So I wonder: Are you yet convinced? What we spoke of last week was that, yes, the Maryland game does seem to help determine the eventual fate of West Virginia’s football season, but that it was more significant than mere foreshadowing this time around. The Mountaineers made a lot of changes after last season’s debacle in Baltimore and you wanted and, frankly, needed to see a different outcome a year later.

Time is a commodity that can’t be wasted in college football … a reality of which you were made acutely aware around 3:40 p.m. Saturday. (By the way … what are we talking about today if WVU loses that game in OT? Seriously.)

But you had to figure you’d learn more about Dana Holgorsen as well as his team based off the third game this season. Towson wasn’t pointless. I mean, 54-0 says something, and it had been a while since  the Mountaineers had their way, did what they wanted and, perhaps most significantly, did what they were supposed to do. But what could you use after that?

Alabama was encouraging, but again, I can’t tell you enough how much of a difference an entire summer makes when it comes to preparation and closing the gap that exists between programs.

There was a gap between Maryland for the past year and there wasn’t a ton of time to close it — except that WVU used all of that time to close it with roster and coaching changes and maturation and development on offense, defense and the sidelines. The result? Well, the defense allowed 37 points, again, but the offense scored 40 and WVU won a game it would not have won last season.

“Previous teams probably would have said, ‘Enough’s enough,’ and shut it down,” Mountaineers coach Dana Holgorsen said. “But I like this team a lot. I like the camaraderie they’ve got. I love the coaching staff’s camaraderie they’ve got going on. There are a bunch of guys who believe in each other and they kept fighting.

“They had opportunities to say, ‘No more,’ but they didn’t cave into it. There were so many ups and downs and good things and bad things. It was a heck of a football game, but I’m certainly glad we came out on top.”

Remember, WVU lost four games it led in the fourth quarter last season and one it led in the third quarter. But the defense was actually pretty good in Saturday’s second half and the offense mattered when it had to matter after halftime — and you can’t dismiss the fireworks in the first half — and together they overcame abysmal special teams play.

The Mountaineers are 2-1 when, correct me if I’m wrong, you would have stolen 2-2 in June.

And now this: Oklahoma is an 11 1/2-point favorite Saturday night, which feels about right for the No. 4-ranked team in the country. WVU was a 27 1/2-point underdog to No. 2 Alabama, which still feels too high. Anyhow, the gap between Oklahoma and Alabama, between a neutral-site game and a road game, is not 16 points. The difference is a different WVU.

Tater tots on my shotgun, now I’ve got to text one at the stars. Sky’s the limit, now I’ve got to finish as the first rapper on Mars. My edits are in [brackets].

11:16:
UM is really missing out on some synergies by not bringing in Animal Planet reality star and toothless backwoods icon Ernie Brown Jr. aka Turtle Man (!)

11:16:
to sing (or holler) the national anthem.

11:17:
Didn’t realize this is the last UM game for a while.  I’ll almost miss the ubiquitous “barometer for the season” talking point.

11:19:
For me, the “name” Triumph on those UM jerseys evokes Triumph the insult comic dog.  As in “Hey Maryland!   Nice uniforms … for me to poop on!”

11:21:
It says here Francis Scott Key died of pleurisy.  Couldn’t Nike whip up some unis for WVU with a lung disease theme?  I bet there are some Oregon prot

11:21:
otypes just lying on a shelf somewhere that would unintentionally fit the bill.

11:59:
I want to punch scott mcbrien in the face

12:03 pm:
Wendell BIGwood! Uh…wait

12:07:
Does Trickery know his name?

12:08:
Throw a [football] block!

12:09:
JackBo’s gotta be pissed that Maryland’s not only stealing his style but also his lyrics #TRIUMPH #BombIsosceles

12:09:
#Teamgoforit

12:10:
#teamgoforit makes it to Minsk. Rushel, Rushel!

12:10:
Positive spin on red zone slowdown of the offense: it helps us to have 4-minute drives rather than 45-second drives.

12:10:
Misher and mishus shell can schmile again!

12:12:
So all the Maryland players are related?

12:13:
Sack lunch!

12:15:
Wait…are we actually playing good, D? I’m scared.

12:21:
https:// youtube.com/watch?v=M6KOEMJKdEI

12:22:
Cue the music for when Super Mario jumps in lava

12:25:
Running commercials through 1st down? #B1G

12:28:
I wish we were team get off the field on 3rd down.

12:32:
Joe Beninati and this Big Ten Network crew are insufferable.

12:34:
Big 10 officials?

12:34:
BTN’s yellow line is always two yards past the LOS.  It’s apparently adjusted for Big Ten offenses.

12:34:
Kevin White. Grown ass man.

12:37:
He found Princess Toadstool in the end zone!

12:38:
Right up in yo [bidnass] Scotty Mac

12:38:
TAMARIO AUSLFORD!!!!

12:38:
Night and day compared to last year, folks.

12:38:
WVU up 14-0; Virginia Tech down 14-0. Lovin’ it.

12:39:
Today is the first time WVU will play a military academy since it played Navy in 2000.

12:40:
Somewhere old crotchety dudes are grumbling because “this isn’t the Coach Nehlen way…”

12:41:
#Testurdo

12:45:
We just got hot potatoed

12:54:
He does like tds

12:54:
*JUKE*

12:55:
He Barry Sander’s that [guy]!

12:55:
Write that on your sleeves.

12:55:
G.A.M.

12:56:
Kevin White is a grown ass man. Wouldn’t want to have to guard him with the Seventh Fleet.

12:57:
RAAAAAAAAANDYYYYY

12:58:
Please national media, can we have another story about how Virginia Tech is back?

12:58:
21 to nothing lead, and still Dana’s hair looks like it wants to up and run away.

1:04:
I just love it when Dana wastes timeouts!

1:06:
Why don’t these other teams miss Field Goals???

1:07:
Scott McBrien is Master of the Obvious.

1:08:
https:// youtube.com/watch?v=M6KOEMJKdEI

1:09:
Mario is running out of lives…

1:11:
BIG ERN MCCRACKEN ON THE PLAYCARD

1:12:
He got the invincibility star!

1:12:
Super Mario is a grown ass man.

1:12:
Warp Whistle [guy]

1:13:
Football and pepperoni rolls…… That’s what West Virginia does!!!!!!

1:13:
Bombs bursting in mid air!

1:14:
Holy Shiznit!!!!!! Is it 2006????? Wow…we almost look…good!

1:15:
Who said there’s be no bombs bursting in air!

1:16:
I dont think we can say it enuff…tricketts hair if amazing

1:18:
Spoke to soon. Can’t let that happen so easily, boys.

1:20:
Giving up long TD passes…..that’s what West Virginia does.

1:25:
You can’t throw into quad coverage, Clint.

1:26:
That’s a huge momentum swing for Maryland. 28-6 could become 28-20 real quick.

1:26:
Real tricky Trickett! This IS Maryland.

1:29:
Why did Shell just truck Smallwood?

1:30:
This BTN Randy Edsall cam is riveting

1:31:
Stick draw & We Will Rock You on PA.  Worst dreams now realized.

1:33:
Sad trombone

1:33:
Yackety sax

1:33:
That’s about the yackitiest sax I’ve ever seen

1:33:
Well, at least Dana put a hat on now.

1:34:
No way does this stuff happen to any other team in CFB. Unreal.

1:34:
Isn’t the ball dead once it hits our guy?!

1:35:
Does anyone know what is going on right now? Certainly not the officials.

1:39:
Maryland fans booing the rule book. Good job guys. Way to be idiots. I wouldn’t expect anything less from Maryland fans.

1:40:
This last minute-and-half … Big.

1:42:
And our pass coverage is still terrible

1:44:
Conquer we must.

1:45:
Kneel. The. Ball.

1:46:
We always have that Doofenshmirtz self destruct button at the read

1:49:
letting teams back in football games…..that’s what WV does.

1:49:
Phillipe Coutinho is gonna kick Allan Huttons ass.

1:52:
No idea how your boy KJ Dillon didn’t pick that pass. Your boy Jarrod Harper better do something or I’m going to start asking questions

2:03:
Still want to punch scott mcbrien in the faCe…[and chest]

2:09:
If Liverpool loses to Villa they’ll be relegated to the ACC.

2:10:
Brandon Golson is still taking halftime

2:11:
WVU defense is petitioning for football games to only last 30 minutes. If it could be only 20 minutes, that would be good too.

2:12:
This is the story of a young team’s erratic journey from Minsk to Milan.

2:13:
You have to be kidding me. Was that Pat White?

2:14:
If this is the 2005 defense, Maryland is 2005 UGA

2:14:
I thought WVU had depth? Bc everyone looks exhausted.

2:15:
Kevin White is a monster.

2:16:
Even shell has turned to [sand]

2:18:
Full on self destruct mode

2:19:
It’s ahhh a bit slippy ought.

2:19:
That sound you just heard was my jaw hitting the ground

2:20:
Why the [alfalfa] IMG doesn’t have Dana Cam for games like this I’ll never know. I’d pay $49.99 for a season pass.

2:21:
Good news! Brandon Golson is alive.

2:22:
#TEAMDON’TFUMBLE

2:25:
I wish the announcers would talk more about Maryland’s uniforms…

2:29:
#TEAMKICKAFIELDGOAL

2:30:
#TeamRunABetterPlayOnFourthDown

2:31:
[Forget] Dana for that “White needs to score TD” [bologna]. He can’t score if you don’t throw it to him when no one can cover him.

2:34:
I bet there are some big pots when you play poker with Holgorsen.

2:34:
DeForeST

2:35:
…and Eforrest bails out his pal Dana

2:37:
You can dance if you want to, you can leave your cares behind….

2:39:
Baby shower trivia … Most teeth a baby was ever born with:  12!  Take me now, God!

2:41:
Get this Triumph guy off the field. He’s hurt a lot.

2:45:
To hell with Shell, phooey on Buie, Shorts for the TD!!

2:46:
Who wears short Shorts?

2:54:
I have zero explanation for WVU’s newfound success running the ball in the third quarter but I look forward to Mike Casazza breaking it down for us this week.

2:55:
I also look forward to Mike begging the fans for a Big Ten Network tape.

2:58:
You ‘re up by ten, been getting bad spots all day.  Punt it!!!!

3:01:
Self destruct mode back on

3:01:
Jordan… #IJustCant

3:01:
It squirted right out of his hands

3:02:
Ohmyeffinggod. You’re welcome.

3:02:
I was one of the readers who thought you were too hard on ST. No more. This can’t continue.

3:03:
Jordan Thompson really will be the death of me one day.

3:04:
Jordan Thompson is dead to me.

3:10:
AND IT CONTINUES?!?!?!? ROAST THEM CAZ

3:10:
Thank god that was our only punt so far today.

3:10:
[Shameful] punt. Low line drive. Didn’t take a whole lot of talent to take that one to the house.

3:11:
Wvu football, yall.

3:11:
Waiting For The Fall 2 may begin with this game

3:12:
I was holding out hope that O’Toole would get a tackle there after everyone else missed.

3:12:
Please wake me up when this is over. I have never in my life…

3:13:
Brackets, brackets and more brackets.

3:13:
Fishbowl crowd silenced. We can’t let the koopa troopas win!!

3:13:
Special Teams: Like a box of chocolates.  Never know what you’re going to get.

3:14:
This game is now almost as bad as last year’s.

3:16:
Iowa State all over again.  Looks like these guys have given up.

3:17:
Let’s go ahead and poor a little liquor out for the death of our special teams. Sheesh!

3:19:
Holgo wisely puts Thompson back in to field a critical punt.

3:26:
I hate this game so hard.

3:27:
Brackets to infinityyyyyy!

3:30:
Thompson just didn’t wanna drop that one.

3:30:
Can’t think of a reason why Thompson was back there except that Alford was kidnapped.

3:30
And at this point, I’d accept that over consciously deciding to run Thompson out there again to willingly not catch a punt.

3:31:
I’m squirting brackets!

3:31:
I look forward for an in-depth defense of special teams in the G&B. Nothing else makes sense, so why the hell not?

3:32:
Does Dana know we’re not winning?

3:33:
Joe DeForest should have as much job security as Ray Rice

3:34:
Small child on the other side of me: Oh, heavens to Betsy!!

3:36:
This is amazing stuff. Coaching to try a 50-yarder with no time left and two timeouts is positively Mullen_-esque.

3:37:
Ah, Mario NOT kidnapped and I’m too fatigued to care.

3:38:
REDEMPTION!!!!!

3:38:
What? I cannot believe we won.

3:39:
What can I say….A WIN IS A WIN!!!!!

3:39:
Pandemonium at the baby shower.

3:40:
That game felt like a loss for the entire second half. I will take it every day of the week!

3:42:
The barometer got busted today.  I don’t know what it means.

3:53:
That game was Randy Edsall in a nutshell. When he’s down by two scores, he’s probably the best coach in America. When it gets close or tied, he has no de

3:53:
sire to take a lead.