What's a "Hokie"?

[Wayne Schlitt]

In <32ACAA...@midusa.net> Randall Jahnke <past...@midusa.net> writes:
> I wonder what is a Hokie?

A hokie is a castrated turkey. They grow much larger that way.

(I can't imagine the fit that Bill Byrne would have of their mascot...)

-wayne

--
Wayne Schlitt can not assert the truth of all statements in this
article and still be consistent.

[Coughlan Peter]

Randall Jahnke wrote:

: I wonder what is a Hokie?
: It appears as if it is some kind of turkey as their site speaks of the
: Hokies as the "Fighting Gobblers".

A Hokie is indeed a colloquial term for some kind of turkey. What kind of
turkey? Well...In my days at the University of Virginia, the story was that
the word "hokie" referred to a CASTRATED turkey. I don't know if this is true
since I have never found the word "hokie" in a dictionary. Nonetheless, I
liked the idea of the mascot of our big in-state rival being an emasculated
farm animal, so I will continue to spread this definition until I hear a
better one.

- Pete Coughlan

[Bob Clouston]

: ... I wonder what is a Hokie?

:
: It appears as if it is some kind of turkey as their site speaks of the
: Hokies as the "Fighting Gobblers".

Well, I'm glad I researched this a little before responding. Apparently
there are a few stories. The one I had heard says that a Hokie is
a castrated turkey. Sorry, but this is going to be asked sooner or
later anyway, might as well put it to rest now.
I heard this many years ago from a woman who went there.

Now I hear that this is the story they tell freshman. The real
story is that back in the 50s they had a contest to come up with a
yell or cheer, and the winner centered on the word "hokie" which
was invented for the yell because it just sounded good.
It became their nickname when a former coach wanted to get rid
of the "Fighting Gobblers" nickname, so they went with "Hokies".
I believe their mascot is in more or less a turkey costume.
And yes, this mascot did get the boot for beating up the Miami
mascot, but another person is in the mascot gear.

Glad to provide this important information.

Bob

[Chuck Ross]

In message "What's a "Hokie"?", past...@midusa.net writes:

: I wonder what is a Hokie?

A turkey.

: The "Hokie Pokey" comes to mind.

Our coop student this term is from Tech. He said that all incoming freshmen
have to do the "Hokey Pokey" at orientation.

Chuck

[Andrew R. Smith]

lgr...@creighton.edu wrote:
:
: the stadium sound system always blared
: a turkey "gobbling" whenever the "Hokies" scored.

All I can say is that it takes balls to have a castrated turkey
as your mascot. ;)

But seriously...it takes guts, and perhaps appreciation for the true
spirit of the game, to have a mascot of which others could easily make
fun.

Andy

#1HUSKERS -- National Champions 1970, 1971, 1994 & 1995 -- HUSKERS#1