By Andrew Jones
FOXSportsSouth.com
December 28, 2010
Stepping into a time machine and coming out in the summer of 1990 might be an odd enough experience. But stumbling upon a skull session between Lars Ulrich and his Metallica buddies might be a bit too freaky for the average American, even lovers of hard core rock music.
When the heavy metal band crafted the rifts to "Enter Sandman," it's unlikely their vision of the song's shelf life included band jollies jumping up and down along with 66,000 people in the southwestern Virginia mountains, many of whom had grey hair when the song was released.
But truth be told, the band that once put out an album titled "Killing is My Business, and Business is Good," have a legendary niche at relatively new football power Virginia Tech. And the song "Enter Sandman" is now as much a part of Tech's grid iron culture as the lunch pail and possibly even Michael Vick. It is that big of a deal to the program and its legion of fans.
"I love it, man, I love it," said quarterback Tyrod Taylor. "I think it gives us an edge, it gets things going, and it shows the fans are just as committed to winning as we are."
Before every home game, the band lines up to form a runway for the players to pour through upon taking the field. Once the band forms its two lines, the music for "Enter Sandman" begins to fill Lane Stadium, and soon, band members and fans are jumping in unison. The stadium literally shakes.
This isn't an old tradition like dotting the "I" at Ohio State, touching Howard's Rock and running down the Hill at Clemson, or Running the T at Tennessee, but it has quickly become one of the more recognizable pre-game rituals in the nation.
"It's pretty intense," said North Carolina quarterback T.J. Yates. "I remember it felt sort of like the earth was moving; it was cool."
The Sandman tradition was born in 2000 after the Virginia Tech administration erected a new scoreboard and hired a firm to create an entrance video celebrating the program. Tech officials were given the opportunity to choose between "Welcome to the Jungle" by Guns N' Roses, "Sirius" by The Allan Parsons Project, and "Enter Sandman" by Metallica.
The video and song were first used before the home opener against Georgia Tech in 2000. The game, though, was canceled because a terrible storm loaded with lightening hit the area. It wasn't until a game later in the season when the full effect of "Enter Sandman" became a tradition that continues to grow.
On a cold night, some of Tech's band members began jumping up and down trying to stay warm before the team took the field. Some fans joined in, so before the next home game, more people were jumping up and down with "Enter Sandman" blaring from the sound system, and the new tradition took on a life of its own.
"Enter Sandman" is the opening track and lead single from the 1991 album simply titled "Metallica." The band's only U.S. billboard hit, it reached No. 16 in America but soared as high as No. 1 in the Norwegian and Canadian singles charts in 1991.
"Sandman" isn't just a tradition for the Hokies, it is also shared by New York Yankees future Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera as it plays every time he takes the mound at Yankee Stadium. Rivera didn't know of the song when the scoreboard operations staff chose to use it any time he entered a game from the bullpen.
Rivera later learned what the track is about and reportedly liked the idea of giving opposing hitters nightmares.
Hokies opponents certainly take notice, as well they should. "Enter Sandman" is now part of the Lane Stadium experience as the game itself.
Andrew Jones is in his 15th season covering the ACC.
