Fan behavior an issue in Morgantown

Remember way back when John Denver sang, "Almost heaven, West Virignia"? Not the case anymore.

I'm not totally on board with the message West Viginia Mountaineer basketball fans are trying to send.

Are you trying to build a reputation as being the rowdiest fans in the nation? Are you trying to generate an atmosphere that will strike fear into any team that visit Morgantown? Are you trying to boost your team onto victory by your antics?

The answer to all three is no, no and no. I'm adding an addendum: you're building a rep for being the worst home crowd in the nation. There's much proof for this, too. The recent activities of the crowd in Morgantown may leave officials with no choice if this type of behavior continues.

Look. I have no qualms rooting for your home team and trying to get into the heads of an opponent. It's that manner in which you're conducting your business that's getting West Virginia fans all the attention...and deservedly so. The West Virginia administration as gone so far as to send e-mails to students over the past few weeks with their behavior as the subject.

Exhibit A. During a nationally televised game against Ohio State, profanities arising from the crowd could be heard during the broadcast.

Exhibit B. During Saturday's game against Louisville, chants aimed at Cardinals head coach Rick Pitino included the name of the woman he admitted to having sex with.

Exhibit C. During last night's "Backyard Brawl" against Pitt, two instances of objects being thrown onto the court. After the first instance, Mountaineer's head coach Bob Huggins grabbed the mic and addressed the crowd. He referred to the act as "stupid" and instructed that if anyone saw another fan doing such a thing to "point 'em out" so that the responsible individual could be removed.

I applaud you, Coach Huggins, but your message unfortunately fell on deaf ears as not even 7 minutes of game time later, another such event. An object was thrown at the Pitt bench and struck an assistant coach. That object, which was believed to have been a coin, created a bruise just under the eye of the assistant.

Mountaineer's Da'Sean Butler's statement about the incident was almost on mark.

"It was uncalled for," Butler said. "There is a time and a place for stuff like that, but one place is not the basketball court. Take that outside if you're going to do it. I don't know what the fans are trying to prove whether they're tough or not but it's not what we do. I would appreciate it if they would stop. It might cost us a game."

And cost you a game, it could. Butler has addressed this. Huggins has addressed this. The school has addressed this. There are only two other options to explore here.

First, there could be a forfeiture if the behavior doesn't subside. For that to happen, you would have to travel a potentially dangerous road to get there becacuse technicals against the crowd would be on that path. Tht would most likely create a more hostile atmosphere. I do not like this avenue.

The other, and one I wouldn't like seeing, is that outside of the teams and their staffs, no other person can attend. It's been done before due to both illness and fan behavior. I don't like this way either, but it may come down to this.

Wait. There's actually another.

Just behave and act somewhat civil.