Editorial: Tonight's the night to show we can be great fans

The No. 6 West Virginia University men’s basketball team faces off against No. 2 Villanova in one of the most anticipated home games in WVU Coliseum history tonight.

The matchup is the first of ESPN’s Rivalry Week.

While the Mountaineers and Wildcats wouldn’t necessarily be considered the fiercest of rivals, the two teams were expected to battle it out for the Big East Conference regular-season title this season.

This meeting could go a long way to deciding the outcome of that race.

It should be pretty fun to watch.

That is, unless fans ruin this game, too.

It’s been a tense five days since last Wednesday’s embarrassing behavior from the fans during the Pitt game.

During that game, students threw items onto the floor causing a stop in play.

Later, someone hit a Pitt assistant coach with a quarter near the eye.

It’s been a revealing five days for the University – one that should’ve given many WVU fans a wake-up call.

It’s time to show the country WVU isn’t classless and unruly. It’s time to prove we’re not a joke.

Basketball fans around the nation will be tuning in to watch what could be one of the premiere regular-season matchups of the year.

The Wildcats are one of the top teams in the nation, specifically on offense, where they score an average 85.2 points per game.

They remember last year’s visit to Morgantown.

In the two teams’ last meeting, WVU’s Da’Sean Butler put up a career-high 43 points in a 93-72 win, which likely cemented the Mountaineers in the NCAA Tournament.

The Mountaineers aren’t too shabby either. In fact, they are one of the best defensive teams in the country.

Tonight is the time WVU proves to the nation if it’s a real national title contender.

Not only that, but it’s time for the Mountaineer fans to show the nation what they truly can do when they are collectively behind a team.

The Coliseum should be packed. It should be loud at all times. It should be a night to remember.

ESPN SportsCenter anchor Neil Everett said after the Pitt game toward West Virginia fans, “Act like you’ve been there, even if you haven’t.”

We say it’s time to take it to the Wildcats – but do it in the right way.

Cheer for the Mountaineers, and don’t throw anything on the court. Stay enthused throughout the game.

If that can happen, that gives WVU one of the best home court advantages in college basketball.

The Mountaineers will need that type of effort from the fans to pull out a victory tonight.

daperspectives@mail.wvu.edu

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4 comments

Woody Paige's Long Lost Son

Tue Feb 9 2010 11:10

Well, I certainly hope VP Ken Gray and all you Jay Mariotti Jr's got what you wanted last night. As an Alum, it truly was shameful to watch the game knowing the Student Section felt like they were on thin ice... on a night when we needed our student section to be ROWDY!

For crying out loud... you all are turning the student section into a bunch of tightly-wound wusses!!!

Dave

Tue Feb 9 2010 09:31

Why no DA articles on fan behavior last night? If the behavior had been bad, the entire DA would have been one big indictment of our fan base. But well-behaved? No opinion articles. Nothing. The hypocrisy is unbelievable. Really goes to show that the DA was only out to make a story for itself. When it no longer has any ammunition, apparently they go silent.

And while 'well-behaved', the students are so scared to get kicked out they couldn't even get in sync, and they were largely uninspired and flat. Thankfully nothing was thrown on the floor, but the muzzle that has been placed on the student section needs to be removed. Move the TV announcer's table somewhere else so their mics don't pick up the student section as prominently if whatever they say is that much of a problem for the powers at be. But the students should not be afraid to cheer for their team for fear of being kicked out.

fan/alum

Mon Feb 8 2010 21:13

I would like to thank the WVU administration as well as the DA personally. Thank you for putting a muzzle on our fans tonight. Watching on TV as an alum, it is a shame, a crying shame that this was allowed to effect the atmosphere at the Coliseum in a negative manner. WOW! way to kill one of the best atmospheres in college basketball.

Rabid Fan

Mon Feb 8 2010 08:07

I'm surprised you all didn't say the following;

"We at the DA would like for our fans to welcome the Villanova Wildcats with open arms. Serve them drinks and snacks upon arrival."

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