Virginia, here’s a sign for you

By Jeff Christian

Published: August 21, 2008

On Tuesday, the University of Virginia put in place a no sign policy for sporting events including football and basketball games.
The school said the new rule was put into place to promote sportsmanship and a positive game day environment.
The ban on signs comes almost a year after U.Va. student David Becker held up a sign that read ‘Fire Groh.’ Becker was threatened with ejection from the stadium due to the sign.
He was told the sign was not in compliance with the Scott Stadium’s policy of not allowing signs of a derogatory matter, with profanity or that impeded another guest’s view of any part of the stadium.
Becker was only showing his displeasure with Groh, and the last time I looked, it was a free country and freedom of speech was still in place.
Go to any other sporting event on a college campus and there are signs all over the place. Kids will be kids and Groh and other members of the University of Virginia should have a thicker skin.
With coaching comes the heat of the fans and Groh, who has coached in the NFL with the New York Jets, should be able to handle the fact that some fans don’t like him.
He coached in New York of all places where the media lives to slam someone, anyone, all the time. Whether they deserve it or not.
Virginia is putting itself in a place it shouldn’t, because signs have a place in sports if they don’t contain profanity.
Groh has done a very good job with the Cavaliers and after last year’s 9-4 season, hopes are high for another successful season at Scott Stadium.
Groh is 51-37 with the Cavs.
He took the Cavaliers to the Gator Bowl last year and battled Texas Tech before losing 31-28.
While at Virginia, his alma mater, Groh has won the ACC’s Coach of the Year award twice, including last year’s honor.
Does Groh need to be fired? No.
But if a fan feels that way, he or she should be able to express how he or she feels. They did, by the way, pay for the ticket.
There are more important issues facing our world than signs at a sporting event. But this caught my eye and there is just one thing left to say…
Hey U.Va. ... “Here’s your sign.”
• AND FINALLY, the NFL lost an icon Thursday morning, Gene Upshaw.
Upshaw, 63, was the head of the NFL Players Association and played on Super Bowl teams with the Oakland Raiders over three decades - the 60s, 70s and 80s.
He will be missed.
Jeff Christian is the assistant sports editor of the Potomac News/Manassas Journal Messenger. He can be reached at .