Welcome to the Friday Feedback, which needs no agent to be a pro. I think we’ll get a few of these F Doubles in a row because the summer months are open and free of travel until I take some vacations later down the road. Then you’re on you own. I’m not sure what we’ll do to fill the blog space along the way, but I have some ideas. We don’t have to worry about that until after the spring game April 23, though.

Meanwhile, football practice is open tomorrow — prepare for a lot of practice facility photos … not from me! — and the three Saturdays after that, which includes the spring game at The Greenbrier. The gymnasts are in a NCAA regional. Football’s pro day is Monday. The baseball team plays 24 of its final 32 games at home. Other stuff will happen! We’re far from the dog days, though they are coming.

Onto the Feedback. As always, comments appear as posted. In other words, attack!

Mack said:

I’m going to go out on a limb and say that an assistant coach’s record at Mount Union has literally nothing to do with how good a coach he is/will be.

I want to be a football coach.

Disagree. Shocker, I know.

JAL said:

Wouldn’t want a coach who is used to losing

Well, no, but when every day but one in a four-year playing career is spent perfecting winning ways, that tends to be a useful characteristic when you get into coaching. Players are habitual beings. They want to trust something. If that something comes from someone who is not only confident but resolute about his ways, it can work a lot easier than other methods. The point (!) was that Matt Caponi will be good for a team and a defense that needs to continue perfecting those winning ways. 

Ron from Morgantown said:

Shane is frustrated that he couldn’t get a deal done with Dana so he’s tinkering with the assistants coaches contracts as therapy . Actually I think there is a minimum amount that has to be spent on assistants ( as per Dana contract ) and Shane is just complying . Shane need to do something with Dana by end of summer to appease the recruits . Blue is only making 200000$ ? – that’s like minimum wage in this business .

I don’t think it’s therapy. It’s contractual and logical. Dana’s contract says assistants must be paid no less than a collective $2.6 million (that was the basement level when the contract was signed) and has to increase at least 3 percent every year and 5 percent when WVU plays in a bowl. This happened last year, and it was to be expected this year. Brian Mitchell made $275,000. Blue Adams makes $200,000. There’s a gap there, and the raises to Crook ($50,000) and Caponi ($25,000) filled it. I’ll bet you that when the new receivers coach is hired and the gap between his salary and Lonnie Galloway’s salary is established that JaJuan Seider and Mark Scott get bumps. 

Clarence Oveur said:

I would equate being a coach at a major college football school to being a lawyer or an accountant at a big time firm. At age 33 you would probably make that much money in those professions.

Roger.

Mack said:

Well, the difference is that the lawyer or accountant has to go to very competitive schools and stand out at said schools.

The assistant coaches played football, which one could argue has very, very little to do with coaching football. And the success of their playing careers varies WILDLY, but Kliff Kingsbury is the best college football PLAYER that comes to mind that is currently a head coach. He wasn’t bad… but that’s the best one. Most didn’t even play in Division 1. From there, my guess is that most make very little money because they don’t want to get a “real” job.

It seems to me that moving up the coaching ladder has far more to do with right place right time than it does with finishing at the top of your law/accounting class.

I honestly don’t know who would argue that playing football has little to do with coaching football, but I get the point: You don’t have to be a great player to be a great coach. A lot of it is making connections and networking and paying dues. I’d also say Jim Harbaugh and Pat Fitzgerald were better college players than Kingsbury and that Scott Frost and Jeff Brohm have nothing to apologize for. I’d probably draw the line there. I don’t remember Mike Bobo being as good, though Mike Gundy is the Big 8s career leader in passing yards, and no one will ever break that record. Kingsbury can’t say that!

Rugger said:

Pretty sure Quinnipiac could beat Canisius.

We’ll find out. Three-game series May 14-15 at the Demske Sports Complex! (Speaking of Quinnipiac, you saw Randy Edsall’s new gig, right?)

Ron from Morgantown said:

Zero buzz about WV baseball and I don’t know why . Great weather , Great ballpark , I think whatever support they had was taken by the Black Bears.

Where’s this great weather? They’ve played six home games. Four were during basketball season.

Mack said:

Everyone on here ripped me a couple years ago when I said, “Programs stay about the same regardless of who the coach is.” The caveat being if you get an absolute home run of a coach or an absolute dumpster fire, then those will obviously affect things… but otherwise . . . about the same.

I don’t know what to do with this. It’s fantastic.

JP said:

that was nice of Shane to renovate the practice field for the new coach next year

Aw. 

Joe Dryler said:

Wow, if the music is any indication, the new practice field will allow us to blow up the Death Star.

Fact.

Clarence Oveur said:

About time they handled this. Too many potential (and actual) injuries with the grass fields.

Now to deal with Caperton…

I think they’d like to, but I don’t know how they do it. There’s not a lot of land around there to use for expansion, and I think they might have actually taken some of the available land behind Caperton as part of this project. Feels like this was a concession, if that’s the right word.

Mack said:

I don’t see it. Joseph is undersized, and he doesn’t have the speed (or experience) to play special teams at all.

This is probably the best news for Joseph as I’m sure I’m going to be proven completely wrong.

I haven’t spoken to anyone who thinks size is his problem. He’s not as big as other safeties, but he’s not too small. Coverage skill, recovery speed, an actual position? Those have come up here and there. But teams have him, relative to their spot in the draft, as their first or second safety. (Jalen Ramsey, who could be a safety or a corner, mucks up this conversation.)

pkocker40 said:

Could there be a comparison to Deone Bucannon, the 210-lb safety that the Cardinals converted to linebacker?

Nah, he’ll have a home in the defensive backfield.

lowercase jeff said:

this is something i follow more than the average person, and have formally interviewed several scouts on my radio show.

i have learned a few things:

1. joseph isnt undersized. no one who is paid to care about those kinds of things thinks he is undersized. that is, people in the nfl. there is no “joseph is undersized” storyline.

2. #1 is because teams believe he can, and will, be given the chance to play at free safety.

3. #2 shows they have no concerns about his speed.

4. maybe he’ll play special teams, maybe he won’t – but he far too good a prospect for anyone to care. i have not heard anyone even mention special teams re: KJs ability to make an impact. he is seen as a starter, not a roster body.

5. Deone Buchanon is huge. KJ does not have an LB transition in his future.

if you took anything away from this, please let it be this:

karl joseph is not undersized.

Radio show?!?! I don’t know where he’ll play. He could be a strong safety. He could be a free safety. He could be a hybrid and play near the line of scrimmage. Depends largely upon who drafts him.

Oklahoma Mountaineer said:

Karl’s measurables are a little less than desirable, but I think that kid finds a way to stick with the NFL team who signs him………too much of a baller not to make it work.

I find it hard to believe that Devin can make it to an NBA roster beyond training camp. His shot is too inconsistent and limited……..if KJ doesn’t make it, I don’t see how he does either.

Devin Williams time!

hoot said:

OkieMountie hit it on the head…Kevin was a finisher, while Devin is at times wildly inconsistent in that department. When he’s good, he’s really good…and when he’s off, I need something to ease the pain of watching.

As for the NFL KJ, methinks he may surprise a lot of people if he can stay healthy.
In today’s vernacular, he’s a playuh!

Seriously, what would Devin’s shooting percentage be and how many points would he have scored if he was, like, a 60-percent shooter from 2 feet?

Ron from Morgantown said:

This is interesting . Bob Huggins said Devin Williams is only looking at the NBA and that Europe was never discussed . A later story in the DP from Devins mother said her son has not signed w an agent and she wants to be sure Devin can come back to WVU if things don’t work out . Have we all ( media included ) made assumptions here that may not be true ?

What should I do? Just post press releases absent context? Or use the blog to create and encourage conversation? All we had during the day was that press release, and what in the world are you supposed to think when you read that? Yet nobody has said he’s signed with an agent. I’ve seen one person say he will. Of course Huggins is saying this. Of course his mother is saying this. There’s no need for an agent at this point. None. That he doesn’t have one today or a month from today means nothing about his intentions. 

 

lowercase jeff said:

part of me is wondering if when guys say things like “im not even thinking about it” re: theire nba future, they might really mean it.

i mean, maybe devin truly hadnt been exposed to his nba prospects, somehow.

latest developments make it sound like this an attempt made at the nba in earnest.

i wonder if he’s in for a some bad news.

This entire story is subjective right now, which makes it funny to critique assumptions and discussions as factually accurate or otherwise. There are zero facts right now, except that he hasn’t signed with an agent (see above). Whatever you think about this is what you allow yourself to think about this. So, believe what you want. Do you think he talked about the NBA in the fall and hasn’t thought about it since? Do you think he’s thought about it and hasn’t gauged his potential? There are no wrong answers, but your answers are your guide the rest of the way. 

Snazzy Britches said:

Why not test the combine without an agent? See how the feedback goes. Then if he’s hellbent on going pro, and overseas looks like the only alternative, hire an agent to get him the best deal possible. You really don’t need an agent if you’re a marginal 2nd round/free agent guy until after the draft. And Devin, if you don’t make it in the pros, I could easily see you on your own weekly PI procedural, Lt. Goggles. Just dust off those Mod Squad and Columbo scripts and I see a long-running hit.

Huggins knows so many people and there are so many former players who can speak to Devin that you’re absolutely right. Now, if he goes to Hollywood, he’d need a talent agent then. Different strokes. 

Bobby Heflin said:

First of all, I wish Devin Williams nothing but the best. If he does return (against the odds) I will welcome him with open arms. I agree with Mike that his rebounding and toughness has been a big part of WVU basketball, especially the last two years. I do differ from his opinion that Williams presence was more important than the press. Here is where I will take some heat. I just looked at the numbers, and Macon’s points and boards per minute are close to what Williams numbers are thru their first two years. Macon has a long way to go but I think if he gets the 25 minutes per game that Williams generally got, he can produce. If you add Macon’s minutes up his freshmen and sophomore year they come to approx 25 a game. His averages are right at 9 points and 6 boards. He never was afforded the minutes to grow like Williams. Watkins first two years (this past year he was not ready to play, physically and got not run) He posted numbers around six points and 7 rebounds per 25. Both players Macon and Williams blocked more shots than he did the last two years. And Watkins blocked 38 over his first two years. Both run better than Devin, both will protect the rim. IF and its a big If they can improve and near their best moments, I think we survive the loss of Williams. And really, as much as we turned the ball over trying to get the ball to him in the post, with defenders backed off our halfcourt offense should have a chance to improve. To sum it up, we will be okay. Its hard to be successful getting the ball in the post to a player with no back to the basket moves thru a defense already packed in. Williams is a face to the basket player, than can make shots if open, or make a quick drive. We will sorely miss his consistent rebounding and size, but Huggs seems to always find a way to rebound the ball. I think we will be better next year.

First, welcome to the party, where we don’t have to agree. No problem with that. What you say is fair. I thought Devin ran the floor pretty well, but Macon can scoot, too. He’s talented, for sure, and at the start of the conference schedule I thought he’d be a real factor this season. Didn’t turn out that way. He could stand to stop dribbling, too. Not sure what to think of Watkins, but he is the team’s best shot-blocker, and WVU will need that without Williams, who, believe it or not, led the Big 12 in defensive rating.

Drew said:

It isn’t that Devin is irreplacable, it’s what we have to replace him.

Macon isn’t evn a good backup. It’s highly unlikely any of the freshmen will be ready to contribute significantly. They never seem to be here. Rarely is a freshman, RS or not, ready to defend and rebound well enough to see a lot of minutes for Huggs.

I think that’s fair, too. That Macon peaked and dipped puzzles and probably concerns me if we’re talking about an elevated role next season.

The 25314 said:

Devan Bawinkel, Devin Ebanks, and now Devin Williams. What’s in a name, that these supernovas shine so brilliantly, yet briefly, in the old gold and blue?

So you’re not down with Devon Dotson in 2018?

jtmountaineer said:

As much as Devin will be missed, I would be lying if I didn’t express ambivalence about his departure. We went to him way too often offensively for the dividends he yielded. As great a rebounder as he is/was, his turnovers and inability to finish so close to the basket often undid that work on the glass. This will hurt us more by perception, I think, than in actual on-court product.

Here’s something: Without Williams, this team belongs to the guards and Esa Ahmad, who seems like a tall guard more than a small forward. But the same guards — absent alleged tall guard Esa Ahmad — weren’t good enough to get Williams involved this past season or shoot consistently to free up space in the post. So for all this talk about Macon and Watkins and the freshmen, we overlook how much the guards just have to improve.

avb31 said:

He probably will be okay, but going from Morgantown, WV to Spain, France, Greece, or whatever European destination awaits is easier said than done.

I hope he can handle the transition. Language barriers, foreign cuisine, thousands of miles from home…he seems like a good dude and was a great player. Wish him the best.

That’s a big, big part of his decision, too.

Oklahoma Mountaineer said:

Honestly, the way that the Regional worked out, there’s a great possibility WVU would have made it to the Elite 8 (which is where I had UNC beating them)……..the sad part of this team is that will be remembered as “what might have been”.

Mike, have you seen enough of Beetle Bolden to be able to evaluate him as a PG?

Very little. I mean, layup lines and shootarounds. He’s a lefty, and that’s useful, but he’ll need to add weight to become a finisher. No one wants to see Jabarie Hinds pinballing around again. If he’s smart, he picked up on the mistakes Carter and Miles and Phillip and Paige made in ball-handling roles and filed those at the front of his memory.

smeer said:

AP. According to CBS and Turner Networks – Jim Boeheim, Mike Brey, Coach K and Roy Williams will form a quartet called “The Cheatah Boys” to sing One Shining Moment – the official theme song of the NCAA tournament.

According to sources, the four have signed a contract with Warner Music Group to produce a CD of cover songs of Boy Band hits from the 80s and 90s entitled “Coast in the Machine.”

Proceeds from the sale of the CD will go to support the Rick Pitino/UofL Hospitality Committee.

Hmmm.

SheikYbuti said:

Ozzy

netbros said:

I bet they go back to the original by David Barrett.

Big Al said:

It’s gotta be Train, right?

Mountiefan3 said:

Rednex

JP said:

Weird Al

smeer said:

Red Panda

Enjoy the weekend!