Welcome to the Friday Feedback, which feels fortunate to be typing this today.

I’m trying to squeeze in some off days and eschewed resisted logging many hours yesterday. I instead ran a number of errands I hadn’t run in, say, a month and decided it was a nice enough afternoon to take the dog to the dog park. I’m there for about five minutes when an ominous sky turned apocalyptic.

Now, this park has a lot of trees and sticks, as you might imagine. And considering the winter that was, there are a lot of dead branches. It is generally impossible to get my dog to leave the park. Yesterday was different and as the sky opened she hurried to the gate. As did I. And when I did, I was pummeled by a three-foot long branch that came at me with great anger and smacked me very solidly in the shoulder-neck.

Now we’re moving as sheets of rain soak us and a parade of projectiles threatens us. We get in the car and we’re going at a slow speed to better negotiate the tree limbs littering the road … and hitting my car. Not 20 feet in front of me a large, large tree falls. Hard. Five seconds later and we’re probably not having this conversation — it’d be Monday, at the earliest; I’m not going out like that.

I did what most would do in this situation: Grabbed my cell phone and took a picture … my phone is being stubborn today and won’t send the image and instead encourages me to “be certain you have network coverage and that your account information is correct.”

Back to the story, I put the Cavalier in reverse and looked behind me and see another fallen tree, and while nowhere near me, it does block the only other way off that street that doesn’t involve a helicopter — and I wasn’t ruling that out at that moment. Since you know how this ends, I’ll skip to the end. I actually backed the car over the second, smaller tree in my rear-view mirror — take that, Midvale! — and kinda-sorta broke the tree, which allowed me to move the smaller pieces out of the way and clear a route for a needed exit.

The moral? Friday Feedback will not be stopped. Onto said Feedback. As always, comments appear as posted. In other words … screw it. This is my rapidly becoming my favorite story of the year. I can’t put on my Carlsberg Liverpool F.C. jersey fast enough.

Josh24601 said:

This was a good team that was able to, as Huggins has said, ham and egg its way to a great season. Duke was able to close the kitchen Saturday night, but it’s remarkable that it had been open as long as it was.

/Rolling fingers on keyboard

Wish I had thought of that.

StraightOuttaNorthCentral said:

There is only one happy way to end a college basketball season, and that is by raising a trophy, cutting down nets and hearing Luther Vandross sing (or hear Jennifer Hudson sing Luther Vandross). All other outcomes are various shades of sad. This ending was sad, no doubt, especially with the Butler injury and the lack of competitiveness. But it was a much happier outcome than most of the other possibilities I can think of.

Much better than losing in the first or second rounds.

Much better than losing to Kentucky in the Elite Eight.

Much, much, much better than winning the NIT.

Much, much, much, much better than not getting into the NCAA.

These fine gentlemen brought me much joy during this season, especially over the last month, and nothing that happened Saturday can take that away. Thanks, fellas!

There are two bummers involved here. One is obvious: Final Fours don’t happen very often at WVU. I doubt it’ll be another 51 years, but there’s no way I or you can be certain of that. To get so close, and to have come so far, is probably pretty painful. Only a few teams get to that stage, but everyone starts at the beginning next year. The second and I think larger issue is the “What might have been” element. WVU’s only chance that night was for Butler to get hot and pick everyone up. He was starting to get that look and we’ll never know how Duke would have responded if Butler made a 3 and then another and had eight, 10 fast points.

Jeff in Akron said:

Living out of state, I sometimes get the feeling that I’m on the outside looking in when it comes to the Mountaineers. Over the past few weeks that certainly hasn’t been the case. When the Mountaineers make the front page of the Cleveland Plain Dealer sports page, you know they’ve done something special.

As I watched the Duke game, I realized that I wasn’t the only WVU fan in the establishment. I was certainly the only patron outfitted in WVU attire, but the entire place was rooting for the Mountaineers. I can only remember that happening to me one other time since I’ve lived here, 48-28.

WVU basketball finally eclipsed the Jerry West led teams from 50+ years ago. In so doing, I get the feeling it won’t be another 50 years before Huggins and Co. do it again. So, to me, this team represents a beginning, not an ending.

Mike, do you believe it would be possible to start a campaign to have Butler’s jersey retired? The symmetry invloved in having a WVU jersey with the number 1 and Butler’s name on it is too compelling. Butler deserves to be allowed to place his name beside Jerry West and Hot Rod.

The jersey/number retirement requirements disqualify Butler, which is absurd. Getting a number retired isn’t an immediate act — you need to be a professional, international or Olympic athlete, make your sport’s Hall of Fame, make the WVU Hall of Fame and have your jersey retired at WVU. Butler could be a multi-time NBA All Star, win a gold medal and make the Hall of Fame and he won’t have his jersey retired. Why? Because a Wooden Award All-American (top 10 players) and a Wooden Award finalist (top five players) wasn’t a two-time first-team All-American. Is that a little too particular? Pat White and Da’Sean are two of the best student-athletes at WVU ever and they can’t get a number/jersey retired. Time to change that. Soon.

rekterx said:

I never thought, during the season, that this team would be a final four team. But once we got to the Elite 8 I knew we would kick Kentucky’s butt. Losing to Duke didn’t surprise me, but I never expected that Duke would come out and play the game of their college careers; one of the best games ever, if you ask me, in any year of the tournament.

So, the bottom line for me is that this team went farther than I thought they could. Unfortunately, in the end, we didn’t just hit a wall, the wall fell over on top of us.

But here is the great thing. I don’t think this is an anomaly. If not next year, it won’t be too long before Huggs once again has a team knocking on the door of the national championship.

Should be fun.

Most redeeming thing about that team this season? They showed a rare ability to assess themselves, grasp their potential and then get there. That requires a certain honesty to admit what was happening was not working. At this level, that doesn’t happen a lot. That, above all else, is what people ought to remember.

jtmountaineer said:

The list is great, Mike, but as agonizing as Da’Sean’s injury was to watch, it truly did capture something that spoke to this tournament run. Outsiders will call it redemption for Huggins, and perhaps it is a little bit that. But the country getting to see who Huggins really is, not only to his players but to his native West Virginia–a tough man, but also a deeply caring man–made me proud to be cheering for him.

Bob Huggins aggressively doesn’t care what people think of him. That is to say, he likes that people he likes like him and I’d assume he doesn’t like it if people he likes don’t like him. But if someone he doesn’t know and who doesn’t know him doesn’t like him, it doesn’t matter. He has his circle of allies and what they think is what matters most. That said, his indifference has probably kept him from being a more likeable guy. That’s not an insult or a negative, but I think people appreciate contrition and seeing someone understand how he’s perceived and then acting in a way to change that perception so it’s more to his liking. That’s not Huggins. What I think was cool was to see people understand that last month and then beyond that see a guy who does do and say good things and not because he wants people to think of him any differently, but because that’s who he actually is. The scene with Butler was authentic.

Alli said:

I have to agree with JT. Of course I will remember all of those great things you mentioned Mike, including silly things like “Jive Turkey.” But for me, everything changed when I saw Bob Huggins stroke Da’Sean’s face while he lied on the floor. It has been hard for me to really like this team, and Huggins was a big reason for that. Part of me agreed with the Rick Reilly article. I couldn’t see why people loved a coach who degraded his players? Watching Huggins hold Da’Sean like a son, finally showed me the type of man he is off the court. I will never forget that. It made me very proud to be a WVU basketball fan.

Perfect example: Reilly’s attack was unfortunate and premeditated. Alli’s, um, moment of clarity was natural.

Dave said:

I don’t think that Denny Crum’s perception of Huggins’ luck is going to change with Bryant and Butler now added to the list.

Crum once called Huggins the unluckiest coach in America for his string of untimely injuries. Hard to argue with that.

X-Rayted said:

I definitely think that the images of Huggs holding and consoling Da’Sean while he writhed in pain, and the embrace he shared with Wellington Smith after coming off the floor for the final time should be #25. The usual resolute hard ass showed his true colors Saturday night. It is no wonder that despite his yelling, screaming, and constant hounding, all of his players would seemingly take a bullet for him. It was a truly special season with an especially awful ending. I see this as the beginning, not the ending. With Huggs at the healm, it’s a matter of when not if we make it back to the final four and eventually we get to see the national title trophy take that state-wide tripr on that tour bus!

I wonder, have WVU fans ever been in the “Just you wait” mode like they are now? It seems like a beginning more than an anomaly, yes? Maybe immediately after the Sugar Bowl there was something similar, but that always seemed tempered because the coach — well, you know what I’m saying.

Karl said:

Good point, SEC.

Another moment that stands out, wonder if anyone caught it … When Huggins walked out to console Butler, the mic caught Huggins yelling at the refs something to the effect of, “Yeah, Duke’s players don’t foul. They’re All-Americans!” On one hand, I found it a little embarassing and sour grapes. On the other, I felt like he was expressing what was on a lot of fans minds.

I’m telling you, watching Huggins work the officials is wonderful. There’s an artistry to it and I noticed Huggins had a few different approaches: Slow burn, in which he starts at a steady temperature and sustains it all game; Gas fireplace, when he starts hot and stays hot the whole time; Warm embers, when he lays low from start to finish but flares up a little when he’s poked; Camp fire, which takes some time to get going and can flare and fade as the game goes on; Inferno, which is self-explanatory, though rare. Maybe I’ve sat too close to him for too long, but I notice I’m applying this too life now. I’m at the food store and someone jumps in line at the 20-items-or-less lane with a full cart. “They don’t follow the rules? They don’t have to count. No. No, of course not. Ten Gatorades is 10 items. Not one. Fine. Fine. We’re all wrong and HE’S right.”

By the way, the “24” post has 24 comments. Not sure we could have intended to do that. Kudos.

Phyllis said:

Does anyone know how Butler’s expenses will be handled?

It must be costly to have these kinds of injuries treated properly.

Butler’s still on scholarship. Hurt in a game, his expenses are covered and he pays not a dime for the surgery and rehabilitation.

elvis said:

Jon is a winner. He’s done nothing but play hard, go to class and act with class since he was a freshman. Pretty good practical joke he played on his friend. All the Duke haters must have been so disappointed when they couldn’t curse him in person. Here’s what you should text Jon: Congratulations to you and the other Blue Devils for winning the 2010 national championship!

I don’t care who wins, but I’ll congratulate him for a hilarious prank and for playing on the emotions of people who don’t like him or his school.

ccteam said:

Stew hinted about a lack of leadership amongst the non-sr players. Maybe that is what it is about. I wish Coley didn’t have to play QB. Looks like the Mountaineers could use a few good men at wideout and slot.

Uh, yeah, you could say that. For a time, I thought this would be a throwing team. Heck, I predicted it. Whoops. And I’m not convinced the line/running game is going to be what causes the reversal.

Mack said:

Can we just agree from now on to judge a team by wins and losses and leave it at that?

I don’t care who the football coach is, but a few years ago it didn’t matter if we had a young or old offensive line. Heck, we won the Sugar Bowl with a first year starting quarterback.

You’ll never get that. I wish you could, but you never will.

Karl said:

The way things are going, this offense might be better off reverting to the Rich Rod schemes and playing more zone-read/running QB style. Aside from Jock, our receiving core looks bleak. It looks like the two best, most experienced members are a pair of converted QBs. Heastie and Long were supposedly going to be the foundation of the new WVU passing offense, and now it looks like they’re gone.

And who will throw to them? Just a gut feeling, I don’t think Smith is going to work out. Freshman or not, he totally lacked any kind of presence out there last year. Not impressed. Now it’s starting to look like he’s injury prone. Wouldn’t be surprised at all if a true freshman won that job. Could be a rebuilding year.

I sense the worry, but I’m going to encourage everyone to give Geno a shot. I’ve watched two practices … spring practices … but he makes the throws and he really seems to have a grasp for the responsibility he’s about to have. I may be totally wrong. Karl, you may be absolutely correct. My hunch is it’s too premature and he’s going to make himself better with this albeit limited spring.

The 25314 said:

Dave:

Any article indicating Stewart has only had one senior on the line in two years is grossly incorrect. In 2008 he had 3 seniors (Stanchek, Dent and Figner), a 4th senior who then earned an additional year as a prop 48 (Capers), and a junior in Greg Isdaner, who was one of the best guards WVU’s ever had. In 2009, Capers was the lone senior. Contrast that with 2006 , the year of arguably the best offense in WVU history, WVU started two sophomores (Stanchek and Figner) and a freshman (Isdaner) and no one said word one about trying to overcome the youth on the line.

And for those scoring at home, WVU hasn’t scored 30 points in its last 8 games, or more than 35 points in its last 25 games.

But at least Bill Stewart is recruiting well. The 4-5 star recruits Tajh Boyd, Logan Heastie, Deon Long, Dominik Davenports, Tevita Finau and Terrence Kearns are really going to have a big impact this year. As well as the 5-star swinging gate, Josh Jenkins.

Sadly, this spring for WVU was about the final step in its transition to a basketball school.

The articles mention it because Stewart has said it. Experience is nice, but if you can play the game, it doesn’t matter how old you are. Put it this way, if a freshman can come in and help the offense, he’s going to play before an older player about whom the coaches have doubts.

Jeff in Akron said:

For the first time in over a decade, WVU football will open a season with its defense representing the strength of the team. The only starting positions from last year open are one safety position, and one linebacker position.

Assuming Anthony Leonard fills the linebacker slot and Eain Smith the safety position. The defensive starters have accounted for a total of 1117 tackles in their collective careers.

Coley White gets his shot to start on offense, even if its only the spring game. Still, I get the feeling the offense will surprise people this year. Regardless who the wideouts are, or who the QB is, everyone knows who starts on the o-line, and who runs the ball. WVU goes into 2010 needing to run the ball by default. With Devine as the starting RB, that can’t be looked upon as a bad thing.

I don’t know about a decade — WVU had some good defenses in the past and a few of The Product’s first teams were not good/not expected to be good on offense. I echo the last point, though. Really, the offense doesn’t have to be as prolific as it was in the past. It’s trended toward being a group that won’t hang up 35+ points, so why expect that now? Defense and the kicking game are the strengths and, much like the basketball team, you can expect the team to go as far as those strengths go.

Country Roads said:

I don’t have a problem winning with defense and the running game. It seemed to work out just fine for Alabama this year. Granted, we don’t yet have the defense that Bama does, and our line hasn’t been quite as consistent, but the plan itself is not flawed, IMO.

You’ve got to have superior talent to play and win that way. Too many teams have too many fast and talented guys on offense to consistently expect to win 20-13 games.

BL said:

Mike,
Can we not have some civility on your blog? It is difficult enough to even glance at the comments section of an online Daily Mail article, but it would be nice to not have to see the same bile posted here by angry and/or foolish ‘fans’.

Um, you should probably never read the comments section in the articles. I don’t and I’ll leave it at that.

Jeff in Akron said:

Mike, a little off topic, but what happened to Ryan Nehlen and Reginald Rembert? I read somewhere that Nehlen was injured, but nothing about Rembert. With WVU so thin at receiver shouldn’t we see them at least in the spring practices?

Karl, it would be nice to see Coley run a “Wilcat” formation for WVU next year. Although, that might be a can of worms that Oll Stew doesn’t want to open. If it worked…

They’re around. And I think there’s a place for Coley in the offense if the coaches choose to create it.

Erin said:

So I’m sitting here how many days later with One Shining Moment still going through my head. I still don’t understand why they tried to freshen things up and have Jennifer Hudson singing. And I’m not even really against her singing it, but do I need to see her singing? She’s there like 5 or 6 times, do you know how much baskeball can be shown during those twenty seconds that we have to see her! If I have to see her she could at least be wearing a jersey or something! grr… Luther was never in the montage before!!

Why does the video show her during, “the ball is tipped”? WHAT?! Show the damn ball being tipped! Where’s Nick Lachey and the other celebrities?? I was actually surprised to see WVU featured so early!! I can’t really complain I guess, they do show my favorite player and the Butler bulldog (they’re both soo cute!)

It makes me sad to think this might be the last year for it. Don’t get me started on the idea of 96 teams in the tournament. But this song. I mean it’s perfect! Every word of that song fits the tournament perfectly. I want ESPN or whoever to pay a ton of money and get that song!!

Sorry, but it’s not going to happen. If ESPN gets it, there’s going to be a ton of resentment and I highly doubt CBS would be inclined to do anything to facilitate the success of its successor.

Michael said:

Mike-

I am hearing that Dalton Pepper is unhappy w his PT, does not like Mo Town and is thinking of transferring to Temple. Any fire to this smoke?

‘Tis the season. I’ve had people ask me and tell me about this and I have seen or heard nothing to confirm. It gets traction because he didn’t play a lot and Temple is close to home. It’d be a shame because he can play and he has a future. What I always monitored was how he fit on the team. That couldn’t have been an easy group to slide into as a freshman. Jennings had the NYC thing. The Turk, well, he was the Turk and in addition to his personality, he was a needed and anticipated presence. Pepper is a quiet kid in a locker room with no other quiet kids. If he could get through that year, he’s good to go.

oklahoma mountaineers said:

Mike, can you shed some light on Long and Heastie? I can’t imagine a guy who shows up for Spring Semester is already homesick……

 Probably nothing more than what we already know. We know Heastie went AWOL after a sub-par workout in February. There was dialogue between both sides, but he never came back. What I’ve observed and gathered is his experience did not match what he expected. Or come close. For a kid coming in with his reputation, that’s a difficult reality to accept. Some handle it, some don’t. The ones who don’t tend to go somewhere that will accept them. I honestly don’t know much about Long’s deal, but it sounds like he didn’t really like the demands either, which is a surprise because he certainly put in the work to get here. It’s possible that resistance to going all in created a conflict with the coaches/players/establishment and if you’re not in, you’re out.

glibglub said:

I’m impressed by this gesture. I think it’s fitting because – helicopter aside – taking food to grieving neighbors is just the kind of thing that ordinary West Virginians do at times like these. It just is appropriate given Huggs’ style, and the connection he and the team forged with the state and its people.

On a lighter note, I read at Metronews.com that the food he delivered was from Subway. Jimmy John’s would’ve been sublime.

God bless the miners, the families, and the community.

I’m not sure I could have handled a JJ delivery. I would have had to retire. Nothing would have topped it.

overtheSEC said:

Rick Reilly was going to write about this, but he’s too busy in Augusta, Ga, where it’s hotter than a three dollar pistol.

Pow!

NotAWVUFan:

I have never been much of a WVU fan. Oh, I’d pull for them when they were playing in a big game that put the state out front, but overall, I’ve never been “rah-rah” for WVU – until now.

Bob Huggins just changed all that. When a guy like Huggins, who really didn’t have to do this, thinks enough of his fellow West Virginians and has enough compassion about him to do this, I will be a WVU basketball fan as long as they have Huggins.

Sometimes it takes the worst of times, to see the best of people. Thank you Bob Huggins for showing us all what it means to be a West Virginian.

Bravo.

ccteam said:

Huggs didn’t do an interview there. He wasn’t there for the publicity. Just doing what he could to provide some comfort. I too doubted he was the right man for the WV job when he came, and he has proved me so very wrong.

Apparently he declined requests for interviews.

thacker said:

Extraordinary events dictate, at times, a back track, –to do something when it was said it would never be done … this is a personal first.

“It is all about the state, what it does and how its people come together not only in times of victory but, more importantly, in times of tragedy. At times, perhaps, the symbolism behind a simple act has more substance and value than that of any trophy won or lost.”

Thank you, Bob. Thank you very much.

This is West Virginia University. This is West Virginia.

Enjoy the weekend!