Sensitivity Training: Is It OK To Call WVU Fans Rednecks?

Fans tend to stereotype and hurl various slurs at one another; it may be wrong, but it's seems that it is just part of college football.

Bama fans are gumps, Auburn fans are barners, Rebels are retarded, and we LSU fans are corndogs. It is what it is.

But is it fair to call our friends from West Virginia rednecks?

Well, YES, historically speaking it is.

In 1920, shortly after what is known as 'the Matewan Massacre,' a shootout between hired 'detectives' of the Stone Mountain Coal Co. and local Miners that left 11 people laying dead in the street (including Sid Hatfield of Hatfield vs. McCoy fame) of a major mining town in Mingo County, W.Va., previously un-unionized minors joined the union under severe pressure and threat from the mining company and an actual battle, (the Battle of Blair Mountain) eventually involving US troops, ensued.

To differentiate themselves from the Baldwin 'detectives' (hired guns) in the mountains all of the coal miners started wearing red handkerchiefs around their necks.  They became known as the rednecks!

So don't call our friends from W.Va., inbred, deliverance, or hillbillies, redneck will suffice.

They will not need to wear their neckerchiefs on Saturday Night for it will be easy to discern them from Tiger fans.  They will be the ones with the wide-eyed look of disbelief on their face as we beat the living coal out of them.

Tigers 40
Rednecks 13

Geaux Tigers!!