Douglas Pelenberg: Natural Setting, Virginia Tech

I visited Virginia tech homecoming weekend this semester. I went to watch them play football against Boston College and the experience was very much ritualistic in nature. The hours before the game begins are used for pre-gaming and tailgating. I was fortunate enough to be at a tailgating party very close to the stadium. Drinking games were being played in a ritualistic manner. When at the game I joined in on performing many traditional rituals. One is shaking one’s keys at the opposing team while on a third downs. Another was eating a smoked turkey leg. We celebrated the win by playing drinking games in ritualistic manners.