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

In which Coley White fesses up

Pat and Coley White look enough alike you’d probably guess they were brothers. They move and run alike and Coley’s once-weird throwing motion is starting to resemble his brother’s mechanics.

They couldn’t be more different with we media, though. Pat’s admitted he doesn’t like the gatherings too much and he treats dumb questions with understandable disdain. He’s not too comfortable with the big crowd and the bright lights and cameras, but seems fine with smaller crowds with familiar faces.

For Coley, it’s all good. He likes it. He tries to be funny — actually, he is funny — and his guard is never up, which is perhaps why, when trying to explain how surprised the White family was when WVU offered Pat a scholarship, he said this:

“I didn’t know West Virginia was a state at the time,” Coley said.

Well, say what you will, but I thought that that got the point across fairly well. Then I wondered if people would think he was one fullback short of a huddle. What would his family think? And by family, I mean his brother, Bo.

White received his bachelor’s degree in business management from West Liberty State College (2004) in West Liberty, WVa., where he was a four-year letter winner as a running back and a receiver.

There was always something about Wes Lyons that seemed a tick off his first two years. I’m not quite sure he should have played his true freshman season. Was he ready? Probably — and receiver is maybe the best position for a first-year player to make a mark — but he just wasn’t used very much or very well. Giving him a year to adjust mentally and physically to college football and college life, to grow into his body and his environment seemed a better idea.

Last year was a struggle with injuries and though he came on and showed some promise, particularly with blocking, he never seemed into it very much. Again, just a perception and perhaps that’s unfair because he is a quiet and reserved kid.

He was nicked — I’m starting to like that word — again this summer, but there was something different. He seemed upset, almost mad he needed arthroscopic surgery. He was projected as a starter at the time, but another injury projected another so-so season.

Wrong.

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Don’t worry

The search for a new president at WVU will be open and fair.

“There is significant national interest in the presidency of West Virginia University,” said search committee chairman and former WVU president, Gene Budig. “The reputation of the institution is in very good shape. It has been a magnet to a number of individuals who have expressed an interest, and I can assure you that there will be no shortage, none, of qualified candidates.”

Three starters and five of the top seven scorers return from a Sweet 16 team and are joined by one of the nation’s top five recruiting classes — and WVU basketball is picked to finish ninth in the Big East!

Perhaps it shouldn’t be a surprise. The one time since 2002 the Mountaineers weren’t been picked to finish in the lower half was for the 2005-06 season, when they were picked fifth.

WVU was picked to finish seventh in the West Division in the 14-team league in 2002-03, ninth in 2003-04, ninth in a 12-team league in 2004-05, 12th in the 16-team league in 2006-07 and 10th last season, Coach Bob Huggins’ first at WVU.

“‘Huggs’ reminds us every day,” WVU junior point guard Joe Mazzulla said. “They always pick us ninth or 10th and we always finish way ahead of what they think. This is no different. It helps more than it hurts right now.”

Connecticut was selected as the preseason favorite, followed, in order, by Louisville, Pitt and Notre Dame. UConn had nine first-place votes, with the Cardinals and Panthers getting three each. Notre Dame got the other first-place ballot.

Rhoads v. Mullen: Who ya got?

Cue the ESPN montage and music: “Welcome to Morgantown on a clear, crisp autumn night at Mountaineer Field. Auburn is 4-3 and has already fired its offensive coordinator, but there’s reason to believe things can start a new. Kodi Burns is the starting quarterbackfor the rest of the season and the defense remains as good as they come, now coordinated by Paul Rhoads, who engineered Pitt’s upset of WVU last year while working with the Panthers. Meanwhile, WVU is 4-2 and the goal is now a Big East title instead of a national title. At 2-0 in the Big East, hope remains, despite some concerns. The quarterbacks are dinged, the passing game wheezes and the offensive coordinator, Jeff Mullen, feels as if he’s walking the Green Mile. Things need to start anew tonight. It’s Auburn-West Virginia, it’s Rhoads-Mullen next on ESPN!”

Really, doesn’t the edge have to go to WVU Mullen because he can study last year’s Pitt game? Or does that just minimize Auburn’s edge? Or enhance it? Not sure what to think other than this is the make-or-break moment of the season.

Teams aren’t scared of defending WVU with loaded fronts and man coverage because it has yet to fight back with its Fiesta Bowl blueprint.

And here comes Rhoads with plans to relive the past.

“We’ve certainly watched last year’s film,” Stewart said. “I’d be a fibber if I said different.”

He’d be a fool, too. The Mountaineers can’t be thwarted again, not with 12 days to prepare, not with a keen anticipation of what’s to come, not with an idea of how to handle it.

It’s players. It’s plays. It’s time to give the players the right plays and for the players to make the plays work.

“If they load the box, I hope we can do it,” Stewart said. “I want guys to believe we’ll do everything we can to try to win. I hope we can pitch and catch the ball and fling it out there a bit. If we do get lucky and grab one, it’ll help us.” 

Technically not WVU …

… but I couldn’t resist this any longer. I tried, believe me, but all it did was give me more time to think about it. During that time, I found a relevance. This is from the SEC and WVU plays the SEC’s Auburn Thursday night … with an SEC officiating crew.

Take a peak, please, as my favorite moment of the college football season.

Your thoughts?

I watched it live and didn’t think a thing until I saw the replay when it looked — well, it looked intentional. He shuffles, finds the angle, sets his feet and lowers the book. Only later did I learn he was a star linebacker in high school and in college at Kentucky.

The SEC and teams involved see nothing wrong. 

“Garcia changes his direction just a tad, which ties up the umpire just a tad and makes it look a lot worse than it really was,” SEC spokesman Charles Bloom said.

“The umpire position amongst the officiating crew lends itself to more contact than any other official on the field. … We feel there was nothing else that needs to be read into it and it was a collision between a player and an official.”

So Hackett — no word if he’ll be in town Thursday night … I’m working on it — was cleared, but in now way is he in the clear. He probably never will.

“We told him, ‘Listen, you’ve got to use your flipper. You’ve got to use your forearm. But then you have to wrap up,’ ” Miles said. “We were disappointed in his effort, to be honest with you. We felt like he could knock them down a little bit.”

Auburn gameday info

Nothing more chaotic or confusing than a Thursday night game in Morgantown. WVU’s rules and regulations follow the jump.

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Welcome to Tuberville

Well, this was an interesting turn of events. Three days before a significant nonconference road game on national television, Auburn Coach Tommy Tuberville went on the, um, defensive in his weekly press conference. Addressing rumors about his health, his drive, his job status and his future, Tuberville said he is “not a quitter.”

Tuberville’s statement about the rumors came during the introductory portion of his weekly news conference and was not prompted by questions from reporters. He said he decided to clear the air after being asked about his health Sunday at church. Tuberville likely fielded questions from prospects during his whirlwind recruiting trip this weekend.

“It’s just amazing the rumors that go around when things are not going as good as you would hope,” Tuberville said. “No matter what happens anywhere, you’re going to have years that things are not going to go perfect. That’s my job to get it straightened out.”

Things have seemed bad for a while now. A 3-2 win against Mississippi State. A fired offensive coordinator. A weak loss against Arkansas. A week ago on the weekly SEC conference call, Tuberville was asked about being passed by Alabama as the best team in the state and Tuberville simply said, “Next question.” It didn’t seem this bad, though. It’s one of those things that always seems to come before the end … and makes you wonder if this is the end.

One thing fans will be looking for Thursday is Tuberville’s demeanor. Will he be stoic like the past few weeks, looking like he’s posing for a spot on Mount Rushmore? Or will he show fire in the belly, a real desire to do what it takes to save his job? 

Boo-boos abound

WVU Coach Bill Stewart was gushing about the physical toll felt from playing two of the first six games in the Big East. Two quarterbacks are hurting, an offensive lineman has a knee and a defensive lineman has a concussion. Yet Pat White, Jarrett Brown, Josh Jenkins and Pat Liebig should all play Thursday against Auburn.

Twelve days between games in the middle of the season can do wonders.

Well, the Tigers played three of their first seven games in the SEC, generally regarded as the biggest, fastest conference going. News is getting better for them, too. Late last week, healthy players were allowed to leave town while coaches hit the road for recruiting, but Coach Tommy Tuberville was surprised at one scene.

In between recruiting trips Friday, Tommy Tuberville popped into the Auburn training room.

“It looked like a hospital,” Tuberville said.

Players who were still nursing injuries after Thursday’s practice were not able to skip town Friday and Saturday.

Apparently, many of Auburn’s players fell into that category.

WVU’s go-to guy

One of my favorite stories from covering the WVU football beat came two years ago. The Heisman Trophy ceremony sneaked up on Steve Slaton and he remembered the night before he was supposed to leave all his suits were at his home in Pennsylvania. He called Dorrell Jalloh and borrowed an amazing burnt orange number.

If it wasn’t clear before, it was then: Jalloh was WVU’s go-to guy for any situation, be it overtime receptions or 11th hour suit emergencies.

So maybe it’s with a bias that one of my favorite moments this season, by far, was Dorrell Jalloh’s reception against Rutgers. He ran a double-move route as Pat White pump-faked and ball found target near the sideline toward the end of the half. Jalloh had to go low to get the ball, but he made the catch on his knees … and then scrambled to get out of bounds.

Nevermind he was already down. He wouldn’t quit on the play. At least that’s the way I’ll remember it. Plus, it was kind of funny. 

There are times in this job when you wish someone was a little more successful so there were more opportunities to interview and showcase a player. Jalloh, who is enjoyably insightful and entertaining, is most certainly one of those guys.

“Put me in the shower and you’ve got an American Idol winner,” he said.