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

Did not see that one coming

September 16, 2008 by Mike Casazza

Aaric Murray, one of the top center prospects in the nation and the name atop Bob Huggins’ wish list for 2009 recruiting, picked LaSalle.

Here’s a major surprise in the city of Philadelphia. We hear 6-10 Aaric Murray from Glen Mills, Pa. Academy is committing to La Salle, choosing the Explorers over Big 5 rivals St. Joseph’s, Temple and Villanova and West Virginia. Murray is one of the top five post prospects on the East Coast.

Wow.

Coach Huggins, Roscoe Davis is on line three.

Stop me if you’ve heard this before

September 15, 2008 by Mike Casazza

Reed Williams will play Thursday.

McAfee: mathematist, scientician

by Mike Casazza

There are multiple reasons to think WVU will be all right, beginning with the most obvious, most repeated beliefs that it’s early in the season, young players will develop, the offense will find what it’s good at and the defense will blossom with experience. I tend to agree with all of that, but I happen to believe the Mountaineers just won’t get too down. First, they’ve been down before and one loss is not as bad as some of the things they’ve been through. Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, there are some very strong, very influential personalities in that locker room. 

Like Pat McAfee: 

You offer the first straight line, asking the senior who seems as if he’s from Mars but instead is from nearby Plum, Pa., if he’s thought about the affect the altitude in Boulder, Colo., will have on his punting and kicking.

“I’ve done some scientific experiments in the altitude room we have downstairs here at the Puskar Center,” he answered without so much as blinking an eye or waiting to think about it.

“I had the compass out, matched that up with their stadium. It actually runs from northeast to southwest. I did the math and I figured the ball should travel seven and one-half to eight yards farther in the high altitude there.”

Are you talking about punting or field goal kicking?

“I’m not a mathematist or scientician, but that’s what I think will happen. I’m talking about all phases,” McAfee said, keeping a straight face.

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.

– Hey, it only took nine months and nine days this time!

- Seven games, nine goals, 4-1-2 record for women’s soccer.  

– Yeah, that’s the Trickett.

- All the players said last week was a great week of practice and people must’ve been listening — the Mountaineers went up in both polls. 

– Do the Dews! (Actually, don’t.)

Like tight end Carson Butler being thrown out of the game for unsportsmanlike conduct or Michigan assistant coach Tony Dews getting into a verbal confrontation with a fan en route to the team bus.  

“You’re a Division I coach, act like it,” the 20-something fan shouted at Dews.

Indeed, but Dews only shouted back, seemingly insistent on getting the last word in.

Friday Feedback

September 12, 2008 by Mike Casazza

Welcome to Friday Feedback, live today from the ledge so many people wandered out onto Saturday night. Looks empty out here now, which is good. It’s been a long week for the players and the coaches and it’ll be a long time until they get their first shot at redemption Thursday night. That said, the attitude appears to be pretty good — or about as good as you could expect. The offensive line was humbled, but a little angry. Brandon Hogan was eager to prove he’s better than he’s played. Everyone on defense said they’ve never practiced better than they have this week.

I guess you’d expect them to say all of that, but you didn’t expect what happened Saturday, did you? They accepted everything and made no excuses. Call it encouraging, a small victory, the first of many needed to get this thing back on track.

Onto the Feedback. As always, comments appear as posted. In other words, you need a little Pat Lazear in you.

“I screwed up,” the sophomore from Bethesda, Md., said. “We all screw up every day. It’s all about coming back the next day and screwing up less.”

Yes! 

philip said:

sobering. unfortunately, the test to see how we respond requires high altitude baking instructions.

(Insert “rise up” or “end up flat” or “deflating” quips here)

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Back to basics

September 11, 2008 by Mike Casazza

Bill Stewart:

“We have to be a little more free-wheeling on offense,” Stewart said. “Every series can’t be crucial and we can’t be calling every play like it’s crucial. We can’t be too tight. Just play. Don’t panic.”

Steve Slaton made a HUGE mistake

by Mike Casazza

… and by HUGE I mean the total opposite. Not long after he was drafted by the Texans in April, the text messages began:

“Slaton starts in week 3? Or sooner?”

It wasn’t a tout of his talent, but a doubt of Ahman Green’s durability. And wouldn’t you know it, Green is hurt.

With Ahman Green sidelined, Steve Slaton is preparing to make the first start of his career. The rookie running back finished the opener against Pittsburgh with 13 carries for 43 yards.

Chris Taylor also will shoulder some of the load. Coach Gary Kubiak plans to play both of them. Taylor hasn’t seen action in a regular-season NFL game since the 2006 finale.

“They are both young players; they are both going to play,” Kubiak said. “It’s not like one of them is going to take all of the load, so I’m counting on both of them.”

Meanwhile, Darius Reynaud, who proabably did make a mistake, was last seen impersonating Dwight Freeney, which is exactly what he planned. And by exactly, I mean the total opposite.

Double duty

by Mike Casazza

I don’t want to alarm you, but Avon Cobourne is doing work in the CFL and has a chance to make history in the league north of the border … so long as his ankle complies.

The Big East’s all-time leading rusher is with the Montreal Alouettes, where he’s played the past few seasons in curious anonymity, and has a chance to do something only two other professional football players have ever done — 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in one season.

“Now that it’s in jeopardy, now that the games are ticking off, it seems to mean more to me,” he admitted before being told not to be at the airport for the flight west. “I didn’t ever worry about the rushing title. Not with our O-line. Not with the way we were playing offensively.

“My dream is the Grey Cup.

“But The Double . . . nobody’s ever done that in the CFL before” (San Francisco’s Roger Craig and Marshall Faulk of the St. Louis Rams accomplished it south of the border).

“I didn’t even realize that until the media brought it up, looking for a story.

“Now I see it as a challenge.”

Understand, this Avon isn’t peddling cosmetics or bath essence. He sells sizzle.

“How good is he?” Ten-year Alouette offensive lineman Scott Flory considered the question a moment. “The way he sees the field, his feel for the game, his football sense, is second to none for a skill-position player in my experience in this league.

“He’s quick, decisive. Can catch the ball, obviously. Good blocker. A complete back.

“He’s one of those guys that as an O-lineman you appreciate, because he understands how blocking works. You give him a sliver, a crease, a seam and he’s through it. Every time he touches the ball could be a touchdown. Literally.”

Help from Lou Holtz, George Lopez

by Mike Casazza

Bill Stewart made it in and out of the Regatta Bar and Grill safely last night and bravely subjected himself to two hours or calls and commentary mostly about the ECU loss … even though it’s in the past. It was an anticipated edition of the Statewide Sportsline because a lot of people were looking forward to the coach handling and addressing critiques and concerns. But it seems there were Internet streaming problems that left many people unable to listen on their computers. Fortunately for them, one person actually listened to and recounted the show for a message board (it gets “good” a few pages in). Highlights:

caller: looked like we didn’t have any passion.
stew: i disagree about not having any passion. when things aren’t clicking…. last year’s fb is now in seattle. last year’s rb is now in houston, last year’s wr is now in minn. not going to have nay saying get us down. what people say about bill stewart is a-ok. i have a strong back. i don’t even know how to get on the internet. the internet has no affect on what we do at west virginia university. i don’t answer to people on the internet. bring it on. just leave the players alone.

coach stew sought advice from lou holtz this week

Stew ran in Colorado 20 miles a week 50 weeks a year for 4 yrs when he was 38 yrs old and he didn’t need oxygen, so NO OXYGEN! Lou Holtz agrees!

“Why would anyone go home and get on message boards?” says Stew, “I watch George Lopez with my son” pp. Wow! We’re all a bunch of losers!

caller #19: watched game 3 times. seemed like lots of bad calls. … caller asked a question on those lines but missed it.

stew: fumble was rough, but officials told me “don’t waste your timeout”. the pass interference, ugh. the worst was the spotting of the ball (referencing the 4th down conversation ecu got).

caller #20: how’s the coaching staff gelling?
stew: we have greatest coaching staff in america. i really mean it.

tony: 221 years of college coaching experience. 89 bowl games. … more stats… “we have a seasoned, seasoned staff. to me, it doesn’t even enter into the thought process of… to me, it’s comforting to know we have this experience.”

stew: we’re not in a panic mode. we just need a little time. we’re in this for the long haul. we’re building a program.

Hip, hip, hoor — oh, crap!

September 10, 2008 by Mike Casazza

Funny how a weekend of college football that had so many pundits bummed out and asking for more instead generated a lot of discussion. It only begins with the rise of ECU, the fall of WVU, the scare for Ohio State, the sadness of Notre Dame, the re-up at the U, and, of course, celebrations.

Kids go wild at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. Players go … mild at Washington.  The same problem couldn’t have generated more different reactions.

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