In a heartwarming pause from preseason practices, the Virginia Tech football team traded playbooks for paint markers, welcoming young patients from Carilion Children’s Hospital into their players’ lounge for an afternoon full of laughter, color, and community.
The event, hosted in partnership with Carilion Clinic, brought together Hokie athletes and pediatric patients to design custom t-shirts—each one a canvas for creativity and connection. Players and children teamed up, trading designs and stories while decorating their shirts side by side.
“They’re decorating shirts, the players and the patients, and they’re swapping, working together and just having a blast,” said Dr. Andrew Herman, chair of pediatrics at Carilion Clinic. “It’s a moment of joy and normalcy that means a lot.”
For offensive lineman Brody Meadows, the day was about far more than football.
“All these kids with big smiles—it just makes you happy,” Meadows said. “It makes you want to give back more and more. It was great to see everybody here today.”
Parents expressed their appreciation for the event, which offered a joyful escape from hospital routines.
“She couldn’t wait to meet the football players and do a craft,” said Sarah Spencer, whose daughter participated in the event. “She’s been talking about what she wanted to color on her shirt all day yesterday.”
Beyond the bright colors and laughter, the event embodied the spirit of Virginia Tech’s motto: Ut Prosim—“That I May Serve.”
“This is our way to give back to the community that supports us so much,” said Meadows. “Some of these kids are going through hardships, and it’s great to see them smiling with positive attitudes.”
The Hokies say experiences like these fuel them just as much as any game-day energy, reinforcing the importance of connection, compassion, and service.
To make the moment even more memorable, the children who designed t-shirts will join the Hokies on the field at the next home game, walking alongside the players they inspired—living proof that some of the most meaningful victories happen far beyond the scoreboard.
From : Virginia Tech Hokies Shirt
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