Not a good sign

When third-ranked USC goes on the road to face Virginia in the season opener on Saturday, don’t expect any television shots of fans waving signs in the crowd. Not “Hi Mom.” Not “Go Cavaliers.” Nothing.

The University of Virginia has banned all signs at its athletic events. Administrators say the new policy is meant to promote sportsmanship and a positive environment. At least some fans from the school that Thomas Jefferson founded have a different perspective.

Thesabre.com has been buzzing with angry postings:

• More evidence that UVA officials are clueless.
• Breaking news: Ushers to be armed with Tasers.
• Next year the administration is going to ban clapping and yelling.
• Is sign language OK?
• Not like we were founded by someone who wrote the Constitution.

The new policy comes roughly a year after a Virginia student was reportedly threatened with ejection from Scott Stadium for holding up a sign that demand the firing of Virginia Coach Al Groh.

-- David Wharton
Photo: David Becker, a University of Virginia student, holding the sign that almost got him ejected last season. Credit: The (Charlottesville, Va.) Daily Progress 

Comments

[Gary]

Funny ... except the founder of U.Va. didn't write the U.S. Constitution. He wrote the Declaration of Independence. (though to be fair, he did help draft the Virginia Constitution).

I knew that.. because I, like Mr. Wharton, went to USC!

(OK, that's now how I knew that, but it was fun to write).

[Keith]

Was there a Virginia fan suggesting that Thomas Jefferson had a part in writing the Constitution? Wasn't he our Emissary in Paris at the time?

[Amy]

"Not like we were founded by someone who wrote the Constitution."

Sarcastic, yet true. Thomas Jefferson didn't write the constitution. He wasn't even in the country when it was being put together.

I really doubt this will be a particularly enforceable decision. People will just find new ways to get their message across. It's a silly policy.

[CLAS94]

As a Virginia Alum, I am really tired of the prissy attitude taken by our administration. Maybe we can send Mister Casteen back up to UCOnn, but we need to have this kind of ____ stopped.

I know USC is an excellent school, and has the backing of it's administration...a luxury Virginia doesn't enjoy. Our GPA standards are higher than NCAA's, and we routineley suspend student athletes who are eligible under NCAA standards. What other school does that?