Thomas Jefferson once said about the University of Virginia, “This institution will be based on the illimitable freedom of the human mind.” But according to the university’s new president, Jefferson did not mean freedom to ask for the swift departure of head football coach Al Groh.

There were only two words on UVA student David Becker’s sign ‘Fire Groh’; far from poetic but certainly said, or written, with conviction. In modern-day America, where it seems that everyone and their brother feels that their civil liberties are or were infringed, it isn’t weird for there to be a free speech issue revolving around a young college kid but this time Becker’s, and now everyone attending UVA sport’s venues, sign-carrying rights are gone – to promote a “positive game-day environment.”

While it is crazy that no one can carry signs at UVA sports games; I am in no way saying the Becker was justified; the policy that calls for the removal of “all banners, signs, and flags” from games was first decreed during one of last season’s football games. If I remember correctly, at a 9-3 record and an invite to a major bowl game (Gator), 2007-2008 was one of the best UVA football seasons in recent memory, and, oh, who won last year’s Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) coach of the year? Groh, himself.

With last year’s award, Groh is probably pretty happy with himself and his team; and I’m sure most fans are also happy with his coaching, but just like in all parts of life, there will always be dissenters. Just let these grouches vent; the more you tell these guys to stop carrying signs, the more they’re going to want to carry them. I wonder if Virginia sees that they might be starting a Prohibition-style movement. Pretty soon you might find secret sign-houses around the Charlottesville area; people might start hiding folded up signs in their clothing sneaking them into the stadium like they’re narcotics. Virginia is victimizing a piece of paper, possibly cardboard. Al Groh is a grown man who can handle some pressure and a couple of written inquiries about how secure his job is.

Even with a solid record and even a little hardware, fans will be fans, and there will almost always be coaching controversy. Whining is one of the most common forms of showing sports-related emotion; while there is “no crying in baseball,” there is certainly a lot of whining. So with complaining via-sign being so commonplace in just about every sport, why outlaw it without any precedent? To whomever makes these UVA sports policies: would you rather have an extremely loud fan yell, “Down with Groh,” or a young man holding a sign with the same message?

Football is not a gentleman’s game; the crowd does not go silent right before the quarterback chucks the pigskin, so toughen up a little bit Hoo’s. Thomas Jefferson would be sorely disappointed.