Certainly the spring game will be a big deal for the football program, but remember this, if only because everything is about recruiting. Spring games are oftentimes important occasions for recruits. Spring practices are popular, and WVU has played host to some nice names so far, but the spring game is a chance for a team to show off by adding some pageantry. Kids commit at, after and because of spring games quite frequently.

The Mountaineers have some problems with that this year, where and when chief among them.

Allow Chris Anderson to explain.

Absolutely, it’s a detriment to recruiting. First, the location is an issue. Morgantown may not be loaded with high school talent, but it’s within a couple hours drive of several areas that are (Maryland, Western Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio). White Sulphur Springs is nowhere near any sort of recruiting hotbed for WVU.

Also, not only will recruits who do make the trip not be able to see the campus or facilities like they would in Morgantown, their contact with the coaches will be limited – and maybe even non-existent. It’s a quiet period in recruiting and, per the NCAA, that means no “off-campus” contact between coaches and recruits. If the game were in Morgantown, the coaches could interact with recruits as much as they want. At The Greenbrier, they can do nothing but say “hello,” if that.