Two Richmond-area Virginia Tech fans enjoy extra bragging rights today beyond the satisfaction that came with the Hokies defeating Virginia in their annual rivalry football game.
Rob Wilhoite of Mechanicsville and Jennifer Timberlake McQueeney of Midlothian tied for first place in Tech's "Crazy for the Hokies Home" spirit contest. The winners were announced at halftime of yesterday's game in Blacksburg. Photographs of both homes were displayed on Lane Stadium's giant scoreboard.
"It was cool to see the house on the big screen," said McQueeney, whose heavily decorated home on Camack Trail has drawn the attention of her neighborhood association, which has threatened to fine her for the display.
McQueeney, who attended the game and was reached on her cell phone moments after Tech's 17-14 victory, and Wilhoite will receive $3,000 apiece in prize money, said Locke White, a Tech spokesman. Organizers combined the $5,000 first-place prize and $1,000 runner-up award to split between the winners.
Wilhoite, who lives on Harvey Holly Drive, could not be reached for comment. His home featured various Tech signs and banners, as well as an automobile-size HokieBird head painted on his driveway and shutters painted burnt orange and maroon.
The contest invited Tech fans nationwide to decorate their front yards. White said the contest attracted more than 20 entries from Virginia and other states, including North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. Bill Subjack of Surry won third place, which carried a $500 prize.
McQueeney, a 1998 Tech graduate, and roommate Rob Ridout painted their front lawn in an orange-and-maroon checkerboard pattern. Doors and windows were covered in orange plastic. The shutters were wrapped in Hokie sheets. There are banners and streamers around the yard and Virginia Tech baseball caps hanging from tree limbs. A homemade, roof-to-ground flag emblazoned with "LET'S GO HOKIES" is draped down the side of the house. A big, inflatable HokieBird resides among the shrubs.
They even decorated the backyard. The decorating took four days.
The Charter Colony neighborhood association said the decorations violated a neighborhood policy because they did not represent a recognized holiday and were put up without the association's approval. McQueeney said a letter she received from the association said she must remove the decorations by next week or face a $10 fine for every day they remain up.
McQueeney, who runs a fitness center, said she plans to leave the decorations up -- and add to them -- through the Christmas season. She also said she has received support from neighbors and strangers. Many have driven by, honking their horns, giving thumbs-up signs and shouting "Go Hokies!" Some have offered to pay the fines.
She said she could pay the fines with her prize money, but she would prefer to use her winnings for charitable donations and "to do something fun."
And, of course, "I'll probably buy more Tech stuff for next year."
Contact Bill Lohmann at (804) 649-6639 or wlohmann@timesdispatch.com.
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