The Hokies added the Yankees logo to their Pinstripe Bowl helmets this season, but it was not solely because the team is playing at Yankee Stadium. The two teams have been interlinked for over a decade.
On April 16, 2007, over 30 people were killed in a shooting on Virginia Tech's campus, including the shooter. In wake of the tragedy, the Yankees made a $1 million donation to the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund and invited the school's police and rescue squads to the stadium to be honored before the Yankees' May 23 game.
Almost a year later on March 18, 2008, New York played an exhibition game against the Hokies in Blacksburg.