilians, although the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets has maintained a strong presence on campus, carrying on the rich military traditions of the school. Virginia Tech is one of six universities, outside of the four service academies with an active cadet corps on campus, and is designated as a senior military college.
Virginia Tech (VPI) and Virginia Military Institute (VMI) first played each other in 1894, and annually from 1913-1971, on Thanksgiving Day at Victory Stadium in Roanoke, Virginia. The official name of Virginia Tech until 1969 was ""Virginia Polytechnic Institute"", commonly referred,to as "VPI". The football game, known as the “"Military Classic of the South"” was part of a full day of festivities, including a parade from downtown Roanoke to Victory Stadium for the game. The cadets from VPI and VMI both marched in the parade. After the teams completed formation in the stadium, VMI fired its game cannon, named ""Little John"" and chanted, ""Where's your cannon!?!"" directed at the VPI side of the stadium. VPI had no response.