I wasn’t back in town until Sunday afternoon, and by then there was a dark sky with rain showers. However, what I’m being told is the sun did in fact rise. In the east, no less. And then later in the day, the polls came out and West Virginia was found to be a top-15 team in the estimation of the media (No. 14) and the coaches (No. 15). Oklahoma State, meanwhile, jumped in at No. 22 in both.

Understand how fickle voters can be and how volatile polls always are. WVU, after all, went from unranked to No. 9 or 10, depending on your preferred ranking system, in eight weeks. The same team lost to an unranked team and didn’t travel too far south. That’s probably surprising to many of you. It should be calming.

I think what we’ll find is the Cowboys, who lost at Baylor and were hosed at home against Central Michigan (which is now 5-4 after losing at home to a bad Kent State) in a game (that shouldn’t have been so close) that ended with a ridiculous Hail Mary, are all right. They’ve got good coaching and good players and evidently good facilities, and now they’re right in the thick of the Big 12 title race.

But that’s also where you’ll find the Mountaineers. They’re all right, too, and people know it. Or ought to know it. Are they 10 first downs and 80 yards better than Oklahoma State? Maybe not. Are the Cowboys three scores better than WVU? Also probably not. But they’re there near the top of the standings, at least for the time being. Could be better. Could get better. Could also get worse. We saw some upsets Saturday, and three other unbeaten teams took their first loss. Staying power is vital, but resiliency is maybe only slightly less valuable. Oklahoma State has proved as much, and now WVU must summon it.

Neither has it easy the rest of the way.  The Cowboys play three of their final four games on the road — Kansas State, TCU and Oklahoma — and the home game is against Texas Tech, which seems to have some life now. The Mountaineers, meanwhile, have Kansas and Iowa State and, of course, the home games against Baylor and Oklahoma. Don’t forget about Texas, which is now 4-0 at home and 0-4 on the road. The Longhorns, who won’t make up their mind about anything or anyone,  play host to the Mountaineers next weekend.

This is all relevant because WVU has had a three-game losing streak in conference play every year its been in the Big 12, and there are potholes still on the road that takes the Mountaineers to whatever bowl game ends up as their destination.

Orlosky hopes these Mountaineers put an end to that, beginning with Saturday’s 7 p.m. home game against Kansas (ESPN2).

“If not, we’ll be the same old WVU team we’ve been the last five years,” he said. “We can’t let that happen.”

 WVU (6-1, 3-1 Big 12) wasted an enormous opportunity to solidify an identity both nationally and within the conference that was not yet concrete after the first six games. The weekend began with eight other unbeaten teams. Six were ranked above the Mountaineers in the polls even though the Mountaineers were credited with a strength of schedule greater than four of those six.

Yet WVU also showed no wins against teams in the top 30 of the computerized Sagarin ratings. It had never been 3-0 in Big 12 play, and the conference wins this season were against teams that combined for an overall record of one game above .500.

Rather than jump in the polls after three other teams lost for the first time, including two that were ranked above them, the Mountaineers fell to No. 14 in the media poll Sunday and to No. 15 in the coaches’ poll.

“Honestly, I don’t care,” senior receiver Daikiel Shorts said. “Those are the same people who said we wouldn’t be in the Top 25 and wouldn’t win any games this year. You just ignore that and try to get back on track next week.”

Personally? I’ve seen seven games. I trust six more than one. I’d have to see one turn into two or three to believe reports of WVU’s demise. All this energy calling me back where it comes from. It’s such a crude attitude, it’s back where it belongs. All the little kids growing up on the skids are going, ‘These texts rock. These texts rock.” My edits are in [brackets].”

11:33:
Good news: 7 games in, and I get to watch one legally. Bad news: Wanny.

12:05:
How odd is it that OSU has played Pitt but WVU hasn’t?

12:05:
Could these announcers be any [dumber]?

12:06:
Nice to see Brady Quinn in the Halloween spirit with his clown makeup on.

12:09:
Got that 2 play hangover done with

12:09:
2 [sad] play. 3 badass plays.

12:10:
Dakiel…Salute Your Shorts! He is really stepping up!

12:18:
Okay…I’m mad nervous! Everyone has picked us to win…and we look good! #Believe

12:18:
Side: Molina hasn’t made 40+ yd fg yet

12:18:
3rd side of the ball batting .500

12:18:
Why can’t we kick the [foot] ball into the [foot] end zone

12:19:
Defense shaky early. Can’t give washington inside slant in cover zero

12:20:
Umm coffee blitz

12:24:
We’ve got some issues that rise to the surface against a good team. I’m a little concerned here.

12:30:
#big12refs

12:30:
That offensive PI call on White was (puts on shades)…offensive

12:30:
Pass interference???? Wtf????

12:36:
It’s illegal to try to catch it? Can we acquire refs in conference expansion?

12:37:
2 and 24 and you run?

12:37:
Gross was flying on that punt coverage

12:37:
Being tempo-ed

12:38:
These refs are garbage. Blatant holding on double reverse

12:40:
Defense is crap right now

12:41:
I wanted a hold against OSU there but I guess the ref’s pockets are too full of T. Boone money to pull out his flag

12:45:
Oh boy…old Skyler is back. Sigh.

12:50:
Shelton!!! Cleveland rocks!

12:52:
Only 2 3rd down stops have been in RZ

12:52:
The [fitness], that spot!

12:52:
That’s how you catch the cabbage

12:55:
Mama…there goes that man! #Gibson

12:58:
Shelton Mango Farming Gibson. That read by Skyler Mango Farming Howard was beautiful. Mango. Farmer.

12:58:
G&B stuff right there.

12:58:
Hell of a catch by Gibson. Have to think Howard overthrows that in previous seasons. He’s improved more than I thought possible.

12:58:
HOLY [SATURDAY], a good kickoff

12:58:
Gawd. We are trying to lose.

1:11:
I’m at a bar in Maryland and showing remarkable restraint. Mango farming fumble on their 10?!?!?!

1:21:
[Farm]

1:21:
[Gracious] Skyler

1:21:
SkyHow-could-you-be-so-careless?

1:21:
Damn it Skyler. Protect the mango farming football.

1:21:
That’s what I get for complimenting Howard. Dumb [stink] play. Take the sack and punt.

1:21:
That’s on Skyler. More stupid plays from him near our goal line vs OSU.

1:21:
Is Dana saving all his challenges for the 4th quarter?

1:21:
I don’t love Howard’s decision making today

1:21:
Skyler plays hard and has been good this year but he’s still the offense’s biggest liability

1:21:
Molina, mo’ problems.

1:21:
missing Lambert

1:21:
Nehlen era uni color combo affecting the play calls? Third and long runs up the middle all day.

1:21:
Molina misses. Lambert missed

1:26:
Slant

1:26:
Slant. Every [fair] time

1:26:
COVER THE MANGO FARMING SLANT [GARY] DAMN IT

1:26:
Another Crawford out?

1:31:
Beating us at our own game with a much better QB and a much better kicker

1:31:
#MakeRefereeingGreatAgain

1:33:
Welcome back, other shoe

1:34:
The first possession of the second half is yoooge

1:34:
Maybe wvu can trade those timeouts for points at halttime

1:35:
Ballgame. Complete lack of effort. Molina and Skyler with big mistakes. Defense being exposed. Looks like the fall is here.

1:35:
I’ve seen enough of Molina’s act.

1:36:
How much hairspray did Gundy use today?

1:36:
Mike Gundy and his hair shiuld get married.

1:36:
Good thing I bought a six pack last night. Gonna need it to finish this trash.

1:37:
I’m all for giving Dana a new deal, but there has to be some stip about timeouting. This is absurb and it’s every game

1:41:
giving Howard a Zanax at halftime?

1:41:
Hill was tackled on first and goal at the 7 with 1:35 left. Could have used two timeouts. Instead we handed OSU 1:20 of clock we could have gotten a FG w

1:41:
ith. Why give up? Coaching scare.

1:43:
Got any spare Crawfords? Go fish?

1:49:
We have them right where we want them.
–Hannibal

1:49:
Cowboys and mountaineers, come lend your eyes and ears
I’ve got the need to testify
Don’t try to build your nest out in the open west
‘cuz there’s a mill

1:49:
ion ways to die

2:16:
Right now looks like we’re going to lose by 24.

2:16:
Let’s just not cover Washington today. Great game plan.

2:16:
How about a 3rd down stop?

2:16:
Complete [saggy] tackling. Vomit inducing.

2:16:
Vintage 2015 Skyler

2:16:
Geez, howzabout coaching up Skyler on grounding?

2:16:
Skyler seems to be better when he is booed

2:16:
It’s not like quarterback is an important position or anything

2:16:
OSU has every answer. Need to start asking different questions

2:18:
This looks awful but we’re not playing that bad. Can’t clear the hurdle without clipping our heels but we’re on our feet. So…I’m waiting for the fall.

2:18:
(I’m sorry. You don’t have to use that.)

2:19:
Slant! For [Phillip’s] sake!

2:19:
zebra couldn’t find flag we’ll take it

2:19:
WVU has 10 points against a defense that no one in the world thinks is any good.

2:19:
Welp, at least he took the sack.

2:22:
I feel like a turtle without a Shell

2:22:
Third and Shorts

2:23:
What in the actual [forest]? Why can’t Skyler EVER get this intentional grounding thing right?

2:23:
“Just the tip” I love this announcing crew.

2:28:
Finally got my dog’s lucky jersey on. Looking for better things now.

2:28:
Ka’raun please tuck that ball away…

2:28:
loafing on the punt = touchback

2:28:
Top ten ranking = crapping the bed. It’s to be expected.

2:29:
Xavier Preston: Dawg.

2:29:
Where has Preston been all year?

2:30:
missed block (McKoy), dropped pass (Gibson), poor route (Simms) #waystokilladrive

2:32:
What is a Marcus Sims?

2:32:
Can’t blame SH for that

2:32:
LMAO nice catch, White.

2:32:
Well that was truly pathetic.

2:32:
Looked like Betty White on that one

2:34:
2TOs = 2TDs = ball game

2:34:
The Fall

2:39:
Joey Galloway laughing

2:39:
Guess who’s back…..back again…..Skylars back…..tell a friend.

2:46:
Fleming tackles two!

2:47:
Mo Fleming: GAD

2:49:
I yelled at TV when Skyler scored, woke up newborn…#rookiemistake

2:51:
where was Crawford all game?

2:56:
Here’s where TO #3 happens

2:56:
Whew. Almost

3:00:
More like Peru. Too short.

3:03:
I’d like to play some reindeer games with Rudolph

3:07:
I think it’s pretty clear we are better team…penalties/turnovers/special teams. Vintage Dana

3:13:
Officially cracking the Dusse bottle! I can’t with this defense today!

3:14:
Skyler gave them 7 points and White gave them 7 points. Losing by 14. That’s all that matters right there.

3:24:
Skyler Howard can’t handle good defenses. He is who we thought he was.

3:24:
Lost to Billy Ray Cyrus

3:24:
If you wait for it, the Fall always comes.

3:25:
Grier next year!