Cadet Matt Mabutas will travel with the Hokies to receive the flags at Saturday’s football game at Virginia.

The Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets and the Virginia Tech football team continue their proud partnership to highlight the colors during the pre-game ceremony at every football game.

Three football players, chosen because of their performance in the last game or at practice, carry the American flag, the state flag, and the team’s spirit flag and lead the team onto the field. They deliver the flags to cadets at the south end of the field. 

The cadets, also selected based on their performance in the corps, render honor to the flags and carry them off the field. At home games three first-year cadets are selected, and one or two upper-class cadets travel with the team and receive the flags at away games. 

Mabutas is a senior in Air Force ROTC majoring in mechanical engineering in the College of Engineering and an undergraduate researcher in the Multiphysics Intelligent and Dynamical Systems Lab. A member of the Highty-Tighties and the executive officer for his unit in the corps, he was chosen for his ever-present high morale and ability to keep those around him motivated to perform above and beyond.

Written by Shay Barnhart