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

That explains the train whistle

October 1, 2008 by Mike Casazza

More than once, we’ve discussed the in-stadium environment at Mountaineer Field and if or how the new scoreboard, ribbon boards and audio system can affect the game. Really, what’s the point unless there’s a purpose and an impact.

Well, it seems the madness has delivered the desired result and the combination of sounds pumping through the speakers has rattled one opponent, according to Marshall Coach Mark Snyder.

On the music that played over the Mountaineer Field sound system Saturday and its impact on the game: What I thought was interesting last week was the loud music being played on the field all of the way up to the time the ball was snapped. You couldn’t hear yourself think. You couldn’t concentrate. You couldn’t communicate. I thought that was more devastating than the crowd noise, even though I thought their crowd did a great job. That noise went all of the way up until the ball was snapped. I guess it’s legal because they did it. What a great idea. Constantly. You can’t hear yourself talk. Yes, I guess that’s my point. You asked a question. I’m going to answer your question. I didn’t bring it up. You did. Yes, I would (like to do it here). It sure is (a great idea). I agree. 

Do not anger Jourdan Brooks

by Mike Casazza

Here’s an obvious explanation for some of Rutgers’ trouble this season: Ray Rice is in the NFL. Not only that, but the guy everyone thought would start this year and actually had 94 yards and a touchdown in the first game of the season hasn’t played since and probably won’t be back this year. Now the Knights are using a reserve and asking him to run behind a line that lost three starters and is still coming together. But let’s not underestimate Jourdan Brooks and his prep achievements.

WVU Coach Bill Stewart certainly isn’t.

“Don’t think Brooks isn’t up there reading and saying, ‘OK, they’re saying I’m not Ray Rice.’ That’s why I try to be very careful with what comes out of my mouth. I’m trying to be very articulate. I don’t want any bulletin board material: ‘Oh, Stewart said –.’ No. Not uh. That kid’s a college football player. He’s good.”

Once upon a time up in Jersey, yo!

by Mike Casazza

(Apologies for the formatting error earlier. Can’t explain that one.) 

The Sopranos may be over, but New Jersey continues to give WVU more than Redman blaring from the dorms at Boreman, lines at the tanning beds and shortages of Jagermeister (I kid because I care!). Brendan Prunty from the Newark Star-Ledger reached out this week to exchange Q&As for Saturday’s game. Check out the NS-L’s very good Rutgers blog as well as the West Virginia side to the story. (Holy crap, we need to change that picture. The scar on my chin is the size of Lizemore!)

Brendan’s interesting take on Mike Teel and a pretty fair and honest review of the future of Greg Schiano and the Rutgers program follows the jump.

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Reed between the lines

September 30, 2008 by Mike Casazza

Ever had to break bad news to someone and opted to bury the lead? I mean, you call home and say, “Hey, mom, I got that promotion at work and an extra week of vacation, should be home in plenty of time for Christmas, found that jersey dad wanted, sent granny a birthday card, met a girl I really think everyone will like and, oh, I backed over the mail box and tore the bumper your the station wagon.”

Well, Tuesday afternoon Bill Stewart was nearing the end of his press conference in which he reviewed the Marshall game, praised Rutgers, updated injuries to Pat Liebig and Jim Lewis and talked about what remains to be seen from the Jarrett Brown package — we need to name that — when an inquiring mind wondered how Reed Williams was doing two games into his recovery.

“Well, he’s questionable.”

Come again?

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Piling on

by Mike Casazza

I was going to weave together some sort of post about what happens in those battles to recover a fumble. Seemed like an interesting topic with unique perspectives.

“Everything you can think of,” said WVU Coach Bill Stewart, a linebacker in his playing days, “I’ve done it and had it done to me.”

Perhaps that’s why when Scooter Berry recovered a fumble against Colorado and Doug Slavonic grabbed one against Marshall, they tried their hardest to get to their feet and give the ball to the referee. They’re defensive linemen and spend enough time under a half-ton or ton of teammates and opponents.

“You want to get out of there as fast as you can,” linebacker Mortty Ivy said. “You don’t want to get caught under all those people putting their hands in your face and grabbing your throat. People will do anything to get you to let go of that ball.”

But the first comment at the end of the story seems like the bigger deal to me:

Sounds like a game of Twister with my sisters…..

Of course it was anonymous!

14 years!

by Mike Casazza

WVU has had some down years and below-the-standard teams since getting close to the national championship in the 1993 season … and still couldn’t lose to Rutgers.

West Virginia coach Bill Stewart said Monday that he won’t mention the history – the Mountaineers hold a 29-4-2 advantage in the series – between the schools with his players. Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said there’s no need to on his end, especially the part about the Morgantown futility.

“No, because to these kids, the majority have played there only once and some never,” he said. “Again, last week really doesn’t have an effect on this week. So last year, seven years, however long that streak is, 15 years, it really doesn’t have an effect in my mind.”

But it’s there and it’s not going anywhere until the Knights do something about it. They have been trying to ever since the school’s first trip to West Virginia in 1920.

“The odds have to turn sometime,” senior defensive tackle Pete Tverdov said. “I haven’t been a part of 12 or 13 of those games, so it has nothing to do with me. The ones I have been a part of, except for last year (a 31-3 home loss), they’ve been close games.”

Part of the struggle is that Rutgers was awful for many years and that this quasi-resurgence coincided with a pretty nice run for the Mountaineers. As it is, WVU is 15-0 all-time at home against the Scarlet Knights heading into Saturday’s game and a 14-point favorite to push the streak to 15 years and 16 wins at home.

Rutgers: No comment

September 29, 2008 by Mike Casazza

Interested in the state of affairs at Saturday’s opponent, Rutgers? Me too … and the curiosity will linger. This from the sports information staff in response to an interview request.

Sorry, none of our players are available this week to out-of-town media.

Mazzulla, Thoroughma take pleas

by Mike Casazza

… and have charges withdrawn by the prosecution. Legal give-and-take … and you can be certain Mazzulla did not try to punch a cop.

3rd-down frowns now upside down

by Mike Casazza

WVU ran 11 more plays and had the ball about 10 more minutes Saturday than it’d been averaging the first three games and the explanation is pretty simple — 8-for-13 on third down. That’s five more wins in the same number of attempts than the Mountaineers had against Colorado and the solution was to add space to the formations.

“We changed our personnel a little bit, but basically ran the same plays,” Mullen said. “We weren’t bunched up as much because we ran different sets and spread it out a little bit.”

WVU went away from plays that started under center or with extra linemen and/or tight ends.

“We still have it,” Mullen said. “We repped it and had it in the game plan. We just chose not to use it today.”

Remember that failed QB sneak against Colorado? So did the Mountaineers. Jarrett Brown single-winged it on a few third downs when he simply took a snap and strode through the defense. Easy enough.

Brown’s bigger than White and obviously better suited to handle those runs, especially if there are a few of them during a game, but it’s not solely a third-down set and WVU must accept different results. Brown is the thunder to White’s is lightning and the defenses will accept five yards over 50.

Asked after Saturday’s loss whether he’d rather see White or Brown with the ball against the Herd defense, Coach Mark Snyder said, “Running? … I’d rather see (Brown) with the ball. Yes, I don’t think there’s any question about that.”

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.

– Just as you feared, WVU was booed by the home crowd.

– Bill Stewart has a two-game hitting streak: Reed Williams plays against Colorado and Jarrett Brown plays … I don’t know what the label is, but Eric Dickerson? Really? (P.S. Josh, Pat played two snaps at WR!)

– When 38-0 isn’t all that good.

– Rutgers will have maybe its two best offensive players back off suspension for Saturday’s game.

– Eight!