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

Return of the Dog Soldier(s)!

February 26, 2009 by Mike Casazza

It’s been a while since we’ve seen or heard from the Dog Soldier, but Oll Stewart took him for a walk at Wednesday’s Vandalia Rotary meeting in Charleston. The leash was an abrupt blending of Cheyenne nation and Mountaineer nation.

Well, in Stewart’s way of thinking, star quarterback Pat White is a Dog Soldier.

“I know he’s the greatest winner in football today,” Stewart said. “What he’s done will probably never be done in football again. Patrick White, he just oozes winning. Don’t tell Pat White he can’t beat you.”

Also a Dog Soldier is WVU athletic director Ed Pastilong, based on the overall success of WVU’s athletic programs and the stability of the program’s budget.

“Do people know how good this guy is? We’re one of 19 athletic departments in the nation that’s in the black.”

And, according to Stewart, Gov. Joe Manchin is a big-time Dog Soldier.  

“The greatest of Dog Soldiers is our governor,” Stewart said.

I wasn’t planning to add to the blog today, but I cannot resist the Dog Soldier. It’s a rule. Plus, something we learned long ago was finalized today.

Please?

by Mike Casazza

I still like it. Notebook is open for your thoughts and opinions about the occasion and the game tonight. Proceed.

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Huggins hushed on wardrobe

February 25, 2009 by Mike Casazza

It wasn’t me — honest! — but Bob Huggins was asked what he planned on wearing for tomorrow night’s game at Cincinnati.

Turns out this is a popular topic.

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Conspiracy!

by Mike Casazza

ESPN has posted combine results. Check out the wide receivers, third from the bottom.

It also doesn’t seem like they’re too high on his potential.

Why?

by Mike Casazza

That seems to be the most obvious, most common question as West Virginia travels to Cincinnati for tomorrow night’s ESPN game. Like, “Why in the world is U.C. honoring Huggins?” Fair question.

“To do it before a game, to me, it’s like they’re trying to soften him up,” Martin said.

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Let’s be honest…

February 24, 2009 by Mike Casazza

We’re all at least curious what Huggins will wear Thursday night, right?

Known to ride a look for as far as it will take him — see last year’s black jacket-blue shirt combo through the Big East and NCAA tournaments for proof — the blue sports coat has been good to him lately. WVU has won four of five with the coat on his back and I really don’t think he’s blaming it for the loss at Pitt.

On one hand, you’d expect it to come back for a game that is pretty important when you strip away all the extracurriculars. A win gives WVU 20 overall and nine in the Big East and virtually assures a first-round bye in the conference tournament. Cincinnati has even more to play for and a win could be what pushes it into March Madness.

That said, this obviously is unlike any game you’ve see in a while. The emotional element is impossible to describe, qualify, anticipate, so on and so forth. And Cincinnati has seen fit to make it an occasion, too, and will honor Huggins at the game. So perhaps he dusts off something special. Mustard suit? Sweater vest? Full Nike warmup? Monocle? Cane?  OR perhaps WVU has something up its sleeve, like black jerseys?

If ever there was a time to spring a surprise, this is it.

Gee, didn’t see this coming

by Mike Casazza

Let’s be honest. If two weeks ago you looked ahead to the first day after the NFL Combine and guessed what teams might say about Pat White, I’m sure a few of you who followed No. 5 the past four years would have predicted someone saying something like, “Kid’s a player. I want him on my side.”

Guess what?

As one GM said, “I want him on my team, and now I just have to figure out where I have to take him.”

White — now 6-foot-1 and 197 pounds! — did his thing with his feet and turned in a 4.55 40-yard dash (he was as fast as 4.49). Better yet, he did pretty well throwing the ball and his workout was said to be no worse than Mark Sanchez’s.  

“Pat White threw the hell out of the ball,” NFL analyst Mike Mayock said. “He’s opening up some eyes.”

All in all, not a bad showing. Greg Isdaner had among the shortest arms and smallest hands for offensive guards. Mortty Ivy ran the slowest 40 and did the second-fewest bench press reps among linebackers and will wait until pro day at Mountaineer Field to do the shuttle run, vertical leap, 60-yard dash, cone drill and broad jump.

With one hand tied behind his back

by Mike Casazza

Joe Mazzulla seems pretty confident he’s playing next season.

When this season ends for the Mountaineers (19-8, 8-6 Big East), who have another critical road game Thursday night at Cincinnati, their off-season program begins a week later. That would be three months after Mazzulla’s surgery.

“You know I’ll be ready,” he said.

He’ll spend three more weeks in the apparatus. Then comes the likely painful process of fighting through aches and stiffness to regain strength and range of motion. For now, he’s focused on strengthening and developing his right hand.

That doesn’t sound like a big deal until you remember he is left-handed.

“Right now, the thing I’m happiest about is the chance to be ambidextrous,” Mazzulla said. “I have nothing but time, so I decided I better make the most of it.”

You think he’s kidding … but he’s not. The lefty is dead serious about becoming a righty if that’s what it takes to play again

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In which a Bunny causes trouble

February 21, 2009 by Mike Casazza

Sorry, no Talking Points Monday. Laptop and hotel Internet have taken turns conspiring against me. I gave up and I have an early flight tomorrow. I’ll try to get back to it in the afternoon. If not, occupy your time wondering if maybe Sunday was the beginning of something meaningful for Dee Proby.

More true stories from the air…

I flew Saturday morning from Morgantown to Washington, D.C. (no Clarksburg detour!) to Newark, N.J. The flight to D.C. was, um, interesting.

The recipient of a rare and possibly unprecedented break, I was also somehow with two young women who were in town Friday night for a party at the Lazy Lizard (I refuse to call it by its real name). They’ve also graced the pages of “America’s best-selling men’s magazine.” (Update: Confirmed!)

Of course, this all became secondary to the story. The flight attendant gave the “you are now free to move about the cabin” all-clear and one Bunny, the one seated at the back of the plane and literally right next to the restroom, stood up and made the seven-inch walk to the door. Before she could even get the door open, the flight(y) attendant, who’s English was so broken it would make Joe Theisman cringe, had sprinted down the aisle, scared everyone in her path and stopped said Bunny in her tracks. Seven levels of terror and confusion simultaneously filled the cabin. I have no explanation for this. It was discussed the rest of the way and no one had anything that led to a conclusion.

Karma reappeared on the flight to Newark, when I was surrounded by screaming British children without an au pair in sight.

Onto the weekend notebook. Let your thoughts flow freely, especially for those who can’t see Sunday’s 3 p.m. WVU-Rutgers game on TV. This weeknd’s notebook is sponsored by shirts-and-suits basketball.

Friday Feedback

February 20, 2009 by Mike Casazza

Welcome to the Friday Feedback, which suddenly realizes it’s going to be busy throughout March. Barring a brutal collapse, WVU is in the NCAA Tournament.

Thursday’s innovative win against Notre Dame wasn’t one that makes the resume looks good, but it wasn’t a loss that makes it look bad. WVU (18-8, 7-6 Big East) needed that game because it couldn’t afford to lose it. The big plus for the Mountaineers throughout this season is they haven’t lost to anyone they shouldn’t have — Kentucky and Davidson in nonconference play are acceptable losses (and believe they regret both deeply) as are UConn, Pitt twice, Louisville, Syracuse and Marquette in the Big East. Taking care of business in America’s best league isn’t a bad thing and WVU avoided one-trick-pony status by beating Providence and Villanova. 

Now, all of that said, there’s a lot left in the season. A three-game road trip — classic trap game against Rutgers, emotional showdown against Cincinnati and a who-knows-what game against South Florida – this late in the schedule is a lot to ask and things could go in a bunch of different directions. Back home, WVU gets DePaul, which could be winless in the league and the most desperate team in the country, before a big-time rematch against Louisville on ESPN with the College Gameday crew on hand. So, yeah, we’re late in the season, but we’ve got a lot left to see. Can’t wait.

Onto the Feedback. As always, comments appear as posted. In other words, you can’t take it back.

Alli said:

I hope we keep the 1-3-1 for these particular situations. I wonder if Huggs will now go over it more in practice after this game?

We thought and asked the same about the press WVU showed against St. John’s. Haven’t seen it since, but it’s there. The same probably goes for the 1-3-1. The twist here is Huggins wasn’t even thinking about it until he was watching tape of last year’s game against Notre Dame and saw the 1-3-1 was effective in one stretch. The Mountaineers then practiced it for 10 whole minutes Tuesday. I suppose the good thing is both are in the pocket, just in case, and WVU has already tested both with pretty good results. When things get tough again — and you know they will — it’s something to think about. By the way, it’s not a great idea to throw a random zone at WVU right now. Not with Ruoff shooting, Butler scoring and Ebanks and Jones rebounding. Playing three zone teams — Syracuse, Louisville and Providence — in a row had its benefits.  

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