Virginia Tech Fans Skirt NCAA Rule by Singing ‘Enter Sandman’

Hokies fans created a home-court advantage for their top-seeded women’s basketball team.

Virginia Tech sports have become intertwined with Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” in recent years, as the song helps create a raucous home-court advantage in Blacksburg. So when it was revealed that the Hokies women’s basketball team earned a No. 1 seed to host games in the first weekend of this year’s NCAA tournament, fans were probably fired up to hear the famous song.

However, the NCAA wants to keep tournament environments as neutral as possible and has banned schools from playing traditional songs or anthems over the public-address system. But that didn’t stop Hokies fans, who took matters into their own hands by singing the heavy metal classic a cappella during Virginia Tech’s game against Chattanooga on Friday.

The moment when fans belted out the chorus was a goosebumps moment and might have provided the Hokies with an extra spark.

After @NCAA banned Enter Sandman from being played at tip-off, this is how Hokie Nation responded. pic.twitter.com/uN2wDYdW1I

— Riley Wyant (@rileywyantTV) March 17, 2023

The Hokies, who entered the tournament No. 4 in the AP poll with a 27-4 record, are coming off their best regular season in school history. No Virginia Tech team has won more games or received higher than a No. 4 four seed in the program’s history.

Amid the excitement, the Hokies cruised to a first-round win over Chattanooga, followed by a second-round victory against South Dakota State. Looking to reach the Elite Eight for the first time ever, the Hokies will face the winner of Monday’s Toledo-Tennessee game in the Sweet 16.