At long last, your question has been answered. West Virginia has a rival in the Big 12 and that rival is Iowa State. So says the head coach, Paul Rhoads, and I believe you’ve heard of him before.

Given his indelible role in WVU’s at times tortured history, plus Iowa State’s “close proximity” to the Mountaineers and, what the heck, even the Cyclones’ defensive coordinator, it all just makes sense.

Why, it almost looks like the Big 12 wants this to happen. How else do you explain WVU at Iowa State late in the season? I mean, it’s Thanksgiving weekend. Wasn’t that almost always reserved for WVU and Pitt?

There’s even some added, manufactured intrigue that comes with playing Iowa State late in the regular season. You’re not aware? You may then want to watch Nov. 24 with one hand about your eyes. Mike Gundy can show you how.

Rhoads, 18-20 overall and 9-16 in Big 12 games in three seasons with the Cyclones, believes WVU can compete for the conference championship this season and keep it going. Monday he complimented WVU’s talented roster and capable coaches.

These were all kind and reassuring things for WVU fans to hear at their first Big 12 media days, but deep down it never changes what happened on Dec. 1, 2007.

“We tackled extremely well – extremely well,” he said. “We missed two tackles for a total of seven extra yards. You can’t do that at any level of college football. It just doesn’t happen. We chart every game and every scrimmage and we chart missed tackles and the yards that go with it and we haven’t even approached that at any place I’ve been since then. So that was a huge factor.”