So says Eu Smith of the former WVU linebacker who is now the head coach at Mountaineers-friendly Miramar High. Cogdell is probably on his way to a college job somewhere and Smith can understand why.

“He’s been tremendous in my life. He’s been a role model. He’s taught me about life,” he answered.

You ask for a specific example.

“I never had many problems but one time I had a slip up in a class. I had a bad grade and he sat me out for two quarters, just to let me know how important it was to do well in class,” Smith said.

That led to a phone call to Cogdell.

“Funny you say that. I remember that game like it was yesterday,” Cogdell said. “We were winning 7-to-zip at the half to a team we should have been beating 35-to-zip. Geno sat the first and second quarter. The fans were shouting his name, trying to get me to put him in, which I was tempted to do because we needed some points.

“I put him in for the second half and the first play of the third quarter he threw an 80-yard touchdown pass to Stedman. After that, I forget the score, but it was probably 30-something-to-zip.”