HOKIE BIRD HAS RUN-IN WITH LAW

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 29, 1992                   TAG: 9201290028
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
HOKIE BIRD HAS RUN-IN WITH LAW
The Hokie Bird a criminal? Booked? Fingerprinted? In the slammer?
Well, not quite. But the Virginia Tech symbol - brought to life by none other than Hokies recruiting coordinator Sharon McCloskey - was hunted down Tuesday by campus police, who had gotten an order from annoyed Tech administrators in Burruss Hall:
Tell that mobile maroon mascot, that goofy gobbler, to quit making all that noise.
It seems Tech associate athletic director Danny Monk had a plan to boost what has been sagging attendance at home basketball games: Put the Hokie Bird in a car with a bullhorn on the hood, drive around campus during a break between classes, blast the Tech fight song and holler at students to come see the game.
A great plan, except the route passed by Burruss Hall.
"You know who lives in Burruss," said a Tech policeman, who asked not to be identified. "We got quite a few calls."
An all-points bulletin succeeded when the Hokie Bird's car was pulled over around 10 a.m. on Grove Lane near the Duck Pond.
"[They were told] they would have to cease their operation," the officer said.
Because the regular Hokie Bird was in class, McCloskey volunteered for a job that nearly put her in handcuffs.
"When I was a student, I tried out for the Hokie Bird and didn't get it," said McCloskey, a 1979 Tech graduate. "People smiled, they were high-fiving me, giving thumbs up, waving . . . People love that bird."
Except the people who called the police.
"I was going to get out of the car and assume the position," McCloskey said, "but there was mud on the side of the car and I didn't want to get my bird feet dirty."
Despite the gag going awry, McCloskey was able to make it to a mid-afternoon recruiting meeting.
"They posted bail this afternoon," she quipped.
The Hokie Bird, without McCloskey, was spotted in action again Tuesday after 5 p.m. This time, though, no administrative feathers were ruffled.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB