The Sock 'Em, Bust 'Em Board Because that's our custom

Monday: A good time for Friday Feedback

Back from New York City and New Jersey with my feet back on the ground and the hands of my clocks back to the proper time. Let’s be honest for a moment: How many of you set their clocks back an hour Saturday night because they thought Daylight Saving Time had ended?

On to the show. As always, comments appear as posted. In other words, I’m nothing without you … and your words go nowhere without me.

Joe says:

I hope the Rutgers recruits were impressed by that out-and-out drubbing at the hands of the Mountaineers. I’ve always wondered that if recruits ever say to themselves, “I never considered (Team X), but after watching them destroy (team recruiting me), maybe I’ll go there instead.” This could explain why Boston College is so good now, considering the drubbing they gave WVU in Morgantown in 2004.

Anyway, I think it’s clear that this is the best Mountaineer team ever, which might show why the fans were so mad at the coach after the inexplicable loss to South Florida.

Poor Rutgers recruits had to stand out on the field and watch the game. Many had no wears for the weather and were soaked to the bone by the end of the game, when a few were seen snapping photos of the Mountaineers with their cell phones.

To your point, Ben, I’m trying to figure out the more jaded line of thinking: That this is the “best Mountaineer team ever” or that B.C.’s success is a product of a win against WVU in 2004. My conclusion? It’s a good time to be a WVU fan, yes?  Not only is your team good, but others are better because of your team.

I will say this: When the Mountaineers have a healthy Patrick White, a decisive Steve Slaton, the best five offensive linemen on the field and receivers who can plant their feet and get into defensive backs, that offense is very, very tough. As improbable as it seems after the loss at USF, the win at Rutgers, inspired by a great gameplan, has this team in position to win the Big East and cruise into a BCS game, where it can then prove itself as the best WVU team ever.

JX says:

 As an avid…uhhh…watcher (for lack of a better term) of the finer points of sports uniforms (I blame Paul Lukas/Uni Watch Blog) I was not a big fan of the gold alternates when they made their debut a few months ago (remember, Slaton wore the gold alt in the photoshoot for the Playboy All American team), entirely because I couldn’t shake how much they looked like the Cal gold/blue alts.

Seeing them on the tele Saturday did little to change that perception…BUT, I’m not as anti-gold jersey as I was before I saw them on the field. I just want to see them paired with the white pants before I pass final judgement.

And, for the record, the Uni Watch crowd (a seriously good read if your even remotely into that kinda thing) gave their collective thumbs up to the combo. If you can make it with that crowd, you’re uniforms aren’t that bad really.

And, it could be worse…WVU could have mimic’d ANOTHER Pac-10
THE EYESORE THAT IS OREGON DUCK FOOTBALL

yiiiiiiiiiiiiiikes. I just threw up in my mouth a little.

Um, grab your toothbrush, JX, because you’re not going to like this. Check the Rose Bowl prediction. You might want to think about buying a black and white TV for that one.

Erinn says:

I think it is hysterical that you managed to work in “The O.C.” into your sports blog. I bet Cohen would love the gold jerseys.

This comment and the one before it refer to the discussion of WVU’s gold jerseys worn for the first time against Mississippi State. As for the comment, I couldn’t agree more. It is hysterical and Cohen is a fan of gold tops.

Philip says: 

it’s a kind of fatalism, where we know all the while we’re enjoying them, the good times can never last. it’s never a matter of if, so much as when they will end.

our ascent to becoming a big time football power may not be complete until we expect or demand they never end, as most gators, trojans and buckeyes seem to believe.

(i’m not so sure, though, that attaining that kind of success is worth the price of wvu fans becoming obnoxious jerks … well, no more obnoxious than we already are.)

A comment on the still-open wound that was the American League Championship Series — and a few of you can stop with the “Does it hurt more knowing the Rockies were going to lay down in the World Series?” e-mails. Because the answer is yes. Yes, it does hurt more, and I didn’t that was possible a week ago.

Per Philip’s insight, I never said I was enjoying it and I knew it was going to end. That’s the particular pain involved with this relationship to Cleveland sports. Your point is a good one, though, and I really do believe it applies to the college football season, especially where perfection is sometimes the only way to reach the ultimate stage.

You truly do get what you give, though, which then raise the question of how much we all want to invest in that which we follow. What prices are we willing to pay to live on the edge and either fall of or stand alone at the end? Sadly, over time we get burned and we learn to live more, love less hope for the unexpected.

Sam says: 

As a Cubs fan, I can feel your suffering.

Thanks. I tried to think of a good reply here, but couldn’t top the words left by the following wise man…

wwbd? says:

Speaking of the cubs (motto: 99 years of consistency), you don’t know suffering until your team has multiple curses and you find yourself thinking your only chance of winning is if the curses will somehow cancel out. You’ll know you’ve made it when you find yourself making reasoned statements for why the descendent of a certain goat should be allowed into Wrigley Field. Or is livestock allowed into Mountaineer Field? Keep your head up, Mike, there’s still hope. Not much, but a little.