An unlucky skydiver had a rough afternoon in Blacksburg, Virginia, on Saturday. The parachutist, equipped with an American flag, got stuck on the scoreboard at Virginia Tech’s football stadium ahead of the annual spring exhibition game.
The game was delayed by about an hour. The skydiver, who was not publicly identified, appeared to avoid serious injuries, though reporters in attendance saw him don a sling for his arm. He did not require hospitalization, authorities said.
The parachutist hung from the “C” on the scoreboard’s “Virginia Tech” signage for approximately 20 minutes.
“Our primary focus remains on their well-being,” Virginia Tech’s athletic department wrote on X, referring to the skydiver. “We extend our sincere appreciation to the first responders, event staff, and medical personnel for their swift, coordinated and professional response.”
The miscue, which appeared to be caused by high winds, was an inauspicious omen for new Hokies coach James Franklin.
Virginia Tech hired the former Penn State coach in November. Franklin saw the unique situation as a learning opportunity.
“I’ve been part of a 3 1/2-hour weather delay, so you focus on the things you can control. That wasn’t one of them,” he told reporters after the exhibition. “To be honest with you, it was an opportunity for us to practice on something like that may come up, whether it was weather or whatever it was.”
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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