Just in time for the collegiate football season, Virginia Tech is using cash prizes to encourage homeowners to show their team spirit and add a little maroon and orange to their neighborhoods.

In a contest dubbed "Crazy for the Hokie Homes," Tech is asking homeowners to decorate their homes or lawns with Hokie themes and logos. Top prize is $5,000.

The second-place finisher gets $1,000 and third place wins $500.

Tech plans to announce the winners during halftime of the Nov. 29 football game against rival University of Virginia at Lane Stadium. The winning entries will be shown on the stadium's JumboTron, said Lock White, director of licensing at Tech.

"The contest is open to any homeowner to decorate their home and yard with Hokie gear, logos, and colors in the wildest, most outlandish, craziest way possible," said White.

"This might include a maroon front yard, 'Let's Go Hokies' in giant letters on the roof, or even a colossal Hokie Bird painted on the driveway."

White said homeowners have to keep the decorations up for at least three days, and they have to be seen by at least one neighbor. The judging will be based on three criteria: size of the logos reproduced, creativity and uniqueness, and "the overall crazy Hokie appearance of the home," according to a written statement from the university.

The deadline for getting entry forms to Tech's licensing department is Nov. 21. Guidelines to the contest and entry forms can be found at www.bookstore.vt.edu.
Contact Rex Bowman at (540) 344-3612 or rbowman@timesdispatch.com.