A few notes about this and that before we delve into the Friday Feedback:

> I’m sure we can blame this on P-Rod in some way, shape or form: Willie Williams is headed to Glenville State. Funy/revealing story: Two years ago, Yahoo! reported that after he was dismissed by Miami he was very interested in WVU and that the feeling might be mutual. Local reporters tried to reach P-Rod for comment and he couldn’t be found. The stories ran citing the report and P-Rod was flat-out furious that one paper in particular that I know quite well didn’t seek his side of the story. So he preached about how he’s always available. Then he starts flirting with Alabama and you could not get the man on the phone.

> After numerous close calls, I finally caught up with Devin Ebanks Wednesday at the Pittsburgh Basketball Club’s Summer Pro-Am League. This is good because we were about three days away from me sitting outside Applebee’s waiting for him to leave so that I might “accidentally” run into him. I honestly called his coaches or advisors about 10 times before he signed and always “just missed him.” I was interviewing Wellington Smith once over the phone and he said Ebanks was at Smith’s apartment, but I “just missed him.” I found out late one day that some players were doing a clinic in Fairmont and I was actually in the area, so I went and “just missed him.” I went to the PBC two weeks ago and WVU’s players didn’t attend. Monday and Tuesday this week, I saw Ebanks a bunch of times at the rec center for the Jam Fest, but because of a stupid NCAA rule, I’m not allowed to interview him on campus until the fall semester. When I got to Pittsburgh Wednesday, Ebanks didn’t show up with the first wave of WVU players and I’m pretty sure I invented some profanity.

> Finally, I’m hearing Tevita Finau and Roscoe Davis aren’t going to make it. For Finau, it’s not a matter of grades, but of getting the work done before time expires, which is soon. Davis is having a tough time with his test scores. Also, and this is bizarre, but prompted by several e-mails I this week. I’m not going anywhere.

Onto the Feedback. As always, comments appear as posted. In other words, use discretion in how you leave your mark.

Mack said:

From ESPN.COM: “Mike Casazza of the Charleston (W. Va.) Daily Mail reports that Mountaineer recruit Terence Kerns received a qualifying ACT score and has apparently qualified academically.”

Pretty cool.

Yeah, there was a short fist-pump over that. Of course, I didn’t break the news, but then again, who really bothers with proper attribution these days. Kudos to ESPN. 

jmbwvu said:

Kerns singlehandedly will change the WVU football team. I guess we’ll never really know to what extent but I am positive that at the end of the year if you ask the coaches they’ll be able to say something like kerns added 1-2 wins to the season. My two cents.

There are many who agree … and theirs is an opinion worth more than two cents. At the very worst, he solves the goal-line and short-yardage dilemma and makes life a little easier on Noel Devine.

Erinn said:

I appreciate the editorial from the AA News. I couldn’t help thinking of ANOTHER university when I read the comment from “tiredeast”:

“The veil finally came off the football program. It is what it is – a money making/money spending entity. The quicker everyone stops thinking that it’s still some kind of shining beacon of academic purity, the quicker they will realize that while it’s OK that it’s turned into a typical college football program, it’s not what it used to be, for good or bad.”

I’m confused. Which University is this comment about?

Aw, that’s not fair.

Mack said:

I don’t understand how playing 33 minutes and missing 11 of 13 shots is encouraging. It’s not like he should be fighting for playing time… he’s the team’s number one pick.

Well, I was going for a silver lining there, but let’s be honest, he’s needed the minutes.

JP said:

Isn’t summer league for a #1 pick overkill? I thought summer league was for the Kevin Pittsnogles of the world – players just trying to make the team.

Not really. I can’t think of a first-rounder who isn’t in one of the summer leagues. It’s a proving ground for some fringe players, but it’s also an eye-opener for the players teams are paying big money so that they might be ready right away. Joe’s been better and much more comfortable the past two games. It’s not exactly like an NBA game, but he’s working out some wrinkles.

thacker said:

Excellent video. Better than the 2005 version — because of Bob Huggins. With all things that are falling into place at the university across the board, the best yet could happen with the right people and carry forward for decades — The Logo.

See, I disagree. I think the 2005 video was more enjoyable than the recent one. That team was even more unlikely than this one to make a postseason run and the video kind of played on the “Holy cow!” factor that followed the team wherever it went.

tmoore said:

I think the most telling difference between those two teams is how excited Tony sounded when Pittsnogle dunked the ball “with one hand!!!”

Times sure have changes, yes?

Erinn said:

Mike, you can go ahead and let Mazulla know it is July and I’m officially naming him my favorite player for next season. I want to see more floor slaps!

I’m fine with the sentiment. He’ll be a favorite this season for sure. And how about the recent history of the No. 3 jersey: Hargett, Beilein, Mazzulla. Whew. As for more floor slaps, no, that’s a one-time thing to be used only in that game against that opponent when he’s playing that well.  

Josh24601 said:

Remember D’Or’s (type that possessive three times fast) back-door pass which led to Tyrone Sally’s dunk in the 2005 NCAA win over Chris Freaking Paul and Wake? It was awesome, and it’s why I’ll never forget D’Or.

He was the most valuable player in that game … and I hope Mike Gansey doesn’t read this. I’ve got another one. They went to N.C. State that same year with a 9-0 record against a pretty easy schedule. Things were going well when D’Or blocked three shots under the basket in succession. The third started a fast break for a layup. He stayed back and roared and at that moment I realized they were killing the Wolfpack and, holy cow, these guys are really good.  

StraightOuttaNorthCentral said:

Mike, I know you know this, but seriously: 40 yard dash speed and in-game football speed are two totally different things. I’m pretty sure that if PW was trying to beat a defender to the endzone, his 40 time would be a lot better. Even with one arm raised and index finger extended for the last 5 yards….

Agreed. 

Erinn said:

Geez, y’all just took all the fun out of it, didn’t you?

My problem is I’m having a hard time believing Jarrett Brown runs a 4.46. If Pat White is faster than a 4.45 during a game, then Brown’s numbers have to be going the other way when he’s on the field.

Agreed. 

glibglub said:

Ah, grasshoppa, but how fast is the thumb that triggers the stopwatch?

Never thought of that, either.  

oklahoma mountaineer said:

Football players play football….40 times are for track, in most cases. Case in point, Renaldo Nehemiah, who lasted 3 years in the NFL after being the dominant sprinter in the late 70s. Noted on his Wikipedia entry as one of the greatest failures of Bill Walsh’s career.

I’d take Pat White on a football field (and hopefully a MLB baseball field) any time.

PS: Recruits are potential until developed, see Steve Slaton vs. Jason Gwaltley.

Timed speed is indeed overrated. I’ll take speed from Point A to B. If nothing else, we’ve added to the appreciation of Patrick White. He finds ways, no matter what. The P.S. sums up just about everyone’s feeling on the matter, too. 

Chris in DC said:

If Pat stays healthy and can hit the over the middle pass with success, I think he’ll get invited to NYC. I believe last year he wasn’t given enough credit for his improvement in passing. Take a look at what Mullen did for the qbs in Wake’s system. One would think that would translate over to Pat as well. Hitting the middle of the field passes has to open up the running lanes as well. Jeesh, can you imagine how he and Noel can take advantage of less than 9 men in the box?

Health is the biggie. He hasn’t played a full season yet and hasn’t managed to fit in all those carries and hits without an absence. He can’t miss time if he wants to win. He can’t. And he’s going to continue to run the ball with no fear. He has that much confidence in the backups, to say nothing of the confidence in his ability to play through pain. The passing is an unknown, but if the middle opens up and he hits deep balls, look out. Not only does hat change the way you defend the Mountaineers, but it gives Devinemore room … and he didn’t need much to begin with.

thacker said:

Would love to see White get the opportunity to throw away one vote for the Heisman and fully display his passing accuracy and power.

Kirk Herbstreit, “OMG! White has just drilled Bret Musberger square in the face with the football. What a hell of a throw!”

Enjoy the weekend!