Welcome to a it-can’t-be-Saturday-soon-enough edition of Friday Feedback. It’s the end of a bizarre week that only got weirder when WVU became $2.5 million richer when the University of Michigan paid its responsibility in the P-Rod settlement yesterday afternoon.

Let’s get right to it and hope it’s a quick one today, for a few reasons. First, the fingers are tired from typing stories and responding to every e-mail I received on the Pat White topic. Secondly, many noteworthy comments this week were about the incident and I think everyone did a very good, very fair job presenting and exploring different opinions. No need to spend too much time on that here.

I do want to touch on the apology, though.  

“Thinking back on my recent comments at Big East media day, I believe that I may have overstated my feelings on college baseball and the WVU baseball program. I have not played collegiate baseball in the past because I have concentrated on football and building on our success with my football family. I am sorry my comments have caused so many distractions. I am looking forward to putting this behind me and getting on the practice field with my teammates on Saturday.”

Some interesting comments followed:

WVUeer220 said:

Nothing more annoying than when an athlete finally speaks his/her mind about something and says something they actually believe, only to have the PR powers-that-be run in and make them backtrack. I would have paid good money to be in the room with White whenever someone from WVU Sports Communications came in and had a little chit-chat with the QB after those comments got out.

Ironically enough, notice this story had received little-to-no national attention after the comments themselves became public. White’s public “apology” drew a front page link on ESPN.com last night.

Forty-four minutes later:

JP said:

> Ironically enough, notice this story had received little-to-no national attention after the comments themselves became public.

That’s because it’s a non-apology apology.

I happen to think this was a national story. Just google is and you’ll see. There’s that and the fact radio stations across the map were trying to hook guests from the West Virginia media to discuss this. Obviously, Pat White is a household name.

The crux of WVUeer220’s comment is interesting, though. Nobody doubted Pat would take responsibility for his actions and this gesture is right in line with who he is and what he’s done while at WVU. That will no doubt make supporters, and even doubters, proud. Of course, it’s unlikely he volunteered a statement and was instead pressed to comment. I agree the sit-down with Pat and the SIDs may have been interesting. Read that quote again, closely, like JP and many others did:

thacker said:

Exact citation, please? Was this given to you via an on the record response by White? Was it a released statement by the athletic department from White?

Interesting statement though. Sounds like he is still sticking by his guns. Apology was made for only distractions and that a position may have been overstated.

Regardless, he has earned the right to speak his mind.

(My bad, I forgot to mention at first that it came from the SID.) Yes, Pat probably made a lot of people proud for stepping up and addressing the topic again. However, I believe this is a better statement for the people who were glad Pat took a stand, that he exposed some bias in the baseball program and that WVU needs to take a look into this rather than silencing the face of the athletic department.  If you believe Pat is on to something or that he should be commended for doing what he did Tuesday, his apology likely empowers you.

He says he overstated his feelings, which, to me, is an admission that he was only guilty of being too emphatic about something he believes. It doesn’t change what he believes. He apologizes — to everyone in general and no one in particular — for the distraction. Not the comment, the implication or the allegation. He did not back away from what he said, which if nothing else makes him look like someone who had cause to say what he said and someone who will not run away from his actions just because they’ve created commotion. Good for Pat.

Onto the Feedback. As always, comments appear as posted. In other words, don’t bite off more than you can chew — “Seriously.”

thacker said:

Always some consternation about USF for such a young program. They must be doing something right. When such infiltrates every ball club within a conference, that is when, possibly, you know that you have a very good conference. It is getting closer.

I’m tingling for the next salvo in this burgeoning rivalry and hoping it comes from WVU, which is one or two more shots away from wearing a Jeff Hornacek jersey. People hate USF, though I sometimes struggle to see why. That school is trying so hard to get itself going. I think it’s commendable and I’m thinking the Bulls realize that part of arriving is having people hate you. In that regard, the players and coaches acting the way they do is good. They feel they’ve arrived, which is in many ways true, and they feel free to take jabs at people. It adds to the competitiveness in a league we know is very close. Maybe it’s just me, but I enjoy someone fanning the fire. … Yeah, it’s just me.

p.i. reed said:

USF has billboards all over Tampa-StP of Leavitt and players doing that hand gesture they stole from Texas. First time I saw one was on the highway going 80. Thought Leavitt was doing the shocker and nearly drove into a culvert.  

That’s what I’m talking about. It’s a bold move to steal the “Hook ’em, Horns!” from Texas, but the Bulls did it and didn’t think twice. People are disgusted and USF just laughs as they proudly hoist their horns as if it’s its own invention.

glibglub said:

USF’s bull-horns helmet logo is straight outta the old USFL. I mean, come on, USF(L). Coincidence? No way.  

Wait a minute. You mean USF borrowed from the USFL?  

Erinn said:

But South Florida is number one when it comes to the number of seats in the student section. 

Come one, it’s a fact!  

Josh24601 said:

Here’s hoping Jim Leavitt’s head explodes on the sideline before he mellows from the I-WILL-NOT-BE-IGNORED, fireballing builder we’ve come to tentatively respect to the circumspect statesman who has stopped swearing in public.  

Jim Leavit, public enemy No. 1. I’m expecting him to coach the Dec. 6 game in Pitt apparel. He couldn’t even garner good will by poking P-Rod.

oklahoma mountaineer said:

This is a thinly veiled sarcastic shot at WVU….not at Rodriguez. The implication is that we are about to become Miami — former power as a result of a coaching change.

Yet to be determined, but if I were Stew, the USF date got another circle around it…in bright red.  

Um, that’s already done, though one wonders if he didn’t grab a highlighter and add to the calendar Tuesday night. Remember, all the off the field stuff only adds to what’s happened on the field.

Shannon said:

Oklahoma,

If the USF date wasn’t already circled on the calendar then something is wrong. This is a team that has pulled off two upsets against the Mountaineers that, mathematically speaking, helped to keep them from a national title game in 2007 and a BCS berth in 2006. Beating USF should be a priority this season for the senior players.

Not coincidentally, WVU plays host to the Bulls in the final game of the season … senior night.

JP said:

That Jim Leavitt, always a kidder. Go pitt up a rope.  

What? 

glibglub said:

Back when we were invited to post our musings as to what “Product Rodriguez” might be, I wish I had thought of this: It’s the stuff that makes Coach Leavitt’s hair do that crazy spiky thing it does.  

Funny thing is, I don’t see any product. I think it’s what happens when you run at 100 mph for 18 hours a day. 

Mack said:

I think it’s time for USF to get 48-28′d.  

As always, the best revenge happens on the field. 

Shannon said:

Perhaps I expect too much from college students who are given scholarships by an institution to pay for their education, but I am disappointed by the actions of Mazzulla and Thoroughman. They have a responsibility to maintain themselves in a respectful manner when in a public situation, regardless if its the off season or not. Underage drinking and disorderly conduct are not the conduct that should be condoned by the team or Coach Huggins.  

So true and yet so sadly dated. I was talking to someone the other day about this and the person said, “It’s come to the point now where we’re OK if kids break the law, so long as they don’t get arrested.” My first reaction was, “…the hell does that mean?” Then it made sense — and that’s kind of upsetting.

overtheSEC said:

that sound you hear is the sound of Huggs preparing two treadmills for the delinquents

I can’t find the Web site, but I looked it up and the third definition for “handled internally” means “perpetrators will run on a treadmill until one’s posterior falls off.”

Erinn said:

By the way, as my coworker pointed out, It’s odd that Mazzulla and Thoroughman had the cash to make it to PNC Park, however, could not make it to the summer league games in the ‘burgh a few weeks ago when you were up there to cover them.

It’s one of the very first thoughts that occurred to me as well. 

Eric (K) said:

The Fulmer Cup is now up for grabs. Washington’s indescretions are a Fulmer Cup points bonanza. WVU us tied with Bama for first place.

http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/2008/07/30/fulmer-cup-wvu-takes-the-lead-boggles-imagination/

Looks like Rodriquez may help us get a championship after all.

I wasn’t sure what made me laugh more: That final sentence or the headline on the linked article. Sadly (?), EDSBS corrected the score since Washington isn’t on the team. Not sure how Mike Villagrana affects things, though. 

Karl said:

Would shooting someone hurt his chances for a rifle team scholarship?

This reminds me, Karl. Can I have your address? You may be receiving a bill for a new laptop. Coffee and keyboards don’t go well together.

Homer said:

This is a pretty interesting topic worth exploring in depth – I think many teams hate WVU because there are plenty of undereducated people out there who feel they should be superior to people from West Virginia. There’s a psychological component to it – and you see it when they criticize not only the fans but the players, most of whom aren’t from W.Va.  

Excellent points, as usual. For the record, Mark Schlabach didn’t randomly write about how WVU is the most hated team in the Big East. It was a series for the new ESPN.com blog network. WVU was his pick and he made an even argument. There is an additional part to this, as Homer suggested, and you have to agree that plays into it. WVU’s success is seen as surprising because, well, it’s West Virginia. That stereotype is changing rapidly, though.  

Eric (K) said:

A small price to pay for success. If someone whipped my butt every year I’d hate them too.

That’s the spirit! 

p.i. reed said:

i can say for a fact USF Hates West Virginia. It makes them crazy they can’t rip off 100 years of history like they do traditions from other schools.

The animosity knows no bounds. 

glibglub said:

Kige is hideous. And yet, I can’t look away.  

Kige would like to discuss this matter with you over “some good chickens.” Go somewhere you can take your family to eat and get some good food, too.

p.i. reed said:

Ruckers got shafted

Obviously, a difference of opinion — or is it enunciation? — with Kige’s Big East preseason prognostication. 

Mack said:

I think South Florida, Pitt, Rutgers, Louisville, and Cincinnati could finish in any order. USF over the past couple years has shown talent but too much thuggery to where they can’t put a whole season together. Pitt doesn’t have a quarterback. Rutgers and Louisville have lost key components. And Cincinnati… I can’t name one player on their team other than Grutza… and I don’t know his first name.

Dustin. By the way, still no word on Ben Mauk’s sixth year of eligibility. Grutza can wing it, though, and showed as much with a surprise start last season. 

thacker said:

I don’t know how Brad Cox did it … the myriad complexity of NCAA rules, education of staff and students, monitoring, etc. I hope in his new position that he can help the student-athletes and the university academically as well as he was in keeping compliance a non-issue for all. It’s also a reflection upon Pastilong. A lot of good people behind the scenes.

I took a moment to think this week what Brad must have been feeling as he sat in his new office in the admissions department. The word “tranquility” came to mind. Enjoy the weekend!