The Sock 'Em, Bust 'Em Board

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

Meet the mine mule!

April 8, 2009 by Mike Casazza

Doesn’t have a very magical ring to it, but that’d be how Bill Stewart described Noel Devine to Devine’s likely amused hometown paper.

Although Devine missed the first few practices of spring due to a death in his family, Stewart said he’s been all business since his return and described Devine’s work ethic to that of a “mine mule.”

“They carry the coal out of the mines,” Stewart said. “In and back. In and back. That’s how he works.”

I like it. I even get it. When you consider all he’s been through and all he is, Devine’s been kind of stoic and very reliable throughout his time here. You know, if nothing else, Stewart’s wacky way with words does have a way of getting to the point.

That made his next take turn heads. Get to know the mine mule while you can.

Note to grads near D.C.

by Mike Casazza

I’m aware the University of Michigan has fans everywhere and in the sense of followers and tradition and graduates is generally bigger than WVU. Point to a spot on the map and the chances are UM has the edge there.

That said, I’ve always been told and believed WVU’s base is its strongest in the Washington D.C. area, which makes this e-mailed tip very interesting.

U of M Club of Greater Washington, DC Invites you to an evening with Michigan Football Coach Rich Rodriguez and Michigan Basketball Coach John Beilein

Tuesday, May 12
6:30 p.m. reception with light Hors D’Oeuvres
7:30 p.m. program

Holland & Knight, LLP
2099 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC
Near Farragut West Metro (Orange and Blue Lines)

Ticket Prices:
$20 for Alumni Association members
$30 for nonmembers
$35 at the door

Right Said Ed?

April 7, 2009 by Mike Casazza

Remember when nearly 14 months ago Director of Athletics Ed Pastilong mapped out his retirement? It was thought then the two most important words in the deal were “Mike Garrison.”

Pastilong, 65, and WVU President Mike Garrison had been talking about the new deal “for several months,” Pastilong said. “We finally got a little down time here to work on things.”

While reading Oll Twitter …

by Mike Casazza

… I caught his prediction for last night’s championship game, which sure seemed like a first-round game. Anyhow, Stewart spent four years as an assistant at UNC, which gave him plenty of incentive to predict the predictable route. He nevertheless admired the MSU work ethic.

Being politically correct, I like that blue collar mentality that Tommy Izzo brings. It won’t be a game by 30, I can tell you that!

Surely not!

Here they come

by Mike Casazza

I decided it wasn’t wise to get too carried away once I saw Bill Stewart yelling “Like a warm knife through butter!” at practice yesterday morning.

Repeatedly.

Sure, the Mountaineers are blitzing a lot and getting home, as they say, a lot. But shouldn’t that be the case?

The offensive line has some issues now, but that’s almost to be expected given what it’s attempting to do this spring. The Mountaineers need four new starters and, as if that isn’t enough, are trying to cope with a defense that’s very advanced and — again, don’t get too excited — very aggressive.

Devine diversifies

April 6, 2009 by Mike Casazza

It was subtle, which is ironic because what prompted it was quite the opposite, but perhaps the best moment of spring came from a Noel Devine interview Saturday.

He’d had a few of his electric moments in the scrimmage, but submitted a rather pedestrian play when he caught a short pass and ricocheted into the end zone from three yards out, despite the best efforts of the seriously surging Nate Sowers.

Safety Nate Sowers put a big hit on Devine trying to keep him out of the end zone, but as Devine would say when it was brought up later, “It wasn’t big enough, was it?”

Take that, Mr. Sowers!

Perhaps more appetizing was something Devine would say a little later.

Talking points

by Mike Casazza

… from the weekend that was. For your use in elevator rides, trips to the water cooler and other awkward moments on a Monday. Sponsored by “One Step From Advertising on craigslist.“

– Sweep!

– Morris marches on.

– A “tough, tough day” for the offense in Saturday’s scrimmage.

– Pat White is on a farewell tour.

– Rowing gets a historic first.

– A few notes from today’s 6 a.m. practice …

Friday Feedback

April 3, 2009 by Mike Casazza

Welcome to the Friday Feedback, which is still buzzing about last night’s college slam dunk contest. For what it’s worth, Alex Ruoff fizzled … in the 3-point contest. He had an OK start and finish, but misfired at the elbows. I am upset, of course, because he deserved a better exit than what he got — Louisville, Syracuse, Dayton and last night’s last-place finish. Mostly, though, I was hoping he’d advance because I wanted — no! — needed to see his post-round celebrations. Dance routines must have been part of the selection criteria.

The dunk contest was nuts, though. Frequently those things disappoint. This did not. Raise your hands if you knew Micah Downs could do that (1:35, featuring Ruoff’s “Represent, baby!” congratulations, and 3:05). And that was just the first round. The final round actually went to a dunk-off between Charlie Coley III and champion Tony Danridge.

I know the tournament hasn’t been all that great and needed Villanova-Pitt to save it, but, man, I don’t want to see the season end at all. Really, what are you looking forward to, baseball?

Onto the Feedback. As always, comments appear as posted. In other words, be careful before you submit.

glibglub said:

Crystal Blue Persuasion, eh? I can just picture a sleepy-eyed Stew jamming to this decidely mellow 60’s quasi-psychedelic groove at 4:30 in the morning. (No, not really.)

Best news of spring practice, I say. Close second, if only for potential? Try 6 a.m. practices Monday and Tuesday. What’s Oll Shondell’s revelry those days?

Cue up the Buffalo Springfield

April 2, 2009 by Mike Casazza

There’s something happening here. WVU’s baseball team is 20-6 now and won Wednesday night in dramatic fashion. Well, kind of — the winning run scored on an error. But before that was when things were wild.

The game-changing at-bat occurred in the beginning of the ninth. Down 9-6, Justin Parks led off with a single to center field, and Austin Markel followed with a walk. On a 2-0 fastball, sophomore Jedd Gyorko launched a game-tying three-run home run to left field that ricocheted off the Shell Building.

That’s a bomb, I assure you. And speaking of bombs, this team is well aware of its history.

New jock in the slot

by Mike Casazza

Typically your slot receivers are short, quick guys. They use abrupt strides to better navigate through traffic in the middle of the field. They’re smaller target for tacklers. The combination allows them to pinball off defenders and not only get open, but keep plays alive after the catch.

Why, then, is 6-foot-8, lankly, long-striding Wes Lyons in the slot? The simplest explanation is because he’s pretty good at it, something that’s fun to think about, something that will be explained in greater detail at a later date.

Of course, another reason is because Jock Sanders, WVU’s once and maybe former slot machine, is still in trouble with Bill Stewart.