Sports mailbag: VT fan says home crowds are supposed to be hostile

To the West Virginia fans: We all have been ridiculed and made fun of when we go on the road to games.

As a diehard Virginia Tech fan, I've dished out crap to visiting team fans and took it in stride at East Carolina, WVU and other places.

I applaud WVU Fan for being intimidating, unlike the Hokie Respect stuff.

Opposing fans should be afraid, this is football, not water polo. It's rough on the field and should be off as well.

If my team is playing yours, I don't like you, respect you or even want to get along with you. Then when the game is over, hopefully the Hokies whipped you on the field, and your experience is one you'd like to forget.

Then, get out of my town.

As for the student committee that expelled running back Michael Holmes, I am so glad none of you have made a mistake ever and walk on water.

I thank God for the second chances I've gotten in my life. Think about it.

Mike Nester
Hillsville

Every team's fan base has its Bozos

As a West Virginia alum, I am offended by the letter written by Wally Scott (sports mailbag, July 6).

Wally had no true evidence when calling out WVU fans. While we've all heard the tall-tale stories of second uncle's friends sons got beat up at a WVU game and saw WVU fans hurling babies off rooftops and dancing around fires, I will tell you that it would be hard to find any true evidence of any wrong doing that is out of the ordinary at any sporting event. Every team has its Bozos, and I will call you a hypocrite if you don't think that Virginia Tech has theirs.

The incident that was cited after the LSU game in Morgantown was found to be a random act of violence that was not perpetrated by WVU fans in relation to the game. The car that was attacked did not have any LSU logos, the occupants wearing any LSU gear, or the attackers seen to be wearing anything WVU. It was a stupid, and cowardly act of violence, not unlike some that is seen in other large towns. Hardly an excuse for the behavior though.

Wally has no idea what it's like to be a Mountaineer fan and experience a game day. I will guarantee you will be hard pressed to find an opponent's fan that did not have a good experience in Morgantown in the past few years. Tech is not holier-than-thou. It is a good rivalry that should be renewed.

Wally further showed his naivety by saying that South Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky are easier to get to than WVU. Morgantown is no farther than any of those schools.

I would appreciate it if you published letters that actually had sustenance to them, rather than rumors.

Thomas Slaugh
Hanover, Pa.

VT fans still as disrespectful as ever

Wally Scott's mailbag letter brings to mind a couple of incidents involving Virginia Tech fans.

My son-in-law relayed to me an incident that happened after a Tech-Virginia game, where UVa was beaten by the Hokies unmercifully. As the crowd left the stadium, a young man and his buddies were celebrating, yelling loudly, shouting various obscene words among their cheers.

An elderly couple - Tech fans, I might add - were walking a few steps ahead of the cheering group. The elderly gentleman turned around and commented that there was no reason to use such foul language in the crowd where young people were present - after all, they had won the game.

As the couple walked on, the young boy walked up behind the man, kicked him in the back of his heel and brought the man to his knees.

The younger man and his buddies went on their way, still ranting and raving. Where was security, and were was respect for one of your own kind?

I'm reminded of another incident of tailgating with my family and friends before a West Virginia-VT game when the Tech band came marching on front of us and began "chanting" obscenities, making reference to West Virginian stereotypes. Once again, there were children present. Where was the respect?

Fans are fans, and no one college or university has a monopoly on the rude ones.

Pat Davidson
Salem

Daly's pants were offensive to Americans

The photo of John Daly (July 9, Page 2) at the Greenbrier Classic, wearing an American flag wrapped around his body as his golfing clothing was insulting to our American flag and extremely offensive.

Surely, Mr. Daly could have found less offensive clothing to wear to play on an American golf course.

Bille Jean Harber
Fairlawn

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