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Embarrassing. Unruly. Disgraceful. Stupid.
Those weren't words used to describe No. 6 West Virginia's 70-51 win over No. 22 Pittsburgh, but West Virginia University's fans.
For the fourth-straight time, WVU students behaved controversially during a home game.
Students threw towels, bottles and other items onto the court, following a traveling violation called on WVU point guard Truck Bryant.
Following the incident, WVU head coach Bob Huggins took the microphone from Coliseum announcer Bill Nevin and directed his words toward the students.
"Stop throwing things on the court. That's stupid," Huggins said sternly over the Coliseum speaker system. "If you see someone throwing something on the court, point them out so we can throw them out of here."
Huggins was asked about the situation following the game and had a similar response.
"(The students) wouldn't want the teams standing above them throwing stuff. You want them to be enthusiastic and they've been great. I love them to death, but whoever threw things on the floor, it's wrong," Huggins said. "You put people's safety at risk."
West Virginia students have been recently criticized for their questionable behavior during games.
Those actions prompted University Vice President for Student Affairs Ken Gray to send four e-mails to students asking for better behavior.
It didn't seem to matter Wednesday.
"It's uncalled for," said WVU forward Da'Sean Butler. "That's not the way we do things here. It's happened two times this year, so I don't know what they're trying to do, but that's not what we do.
"I'd appreciate it if they stop. It could cost us the game."
Students also threw items on the court against Ohio State Jan. 23.
Mountaineer Maniacs Director Cassie Werner said such actions are wrong in all circumstances.
"As far as throwing things on the floor – you don't do it," Werner said. "If you don't care enough about your team to risk a technical, you don't need to be at the game.
"I don't know if it's a matter of students not understanding or just not caring, but there's no reason for that at all."
The Maniacs were instructed by the University to make some changes
following the recent incidents, which have gained national attention.
Werner said WVU officials didn't appreciate what the Maniacs had originally planned for its Maniac Musings newsletter for Wednesday's game.
In response, Werner and the Maniacs focused much of the content on WVU forward Deniz Kilicli's first game. There were no negative references toward Pitt in the newsletter.
"We completely toned it down," she said.
The change of tone came just four days after the newsletter told students to chant "Karen Sypher" toward Louisville head coach Rick Pitino. The name is in reference to a woman Pitino had an affair with in 2003.
Another incident occurred in Wednesday's game with 5:14 to go, as tempers flared between the two teams. Pitt center Gary McGhee got tangled with WVU forward John Flowers. During the scuffle, Pitt associate head coach Tom Herrion's face was struck with what appeared to be a coin from the stands, resulting in technical free throws for the Panthers.
"He's alright. We're not going to make a big deal about it," Dixon said. "I don't want one person's reactions to reflect on an entire university. I have a great respect for the university and a great respect to the basketball program, so I don't want to make a big deal of it."
Werner didn't see the incident, but said she received text messages from friends during the game and was told the object wasn't thrown from the student section.
"This is not just a student issue. This goes beyond us and it certainly goes beyond the Maniacs," she said.
Some West Virginia's players seemed to have had enough of the fans' bad reactions.
WVU forward Devin Ebanks said these actions could cost the team a game.
"They caused a technical foul on us," Ebanks said. "The fans just get caught up, and they want it as much as we do and they get a little crazy."
WVU forward Kevin Jones said he hopes Huggins' words to the students will stop future negative behaviors.
"The fans listen to him. They respect him a lot. They respect his words," Jones said. "Hopefully that doesn't happen for the rest of the year, otherwise it could really hurt us."
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62 comments
I hate how every stupid, dumb and rude student who threw something gave the rest of us a bad rep. WVU should look at there bitter rival Pitt and take a page from there book. The Oakland Zoo has what they call the Zookeepers, they are the leaders who usually direct all the chants and take care of all the behind the scenes stuff. The Zookeepers hold high positions on campus, (i know one is on the SGB Board) so they would never dare risk tarnishing there reputation. They are recognized nationally as one of the best for there creativity and respect for others while giving Pitt the home court advantage. I live in Pittsburgh and word has been already going well that the Oakland Zoo will try and out-class the Maniacs.
Not that many cause there wasnt alot of drunken idiots.
You want to curb some of the problems that have occurred over the past four games. Two solutions to curb some of the behavior. It will be tough to address the issues of cursing.
1) An actual ticket lottery based on seniority and attendance at previous games just like football. This should cut down on the fairweather, big game, drunk fans that just show up for the Pitt, Louisville, and Ohio state games and may cause trouble.
2) Actually have university cops or CSC be way more vigilant and on the lookout for visibly drunken fans, cause really drunk fans are the ones that will do the stupid stuff (regardless of whether they are students). Maybe putting them at the student gate may solve some of the problems.
3) Put plainclothes cops in lower student sectionYou get caught being visibly drunk and disorderly your gone and athletic ticket rights are gone for your duration at the university or your season tickets are voided. Also have university press charges or face disciplinary actions on those caught.