Welcome to a revealing edition of the Friday Feedback. First off, the coaches’ poll came out today and it’s maybe the one time that poll deserves legitimate attention. The coaches rarely vote, if at all, but I’ve always heard they make a collective attempt to feign interest in the first one. Probably to get their team up somewhere noticeable.

There really weren’t any surprises — apart from Spurrier not giving Duke a vote — and the top 10, and certainly the top five, is about what you may have expected. So, then again, does it really mean anything this time?

If you’re the Mountain West — TCU No. 17, Utah No. 18, BYU No. 24 — you better believe it does. If you’re the Big East — Cincinnati No. 29, Pitt No. 3o, WVU No. 31, Rutgers No. 32 — it matters not. Irregardless, it’s a tad askew so early in the year.

“That’s a piece of credibility I think we lose,” says the Big 12’s Dan Beebe, who oversees the Bowl Championship Series with 10 other major-conference commissioners and Notre Dame athletics director Jack Swarbrick. “Because I don’t think you can know now — no matter how much you know about who’s coming back and how teams looked at the end of last year, any of that stuff — how strong those teams are until you see them play. Or at least see the results of them playing.”

Secondly, the WVU Sports Blog is now on Facebook. What’s this mean? Difficult to say, aside from I’m way behind the wave here. It’s not going to be for everyone, I know. For example, you have to have an account to follow. It’s also something of an imposition to ask you to follow that and this. But it probably won’t be exclusively WVU and, fear not, you won’t find anything relevant to WVU sports there that you won’t find here.

However, it occurs to me slightly more people are on Facebook than this old blog. So, in essence, it’s another avenue for access and publicity for the blog, but also another way to way to provide immediate information and amusement. I hope.

Onto the Feedback. As always, comments appear as posted. In other words, you can have it your way.

Birch said:

So we’re going to strong arm the Gator Bowl now? That plan should work brilliantly. So basically that will leave us with: Toronto and the cold, Charlotte and its 11 AM kickoff, or El Paso and the drug cartels. Bowl Mania! Catch It!  

I’m very curious to see how far the Big East will take this tactic. They always make the right decisions and use the right approach, but this one just seems potentially dangerous. It’s not new, either, which means it hasn’t produced anything yet. Plus, the alternatives in the Big East’s pocket aren’t great and with the MWC teams and a few other mid-majors making a push, there is greater competition for the spots and a greater appeal for old friends to look for new faces. It’s risky, for sure, but I can’t believe it’s being done haphazardly.

Mack said:

I guess I’m an outsider here, but I LOVE the hybrid model. Why, you ask? Because it SUCKS to go to the same bowl in back-to-back years (unless it’s in New Orleans).

I like the idea. I just think the Big East hates being in two of those situations and fighting with the Big 12 and Notre Dame, to say nothing of the way it believes its grown and proved itself since the last bowl deal.

Eer96 said:

You mean there is actually a better destination than Jacksonville three times in four years? Maybe the Big East could start a “Grand Strand Bowl” and save everyone in WV the hassle of driving to Myrtle beach in the summer traffic.   

Which raises this question: Could WVU fans get tired of Myrtle Beach? I don’t think that’s possible.  

Bill said:

Mike – I heard this rumor too about BC and MD. I know its ridiculous to think it will happen, but I’m surprised that you didn’t have any comments on this issue after posting this message, or any other scoop or rumors. 

I think it’s absurd and will never happen. Don’t forget just how hated B.C. is by some Big East people.

Karl said:

And another thing, the Big East needs to jump on this Yankee Stadium bowl idea, today. That has the potential to be huge — an easy replacement for the Gator as the home of the Big East’s runner-up, and who knows, maybe even a BCS-caliber bowl one day. It’s unorthodox, sure — are there any other cold weather bowls out there? — but it would attract more attention off the bat then 75% of the other bowls just because it’s in New York City. It would be a spectacle in ways a game in some dumpy stadium in Alabama, Florida, Texas or Arizona ever could.

The Big East can’t wait around for a lucky break on bowl re-alignments. It needs to create its own luck. The other BCS conferences have a vested interested in keeping us down, and they’ll continue to try if we let them. Here, we can throw our own party and have a strong say as to who comes. The conference should take charge of this from the start so it has the ability to influence who else participates. Any conference in America would be interested in sending a team to NYC.  

Now that one is not absurd and I think it does happen. It makes too much sense and has way too much promise. If the Big East doesn’t act now, just watch the other teams line up after these regular season games are played there by other teams. The only drawback I can see is only in perception — the Big East creating itself another bowl.

glibglub said:

NYC might be an interesting location for a bowl. But. It would go against the grain of bowls traditionally being warm weather affairs in southern/western locations. Soneone claims to have mapped all the bowls:

http://www.geektonic.com/2007/11/college-football-bowl-geek-bowl.html

Plus, the problem with any new bowl is the same problem with many of the existing Big East-affiliated bowls, i.e. the lack of a quality opponent. Who would fill the other slot? The last place SEC East team? I exaggerate to make a point.

Fair enough on the geography, but I think that’s the appeal. It’s new and it’s football weather. It’s NYC at Christmas/New Year’s time. There are a few non-warm weather locations I think could pull in some serious interest and NYC is a better idea than Chicago or Boston. The opportunity is also there for the Big East to land a good opponent. SEC No 3? Probably not. But why not the MWC No. 2 (No. 1)? Would a Pac 10 team welcome the exposure. Could the Big 12 or Big Eleven shake things up and get a good team there? What about ACC-Big East in the metropolitan heart of ACC-Big East country? There’s a lot to be excited about, I think.

Karl said:

glib — NYC would be against the grain of warm weather bowls, but I don’t think it would be a negative in this one case. If it were an outdoor bowl in, say, Pittsburgh, it might bomb, but this is New York City. Greatest city in the world, media capital, easiest place to travel in the country, tons to do/see … and money. Piles of it. It may not show up in the purse right away, but it would when finding sponsors. Selling tickets wouldn’t be a problem. Half the seats would be filled right away with all the corporations giving them away to clients.

The cold weather would wind up being one more thing to make this unique. With respect to wherever it is the Papajohns, Liberty and Tire bowls are played, sunny skies alone won’t bring them close to competing with the NYC travel experience.

I don’t think this is a case where the SEC would offer up their 8th-place team. They try that, and the Big 10 or ACC would be happy to do better. This is Yankee Stadium. You’d be nuts not to want to play there. Already, I’ve read western teams like USC and UCLA are willing to give up home dates in the regular season for the chance to go.  

Note to Big East: I can get you in touch with Karl.  

Erinn said:

what about “270°” (the degree for West on a compass)?  

That’s Idea No. 1 for The Legacy’s steakhouse. I kind of like it. West on a compass…the fire that burns within…but you can’t cook a steak at 270 degrees.

Josh24601 said:

44 West

That’s Idea No. 2. Also a good one. Simple, to the point, just like the man. 

NCMountaineer said:

Anybody that expected WVU to be better in 2008 than in 2007 after losing Steve Slaton, Owen Schmitt, Darius Reynaud, and 8 starters on defense was smoking some high quality stuff. That is same reason why it baffles me that some pundits are predicting greatness for Rutgers this season. In the past two years, they only lost the best RB, WR, and QB that their school has ever had. Does that really spell success?

I think WVU can have a big year this year. Jarrett Brown is no slouch, and I think he can thrive in this offense. Losing Pat White is going to be tough, but that is why WVU is lucky that Stew and crew saw the big picture, and got this program ready for the “Post Pat White Era.” It didn’t hurt Pat too much either…he has about 4.2 million reasons to be happy with the change in philosophy.  

I’m puzzled by the Rutgers picks, too, except that Schiano is a really, really good coach who’s been piling talent for a few years. There’s probably a presumption out there that one helps the other throughout the year. I think people forget how bad that team was in Morgantown and then how good it was the rest of the season last year. That’s good coaching. I think WVU has that on its staff. I like how Stewart lets his coaches coach. I’ve always thought the best coaches coach Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and let the assistants work and the players play on Saturday. If you’re not ready, you’re not going to win. In that regard, WVU has a lot of “ready” players who know the deal and should take well to the system. I still just wonder how JB plays against teams that have been preparing specifically for him. He’s never dealt with that.

Mack said:

“Anybody that expected WVU to be better in 2008 than in 2007 after losing Steve Slaton, Owen Schmitt, Darius Reynaud, and 8 starters on defense was smoking some high quality stuff.”

The last time WVU replaced its starting QB (who had started for three years), RB, and #1 wide receiver, it . . . won the Sugar Bowl. WVU had big time talent last year at all of those positions. . . yet it looked downright embarassing at times. (Total destruction by East Carolina. . . pathetic performance at Colorado. . . holding on for a victory against Syracuse, etc.) That is why a decent number of people think that Stewart isn’t a good coach. That, and the dumb quotes every time he is interviewed.

I’m willing to give Stewart the benefit of the doubt, but I think, for the most part, most of us have just forgotten a lot of the problems from last year and will be reminded, perhaps quickly, when we play ECU at home.  

Good point about the talent and the precedent and I would agree with some of the performances you highlight — though I still contend they were following their plan against Colorado. However, I don’t see the schedule being quite as tough, because of the home games: ECU, Colorado, UConn, Pitt 

OB1 said:

I still can’t shake that image of Oll Stewart on the sidelines in Boulder straining to keep his eyes closed.  

Yeah, that didn’t look good, but I’m telling you if they get the third-and-1 at Colorado’s 47, life is different. It’s first down at the 45 or so with two timeouts and 24 seconds to play. Say they line up and spike the ball on first down. It’s second down and you need 15 or 20 yards for a field goal, which was the plan. You don’t have time for more than two plays and you’ve got two timeouts. It could have worked. Time management wasn’t as big an issue as stinking on third down (3-for-13) that game.

drlove said:

He is not coming. You heard it here, I guarantee he is not coming.  

I’m still hearing the staff expects Mr. Finau to be here. Eventually. 

OB1 said:

If he does, by some miracle of Tebow, make it to Morgantown, how is this kid supposed to stay eligible? He’s had, what, two years to finish one course? What will four courses a semester do to him?

Good question. … What? You want an answer? I don’t know. I’ve given up trying to figure this one out. For the longest time we were told grades weren’t the issue. Rather, he was trying to wedge two years of junior college into a year of junior college. He just needed the appropriate amount of credits, which was hard to do in such a short time. Well, that story has since changed and now it’s “personal issues.” I really don’t know at this point what to expect. He could be Blutarsky. He could be Butkus.

Dave said:

Mike – can you clarify something for me? Why are the coaches not in touch with the kid or his parents to ask “when is your flight going to arrive”? It’s been what, a couple of years now of, “he needs this class, he needs this test, he needs …” and we still hear basically, “we don’t know.”

Isn’t this guy consuming a scholarship through this process?

It just seems very disconnected for the amount of media coverage and the benefits that this guy supposedly brings to the football field.  

Can’t clarify anything aside from saying he’s not on scholarship, but one is reserved for him that might have gone to someone else. It might not have, either — WVU reeled in a defensive end, Will Clarke, it really wanted late in the process, so maybe that was it for recruiting. I can assure you those questions will be asked Saturday if Finau is not in attendance.   

roopoo said:

Setting aside the alleged ‘unclassy’ comment. The point is that the best the Panthers can do, until they find a QB, is potentially ruin our season and play in one of the worst bowl games imaginable (3-0 YAWN), which is what they did two years ago and last year. How they are in the conversation as Big East Champions makes no sense to me…they lost their only offense, they have no QB who can move the ball, not to mention the defense lost their two best players.

Say what you want about JB, but WVU has won games BECAUSE of him…you can’t say that about Pitt and any of their QB’s.  

I was reminded I said in an earlier post I thought Pitt was going to win the league, but the more I think of it, the less I like. I know the defense is pretty good and that matters in this league, where the offenses just aren’t as good from top to bottom. But you’re going to have to outscore Cincinnati, I think, and probably USF and WVU, too. A good QB can save a so-so running game like a good running game can save a so-so QB. I’m not sure how Pitt fits into that equation. That said, I like their coaching and their potential on offense, so maybe we’re onto something. And maybe not.  Can we play these games soon?

Mack said:

This is probably the year that UConn finally wins the Big East (with three losses) and embarasses the conference in the Orange Bowl even more so than Cincinnati did.  

The MWC will throw a party so epic kegs will flow freely at BYU.

Notasurprise said:

Stew will lost 2 games alone just by his pathetic coaching. By that, I mean poor clock management, not reviewing calls, etc. He’ll lose another 2 by blundering play calling and his style of play, such as playing to punt, playing to not to lose instead of playing to win. Throw in another loss just becuase they came out flat and 7-5 is a very reasonable season for this team.

As long as Stewart is leading the way, this team will never see a Big East championship. 

Never? In the Big East? I don’t think that’s fair. 

Mack said:

Al (like rail)-rick Ar-NETT

“Ail-rick”? Seriously? Wow.

Where was the media guide for Dorrell Jalloh? He was Jal-low for 2 1/2 years and then Juh-Law for the last year-and-a-half. I find it hard to believe that he got the nickname “Jello” if his name was pronounced Juh-law.

I’m having a hard time with that one, too. I’ve talked to Alerick several, several times and said, “Hey, Allrick…” and never once has he interrupted to correct me. Then again, I rarely correct anyone on the daily butcherings of my last name. Maybe he thinks I’m an idiot. Maybe it’s his accent. As for Jello, no one this side of Diddy had more variations of his name.

JupiterBull said:

You should realize that USF’s new D-coordinator in from Cincy…the same D that shut WVU down last year, and beat you. I don’t see that as a difference maker this year. It’ll be rocking in Tampa on Oct 30. And our fans won’t be pelting your cheerleaders & players like the WVU students did in December (I was there, and was disgusted…but most WVU fans are awesome, and great sports: my wife & family included, as they are long time ‘Eers fans). Let’s Play!

I do realize that … and I guess in relation to my post, I might ask what that says about camaraderie in Cincinnati, yes? I’ll instead say that should be something new for WVU to worry about as it prepares to play USF. Sidenote: USF fans are mostly awesome, too. I’ve never had a bad experience in person, on the phone or over email with them. They care.

Steve Stacy said:

What’s considered camaraderie in Morgantown? Leaving your senior quarterback and head coaching job for greener pastures? Blowing your shot at a national title by losing to the ’stache at Pitt? Setting fire to perfectly good Ikea products?
Grothe and Selvie will have something to say about 4th place predictions. October can’t come fast enough for us down here.

See? That’s what I’m talking about! Not sure how The Product fits in there, but who cares?

Eer96 said:

Perhaps it was his insistance that his players wear their chin straps vertically? Just kidding. Studstill was a good athlete and a great guy! I am sorry to hear this and hope he can catch on somewhere else.

That had me laughing and that was before I read this …

overtheSEC said:

I’ve provided the link for anyone born after 1985 so you can appreciate the phenomenal reference by Eer96. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prbk6t74rSo

Enjoy the weekend!

P.S. Check the blog for weekend updates from camp.