The media was allowed to watch an hour of the afternoon’s practice and, as far as first days go, there were some interesting sights and sounds. Freshman safety Travis Bell, for example, has abs, a zip code and a pretty sick tattoo.

I looked all over the place, did laps around the field, scanned the mass of people in attendance and asked some WVU officials just to be certain: No one from WVU’s compliance department was at practice — at least not the part we were allowed to watch. The NCAA allegations are on everyone’s minds and it’s a pretty touchy topic. I know this because I witnessed a one-sided confrontation in which a WVU official had some select words for a writer, likely in response to a story published this morning.

In my looking around, I discovered a few other things. Keith Tandy shed his dreads and long snapper Cody Nutter has a wonderful mullet.

I also tried to see who among the newcomers was there … and also who wasn’t there. I didn’t see Quinton Spain, but someone said he was out early and then went inside. I did see Sticks McCartney, who looks an awful lot like his cousin, Chad Johnson Ochocinco. And doesn’t his jersey bring someone else to mind?