I get a ton of e-mail, but I’ll always pay extra attention to the ones with the subject line: “Alert!” I mean, why not when this is what follows?
We season tik holders have been sent an e-survey asking us what we think about expanding Mountaineer Field.
Let’s jump to conclusions …
(Thank you and congratulations to those of you who contributed to the open post. Very good, very funny. Speaking of …)
I do. Nothing against the Blue Demons, who have a few nice players and on Tuesday night just wouldn’t quit, which seemed to bother WVU as much as anything else the opponent did.
And nothing against the students I wish more suffering on, either.
I just enjoyed my baseline seat in front of the student section. I want others to enjoy it, too. Those kids are so worn down by losing, so warped by something below even mediocrity that they’re actually the best part of the Allstate Arena experience.
Da’Sean Butler hit a 3 just 18 seconds in, but as he was shooting, one student yelled, “Layup!” On the next possession, Butler shot again and someone shouted, “6-0!” before the shot went it. The WVU bench laughed and someone said, “Don’t laugh, West! You may get in tonight!”
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(Yes! The mayor is on this now, too!)
For reasons I’ll never understand, you’ll be vilified and ridiculed for sending the following letter … but not here. I think it’s long overdue. I’ve got your back. I’ll even add one point you did not include. Yeah, the language is obscene and it is a poor reflection for all the reasons you mentioned, but calling someone an a-hole, chanting B.S. in response to a call/no-call and screaming eff you at a star player is lazy, dumb, generic and, as such, sad.
Back to you, Ken.
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Rather than wait until today’s apparent appointment with Oll Stewart, Barry Brunetti, perhaps not suspecting cameras at his high school, announced Monday he will indeed head to WVU.
“It’s a home away from home,” the 6-foot, 205-pound Brunetti said of WVU. “I kind of wanted to just make the visits. My mom wanted me to make the visits and look around and make sure I picked the right school.”
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WVU can’t hit a shot at the start of the game, falls behind by double-figures, rallies, fades and then finds some sort of a phone booth in which everything changes and the deficit disappears.
Devin Ebanks calls it a “repeating story.” Joe Mazzulla said the season is “a tale of two halves almost every game.” Truck Bryant has no explanations or solutions apart from the obvious ones. These are the 2009-10 Mountaineers, who on Saturday found their way into a big hole, but then found a way out with defense, rebounding and shooting.
It also found a double-digit deficit for the fifth time in seven games, but followed the path all the way back for the second time after nearly completing the comeback against Notre Dame and Syracuse in the same stretch.
The Mountaineers are outscoring opponents by 134 points in the second half this season and by 73 in the past seven games. Over that run, WVU has been outscored by 14 in the first half – and that’s skewed by a two-point halftime lead at South Florida after trailing by 11 early.
“You obviously hope some consistency comes into play soon,” point guard Joe Mazzulla. “We’ve got to stop putting ourselves in a hole. We can’t let them go on an 8-0 run to start the game and then come out and start the second half with our own 9-0 run. We know we can do it, but we just have to find a way how.”
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Welcome to the Friday Feedback, which anticipates not one but two reunions Saturday. No. 11 WVU plays host to No. 21 Ohio State at 2 p.m. and the Buckeyes bring one of the country’s best players, Evan Turner, who happens to be tight with Da’Sean Butler.
“I think he’s a winner. Being around him this summer and seeing he does what it takes to win and how it’s fun playing with him and how much people like him, I definitely couldn’t wait for this. And I’ve heard his birthday is coming up (Jan. 25). I’ll have a present for him.”
That’s a well-intended jab. They were teammates and roommates for Team USA in the World University Games and both wanted Turner to be healthy after Turner broke two bones in his back Dec. 5. And Turner will be there Saturday, probably aiming at his third triple-double of the season.
And then there’s Hot Rod Hundley, whose number is to be retired at the game. Hundley wore 33 … which is what Casey Mitchell wears right now and will wear next year as well. He’ll be the 16th and final WVU player to wear it.
Onto the Feedback. As always, comments appear as posted. In other words, eh, nevermind.
goherd4 said:
If WVU had a clue they would recruit from American Samoa. From an island of just 65,000 people, there are more than 30 players of Samoan descent in the NFL and more than 200 playing Division I college ball.
Seriously, Casazza, I’ve never understood this nonsense you and your readers tout when it comes to WVU loyalty. You guys hate Rich’s guts and call him a traitor. Aren’t we all looking out for number 1? I reckon the Daily Mail will be your only employer and you will never leave it for a better opportunity, right?
Straightouttanorthcentral – “no longer fit to call himself a Mountaineer????” Really? Doing WV dirty???
Casazza you and your followers are naive.
Um, we’re naive?
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My name is Mike and I have a sickness. I take tons of notes. I record the minute and meaningless. I rather like going back through old box scores and the play-by-play I took during a game. I either have too much time on my hands or I’m guilty of wasting time that could/should be spent elsewhere.
But this whole Cotton Eye Joe thing got me twisted. And I wasn’t alone.
The 25314 said:
Cotton Eyed Joe played during a stoppage in play at the 13:04 mark in the second half with WVU leading 41-37. Syracuse immediately went on a 9-0 run. That is all the ammunition needed.
Um, I circled that in my play-by-play. Twice (I’m awful, I know). Texts flowed shortly thereafter. Combine my aforementioned affliction with my appreciation for visiting other stadiums and arenas as well as my sincere disdain for CEJ and the wheels started spinning in my brain.
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