BLACKSBURG -- When asked Monday to sum up the Virginia Tech-West Virginia football rivalry in one sentence, Mountaineers coach Rich Rodriguez was even more succinct. He needed only two words.

"Very intense," he said.

Frank Beamer will second that one in a heartbeat. While he has no qualms about what has happened on the field between the two bitter rivals, the Tech coach conceded Tuesday it's the heightened fervor off the field between the two schools' avid fans that has him concerned.

"There have been some great Virginia Tech-West Virginia games over the years and I think it's been a great rivalry," Beamer said Tuesday. "I think there is great respect the players have for each other on the field. The two teams certainly respect each other and they play hard. I just hope the fans will do the same thing up in the stands and show respect for everyone."

Beamer was referring to Tech's last trip to Morgantown two years ago. While his third-ranked Hokies were getting taken to the cleaners 28-7 on the field, Beamer later heard about a bunch of dirty laundry that was delivered by the raucous WVU fans to the Hokies faithful on hand for the Wednesday night contest.

"From the stories that I've heard about the last time we were there, I thought things got a little shaky up in the stands," Beamer said. "And I hate to see that. I think when people feel threatened -- and I wasn't there, you just hear the stories -- I think that's a little bit too far.

"I've always kind of liked it up there ... I have up until you hear the stories that took place two years ago ... in the bathrooms and parking lots and all that stuff.

"I heard a lot of stories, and, again, I wasn't there. But I know it seems like a lot of our fans are worrying about going back up there. And that's not right. That's not playing college football, I think."

The Tech players who made that trip two years ago said they will never forget the demented atmosphere of that nightmarish evening for the traveling team and its backers.

"We thought they were crazy," senior defensive tackle Tim Sandidge said of the WVU fans. "They threw a couple things on the field ... I saw batteries, somebody threw an apple ... and it hit Chris Pannell [former Tech player] ... I heard a couple of cars got vandalized."

Sandidge said the rude treatment started as soon as Tech's buses showed up at Mountaineer Field.

"They were throwing stuff at the bus before we even go out ... water bottles or whatever they had in their hands ... beers ... they were throwing it at us. I have to say it's the wildest crowd I've played in. WVU ... they just hate us with a passion.

"Those fans, from what I saw, they don't really care what goes on. If you're a Tech fan, they either going to say something to you, they might throw something at you, they might do something to your car. They're just nasty fans. The only advice I could say is go up there without your 'VT' stickers on your car."

When asked if he would like to see the series resumed at some point in the near future, Beamer deferred his decision.

"I think we ought not talk about that part until after we play Saturday," he said.

No guarantees

Saturday's contest marks the 33rd straight year that Tech and WVU have met on the football field. The series may not resume until 2016, Hokies athletic director Jim Weaver said.

When asked if he'd be on the Tech sideline for that meeting, Beamer, 58, laughed and said, "[The year] 2016? I just hope I'm around after Saturday."

Keep it going

Hokies tight end Jeff King of Pulaski said he hates to think that Saturday's game may be the last in the heated series.

"I think it's a good rivalry and it should be continued," King said. "It was a little bigger when were both in the Big East. That made it a little bit more bitter, but I still think it's big rivalry and I think it means a lot to a lot of people."

Tech tidbits

Left guard Reggie Butler has recovered enough from a sprained right MCL to return to practice, but Beamer said the Hokies may go with Danny McGrath at center and Will Montgomery in Butler's spot again this week.

McGrath was solid against Georgia Tech in his first college start, Beamer said.

"This week is a little bit different in that they've got a big ol' guy right on your nose about an inch and a half away from you getting ready to whop you as soon as that ball is snapped," Beamer noted.

Tech tidbits

WVU's 3-3-5 defensive scheme is a different look for Tech's offense. "We haven't scored an offensive touchdown in two years against 'em," Beamer noted. ... Tech ranks second nationally in scoring defense (5.8) and third in total defense (219.8).