As campus officials prepared to welcome fans to the Terrapin football game against Virginia Tech last night, the crowds were not dressed in their usual colors – and it wasn’t just because more Terp fans than usual wore black.

At tailgates across the campus, the usual mass of red was broken up by a significant amount of orange and maroon. For every Maryland flag, there seemed to be a Tech flag – or a Tech tent, R.V., banner or sticker. For every “Let’s go Maryland,” there was a responding “Let’s go Hokies.”

Virginia Tech’s devoted fans showed up in huge numbers yesterday. They snatched up the Tech ticket allotment this summer and signed on to eBay to buy tickets sold by university alumni who couldn’t make the weekday game.

Terps in black filled the student section, while a sea of red filled the southern stands. On the north side of the stadium, however, orange-clad Hokies ruled the roost.

During the game, Hokie fans seemed to match Terp fans in volume. Twelve Tech cheerleaders led their fans with signs that read “NOISE” and “KEY PLAY.”

Virginia Tech fans’ apparel seemed to take every form. Boisterous men and small children all donned bright orange and maroon visors, jackets, hats and gloves. “How ’bout them Hokies?” was written across some T-shirts worn by some Tech fans.

“Hokie fans have been streaming in since about 5 o’clock,” said Sen. John Giannetti, who had his usual tent set up with food and beverages near the student entrance to the stadium. “There are more Hokie fans than I ever thought would be here. They’re going to be loud in there,” he said, pointing toward the stadium.

Steve Barry, a 1978 graduate from Virginia Tech, and his wife, Jean, also a Tech graduate, drove from Nashville, Tenn., to attend the game. They’ve preserved their enthusiasm for Tech football since their student days, they said.

“We go to all the home games, and as many away games as possible,” Steve said. “There’s your passion.”

Doug Cooke, a 1993 Tech graduate in aerospace engineering, said his friends had organized a “drunk bus” from Northern Virginia to party on the way to the game. He was waiting for them at a tailgate near Comcast Center.

While waiting, Cooke found a mix of Hokies and Terps to celebrate with. As he ate a full plate of chicken wings and brownies, a Terp flag behind him blew in the wind, flapping against its adjacent Virginia Tech counterpart.

Sophomore English major Liam Quin tailgated in Lot 11 with his two brothers, Chris and Sean, who both attended Tech. A maroon wig covered Sean’s head, and he and Chris were decked out in Hokie gear. Both had come from New Jersey to join Liam for the game.

“Hokies have a mentality,” Sean said. “Once a Hokie, always a Hokie.”

Liam, decked out in Terp gear, said he enjoyed his brothers’ team spirit.

“It’s a good time, and good competition,” he said.

Contact reporter Kevin Rector at newsdesk@dbk.umd.edu.