Security tightened for Virginia Tech's spring football game

Virginia Tech is tightening security for a busy weekend on campus.

The school expects as many as 40,000 for its annual spring football game at Lane Stadium on Saturday. Virginia Tech will also be hosting a softball doubleheader, tennis, lacrosse, an alumni soccer game, a kids festival and a meeting of its booster club, associate athletic director for internal affairs Tom Gabbard said.

"It's a full day for us with just a ton of activities going on, so we've enhanced all of our security for the day," he said Wednesday after a meeting about security planning. "Everybody's geared up for it and I think we're in good shape. You never know, but you like to think you are."

Plans are to treat the spring game "much like we would a regular football game with a full crowd," Gabbard said. Law enforcement assistance will be provided by police from surrounding communities, the state police and sheriff's departments, he said. All the agencies will be operating under the leadership of campus police.

Admission is free to the football game, but, unlike regular season games, fans will be allowed to leave the stadium and return. Those carrying bags will have them checked as they enter, and security will remain on hand throughout the game to recheck bags as fans return or arrive from other events, Gabbard said.

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