Virginia Tech And Brent Pry Revive Bud Foster’s Lunch Pail

By: David Cunningham | Managing Editor
The Lunch Pail is back at Virginia Tech. (Ivan Morozov)

On Friday, Virginia Tech and Brent Pry announced that they’re reviving Bud Foster’s iconic Lunch Pail.

The idea came to fruition in 1995 when he was the co-defensive coordinator, and he took over full duties in 1996. In his time as the defensive coordinator, the Hokies led all FBS programs in sacks, sack yardage, interceptions and third-down percentage. Over that same span, only Alabama and Ohio State were better in scoring defense than Virginia Tech.

Brent Pry, who was hired as Tech’s next head coach in December, was part of the program as a graduate assistant from 1995-97. He saw the rise of the Lunch Pail Defense, and he asked Foster if the new defensive staff, which includes the likes of Hokie greats J.C. Price and Pierson Prioleau, could reincorporate the Pail back into the Virginia Tech program. 

“Certainly there are multiple guys on the staff who know first-hand the proud tradition that the Pail embodies,” Foster said in a statement. “In my mind, the Pail and the players who earned the right to carry it over the years epitomize the standard of toughness, character and work ethic that defined the Hokies for so long. The Lunch Pail stands for hard-nosed Virginia Tech football at its very best.

“I couldn’t be happier that Coach Pry and the staff are bringing this great icon back to Blacksburg. The LPD is back!”

In addition to the Lunch Pail, Pry announced on Thursday’s edition of Tech Talk Live that the Hokies plan to continue the tradition of wearing Frank Beamer’s iconic No. 25. Started by Justin Fuente in 2016, Tech honored BeamerBall and the former number of the legendary coach by selecting a special teams player to wear No. 25.

Brian Johnson wore No. 25 in the Belk Bowl in 2019 vs. Kentucky. (Jon Fleming)

“After talking with [special teams] Coach [Stu] Holt and with the history of special teams here at Virginia Tech, the emphasis that we’re putting on it, that we want to put on it, this was a statement that 25 is going to be our Special Teams Player of the Week,” Pry said on Thursday. “That could be a fourth-team guy that’s on punt, punt return, kickoff, kickoff return, and maybe he doesn’t make a glamorous play.

“I don’t know how much more you could do than recognize the Special Teams Player of the Week by having him wear 25 the following week. We’re excited about that. We’re going to do a little piece each week where that player has a chance to talk about what it means to him.”

Pry said the Hokies will announce the individual to the team on Sunday and release it to the public on Wednesday or Thursday of each game week.

Young Wideouts Continue To Grow

Wide receivers coach Fontel Mines was one of four people to speak with the media on Friday afternoon. His unit is preparing for the season-opener at Old Dominion on Sept. 2, and he said he’s seen an improvement in the group’s mentality in August.

“I credit that to Coach Pry because that’s something that he preaches, just mentality and accountability,” Mines said. “We talk about it all. Academically, on the field performance, things we’re doing off the field, and we talk about it together as a unit. … I believe that makes those guys be accountable.”

Kaleb Smith and Jadan Blue are the veterans in that room for the Hokies, but there are some talented players in the wings. Mines said Da’Wain Lofton is “probably one of the strongest pound-for-pound [players] on the team” with a tremendous work ethic.

Lofton played in 12 games in 2021 as a true freshman and recorded seven catches for 98 yards and one touchdown, which came against Miami. 

What will Da’Wain Lofton’s role be for the Hokies? (Jon Fleming)

“I love the kid, man,” Mines said. “He probably puts more pressure on himself than anybody, so I take a different approach to coaching him. … He just provides that daily example, even though he’s so young in his career, just how to work.”

Christian Moss, a redshirt freshman from Kennesaw, Ga., is another player that could help Virginia Tech this season. At 6-3, 194 pounds, he’s a larger threat than most receivers in Tech’s arsenal, and Mines said he’s much more confident this fall.

“He is so talented and raw, just in his ability,” Mines said. “Most guys have been playing football for a long time, since they were six or seven years old. He picked it up late, he was a basketball guy. And I think his biggest thing was he didn’t trust himself all the time.

“Now he’s playing with confidence. We’re pushing him to be more physical, but when you just look at him and the tools, he’s probably one of the most gifted kids in the room. I anticipate him being able to help us this year.”

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  1. Not sure why anyone wanted the lunch pail to go away. Although coach Foster retired, it is now a part of Hokie lore, like Enter Sandman and Hokie Stone…..so why was it ever eliminated? GREAT TO HAVE THE LUNCHPAIL BACK! GO HOKIES!

  2. Pry is doing everything possible .. it seems .. to restore a winning tradition @ VT .. he is a winner & I think we’ll see that in time

  3. 1995, wow I had forgotten it was then. That lunch pail is the iconic symbol of our tradition, and a year later the cameras caught JC Price running with it after the victory over Texas in the Sugar Dome, that game was the moment Virginia Tech athletics became relevant. Not only should the lunch pail come back, I think a bigger than life monument of it should be placed at Lane!!!!!!

    2. I think there should be a food truck or one of the food options in Lane should be called “The Lunch Pail” and it should have a lunch box-styled facade. Easy theming.

  5. Long held traditions are part of a ‘story’ and that is a fundamental element of a ‘storied program.’ The other fundamental part is winning. Let’s see if Coach Pry can revive both parts, which are necessary but not sufficient to reach ‘storied program status. At least those two parts are under his control. We may not be an overnight success, but stories are usually about the journey not the destination.

  6. The return of the Lunch Pail is great news, not so much for the fans, but the players. I don’t think Brent Pry would be HC, without Bud’s endorsement. Go Hokies!

      1. I also had no idea the lunch pail was retired. I’m glad I didn’t know. At least now all is right in the Hokie kingdom.

          1. is the huge oversized ‘lunch pail’ still hanging in Merryman Center lobby?
            i think it was there when i was last in Merryman 4 years ago, PC (PreCovid).

          2. It wasn’t JHam’s decision! It was Justin Fuente’s decision. Glad he moved on for sure! Coach Pry is a VT guy through and through! Go Hokies! Beat ODU.

      2. Sad indeed and proof that Fu never did understand or “get” VT. Pry does both which is why there is such invigoration in Blacksburg, again.

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