Tremendous job, folks. Again. The wit, the foreshadowing, the emotions and the observations are as sharp as ever. Saturday gave you another grab-the-glue game and you stuck the landing. It wasn’t decided at the gun, but it was closer than 34-10 suggests and there was an impending sense of Fall for a large portion of what follows. (By the way … six really fun games this season, no?)

There’s a lot to discuss this week from this game, which is sort of a shame because this Saturday’s occasion looms. But we’re here, so let’s indulge for a moment. That looked like a game WVU would win going away and then a game WVU would lose because it lost its offense and then a game WVU would win because of the running game and the defense.

Wha?

I think we’ve been made to think this sort of effort was in the cards. Dana Holgorsen has touted his running game for how long? I’ve been talking you into a Big 12 defense for how long? I’m not sure I ever believed all or any of that wold come together at once and on purpose because I just sort of figured WVU had to and knew how to throw the ball and outscore or overwhelm teams to win.

But Holgorsen and the rest of the gang pulled the cord in Stillwater and managed a soft landing instead of a crash, and that’s important. Could WVU have kept throwing the ball short and taking shots deep and subjecting Clint Trickett to the pass rush, hurried throws and bad decisions and still won the game? On the road, I would trend toward no, because momentum so so fickle.

But let’s say maybe because’s Oklahoma State’s offense is really out of sorts now and because WVU has Josh Lambert.

You don’t want to dance with maybe. Maybe may look good, but maybe’s liable to go home with someone else and you’ve wasted an entire day for a sad trip home. I’ll stop this analogy here before I say something stupid and have to sign off Twitter forever, but you get the point. There was a safe option available and WVU exercised it. I don’t know how you can’t be OK with that.

But in the moment, well, it was hard to see and hard to accept until it started to make a difference and then make sense, as I’m about to show you. While you’re wishing on that falling star, I’m in a foreign car sending texts with the doors ajar. My edits are in [brackets].

(Wait: Speaking of GameDay…)

Ditto. «@joshuaexline If there’s not a @mikecasazza “TIER 4” sign/fat head on camera on Gameday I will be incredibly disappointed…..»

— Mike Casazza (@mikecasazza) October 26, 2014

10:27
It amazes me how every WVU student parties and burns [this] and whatnot, then gets older and CANT BELIEVE that students are partying and burning [this].

3:39:
Why are we dressed like LSU? WTF?

3:40:
ESPN listed Terrell Chestnut as an impact player. I know he’s not playing bc of the WVU Sports Blog with Mike Casazza.

3:43:
Don’t like the WVU uniform combination. Love it.

3:43:
Get it, Buie! Love this running back squad!

3:43:
GAM..MOTHER FLIPPERS!

3:43:
hahaa…yes…please…play that weak [pass] coverage on GAM all damn day, OSU. I dare you.

3:45:
I actually feel sorry for that poor little freshman if he has to cover GAM all day. Would be willing to spot them points.

3:46:
WVU’s first defensive and offensive possessions in this game were both very easy. I’m officially worried.

3:49:
On these wide shots its looks like LSU is playing OSU. Not sure how I feel about that.

3:50:
The extra X in Daxx stands for xsucks

3:51:
Who the heck is #27?

3:51:
Cody Clay playing like Tecmo Tom Rathman

3:52:
Maurice Zereoue returning the punt? Love it.

3:52:
TOWELS OF DECEPTION

3:53:
10-7 Texas Tech… Not even five minutes into the game. Easiest Over of all time.

3:53:
TAMARIO AUSFORD STRIKES AGAIN

3:55:
Deep down the middle. I think I read that somewhere. Wait, it was Hertz.

3:58:
Your princess IS in THIS castle, Mario

3:58:
Thank you Mario! Your quest is over. We present you a new quest. Push button b.

3:58:
We might just be the ones to beat! #Big12Swag

3:58:
Trickett is on pace to throw for 896 yards and 16 touchdowns on 24-24 passing

3:59:
That was Alford leaving

3:59:
Even Mack thinks that was fast.

3:59:
“That sucks, man. “

3:59:
The Cowgirls watch Mario from behind

3:59:
Dominant so far. I’m officially worried.

4:00:
Espn said Maurice Zereoue was the punt returner. Casazza said it was Jaylon Myers. Pretty sure I know who was correct.

4:01:
In other news, EatSh-tPitt is still terrible.

4:02:
Oooh weeee! Gibbie and the boys are bringing the heat! Loving this team!

4:03:
I’ve been drinking but I swear I saw Gibson wearing a jacket that said dawgs.

4:03:
DRAVON HENRY FOR PRESIDENT!!!

4:05:
Side note: all the lulz @ Pitt.

4:07:
Poor throw to not lead White any better than that. Turned him around

4:09:
Camo fashion motif spreading like Ebola.

4:11:
Jaylon Myers WVU’s least terrible punt returner yet

4:11:
At least he can catch. Now work on his return technique.

4:12:
Looks like they found one scholarship player that can catch a punt

4:12:
Can’t wait to see how Myers [fouls] up here.

4:13:
A clothesline is a legal tackle?? What the [foliage]???

4:13:
It’s not possible to be worse in pass pro than Lucas was right there. That’s your G&B teaser.

4:14:
Thought that was “Night Train” Lane for a minute. Thought they outlawed that before I was born.

4:15:
On that sack, Lucas stood straight up, shuffled in place twice & watched his qb get clobbered

4:15:
Oh my God Caz You have to see that. As bad as the Clay lip was good.

4:17:
First down? Um…no more of that! Gotta shut that mess down! No momentum allowed!

4:21:
Bending bending bending

4:22:
Henry shoulda looked up.

4:22:
DRAVON becoming a factor in this game.

4:23:
What is that sad, ass wave the Oklahoma State fans are doing? Are they lucid? They don’t #TurnUp?

4:29:
#Team3rd&longrun

4:30:
Those sticks have to be the dumbest idea for stadium noise I’ve ever seen.

4:34:
Marshall losing to FAU in the 2Q. #thatsbadPR

4:34:
Is it just me or does this team suck? We should be rolling.

4:35:
Hill is fast, everybody.

4:36:
This is the WVU defense I know.

4:36:
Does Mack text? Beause I imagine he’s very high on himself right about now. This is headed the wrong way fast.

4:38:
Muldrow is awful

4:39:
Gibson just tols them to watch the fullback

4:39:
Defense is starting to look like an iPhone 6….it s bending…

4:39:
WVU 14, OSU 10, momentum 180.

4:42:
Says here that’s OSU’s first TD in 8 Qs.

4:43:
Buckle your [protective] chin strap, Shorts

4:45:
At least the stache is actually booming today.

4:46:
Trending, trending, trending … down.

4:47:
Pokes have to mess up soon. Have to.

4:47:
Flashbacks! I’m having flashbacks!

4:48:
Who are you and what have you done with my Mountaineers?

4:49:
Cowboys getting so open they’re hurting themselves.

4:49:
WVU got up 14 & quit trying on defense

4:53:
bending bending.

4:53:
Sack!!!! We needed that!

4:54:
i’d say it’s one of those days, but i know better.

4:54:
Circle it?

4:54:
Dan Grogan is no #JoshLambert!

4:55:
That’s more like it, I guess.

4:55:
Muldrow III sounds like a Charles Bronson film

4:55:
Holy Rush Limbaugh, Batman! He pushed right!

4:56:
TOWELS OF OBFUSCATION

4:56:
Had to screw up. Had to. Garman is just good enough to lose with.

4:57:
They’re lucky they missed the FG, I was getting really pissed off!

4:57:
So that’s what a missed field goal looks like

4:58:
So we’re playing for a 70 yard field goal?

4:59:
Can we turn in unused timeouts for points?

4:59:
Is Millard wearing Clint’s uniform?

4:59:
Andy Reid thinks HCDH is horrible at clock & timeout management.

5:01:
Clock botcher striking again

5:01:
Dateline: Gainesville. The first-year coach stares from his deck into the swamp and laughs about his timeout days at WVU. “Those [fellows].”

5:05:
Solar flare!

5:07:
WVU only team that runs a Cover Zero punt return

5:14:
It’s almost like Dana is the ex-boyfriend trying to prove that he’s changed.

5:20:
WVU punt return unit tear gassed! Full story at 11!

5:22:
That thing I said earlier….about being willing to spot points? Yeah, uh, let’s just keep that between us girls, mmmkay? #irrationalExhuberance

5:35:
Nobody on this team will just get upfield today.

5:35:
Premature Lambertation

5:35:
Stutter step Field Goal. Lambert really is the best.

5:35:
Reminds me, [forget] Randy Edsall.

5:36:
We still have White and Alford, right?

5:41:
Geta geta geta Garman

5:42:
Punt return. Grab the defib paddles.

5:43:
Gundy now trusts his defense against this suddenly incompetent WVU offense

5:43:
Get ready to safety dance. We haven’t blocked that d end yet.

5:44:
99 yarder to White coming?

5:45:
Smallwood studied Sims a little too closely.

5:46:
Smallwood doing his best Charles Sims impression

5:46:
Dana coaching like he’s scared to death.

5:47:
OSU won’t back off its “No. 11 is NOT beating us” plan. Not even here.

5:48:
What was that mess, Trick?

5:48:
Clint is falling apart at the moment. I’ll be in the garage with the door shut & the car running if you need me….

5:59:
I can move the safety, if you ask nicely.
-A

5:49:
IT WAS ALL A DREAMIUS!!!

5:49:
That’s hilarious.

5:49:
#Team3rdLongRun

5:50:
Side-effects to ”No. 11 is NOT beating us” include 20-yard runs on 3 and 19. Consult a physician.

5:51:
Remember when people were (seemingly) [bickering] about having too many RBs? Bout that….

5:52:
Speaking of Sims (and your anger over people copying the Clay story) did anything get MORE play than your Smallwood=Sims question last year?

5:56:
HCDH needs a Red Bull…pretty sure he’s about to pop a vein…

5:56:
The line is losing this game. They block one out of 3-4 plays

5:57:
That screen was a #wash

5:57:
What the hell?

5:57:
What are we doing?

5:57:
That was the worst playcall in a year of really questionable playcalling.

5:58:
Texts heating up…..right now.

5:57:
Trickett has not been good today

5:57:
I dunno, 7 mins off the clock despite no passing game and Daxxxxxxx Garman on the other side isn’t a bad prospect.

5:58:
Why not rekick here?!

6:00:
I wonder what’s under Dana’s mussed-up hair? This ain’t the Dana I know!

6:01:
So [frustratingly] sick of hearing about this backup running back’s HS track glory days. Al Bundy didn’t relive HS this much.

6:02:
#GAMP (missing person)

6:03:
My vote: Dreamius for Tailback!

6:04:
Garman. Recalculating.

6:04:
Oh [chestnuts] Defo put Thomson in. GLUE!

6:05:
Punt is a four letter word.

6:06:
Are you just not allowed to field punts cleanly? Only explanation for Myers sitting and Thompson thompsoning.

6:07:
I give up. You can’t put him back there when you’re taking every other possible precaution to win. Bush league.

6:07:
Honest to God if Thompson is back there, I’m applying for redentials and coming to Tuesday’s presser.

6:07:
Dana’s new recruiting pitch: Come to WVU, where every player gets to return a punt.

6:07:
Is Vernon davis a real player on our team or did we just find him behind the bench and give him a jersey? I’d be OK with that

6:08:
TOWELS OF OPACITY

6:10:
Referees hold their book club, finally make a call.

6:11:
Thompson blew up a guy!

6:12:
Jordan is terrible on punts which makes you forget he’s not a terrible player.

6:12:
TOWELS OF PARTIAL SUBTERFUGE

6:14:
This game is on track to be the fastest WVU Game ever.

6:14:
Is Clint coming back to Earth?

6:15:
You know, the gameplan is different…not what we’re used to. But it’s been effective. I’m ok with that.

6:23:
If we lose to a guy named Daxx I will question everything I thought I knew

6:27:
Outside of my family, Tony Gibson might be my favorite person. He’s doin BIG thangs.

6:44:
These guys are terrible. We should be drilling them by at least 30. And there is a pick six

6:44:
DRAVON IS THE PRESIDENT

6:44:
Yes…pick six…dravon

6:44:
How can an offense be so lost with a Garman?

6:45:
Hertz is in the Beanery crating the [scotch] out of an O, Henry lede.

6:45:
Picka picka picka Garman

6:46:
Hahahahaha! OSU fans are bouncing! That’s so whack!

6:46:
I still hate that third down end around.

6:47:
Game day? Please? We will behave..promise

6:50:
BTW, Riddick sported a camo chapeau for his interview with Coyle.

6:50:
BFE now stands for Bowl [Football] Eligible

6:51:
Dammit ESPN why are you showing _eForest after that 4th down stop?

6:51:
We’re bowl eligible, mango farmers!!!

6:51:
That large sounding woman is singing REALLY loud now.

6:53:
Well that escalated quickly

6:54:
Stands are empty. How pitiful.

6:56:
Defense keeps playing like this all season, Tony Gibson can wear all the digi-camo he wants.

6:58:
“3 yards & a cloud of chewed up tire rubber.” Yup, that about sums it up perfectly.

7:01:

7:03:
6 – 2 / 4 – 1. Couldn’t have REASONABLY hoped for better coming into the year.

7:05:
Gotta say it was a Dra day.

7:57:
Great horny toads, TCU put up 82 on TT! /curls up in fetal position