5:17 pm: I was going to name this “Good Fortune for WVU?”

I ate lunch at a Japanese restaurant before traveling to this Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium and the fortune cookie said this: You will discover your hidden talents.

I felt, for some reason, like this was a good omen for WVU.

And then I got here and was  immediately convinced many of the bad things I’ve heard about this place are true. Among the issues is, as expected, internet connectivity. I wanted to upload a picture of the fortune so we’d have some art instead of black and white, but that’s not happening. Everyone’s having web issues and in my fury, I missed out on “Percussion Gun” in the stadium.

I have no idea if this is going to work throughout the game. In fact, I expect it will not. Nevertheless, your lucky numbers tonight are 23, 22, 18, 36, 38 and 47.

5:25: Members of the team ran out onto the field and WVU’s fans reacted with a cheer that, if offered in a library, would had drawn a stern look and perhaps a “ssshh” from the librarian.

5:30: Since I’m sure you’re wondering about such things, yes, there are coaches who’ve I’ve seen stand alone on the field.

5:33: Billy is in the gold dress shirt and blue sweater vest. Snark: “It’s the only thing they haven’t taken from him.”

5:35: It appears they’ve split fans of the schools on opposing sides of the field. There’s a lot of red across from me, but also a healthy amound of gold on the side I’m overlooking.

5:40: N.C. State folks are gasping at WVU’s uniforms, and the shoes more than anything else. The Wolfpack are red-on-red.

6:04: Might have to take back some of the things I said about the game. The wireless Internet isn’t working, I’m told, because of the wireless communication among the WVU coaches. At least they’re communicating.

6:05 pm: Yes! We’re back in business.

6:27: The Citrus Bowl played WVU’s introduction. It was better than N.C. State’s. And just as the Wolfpack ran onto the field, WVU was in the middle doing some prearranged cheer on the logo.

6:39: Opening drive came to a halt on Noel’s run. Second-and-8 is not good for WVU.

6:46: N.C. State’s drive was a pretty good illustration of what Stewart spoke about this week. If the offense wins first down, WVU could be in for a long day. Wilson had some nice first-down plays and looked to be getting comfy when the drive was derailed by offensive pass interference. The Mountaineers will win on second-and-21.

6:49: Good misdirection and Starks nailed his route. The cornerback saved a TD  by committing a penalty.

6:53: Jock’s reception gives him one catch in 41 straight games. He moved into sole possession of first place in school history and second place in Big East history.

7:02: N.C. State is very aware of the whereabouts of Robert Sands. He and Terence Garvin are looking to hit anything in red.

7:04: Wolfpack didn’t seem interested in running the ball at all on that drive.

7:06: Russ Wilson is 11-for-14 for 109 yards and a touchdown. N.C. State called 10 pass plays on that drive. He was 7-for-9 for 79 yards.

7:09: Noel: Three carries, five yards. One reception, two yards.

7:11: Bad sequence for WVU. Noel went out of bounds before the marker on third down — looked that way live, too — and WVU didn’t seem aware on the sideline. Stewart never hesitated on the call to punt, but the group took a delay of game.

7:23: WVU is let off the hook. I hate that fake in any situation … but there especially. The Mountaineers had no momentum and looked shaken on defense. A 10-0 lead on that offense? Let’s see what changes.

7:33: I liked the response from the Mountaineers, particularly the I formation and the play action on first down. When N.C. State wanted to make hay, it blitzed. And if you’re tracking these things, WVU has a missed field goal, a delay of game and a bizarre illegal touching penalty on a wide receiver.

7:35: Russ Wilson has 14 completions to 10 different players. He also has great hands, as you saw on that shortstop-like fumble and recovery that avoided certain disaster. Then again, if he had great hands, would he have fumbled while running alone?

7:46: Eu was very good on that drive. The two third-down completions were game-changers and he stayed in the pocket and dropped the ball in Stedman Bailey’s hands on the TD.

7:48: The final 2:10 before halftime will be fun. I’m very excited to witness the wacky way WVU values timeouts one last time this season.

8:00: … never disappoints.

8:17: Apparently players are posting on Facebook at halftime. That seems like it can’t be true.

8:32: This is the fifth time WVU has scored 10 or fewer points in a first half. N.C. State had 208 yards in the first half. WVU allows 251 on average and allowed fewer than 208 in four games, including two of the final four.

8:34: Pouring over halftime stats, I jsut said, “Only thing they haven’t done is turn it over.”

8:45: Wondering if WVU is approaching, or has already entered, “Eff it” mode.

8:52: The 21-point plateau may be crested soon.

9:05: Looking like N.C. State’s night. Two player field a punt without incident. Sid Glover catched a ball oin the chest and can’t hang onto it.

9:09: Jarrett Brown is in the stands. Go on, make your jokes.

9:30: All the West Virginia fans are seated right in front of me. We may have an incident soon. They’re happy about nothing, least of all Bitancurt’s second miss of the game and fifth in seven attempts beyond 40 yards this season.

9:40: I hear Yackety Sax and Taps, one trying to mask the other, as the 21-point streak, and this game, come to an end. Good evening, everyone.

11:58: Shawne Alston is probably going to dislike us very soon. Word is spreading about his halftime Facebook post: “2nd half is da best half!! Let’s go!!”

Midnight: Eu will need surgery on his left foot. He’s been hurt since July and now we know a little more about why he didn’t run very mich earlier this season. I’d imagine Dana Holgorsen is intrigued by this development since the spring is probably a wash for Smith. Remember, too, he hasn’t been able to fully participate in spring parctice in 2010 and fall camp in 2009.