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

Who’s enthused? Me neither

February 18, 2008 by Mike Casazza

Busy Sunday for Rich Rodriguez. First, he’s the main event on “Outside the Lines” (more on that in a bit) and then he makes his much-anticipated public debut at the Michigan-Ohio State men’s basketball game.

Remember, Jim Tressel used that stage brilliantly when he was introduced in 2000. Rich was, shall we say, not quite as committed.

Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez didn’t make any bold predictions or talk any trash Sunday at halftime of the men’s basketball game against Ohio State.

But he did make one promise to fans on the Crisler Arena floor when it came to the kind of football his team will play against the Buckeyes and every other opponent.

“When you come in the Big House, when the maize and blue come out of that tunnel, I guarantee you they will play hard and they will play physical,” said Rodriguez amidst cheers.

Maybe we shouldn’t have been surprised because WVU coaches who go to Michigan aren’t the best motivators. Maybe there’s something to this. The Mountaineers beat UCLA that day, despite the locker room let down, and the Wolverines won Sunday — and don’t look now, but Michigan suddenly gets it.

As for “OTL”…

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Nice work if you can get it

February 15, 2008 by Mike Casazza

West Virginia released the salaries for the assistant coaches on the football staff.

Friday Feedback

by Mike Casazza

Let’s begin with blatant self-promotion. ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” Sunday morning is devoted to Rodriguez v. West Virginia University and features some familiar names and faces. I doubt I’ll watch, but I fear that, um, fear will pull me toward the television. Second, I had what I thought was a pretty provocative conversation yesterday with Jeff Millar, who writes the Tank McNamara comic strip. Those frames have highlighted RR v. WVU all week. Millar had some intriguing insight on all sides of the drama.

He does, however, extend more blame to Rodriguez than to anyone else.

“It’s hard to feel any sympathy for Rodriguez since he got apparently what he wanted and now has a little minor matter of the amount of money to be negotiated with his former employer,” he said. “West Virginia, I guess, feels shafted to some degree, but do you really want someone coaching for you who would walk out on a contract? Walking out on a contract reveals a great deal about a person. It’s so strange that in the sports industry it can happen with such regularity.”

His sympathy for WVU fans comes with an addendum because he can’t understand the extreme emotions involved.

“I feel sorry for people who sit and stare at the wall and cry maybe because Rodriguez has left West Virginia,” he said. “At the same time it has to tell people that maybe your life priorities need to be examined. You get in a room by yourself and suck down six-packs and stare at the wall and get on ESPN message boards and rail obscenities at anything and anybody. What’s that life like? And that’s not in any way confined to West Virginia. It’s widespread.”

On to the Feedback. As always comments appear as posted.

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Meg Bulger may or may not make it rain

February 14, 2008 by Mike Casazza

You know what’s a good, if not oft told story? Meg Bulger playing and playing pretty well this season. Really, we’ve kind of written her off, what, three times now? There was the torn left ALC at Madison Square Garden Jan. 29, 2006, then a second tear of the same ligament in her rehabilitation that cost her all of last season.

Well, she’s back this season and putting up some really good numbers on a loaded team. The Mountaineers are 20-3, ranked No. 11 in the country, in a quasi-tie for first place in the Big East and take with them a nine-game winning streak into Saturday’s home game against DePaul.

Remember, too, that Bulger “tweaked” her knee against Marshall — I’m still waiting on an official definition of “tweaked” from the SID — and missed games against Gerogetown and Seton Hall. She’s played in the past two and had 14 points last night against Pitt. Bulger made 4 of 8 3-point shots and was accused afterward of raining down 3s upon the Panthers.

Always the bashful one, Bulger deflected praise.

“We’re riding high now so it’s fun and easy for me to come in and do well when the team is doing so well. They make it so much easier for me to come back and be able to play hard. If I need to shoot 3s, I shoot them. If I don’t one game, LaQuita (Owens) makes it rain — wait, did I just say that?”

Yes, yes you did. You’ll remember Pacman Jones (allegedly) made it rain about a year ago now in Las Vegas and got into a heap of trouble afterward. I happen to think Meg was referencing another example of people making it rain.

Welcome, Jeff Mullen. Now get to work!

by Mike Casazza

Getting to know Jeff Mullen, WVU’s new offensive coordinator, it’s clear he’s a competent guy with a list of ideas to make this thing work for the Mountaineers.

“I think you’ve got to be balanced,” he said. “You’ve got to run the football to win. I don’t think you can ever get away from being a physical, dominant offensive line that can run the football any time you want. I want the quarterback that can run and throw and I don’t ever want to ever get backed into a corner where you have to throw. I want to throw and I want to throw on my own terms. You don’t want to be forced into a corner when there are too many people in the box because all you can do is run. Then you’re just hurting the football team.”

(In case you’re wondering, yes, I found those last two sentences to be very interesting.)

Mullen is pretty excited about Pat White, Noel Devine, Jock Sanders, Brandon Hogan, Dorell Jalloh and an entire offensive line returning in tact. He’s meeting with White regularly and determining what the soon-to-be senior likes to do and would like to do in the offense. By spring ball, Mullen will hit the ground running … and throwing … and really wants to open the offense up and win games with some big numbers. 

Speaking of big numbers, which are attainable because there’s a lot of talent and productivity returning for WVU, consider this little nugget. Gone are running back Steve Slaton, fullback Owen Schmitt and receiver Darius Reynaud. Together those three combined for 9,170 yards of total offense and 93 touchdowns … in three years!

Ladies and gentlemen, can I please have your attention? I’ve just been handed an urgent and horrifying news story. I need all of you to stop what you’re doing and listen…

by Mike Casazza

Last night at the women’s basketball game, the YMCA Guy was spotted wearing a walking cast on his left foot. Sources tell me Ryan J. Boyd has a broken ankle. How this affects his role in tonight’s game against Rutgers — or, for that matter, how it affects the game in general — is not known. He was walking without crutches and appeared to be moving with promising ease, so let’s not rule him out just yet.

Now, before you dismiss me with disdain, please know I’m not joking around here. First, I think what he does is great for the Coliseum experience. Seriously, he gets people excited to do the YMCA. Look at that crowd! Second, and perhaps most important, is that I remember making a note late that one evening that for the first time in as long as I can remember, RJB did not dance in the loss to Cincinnati. You now how well that went.  

Get well soon, YMCA Guy…

Another Rodriguez-related Web site

February 13, 2008 by Mike Casazza

This one, though, is far more informative — and no less entertaining, to be fair — than that other one I first introduced yesterday. Take a look as the West Virginia University Sports & Entertainment Law Society presents: An examination of the issues surrounding the Rich Rodriguez legal saga.

This is an unreal resource. Comprehensive and delightfully digestible.

Oh, and in case you’re keeping score, it’s Tank McNamara 3, Rich Rodriguez 0. 

On death threats…

by Mike Casazza

Seems Monongalia County sheriffs, the state police and even the FBI are investigating death threats made to members of Rich Rodriguez’s family.  

When reached Tuesday, Monongalia County Sheriff Joseph C. Bartolo said his office is indeed investigating the situation.

“We’re now checking into it,” Bartolo said. “We’ve had information faxed to us by the [West Virginia] state police and FBI. I’m giving it to my investigative unit.”

Well, you’ll remember last month when Rodriguez’s mother told the Daily Mail her grandson had received death threatsin his high school. When when reached Monday, Dave Nuzum, principal at East Fairmont High, told me Rodriguez’s nephew had in fact received one “threatening” note in his locker after his uncle’s resignation. The note, however, “didn’t say anything about the coach,” Nuzum said.

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Tank McNamara fires away … again

February 12, 2008 by Mike Casazza

If you thought Monday’s Tank McNamara was interesting you should enjoy Tuesday’s strip.

Power of the people?

by Mike Casazza

Perhaps. If nothing else, it’s the power of the Web Rich Rodriguez has weaved. For a $50 donation, you get a sign and a T-shirt urging Rich to pay up, but more importantly a spot on the first line in the battle against the guy in the wizard hat selling snake oil.