West Virginia Mountaineers Articles
My dear blogging and podcasting friend 'Eer is an admitted sucker for football films and was looking forward to "The Express," the story of Syracuse Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis.
He may not be so excited after reading this.
Turns out the movie portrays a WVU crowd hurling racial slurs at Davis during a 1959 trip to Morgantown.
One minor problem, Syracuse didn't play in Morgantown at 1959. They played in Morgantown in 1960 in front of 20,000 people in a blowout. None of the players for either team recall the crowd being racially-charged.
That's okay, nobody bought that whole JFK killed by a massive CIA conspiracy thing either thanks to Oliver Stone.
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For some reason, a logo makes it seem that much more legitimate. Blame corporate America (which is having its own issues these days), but Phil and I just felt we needed to brand our little podcast/blog venture with our very own logo.
Phil and I are creative, but not artistic. So we must thank our very good friend Ryan for designing our new An 'Eye and an 'Eer logo (and at no charge). I guess I can take him to lunch one day and expense it to all the money we are making doing this.
But we are pleased to have a new identity and we are using here and on our podcast. We may even do T-shirts soon (OK, I'll give Ryan a cut of that). So we hope you like what you see and you keep checking out the weekly podcast and the blog.
If you like this, you should check out Ryan's podcast at www.brothersin3-z.com. Ryan and his two younger brothers talk about all kinds of sports. It's because of the fun they have and their success that Phil and I are doing our podcast.
PS: If anyone has had trouble getting our podcast this week, I have asked the tech guys at Podomatic to look into it and I think they are. They did have some technical issues this past week. However, to make life easier in the future just check is out at iTunes and subscribe so you won't miss a single episode. no comments
What's going on in Morgantown these days is straight from a Coen Brothers' movie. Starring as the clueless, but always smiling football coach Simple Bill Stewart. Co-starring as the brain-dead boss One-step-out-the-door Eddie Pastilong.
Anyone who wants to blame Simple Bill for the disaster taking place at WVU is just looking at the surface. The real problem is Eddie.
Blame him for the emotional, late-night hire of Stewart following the Mountaineers Fiesta Bowl victory in January.
Blame him for not being smart enough to realize that WVU had become big-time football and could attract a much-more talented stable of potential coaches (no that doesn't include Terry Bowden).
Blame him for caving to the pressure of the players and probably from Gov. Manchin.
Because WVU officials allowed him to remain in Morgantown for about 20 years longer than he should have no one should be surprised by the story in today's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. At least the PG doesn't cow tow to WVU and they go after stories. Read this and you'll see a lot of good ol' Mountaineers aren't too happy.
One thing is crystal clear about Stewart and Pastilong: "You two're just dumber'n a bag of hammers."
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Very good win for Colorado. I still don't think the Buffs are going to be consistent enough to do much in the Big 12, but one upset and you're in the thick of it in the Big 12 North.
Wow has WVU been bad on short yardage tonight. They lined up in the I finally, but still looked confused. Going for the FG is the right call here. WOW and it's off the upright. Devastating blow to WVU. Should have been up 7 and are now in trouble.
Going to OT. Neither team was particularly impressive on their final drive. WVU's clock management was a head scratcher.
- 7:59 Potentially huge turn as WVU blows the wipe open WR pass, when the WR (third-string QB) chucks a duck about 10 yards short. That's just unlucky. I'm sure that kid has made that throw 20 times in practice. Follow that up with a chop block and WVU's back to midfield. WVU gets backed up too far and has to punt. Does anybody else think WVU gives away their playcall with their line splits? Maybe it's my imagination.
Is Craig James, um, mentally disabled? Between him laughing and Jesse Palmer going "Woooo! Wooot! Woo!" Chris Fowler must be going insane.
- 4:49 3rd quarter: Great run by White to tie it at 14-14. If WVU can mount any kind of passing threat, man they're going to be difficult to stop. How screwed was that safety at about the 15-yard line? He was in no man's land with White.
- 9:33 3rd quarter: nice job by WVU to keep the Buffs pinned and get good field position. Looks like WVU could tie it up here. wow. never mind. stopped on 4th and 1. Who taught pat White how to run the sneak? Get your butt down and drive!
- If you had asked before the game, who will be the best vastly undersized, incredibly quick running back on the field, of course you would have answered Noel Devine. Instead, it's been Colorado freshman Rodney Stewart. A native of scenic Columbus, Ohio, where he played at City League power Brookhaven. Stewart's got 75 yards on about 12 carries and is outplaying last year's recruiting ranking sensation and fellow freshman Durel Scott. Scott was the top-ranked back in the country. Stewart couldn't get offers from anybody. but this is why little backs are so great in the spread. In the I-formation, most defenders know approximately where a back is headed. in the spread, a real short guy can be hard to find.
Well, live second half blogging as I just got home.
From what I saw in the second quarter, looks like the Buffs have moved the ball pretty easily while WVU is killing itself with drops and penalties. no comments
I will not drink the Kool-Aid.
I will not drink the Kool-Aid.
I will not drink the Kool-Aid.
WVU ... why do I believe each year?
Miami is gaining confidence. Tim Tebow doesn't like the pressure. This game could get real interesting. no comments
Pitt fans none too pleased: I have defended Dave Wannstedt in the past. Thought he was pushed out of Chicago and that given more time he could have been successful in Miami. Maybe I was wrong. He allegedly gets great recruits every year and then loses too many games. Adam Littman of The Pitt News says Panther fans are running out of patience also.
When your team sucks … You talk about former great players who have returned to the sidelines. Hello Syracuse’s Dan Conley.
USF plays final game against UCF: Joe Rienzi, Sports Editor at The Oracle, says South Florida’s players are going to miss beating up on Central Florida. The two schools, despite their campuses being within 100 miles of each other, are not scheduled to play again in the foreseeable future. The 17th-ranked Bulls and Golden Knights play at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Empty seats: Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium could be empty on Saturday when Louisville takes on Tennessee Tech. According to The Louisville Cardinal, students aren’t too excited about this week’s game. Especially after the embarrassing loss to Kentucky. Click here for Ashlea Hellman’s story.
No underestimating the Pirates: West Virginia’s folksy football coach Bill Stewart said his Mounties won’t be caught off guard by Lou Holtz’ boy and his East Carolina squad, according to Brian Gawthrop, Associate Sports Editor of the Daily Anthenaeum in Morgantown. To read more click here.
Rutgers 'O' fails to live up to lofty expectations: Mike Vorkunov, Associate Sports Editor at the Daily Targum, expresses a touch of frustration after watching the Scarlett Knights manage just seven points against Fresno State. To read more click here.
No hometown love in Connecticut: Let’s see if I have this right. There are Blue Chip football recruits in Connecticut and they prefer playing for Urban Meyer at Florida instead of Randy Edsall at UConn. Hey, UConn … have you ever seen all the hot chicks in Gainesville? Someone needs to tell Kevin Duffy of The Daily Campus. Read more
Mauk’s hopes postponed: I feel bad for Ben Mauk and his desire to play football one more year at Cincinnati. But few folks get the better of the archaic NCAA. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer his hearing has been postponed.
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All of the college football experts are ripping on the ACC (and I usually do the same). However, after Rutgers' 24-7 loss to Fresno State Monday the Big East isn't looking too strong this season.
Sure, most of you will say the conference has never been that good. But not true. WVU, South Florida, Rutgers, Louisville, Cincinnati (and even UConn) have been solid, competitive teams. Heck, the Big East has won three consecutive BCS bowl games.
But this weekend exposed the Big East as being very top heavy. WVU and USF may be all the conference has in 2008.
Even more embarrassing was the offensive performance of Louisville against in-state rival Kentucky on Sunday. Hunter Cantwell is supposed to be a future NFL quarterback. For who? Columbus Destroyers?
Pitt is Pitt. Dave Wannstedt is Dave Wannstedt. I wasn't that shocked that the Panthers were dumped by Bowling Green. I won't be surprised when they lose to Turner Gill's Buffalo Bulls this week.
Syracuse is supposed to suck, so losing at Northwestern wasn't a shock. However, the Orange actually had their opportunities. It's almost like they want to lose so the Greg Robinson experiment can just come to an end.
If WVU or South Florida can run the table or only lose one game, the conference will be cut some slack. But the Mountaineers could get bumped by a very interesting East Carolina squad this Saturday. Bill Stewart's squad must also travel to Colorado and host Auburn this fall. Three or four losses are a real possibility.
