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Virginia Tech’s football season didn’t start exactly as planned.
The team’s spring football game was delayed for nearly an hour on Saturday, April 18, after a skydiver crashed into the scoreboard during pregame festivities at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia. The skydiver was hung by the writing on the scoreboard for about 30 minutes before emergency services arrived.
Before the crash, the skydiver appeared to be making his way to where he was supposed to land. Holding a giant American flag, he glided toward the stadium and then missed the scoreboard.
The impact shattered some of the writing on the scoreboard and the skydiver was suspended by his parachute until authorities used a ladder to free him.
A skydiver has reportedly avoided serious injury after becoming tangled in a wire while parachuting onto a football pitch ahead of the Armed Forces Bowl. One of the pregame skydivers (…)
Shortly after the rescue, the Virginia Tech athletic department reported, Skydivers are safe and “currently stable.”
The Virginia Tech Athletic Department said via
Members of the Virginia Tech Spirit walk across the field waving Hokie flags before a game against the Miami Hurricanes at Lane Stadium on November 22, 2025
Ryan Hunter/Getty ImagesThe stadium’s PA announcer also announced to fans that the skydiver was OK.
Three skydivers entered the stadium, but only one landed on the field as planned. In addition to the jumper who was trapped on the scoreboard, a third jumper was pushed by the wind to an adjacent practice field, according to authorities.
The scoreboard at Lane Stadium was visibly damaged when the skydivers made contact.
Later in the afternoon, reporters Andy Bit Published photo of scoreboardclaimed to have seen skydivers walking around in slings.
“Just passed the parachute outside,” Bit said via X, along with the photo. “He was walking away. His arms were hanging.”
Saturday is the first day of the opening ceremony james franklin Virginia Tech era. The acclaimed football coach joins the Hokies after coaching the past 12 seasons at Penn State.
“No one understands the importance of winning better than I do,” Franklin said at his introductory press conference in November 2025. “But there’s also a way to do it with character and integrity, and we’re going to continue to do that and represent Virginia Tech the right way on and off the field.”
He continued, “You’re not going to find a coach that’s going to put his heart and soul into this place…I guarantee you that.”
