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10/26/2009

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Hoppy's Commentary

Talkline Host Hoppy Kercheval

The headline over the story in Monday’s edition of the University of Connecticut student newspaper “The Daily Campus” read, “WVU fans show their true colors.”

Historically, that sort of media proclamation has been followed by details of abusive behavior by rowdy WVU fans of some visiting team, but not this time.

UConn student Russell Blair—who admitted that previously he had a “hatred for everything West Virginian”—wrote, “I would like to take this time to congratulate each and every West Virginia fan for their kindness and understanding on Saturday.”

Shortly after WVU pulled off a come-from-behind 28-24 victory over Connecticut, a disappointed and emotionally drained Coach Randy Edsall told reporters, “I thought the fans from West Virginia were gracious and humbling.”

West Virginia fans were remarkable Saturday. They stood, applauded and cheered the Huskies as they came on to the field carrying the helmet and jersey of Jasper Howard, their slain teammate.

They stood perfectly silent as a demonstration of respect as the two teams paused to remember Howard. Hundreds of WVU students wrote words of sympathy and encouragement on a huge banner that hung in the tunnel where the UConn players could read it as they passed to and from the field.

Many WVU fans wore armbands bearing Howard’s number “6”. After the game, WVU fans offered another standing ovation as the Huskies left the field with several UConn players acknowledging the crowd.

The WVU video board showed a picture of Jasper Howard as most of the players and staff from the two teams met at midfield for a prayer.

WVU President Jim Clements and Board of Governors Chairwoman Carolyn Long complimented the fans on their behavior and expressions of sympathy and support.

“The cheers when the opposing team took—and left—the field, the moment of silence, the pins, the armbands and the overwhelming show of respect throughout the game were fine emblems of the solidarity of the Mountaineer community,” Clements and Long said in a statement.

Even the national media took notice. Former coach and current ESPN commentator Lou Holtz gave a helmet sticker to WVU for how it handled the game given the Howard tragedy.

West Virginia fans demonstrated Saturday their understanding that football, while important, is not life or death. That’s what happens off the field. The pain associated with death and tragedy unites us all more than the outcome of a football game.

Contrast the atmosphere at Mylan Puskar Stadium Saturday with what happened at the Florida-Mississippi State game. The teams had to be separated twice by the officials when fighting broke out.

It doesn’t have to be that way. Saturday in Morgantown demonstrated that teams and fans can have respectful competition without digressing into hatred and fighting. Now that Mountaineer fans have had a taste of what it feels like it would be nice to keep it going.

If Saturday was, in fact, our true colors, we should display them more often. If this is really who we are, then let this be what West Virginia is known for.

User Comments

Hoppy,

If the fans and everyone else in the world would just treat each other as they would like to be treated themselves the whole world would be a better place. I don't know what happened to Sportsmanship, but Saturday just goes to show what Wet Virginia fans are capable of doing. In my life time I have witnessed people in general getting more and more out of control in public settings, the problem is that now acting like a horse's rearend and using foul language in public that could have gotten you arrested a long time ago is seen to be normal.

Hoppy, great commentary. Shortly after the death of reggae legend Bob Marley, Miami University came to Morgantown to play the Mountaineers. Marley's son played for the Hurricanes. My daughter was a WVU student at the time. She heard WVU students taunting the young player with "Hey Marley, how's your dad?" About as low class as it gets. WVU fans' poor reputation has been justified. This past Saturday was about as classy as it gets. Even if WVU has lost to Connecticut, it was a great day to be a Mountaineer wherever you are. Have a great day.

CaptainQ,

Nice that you decided to stay on the high road and include a totally unnecessary insult to Lou Holtz in your post, about, ironically, how classy and respectful WVU fans are.

It's a shame you're not one of them.

Kensgirl has a beautiful take on and analysis of Mountaineer fans' behavior this past Saturday. Many will question the hiring of Coach Stewart for a long time. But no one can deny that he is one fine man. I think that in the lead up to the game he set the stage for the respect dignity and empathy that our fans showed on Saturday. I believe that he deserves praise and respect in part and maybe a large part for the awesome behavior of the Mountaineer fans.

It truly was an amazing moment. Going to the game I thought we needed to show our support for the UConn players but I never thought I would feel anything emotionally myself. Suprisingly, as UConn came onto the field and I saw his teamates carrying his helmet and jersey, with the crowd standing and applauding, I think it became emotional for everybody. I had one of those moments of consciousness when it struck me that a very young person had died a tragic, senseless death. It wasn't just a story on the TV, it was a tragic loss. After the game I thought WVU fans showed tremendous class and I was proud to be one of them.

Hoppy, I think that your suggested idea of having the fans stand and applaud as the other team enters would be a fine, respectful tradition to begin. It would be difficult at times and the window of opportunity is short but a good tradition it would be. The students, the college and the fans will all need to realize the opportunity presented and the positives possible.

I was at the game, Hoppy, and cried during the moment of silence (as did many around me) and again when they put Jasper Howard's picture and "In Memory Of" up on the big board as the UConn team exited. At the time, I wasn't thinking about anything but what I, as a mother, would feel like if one of my children was taken away from me in such a manner, and I expect that everyone in the stadium was a mother/father/brother/sister to that young man in those moments. I think it's nice to hear from all the media how great the WVU response was, but I have to say, I don't think we could have done anything but what we did. That's really who we are as West Virginians, I think. We might not always be that good as WVU FANS, but I believe that,in adversity, we are almost always that good as West Virginians.

Hoppy, I agree that Saturday's game was one of the finest moments in the history of WVU sports and NOT because of the final score. For the Huskies to travel to Morgantown and play this game days after the death of a teammate was extremely difficult. I believe ALL West Virginians can be proud of how the crowd at the stadium behaved (how often can we really say that?). I hope the rest of nation takes notice of how WVU fans are not simply a group of "drunken, couch-burning hillbilly party freaks" as the outside media portrays us as. Even ESPN's Lou Holtz (the moron that he is) recognized the hospitality and respect the crowd at the game gave to the Connecticut team. Yes Hoppy, regardless of how the rest of the season goes for the Mountaineers, WVU fans are all winners for their behavior during this game.

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