Sports mailbag: Virginia Tech football fans not innocent victims in rivalry with WVU 

I just had a good laugh reading the article about West Virginia fans being violent towards Virginia Tech fans (Mailbag, July 6). I always enjoy starting my day with a good laugh.

Clearly the writer is a Hokie fan. Ya see, there's this thing called a "rivalry." It's typically between two people, groups or teams. They don't like each other, never have and never will. In one of these weird rivalry things, words are exchanged and sometimes people need to be held accountable for those words.

Basically, don't come into my house (for this example we will use Milan Puskar Stadium) and run your mouth about how WVU stinks, the state is a bunch of inbreeding hillbillies, or whatever stereotype you heard on social media.

But if you do, don't cry when you are dealt with accordingly.

You make it out to seem like VT is perfectly innocent and was just attacked by WVU fans for no reason. I went to WVU, I've attended WVU-Virginia Tech games both in Morgantown and Blacksburg, and let me tell you that the cHokies aren't any better.

I was verbally assaulted and harassed, I was threatened with violence. It happens, it's part of the game. I think it makes the game fun, especially when VT fans write checks with their mouths that their butts can't cash. VT fans are far from innocent. If you checked any message board, you would find examples I'm sure.

But who uses message boards as sources?

Lastly, you failed to mention a certain obscene gesture flashed by Marcus Vick toward WVU fans and players, and even elbowing a coach.

Good day and let's go, Mountaineers!

Jackson Caldwell
Timberville, Va.

Mountaineer fans had good reason to be unruly

First, a little fact for Steve in Utah (Mailbag, July 10): Virginia Tech has sold out every home game since 1999, so no need for Slurpee coupons or to decrease stadium capacity as WVU has.

Prior to 2003, I thoroughly enjoyed the WVU-VT rivalry. That day, my father and I were afraid for our safety for the first time at any event as we (nondrinkers just walking to will-call to pick up our tickets) were cursed, and circled by middle-finger-waving, profanity-hurling WVU fans threatening to do lots of unmentionable things.

A little beer thrown and a lot of wrong finger "we are No. 1" declarations later, we were glad to leave without being physically harmed.

It's been 10 years, and I haven't forgotten, but I can forgive. I think the bitterness of WVU fans feeling left behind in a stripped-down Big East was the fuel that night.

After eight more years and with comfy new conference homes, I think myself and WVU friends and acquaintances I have will be excited to see the rivalry renewed.

I won't take my son (who will be 9 then) to Morgantown, but I would like to go and see if its suitable for him in the future, as both WVU and Tech share some of the most colorful, exciting game day environments that make college football great.

Here's hoping both fan bases will enjoy the scenery, cheer for their team and just enjoy a great college football rivalry renewed in 2021.

Rich Gallimore
Blacksburg

Message board chatter far from truth on WVU

Virginia Tech fans should be alarmed based on things you've read on message boards?

I've been to numerous WVU football games and have never seen these acts or read legitimate news articles backing up your slanderous, ill-conceived accusations against an entire state of people.

Did you happen to see WVU fans giving a standing ovation to the UConn football team at Mountaineer Field days after they lost a player to senseless violence? All the major sports outlets showed it.

ESPN talked about how WVU fans are all class. I'm sure you didn't write-in about it. Did you?

Before you attack an entire state of 1.8 million people because of what you've read on message boards on the Internet, maybe you can do some research and present facts to go along with your negative biased opinion.

The Roanoke Times should be embarrassed by your letter.

Haters gonna hate.

Jeremy Rice
Denver, N.C.

It will be good to see another WVU-Tech game

I am glad that the VT-WVU rivalry is going to start again, but disappointed at the letters about the games.

Exactly, what is wrong with just rooting for your team and enjoying the game? When we go to the East Carolina game, it takes a while to get to our seats, because so many people shake our hands and thank us for coming.

We had a similar visit to Marshall. Would you harass a person on the street wearing their school colors? Come on, people, act like grownups, not like 2-year-olds.

Showing respect for others shows respect for yourself.

Bob Williams
Roanoke

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