The Sock 'Em, Bust 'Em Board

Welcome to the Friday Feedback, which overheard Iowa State telling some Big 12 people that “Country Roads” isn’t about West Virginia and that “Sweet Caroline” is, in fact, a better song. Oh, and Iowa State said Marshall deserves the 1-for-1 series in football because the Thundering Herd — and I quote — “have earned the right to prove everyone wrong.” I’m serious.

I think this is my favorite part of the summer — you know, apart from the offensive heat, the insect infestation, the power outages and this dawning reality it might actually get worse. But manufacturing a rivalry with Iowa State? I love witnessing this.

West Virginia has managed through the years to move on from and carry on without rivalries, be it Washington & Jefferson or Washington & Lee, Virginia or Richmond, Penn State or Virginia Tech. Losing Pitt is horrible (I still think you see the Panthers again soon, maybe in conjunction with a Maryland series) because that’s actually the rival … and WVU is suddenly running out of rivals.

There’s a lot changing for WVU and it won’t be easy as its teams head to the Big 12, but what seems to have folks must uneasy is the unfamiliarity. Sure, there’s excitement involved, but the return on investment, so to speak, is compromised, diminished, whatever, when you don’t kind of hate the other team. I guess it’s the difference between wanting to win a game and wanting to beat a team — and there is a difference.

Time helps to foster familiarity and tension and look at Louisville as proof. That became a pretty hot contest, really right from the start. There was the triple overtime game in 2005, and the controversy it included, before the top-shelf game a year later. By 2007, people were spitting on other people. Pat White snapped and strutted into the end zone in 2008 and it was on. True, it fizzled, but last year restored some rancor and I wonder if WVU hadn’t made it to the Orange Bowl if WVU wouldn’t want a piece of the Cardinals ASAP.

The point? Who’s to say Louisville can’t be Kansas State or that Iowa State, with PAUL RHOADS, can’t become something like Pitt? If WVU beats Oklahoma, that thing gets rolling. There’s probably going to be a WVU v. TCU angle in which the immediate accomplishments of one are compared to the other.

At least I hope that all of that is possible or true. The schedule is more fun and more anticipated with someone you just don’t like, and remember, too, that Marshall vanishes soon. So, sure, generate the distaste for someone. Send it spinning like a Cyclone.

Onto the Feedback. As always, comments appear as posted. In other words, pace yourself.

Eric said:

Iowa State students think Morgantown is in Western Virginia.

Also, Cyclones love Brad Nessler. Or is it Bert Nessler?

Continue reading…

Last week we learned 10 companies, including the biggest names out there, were preliminarily interested in making a bid for WVU’s Tier 3 rights.

Today we can say what was 10 is now officially nine: IMG College, Learfield Sports, CBS Collegiate Sports Properties, Legends Sales and Marketing, Nelligan Sports Marketing, XOS Digital, Front Row Marketing Services, Fox Sports Net and West Virginia Radio Corp.

Front Row Marketing Services and Fox Sports Net are new to the process, in that they were not part of the conference call last month. Comcast/NBC, The Hub Companies and West Virginia Media Holdings were part of that call and have decided not to proceed.

Interesting move by West Virginia Media, which owns West Virginia Illustrated, handles the Dana Holgorsen and Bob Huggins shows and televised the most recent spring game — to great reception with regard to production and finances, I’m told.

Doesn’t mean they’re out because the RFP allows for a larger company to engage a smaller company and certainly WVMH is equipped and familiar enough to do some smaller things for a larger company.

Similarly interesting move by West Virginia Radio Corp. to remain engaged, even though there is a legitimate possibility that group isn’t qualified — which is precisely the purpose of this pre-qualification stage. WVU has until July 17 to notify the applicants, who had to submit their pre-qualification statements by 4 p.m. yesterday, if they’re qualified.

Still, you find that both large and small companies have removed themselves from the process — and that was one of the concerns about the RFP. It requires a lot from the potential bidders.