The Sock 'Em, Bust 'Em Board

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

Never seen WVU do this before

February 2, 2011 by Mike Casazza

The school announced today new running backs coach Robert Gillespie will remain with the Mountaineers.

Don’t think the timing is accidental. Assume Gillespie’s intermingling with Florida, where he played, was being used against WVU in recruiting. WVU addressed that. Today. If you’re some kid from Florida or Georgia or wherever and WVU has been in one ear and another school has been in the other year saying Gillespie won’t be at WVU, well, that settles that.

It is here where I will make a joke

by Mike Casazza

Today is national signing day. It is also Groundhog Day. You think about that.

May I suggest MSNSportsNet for your updates. There is some news among the early proceedings — and it involves a “commitment” who did not sign. Jermichael Sanders signed and sent his NLOI to Baylor.

WVU compliance is watching

February 1, 2011 by Mike Casazza

On signing day eve, here’s an interesting tale of how the university’s watchdogs keep track of fans and the interactions they have with prospective student-athletes. Don’t seem to recall the Adreian Payne incedent, though … I’m sorry? We did what? Oh.

Is adversity exactly what this WVU team needed?

by Mike Casazza

I’d argue yes. Take this quote from Cam Thoroughman.

“Coach Huggins has told us all year he just needs seven or eight guys to go out and play for him,” said senior Cam Thoroughman. “That’s all he wants and he’s had trouble finding that.”

He did have trouble finding that until a variety of trouble found WVU and left Huggins with — all together — seven or eight guys.

Then the dominoes started to fall.

Written and visual proof of how balanced the Big East this season

by Mike Casazza

So many words can be used to make the same point. The Big East is, once again, balanced and competitive and might even break its own record and get nine or maybe even 10 teams into the NCAA Tournament. To paraphrase Bob Huggins, the league is hard.

We all like words. Words pay my bills. Even I’ll admit, however, the brain sometimes needs a break and in times like that, only a graphic will do.

— Credit overtheSEC

Bill Stewart faces the waves

by Mike Casazza

Signing Day ought to be interesting tomorrow, what with people wondering how this collection of recruits came together, and suspecting the answers might not match reality because the coaching arrangement is a little unusual.

Yet Oll Stewart gave a sneak preview at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Monday.

“I can face and handle the waves because I know, love and trust who made the ocean,” Stewart told club members at Tozzi’s on 12th on Monday. “Don’t look at us at West Virginia and say that’s a tough situation down there. It’s just right.”

The Senior Bowl happened … and that’s about it

January 31, 2011 by Mike Casazza

Noel, Jock and Neild played and didn’t do a whole heck of a lot. Noel’s TD probably helped with some concerns people hold over him.

The practices matter most, though, and that’s where teams begin to get a close look at players they’ll later evaluate and possibly draft. Neild solidified himself as a mid- to late-round pick and a rotation guy for 3-4 teams. Sanders and Devine got looks from teams who have needs for players of their size and ability. Noel got the most attention of the three, as you’d expect, and it wasn’t all poisitive.

Mike Carey is not messing around with those who mess around

by Mike Casazza

So WVU’s women’s team starts 16-0, rakes in all sorts of unprecedented accolades, gets the always ominous newspaper feature and promptly goes 3-3, including Sunday’s bad loss on the road against very good DePaul.

So much for that Biggest Game Ever against UConn next week. And, if you listen to Mike Carey, so much for this season.

“We deserved to get our butt kicked, and we got our butt kicked,” Carey said. “We have five seniors, and if they don’t straighten up, we will start playing for next year. I am not fooling with seniors that don’t play hard.”

‘The expectations I have for myself have changed’

by Mike Casazza

Joe Mazzulla was at his chest-thumping, self-endangering, team-leading, game-changing best Saturday night. Was it his best game? It’s debatable — and we can have that debate here — but it did have all the trademarks of Mazzulla on a roll, except the kamikaze lunge to save a ball from going out of bounds.

That’s a sidebar to the main point, though.

WVU v. Cincinnati: A treat for you and you-know-who

January 29, 2011 by Mike Casazza

(We begin with the end: Game story with quotes and the one anecdote you just might remember in March and say, “Hey, remember when this team really figured it out?”)

We’re about 30 minutes from the start of WVU and Cincinnati in the shoe that Bob Huggins kind of built … try as the town might to forget such things.

Should be a good one, if for no other reason than every game involving your Mountaineers seems to be a tight and tense affair. Four Big East teams started the day with no home losses — Notre Dame is off this weekend, Villanova lost to Georgetown and UConn lost to Louisville.

And then there are the Bearcats, who are 13-0 at Fifth Third Arena. Initial observation from courtside: Cincinnati is really big.

Here’s hoping the game is … delicious.