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

Friday Feedback

May 6, 2011 by Mike Casazza

Welcome to the Friday Feedback, which had until 5 p.m. to withdraw today’s submission and return to yard work, but thought it over, met with some landscapers and decided it was in its best interests to be here.

We’re stuck in a blah time of the year where we’re waiting on all sorts of things: Does Aaric Murray complete his transfer (Answer: Yes)? Does Kevin Jones go pro (the timeline still looks strange, to me, and KJ is on the fence)? When the H is football camp? What about that gobstopper NCAA case? How low is the pendulum swinging today? And has anyone found a hornet’s nest to kick?

On and on it goes and you must be entertained by other means … and thank goodness WVU baseball has a thumping pulse this season and the women’s track team has a chance to do some really good things in upcoming championship meets.

Hey — I saw that yawn! Is that my cue?

Onto the Feedback. As always, comments appear as posted. In other words, be mindful of your appearance.

ffejboc said:

Somebody needs to tell Sam Huff to direct his anger at the stupid, archaic, draconian NCAA rules…not WVU.

Volunteers? Anyone? This thing on?

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Commenter Bill has a question about your questions

May 5, 2011 by Mike Casazza

Bill said:

Tonight is the Coaches Caravan here in the ATL. I’ll be there along with Huggs, ADOL, Shannon Dawson, and a few others. Let me know if anyone has any good questions, and if I am able to ask these guys, I’ll post the responses tonight or tomorrow.

Fire when ready …

Lazy Sunday does not apply to Kevin Jones

by Mike Casazza

WVU’s junior forward entered the NBA Drat process last month and Thursday it was learned he will participate in this weekend’s NBA draft combine. What does that mean? What does that change? Not much.

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Holgormania running somewhat wild in ticket office

by Mike Casazza

Relative to this stage of season ticket renewal season, with the May 13,  deadline approaching, WVU has posted its third-highest number in the past 10 years.

At the end of business Wednesday, director of sports marketing Matt Wells reported more than 10,500 renewal requests. That’s tangible excitement and on par with the preceding cases.

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The outlook for Josh Jenkins and that darned left knee

May 4, 2011 by Mike Casazza

We touched upon this first on Twitter — twice, actually — and then in Monday’s chat, but Josh Jenkins has two left knee injuries and two concerns, but one is greater than the other.

A MCL sprain is no joke. He’ll need the six to eight weeks for that thing to tighten up and provide the necessary support, but, as far as knee injuries go, it’s standard. Brace. Therapy. Patience. I had one and, trust me on this, Josh Jenkins is far more equipped to completely recover.

That medial retinaculum strain is tricky.

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Not your average ‘senior at West Virginia University’

by Mike Casazza

From the New York Times, the paper that brought you inside the WVU locker room following 2008’s NCAA Tournament victory against Duke, comes this wonderful photograph.

Hold on there, son: No. 14?

by Mike Casazza

I just enjoy the title of this ESPN.com article: “Way-Too-Early 2011 Top 25” says it all, yes? Still, ESPN sets a lot of trends and this can’t possibly be bad for West Virginia.

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Bill Stewart gets around to suspending Jorge Wright

by Mike Casazza

Having looked into matters on his own and with the assistance of the Morgantown Police Department, Coach Bill Stewart hit junior defensive lineman Jorge Wright with an indefinite suspension Tuesday.

Wright, of course, was arrested Thursday with a gun and some pot on his person … and then allowed to play in the Gold-Blue Game.

Wright, a 20-year-old from Miami, was pulled over in the Wiles Hill neighborhood last Thursday in a routine traffic stop. The Morgantown police officer smelled marijuana in Wright’s automobile.

That prompted a search, which produced a marijuana roach form under the driver’s seat as well as an unloaded handgun and a loaded magazine in a duffel bag in the back.

Wright was charged with carrying a deadly weapon without a license and possession of a controlled substance less than 15 grams. Both are misdemeanors.

It should be noted I’m from Brandon Hogan’s hometown — as we’ve chronicled here — and Wright’s arrest happened about 20 seconds from where I presently live.

Safe to say, this incident is a surprise because, though we were just getting to know the lad, what we knew was very promising and rewarding. Wright looked as though he was most likely to replace Chris Neild at nose guard.

Can he still? Sure. It’s hard to say how long this suspension will last, given uneven sentences in the past for the transgressions of Hogan and Jock Sanders. This is also Wright’s first episode and don’t be shocked if a deal is arranged with lesser/dropped charges. He could be back in an unlimited capacity by preseason camp in August.

The tricky balance of beer sales, perception and revenue

May 3, 2011 by Mike Casazza

Messed around with some math the other day and the eyes were opened. Oliver Luck has been told and believes if the Board of Governors passes the proposed policy change and allows beer sales at WVU football games the athletic department can generate somewhere between $500,000 and $1.2 million.

Say he lands right in the middle. That’s $850,000 from beer sales in the 2011 football season. Using attendance from last season as a guide, seven home games in 2011 would be worth $121,428.57 per game and $2.16 per person.

That’s very loose math, but let’s buckle up and make a reasonable leap. WVU basketball had 14 home games in the 2010-11 season and an average attendance of 11,468. If beer was sold at the Coliseum, one could reason seeing another $346,792.32 in the bank.

So there are two immediate questions in the first week of May and the first days of the long and vacant offseason months. First, how long can that money stay on the table? Two, is it naive to believe beer would only be sold at Mountaineer Field?

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Sources tells a Philadelphia writer …

by Mike Casazza

… that Aaric Murray is headed to WVU.

Scholarship papers were faxed to Murray. Assuming everything is in order, Murray will finish up at La Salle and then head for WVU this summer. He will be able to practice with the team next season, but can’t play due to transfer rules. Murray would then have 2 years of eligibility remaining, starting with the 2012-13 season.