Is It Free Speech or Coach Abuse?

Civil rights activists say West Virginia University officials violated a fan’s free-speech rights by forcing him to remove a sign critical of Mountaineer Coach Don Nehlen.

Jimmy Malfregeot’s sign at Mountaineer Stadium last Saturday read: “Terry Bowden, Call Home, 1-800-HELP-WVU.”

Bowden, a Morgantown native, recently resigned at Auburn, where he had a 47-17-1 record.

“I’m not aware of any WVU policy on signs, but decisions are made throughout the game and we made the decision to take that sign down,” said John Twining, assistant athletic director. “That sign was offensive. It was an insult to our coach.”

Big East Conference policy states that banners considered “offensive to particular institutions, players or coaches” are subject to removal.

American Civil Liberties Union representatives were outraged.

“In this country, you can call the president a liar--and surely you can say, ‘The coach [stinks],’ ” said Hilary Chiz, executive director of the West Virginia ACLU. “We can criticize any government employee--that’s part of living in a free country.”

Said Malfregeot, a longtime West Virginia fan: “What’s happening here is that the university has lost its sense of humor.”

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Scott Hvistendahl broke Jerry Rice’s all-divisions NCAA record for career receiving yards in Augsburg’s 25-0 victory over Concordia-Moorhead Friday at Minneapolis.

Hvistendahl caught 18 passes for 230 yards and one touchdown in the game at the Metrodome, finishing his career with 4,696 yards--three more than Rice had for Mississippi Valley State in the early 1980s.

“I knew at the end of the game, they would be looking for me,” Hvistendahl said. “They were really tough on me, and they knew we were trying to get the record.

“It was a relief, and it made it more emotional. I was exhausted at the end.”

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Heather Sue Mercer, who failed for three years to make Duke’s football team as a kicker, is now 0 for 4.

A federal judge dismissed her lawsuit against the university and Coach Fred Goldsmith.

Mercer claimed she wasn’t given a fair chance to make the team. The judge said Duke wasn’t required to allow a woman to join its football team.