Well, here we are again, and stop me if you’ve heard this, but West Virginia enters another game week with a loss in the back pocket and bowl eligibility just out of grasp. We’ve toured many of the levels of losing here, first with blowouts, then with overtime and later by embarrassment before Saturday’s heartbreaker.

It’s a long game — I mean, four hours, on the button — but at the end it’s really just a one-play game. Had we had a conversation in August about Nov. 17, we’d probably be predicting a high scoring game and one that might have been decided by a sequence, series or play. Saturday night was a one-play game.

Oklahoma happened to make it when Ickey Banks, for some reason, gave Kenny Stills the inside near the goal line. Not to pin it on Mr. Banks, for that is unfair when the defense again made so many plays that contributed to the defeat, and the offense had its moments too, and, oh, special teams popped up at inopportune times, but it’s at least worth highlighting how narrow the margin was Saturday night.

That Banks is the name we use is merely happenstance.

Had it been Terrell Chestnut (!) or Karl Joseph or Pat Miller, it wouldn’t have made any difference. After all that preceded that one moment, if Stills is cut off or forced to the outside, or if anything happens except what did happen, the conversation is very different this morning.

Alas, it is not, and Dana Holgorsen again made it to a postgame press conference and was pressed on some late-game decisions that, in truth, did indeed matter. I’m getting increasingly strong indications WVU is preferred for the Pinstripe Bowl, whether or not Pitt becomes eligible, and the Holiday Bowl in San Diego is at least on a burner somewhere. It’s still, even after this past month-plus now, difficult at times to understand that the season is at this juncture.

It’s about a quarter to four. Rolling to the store. What you ’bout to text? Hah, you already know. My edits are in [brackets].

5:17
It dawned on me, when I saw my 1st Mountaineer game it was against Kent St…my 5 year old gets his 1st Mountaineer experience against Okla-friggin-homa.

5:47
Just sang “Hello Dolly” with Betty Bra. Put this in TFGD.

6:15
The last time I was this optimistic Kansas State beat the [Purina] out of us

6:21
Rutgers and maryland heading to the big 10 – acc just voted in favor of a f’n 50 mil exit fee a couple mths ago

6:36
Jennelle puked in her mouth and kept going

6:40
All you need to know about the crowd is That texts go thru tonight

6:58
If its any indication as to how the game will go, the band is off…

7:03
Tavon deserves to be a captain every game.

7:06
Wtf, daktronics?

7:10
Could it be that we actually kinda, sorta look like we know what we’re doing??? Scared to ask…

7:12
More Oklahoma fans than students

7:12
A whole minute has passed and OK hasn’t scored! Wow!

7:13
Sshh! Don’t tell OU about the tight end! Let’s keep it our dirty little secret!

7:17
I cannot tweet anything!!!!! WtF!!!!

7:18
Hey! I just saw the announcer guy from the WWE on the Oklahoma sideline! Quick – somebody throw a trash can and make him feel at home!

7:20
This guy beside me is mumbling profanities at the team…or himself…not sure…

7:25
Oh, optimism, you were so cute when you tried to pop up there for a second.

7:31
Oklahoma timeout: “you mean they are going to give the ball the #1? We need a timeout to figure this out!”

7:34
…and the bleeding begins.

7:35
Remember when Baylor ran all over Oklahoma? Also, look at all the fans leaving already

7:40
Attackle! 

7:41
Wtf Geno

7:49
Seeing double.

7:50
Guy beside me keeps trying to eff w/ my text. Doesn’t believe I know your number. Go figure. 

7:59
By far the best quarter the defense has played in a long time.

8:10
Tell J.R. his BBQ sauce sucks. –A

8:08
Wait…what happened? Did we actually cause a turnover???

8:10
Note to geno. The mountaineer is not an eligible receiver.

8:12
But starting a few days early: we are thankful for easily persuaded officials and tavon austin.

8:13
And andrew buie.

8:14
BabaBuieBabaBuieBabaBuieBabaBuie

8:17
I want to believe…but just when I do…I’m afraid of what might happen!

8:18
…see what I mean? Damn it!

8:20
I’m probably going to be scarred by the violent momentum swings with this team.   

8:34
Tired of carving out so much time weekly for this [fabulous] clown show. How many teams have been in top 5 in October & finished with losing record, ever?

8:39
If they manage to lose with this officiating crew …

8:41
Thank you, Jesus!

8:42
If we could only play some damn D!

8:44
Three beers, a Malibu and Coke and a glass of wine…I need all of this to withstand this emotional rollercoaster ride!

8:46
…and the rollercoaster takes a huge dip into the abyss.

9:09
Is the band really playing “Oklahoma ” and forming their state??!!   Just one more reason not to give money to the Pride travel fund!!

9:10
I’m so glad I didn’t buy season tickets this year.  This is miserable.

9:21
Thank you, Tavon!

9:35
Landry Jones has to be a lock for 5th straight WVU opponent to be B12 player of week. Well done, DeForest Gump.

9:38
In my best Akroyd voice: “Cody Clay, offensive prostitute.”

9:40
Ohhhhh. So their RUN defense is like our PASS defense…

9:41
Manos, Hands of Feigt

9:46
Ok…Wow just wow….Tavon

9:46
Wow just wow… PAT

9:48

Hot cheetos and takis 

9:52
Hertzel’s twitter mea culpa on Bitancurt is hysterical

9:55
Chris Berman thinks Bell dozer is a hilarious nickname

9:57
Ok Oklahoma, we’ll make you a deal.  No more passing.  We both just run and we see who wins

10:02
Chicks and ducks and geese better scurry; when tavon busts out in a hurry!

10:05
… but holgs’ll let some other guy carry; ’cause he’s got nothing but a fringe on top.

10:07
Could Oklahoma be any less scared of us on third and long?! They make it look like 1st and 5

10:07
Game longer than cricket test match. Where’s the finger sandwiches?

10:09
Tavon on sideline for 2 biggest plays of game?

10:11
Their third down conversions are ridiculous

10:14
Tavon averaging 13.9 yards per carry right now…crap

10:15
Sted. Man.

10:27
Here comes a seven minute drive…

10:36
That’s an NFL throw on that TD. Geno couldn’t make that throw for shit last year

10:37
*Does a search on the blog for “get Tavon more touches”* Holy [snapper]. Clearly Dana reads the blog…but only started this week

10:39
Gettin our swag back! Scully is now tight!

10:45
I mean, seriously, why can’t the defense allow us five [just five] minutes to enjoy this?

10:45
I’d like you to ask next week about Tavon playing as PK and CB. Thanks.

10:50
Tavon is that dude!

10:52
Back on top!

10:52
Dont know how to spell the sound i just made. Thank you!!

10:53
WVU deserves to lose based on Holgerson’s misuse of time outs!

10:54
Also, ask about getting Tavon PT as a game manager. Bet we won’t be needing all those timeouts!

10:55
I have been silent all night, but how is Tavon not involved on the 2 point conversion?

10:56
I HATE WVU Special Teams!!!!!

10:57
Bad: Just remembered “I don’t want to hear it anymore, OK?” about WVU special teams. Why did THAT have to happen THERE?

10:57
Going to vomit!

10:58
Should’ve let them score there

11:00
Praying…

11:02
Im going to throw up.

11:03
Am I asking for too much to ask Tavon for one more play?

11:07
1986.

11:09
Captain Hook loses it for us again.

11:23
Andy Reid thinks Holgo botched his timeouts.

11:33
Mountaineer fans believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter – tomorrow

11:33
we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. And one fine morning — So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the Fall