I have now officially heard it all. Complaining about bad calls? Sure. Complaining about not being able to leave the stadium for a beer or seven at halftime? I'm hip. But for officials from a school with supposedly one of the most rabid fan bases to complain about too many home games in cold weather? I don't get it.For the second year in a row, the nationally ranked Mountaineers have been forced to play three of their final four conference games at home in the months of November and December.
WVU athletic officials have brought this matter to the conference's attention, according to coach Rich Rodriguez. He believes the fans deserve a better shake. "I would have preferred to have more Big East home games during the season in the month of October," he said a week ago. "I think it's the second year in a row we've had more games in November and December.
I can kind of see the point, but at this stage in the season who wouldn't want three of their last four games at home? Especially if you are trying win a conference title and still have an outside shot at the national title game. Home field advantage means everything. Being a Mountaineer fan, I can safely say that the best games I have ever attended in Morgantown have been night games late in the season. Hold on a second, let me change that a bit. I meant to say excluding this years Louisville game.
Not because it was cold. I think last Thursday nights game was perfect weather. 35 degrees and almost no wind to speak of. The problem was the crowd. It was like people were waiting for an appropriate time to cheer. And it's something I'm noticing more and more these days.
It used to be that a trip to Morgantown for opposing teams was a nightmare waiting to happen. Mountaineer fans have been known for being one of the loudest, insane, fire happy fan bases in the country. There are some bad connotations that I am glad to say are fewer. Mainly the bottle/battery throwers of the world. But I heard it several times in different places and saw it with my own eyes this past Thursday. Mountaineer fans are not the Mountaineer fans I grew up with.
The ESPN crew noted it as well as the Metro News post game crew. Brian Brohm said the crowd was not a factor in his post game interview. So what does all this mean? Has the Joe Average part of the fan base decided that ticket prices have grown out of their reach. Have they been replaced by the wine and cheese crowd of the state, if there is such a thing? Or is it just that the offense isn't busting three to four 50+ yard gains a game like they have in previous years? Whatever the reason, it's a sad day that West Virginia fans don't even get noticed by the opposing team.
Me personally, I'm not so worried that people won't show up for cold games. I still have that faith in Mountaineer fans. It's what happens, or more to the point doesn't happen when they get there that I'm worried about.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. i have been to many cold games in morgantown never heard any complaints about the cold but then im not the rich fan just a real fan
Posted at 7:59PM on Nov 12th 2007 by stan
2. WTF? I thought any team would love to finish out at home... less chance for an upset..
Posted at 9:15PM on Nov 12th 2007 by Super Bowl Bet
3. I think the media is the biggest fair weather fan out of anyone. I mean come on they won't play the Super Bowl in a city that has cold weather. It seems like all the teams that build a new stadium build a dome just in hopes that maybe they will get a bid for a Super Bowl. I think its demeaning to the game of football. Football was born outside and should stay that way no matter what the climate. Everyone needs to quit being pantsies.
Posted at 10:05AM on Nov 13th 2007 by kandrewtna81
4. This is a stupid article with no relevance to anything especially football. Are you going to judge all mountaineers fans based on what someone wrote or said. I love the cold weather. I love watching mountaineer football in cold weather. I love watching mountaineer football in rainy weather, hot weather, snowy weather; it doesn't really matter to me what the weather is so don't judge ALL WVU fans until you talked to all of us.
But Rich Rod does have a good point and I would not consider it to be complaining or whining or whatever you call it. Football is about being together with friends and family and enjoying the team you love. If games are going to be play in December after the sun goes down, not all of my family or friends will have the chance to go. For example, I would not let my 4 and 6 yr old kids go to football game and sit for 3 or 4 hours when the temperature is below freezing. I have no problem sitting in that weather (and I have many times) but my 4 and 6 yr olds have no business being out in the cold dark nights of December until midnight. So it really isn't fair for my kids who love WVU football. They are going to be the ones who miss out. Year after year, I would not want to see the last three home games of the year being played in late November and early December just for the sake of my kids. So think about other people and their situation first before you write something so judgmental.
Posted at 6:53PM on Nov 13th 2007 by Marc
5. Man, there are some whiners here. Do you think the scheduling world revolves around WVU football? The schedule is made up based on all the other teams in your conference. Also, the football season goes until December for everyone.
Posted at 6:01PM on Nov 14th 2007 by Corey
6. the real issue is schedule balance...
we had 2 home games in September, 1 in October, 2 in Nov and 1 in Dec.
there was nearly a month between the ECU and MSU games and then another almost 3 weeks between MSU and Louisville home games, then three home games within 22 days. just weird.
will be easier next year with 7 home games to even this out
Posted at 6:54PM on Nov 14th 2007 by wvjgrad
7. What nonsense that is not what was said at all.I am a least 2 maybe 3 times your age and am amused at the remarks that are made from the safey of your office.I think all of you need to spend some time in Iraq. Lets bring back the draft.
Posted at 7:01AM on Nov 15th 2007 by Frank Lincoln
8. Thats the biggest pile of BS i ever saw.
Mountaineer Fans love the cold, Ive never seen one fan bitch about a cold game. I remember many many times sitting in the freezing temperature for the Pitt game, either home or in Pittsburg, with a stadium full of WVU fans that stayed the entire time and never left.
Where the eff do these reporters get their information, bc they sure as hell dont know what the eff they are talking about.
Posted at 11:43AM on Nov 15th 2007 by Buddy