The Sock 'Em, Bust 'Em Board Because that's our custom

Good news, bad news

West Virginia’s most experienced offensive lineman had a solid spring, at a new position, no less, as the two-year starter at right guard moved to the left without much fanfare or frustration. There was a scare Saturday, though, when a play swallowed him up and he was helped off the turf while favoring his left knee.

Now we learn, in the most generic phrasing possible, that he’s going to be all right, and sooner rather than later.

That’s the bad news. The title, though …

It’s not an ACL, and that was the fear, not only because of the way the injury looked but because that particular snake has bitten WVU how many times now? This sounds like something arthroscopic — Holgorsen added it was “non-surgical” — and likely to clean up some of this and repair some of that. Meniscus, cartilage, whatever, but if there’s a guy on the offensive line who doesn’t need to be on his feet the entire offseason, it’s Bosch.

And to tidy up some other reportage here, Holgorsen repeated he’ll oversee special teams and that the forthcoming 10th assistant coach will be on the offensive side, which will give the Mountaineers five on each side. That’s another nod to Dan Gerberry, a former full-time tight ends coach at Youngstown State and a former offensive line G.A. at WVU.

WVU doesn’t need a quarterbacks coach or any help there, where team still has Mike Burchett as a G.A. There are halfbacks and fullbacks among the running backs, but does it make sense to devote a coach to each? Then again, we’ve seen WVU use inside and outside receivers coaches as well as two offensive line coaches. Holgorsen has some options, but if it is Gerberry, it makes sense to expect him to work with tight ends or with tight ends and offensive tackles or with fullbacks and tight ends (that was his Twitter bio until recently).

Finally, the first and last questions Holgorsen fielded on the spring Big 12 teleconference were about Will Grier and his eligibility. The official line here, which was put together after talking with people close to the program and to Grier in May, is Grier will be eligible for the start of the 2017 season as long as he maintains the standards of eligibility. In a simpler phrasing, his 12-game suspension will not carry over through the first six games of 2017. It’s been decided.

WVU has been limited with what it can say — Example: I’ve been told there is no waiver and a time will come when WVU will ask for an official green light, and the NCAA will grant it — and it’s led to some clumsy exchanges and reporting. Holgorsen maybe finally encapsulated it properly. “”I’ve been told not to worry about that. I would encourage everyone else to do the same.”