Ohio State to join Virginia Tech honoring shooting victims in opener
Ohio State football players will join Virginia Tech in honoring the two journalists who were killed near Tech's campus last week by wearing helmet decals during their season opener, Virginia Tech announced Thursday.
Virginia Tech announced its plan to add the decals to the helmets on Monday, and Ohio State requested permission to wear the same decals shortly after.
“Ohio State expressed a desire to show its solidarity with Virginia Tech in remembering the vibrant lives of Alison Parker and Adam Ward,” said Whit Babcock, tech director of athletics at Virginia Tech. “Coach [Frank] Beamer and I both agreed it was a wonderful gesture on the part of Gene Smith (Ohio State AD), Urban Meyer (head coach) and the Buckeyes. We hope fans of both teams join us in hopefully providing some solace to the friends, families and co-workers who continue to miss Alison and Adam.”
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Parker and Ward were shot and killed during a live television broadcast for the local CBS station WDBJ-7 on Aug. 26. Parker graduated from James Madison University in 2012, and Ward graduated from Virginia Tech in 2011.
The helmet decals will feature a number 7 flanked by teal and maroon ribbons. Teal was Parker's favorite color, and maroon is one of Ward's alma mater's school colors.
On Thursday, JMU announced its football team will wear similar decals.
The Hokies and the Buckeyes will face off at 8 p.m. on Monday at Virginia Tech's Lane Stadium.
- Erin Flynn