University repeals sign ban
(Daily Progress/Megan Lovett)
University of Virginia fans protest the recent ban on signs at sporting events during the game against Richmond on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008.
The University of Virginia athletics department has rescinded its controversial ban on signs at Cavaliers football games and other athletics events.
“The policy prohibiting signs, banners and flags in all UVa athletics venues has become a distraction and has taken the focus away from supporting our student-athletes,” Craig Littlepage, UVa’s athletics director, said in a written statement. “Our football team needs our support right now and that should be our collective focus. With that in mind, I am repealing immediately the policy prohibiting signs, banners and flags in all athletics venues. I encourage all of our fans to be in attendance at Saturday’s football game with Maryland. My hope is our fans will wear orange and be prepared to support the Cavaliers.”
UVa’s ban on signs has drawn protests and negative publicity this season for the Cavaliers.
Last year, a student was threatened with ejection from Scott Stadium after he held up a sign saying “Fire [head coach Al] Groh.”
The UVa football team’s record for the season is 1-3. The team is considered one of the most lackluster in the NCAA, ranked last in scoring offense, 118th in total offense and 98th in scoring defense.
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I don’t get it. UVA backs off on the sign ban after only a couple weeks of uproar, but still employs Coach Groh? Haven’t the last few seasons spoken for themselves? There’s no doubt last year was a fluke.
Thank goodness this embarrassing policy has been repealed. Perhaps the administration’s attempt to destroy our UVA football program is at an end…at least I hope so.
Don’t listen to Craig Littlepage. Everyone wear blue instead of orange! The only reason Littlepage repealed the sign ban was because his little “sea of orange, let’s tell the fans what to wear, screw what they want to wear” was being threatened by student protests.
BLUE OUT THE STADIUM, LET THE AD KNOW THAT WE WANT TO BE FANS, NOT DRONES. WASN’T THE SEA OF ORANGE “AL - WORST NCAA COACH IN THE NATION - GROH’S IDEA IN THE FIRST PLACE. AL GROH HAS SQUANDERED TOO MUCH TALENT, SEND THE MESSAGE, THE FANS WANT HIM GONE!
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