2008 Woodie Awards
Terps fans show intensity against rivals
Jeff Amoros and Brian Kapur
Issue date: 9/14/07 Section: Sports
Wearing West Virginia gold, weaving his way through hostile Terrapin football territory, he nearly made it to safety - almost.
Tackled from behind, he got up and saw a scene played out dozens of times last night: Terps fans standing, cheering and ... barbecuing?
The roughest tackle last night didn't involve Terps defensive players Erin Henderson or Dave Philistin. No, the big moment came when junior American studies major Thomas Agbonyitor took down a West Virginia fan walking through Lot U4, delighting Terps fans tailgating in the area.
"I saw this fan standing around all cocky," Agbonyitor said. "So I did my best Shawne Merriman impression and took him out; everyone cheered. I hate when opposing fans come to our stadium and act like that."
The tackle could be viewed as a microcosm of a day that aroused tensions only seen when fans of one of the Terps' biggest rivals - No. 4-ranked West Virginia - visited the campus for a rare prime-time weekday home game.
Agbonyitor wasn't the only one getting in on the act. Andrew Lynch, an 2007 alumnus, was only too happy to return to the campus for a chance to torment Mountaineers fans.
"We've been throwing shit at them, sausages and stuff," Lynch said. "We like to f--- with them."
Lynch and Agbonyitor were among the few to attempt such overt forms of taunting, but that didn't mean abuse didn't come in verbal form from some Terps fans.
"They are all one family, no teeth; the brother's sister's uncle is the baby daddy," said Jimmie Mac, an alumnus.
Terps fan Matt Weimar, however, offered a departure from the familiar hillbilly refrain: "West Virgina sucks. The fans are too wild, but the women are hot."
Despite the animosity, the Terps fans did respect the dedication shown by the many Mountaineers who made the trip from Morgantown.
"They are dedicated, coming all the way down here," Weimar said.
Even though the Terps fans talked tough, the West Virgina fans brought chants and trash talk of their own to the tailgate.
Tackled from behind, he got up and saw a scene played out dozens of times last night: Terps fans standing, cheering and ... barbecuing?
The roughest tackle last night didn't involve Terps defensive players Erin Henderson or Dave Philistin. No, the big moment came when junior American studies major Thomas Agbonyitor took down a West Virginia fan walking through Lot U4, delighting Terps fans tailgating in the area.
"I saw this fan standing around all cocky," Agbonyitor said. "So I did my best Shawne Merriman impression and took him out; everyone cheered. I hate when opposing fans come to our stadium and act like that."
The tackle could be viewed as a microcosm of a day that aroused tensions only seen when fans of one of the Terps' biggest rivals - No. 4-ranked West Virginia - visited the campus for a rare prime-time weekday home game.
Agbonyitor wasn't the only one getting in on the act. Andrew Lynch, an 2007 alumnus, was only too happy to return to the campus for a chance to torment Mountaineers fans.
"We've been throwing shit at them, sausages and stuff," Lynch said. "We like to f--- with them."
Lynch and Agbonyitor were among the few to attempt such overt forms of taunting, but that didn't mean abuse didn't come in verbal form from some Terps fans.
"They are all one family, no teeth; the brother's sister's uncle is the baby daddy," said Jimmie Mac, an alumnus.
Terps fan Matt Weimar, however, offered a departure from the familiar hillbilly refrain: "West Virgina sucks. The fans are too wild, but the women are hot."
Despite the animosity, the Terps fans did respect the dedication shown by the many Mountaineers who made the trip from Morgantown.
"They are dedicated, coming all the way down here," Weimar said.
Even though the Terps fans talked tough, the West Virgina fans brought chants and trash talk of their own to the tailgate.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 130
wvuweaponX
posted 9/14/07 @ 8:50 AM EST
Wow, this on an official University web site? Unbelievable. Why don't you just add some new courses to your curriculum entitled "Trash Visiting Fans 101" or "Stereotypical Behavior Encouragement 101. (Continued…)
Kevin
posted 9/14/07 @ 8:54 AM EST
too bad you guys lost
nice "journalism"
Tolu
posted 9/14/07 @ 9:07 AM EST
Man. If was randomly tackled by some guy, I would choke his ass out
seuarat92
posted 9/14/07 @ 9:20 AM EST
Where to start?? with you podunks....lolololololol......
We'll start here...
"I saw this fan standing around all cocky," Agbonyitor said. "So I did my best Shawne Merriman impression and took him out; everyone cheered. (Continued…)
Kat
posted 9/14/07 @ 9:43 AM EST
...and you guys write this as if it is something to be proud of?
However, to rain on your parade a little bit; the tailgating was pathetic, I've seen fans that are far worse (at high school games), and the taunts actually lacked creativity. (Continued…)
Eerfull
posted 9/14/07 @ 9:43 AM EST
What kind of news site is this? I know one thing. I'll now be more motivated to crack MD fans in the face with a rock, bottle, or full beer can when they come back to Motown. (Continued…)
Darrin
posted 9/14/07 @ 9:45 AM EST
Unbelievable. About the only thing worse than your fans is your football team.
At least your fans can tackle.
alhweber
posted 9/14/07 @ 10:12 AM EST
How pathetic that the douch bag "writer" of this drivel thinks this "intensity against rivals" is somehow newsworthy. Probably just another MD faggot looking for attention. (Continued…)
Pdk
posted 9/14/07 @ 10:12 AM EST
Wow! Are the Maryland fans taking classless lessons from Rutgers?
JustSayin
posted 9/14/07 @ 10:26 AM EST
this is not an official univeristy site, hence the "independent" in the paper's tagline.
but really, this is a terrible story. why would you promote this? maybe give some color about the tailgating, but a bunch of quotes from wvu haters is pointless. (Continued…)
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