The most exciting part of practice was leaving the field at Scottsdale Community college and dodging the footballs kicked over the fence as WVU worked on field goals. What was supposed to start at 1:30 p.m. began closer to 2 o’clock and interim coach Bill Stewart was able to squeeze in a quick workout as he walked brisk laps around the sports complex with safeties coach Bruce Tall.

* For a bit, the talk of Butch Jones withdrawing his name from the coaching search worked its way around the field, but by the time we left we learned it was a bogus report. He’s still in play.

* Freshman running back Noel Devine was not at practice. He had flight trouble in Fort Myers, Fla., and was expected to join the team tonight. Stewart said the Mountaineers are otherwise healthy and whatever players have new or previous dings should be fine.

*Finally, the media received Oakley sunglasses upon arrival at the obscenely ornate JW Marriot Camelback Inn.