Sep 2, 2022; Norfolk, Virginia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies wide receiver Da'Wain Lofton (3) celebrate with defensive back Cam Johnson (12) after scoring a touchdown during the third quarter at Kornblau Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium. Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

Virginia Tech players’ items stolen from lockers during loss at Old Dominion

Originally posted on DC Sports King
By King W. Motley III | Last updated 9/5/22

The nightmare debut of Brent Pry as Virginia Tech head coach continues to get worse. After getting upset 20-17 by Old Dominion Friday night in Norfolk, Hokies players discovered items stolen from the visiting locker room.

Virginia Tech released a statement confirming items were missing from the locker room.

“The Virginia Tech athletic department confirmed there were items missing from the Virginia Tech locker room following the football game against Old Dominion in Norfolk Friday night,” the statement read. “The university is working with law enforcement and Old Dominion University on the matter, and will have no further comment.”

Old Dominion released a statement of their own shortly afterward. In the statement, the school apologized to the Hokies for the matter. Also, Old Dominion police are conducting an investigation.

“ODU Athletics has been working with Virginia and the Old Dominion Police Department since we became aware of the theft of personal property of a few Virginia tech student-athletes on Friday night. ODU athletics sincerely apologizes to Virginia Tech, the Virginia Tech athletic administration, and the young men who had items stolen. The ODU Police Department is working diligently to resolve this incident.”

Friday night was the Hokies’ first game under new head coach Brent Pry. The night turned from bad to worse during halftime. The Hokies trailed 10-7 when coaches got stuck in an elevator going to the coaches box. The incident delayed the start of the third quarter.

Virginia Tech at Old Dominion is delayed because coaches are stuck in an elevator. pic.twitter.com/MBWxcsdASb
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 3, 2022

Virginia Tech had a bad snap on a field goal attempt. The football traveled 54 yards backward before ODU’s Robert Kennedy III scooped the loose ball up and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter.

That was just one of five turnovers for the Hokies. Quarterback Grant Wells threw four interceptions. Meanwhile, Old Dominion capped off the win with a Blake Watson one-yard touchdown with 33 seconds remaining in the game.

As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Monarchs fans stormed S.B. Ballard Stadium field in celebration.

The loss dropped Virginia Tech to 0-2 at Old Dominion. The Hokies lost to the Monarchs in Norfolk 49-35 in 2018. The Hokies won the two meetings in Blacksburg in 2017 and 2019. All three of the previous meetings were under Pry’s predecessor Justin Fuente.

This article first appeared on DC Sports King and was syndicated with permission.

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