West Virginia Fans Classless Against Pittsburgh

While the critics were ranting over a recent court-storm by the Providence College student section following a victory over then number 19 UConn, a different type of storm was about to hit Morgantown in West Virginia. With the Mountaineers well in control of a Big East matchup versus the visiting Pittsburgh Panthers, an object was flung from the student-section right onto the court during the game. As the area was being cleaned up, West Virginia Head Coach Bob Huggins stepped up to the microphone and turned right to the student section.

“Hey, don’t throw anything on the court. You’re going to hurt one of the players, one of the officials…it’s just stupid,” said Huggins. Huggins then proceeded to instruct the student fans to point out anyone who throws something on the court so arena security can throw them out of the game.  Later on in the game, during a media timeout, a coin was thrown at the Pittsburgh bench that hit Assistant Coach Tom Herrion right below his left eye, leaving visible damage.

West Virginia students have been referred to as some of the loudest and most organized chaos-makers for any team that steps into Morgantown. Now they are considered to have a lower level of class. So, how can court-storming be compared to throwing things onto a court? It’s easy to compare when the word classless is used to label both incidences. 

“I can understand both sides of the PC court-storming argument, but when it comes to throwing things on a basketball court in the middle of a game, there is really no comparison,” said Friar Faithful Men’s Basketball Chair Craig Belhumeur. “What the West Virginia crowd did was disrespectful, and I don’t think that would ever happen here, especially with a group like the Friar Faithful in control.” Belhumeur did point out that a similar incident did occur back in 2004 when Texas defeated Providence on a last second layup, though the ball did not seem to have left the player’s hand in time. The referees still called the basket good because the game clock and backboard light were not in sync. 

“That was more aimed towards the referees, but it still shouldn’t have happened, and since then it hasn’t.”

With the formation of the Friar Faithful, a new attitude has come over the fans at the Dunk. Belhumeur credits much of the atmosphere to fellow executive board member, Brendan Frail, who commented also on the West Virginia situation.

 “They were really classless,” said Frail. “Our fans know better than that because they have a greater respect for the game of basketball.”

Frail made an excellent point about how the Providence fans, in general, have a better respect for the game. This was one of the schools that helped architect the Big East Conference back in 1979 and has continued to strive for excellence ever since the formation of this collegiate conference powerhouse. So for the sportswriters out there, like Jim Donaldson of (The Providence Journal) who wish to throw around a word like classless, save those words and take a trip down to Morgantown and drop them off there.