• Sticks, Stones, and a Bird2May 22, 2013

    Sticks, Stones, and a Bird

    Entering spring practice Dana Holgorsen’s West Virginia University football team had more questions than answers. Coming out of those same...
  • WVU Football: An Annual Rivalry, Anyone?9May 16, 2013

    WVU Football: An Annual Rivalry, Anyone?

    Thanks again to Jeff for the contribution! —– On Tuesday, May 14, ESPN reported that the University of Pittsburgh and...
  • WVU Baseball Figures Out How to Travel0May 11, 2013

    WVU Baseball Figures Out How to Travel

    Thanks again to Jeff for submitting another article! —– When West Virginia University received, and accepted, an invitation for membership...

Geno Smith-Roc Nation relationship under scrutiny

By
Ern
Published: May 25, 2013

The NFL Players Association is investigating Roc Nation’s recruitment of New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith, according to union sources.

The union is planning to send a letter of inquiry to Roc Nation Sports agent Kim Miale to gather more information about Jay-Z’s involvement in courting Smith. The recently instituted “runner rule” prohibits agents from having colleagues or friends who aren’t NFLPA certified agents present for recruiting meetings.

Earlier this week, Smith’s adviser John Thornton, a former NFL defensive tackle, was quoted by CBS as saying “I was in those meetings, and Jay-Z connected with him on many levels.” Thornton later said he was misquoted.

Full Article at: nfl.com

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Rams updates: Austin takes handoffs

By
Ern
Published: May 25, 2013

Some quick observations after watching Friday’s Organized Team Activities workout at Rams Park in Earth City:

• Tavon Austin, chosen No. 8 overall in the recent NFL draft, took a few handoffs midway through practice. At West Virginia last fall, in addition to catching 114 passes for 1,289 yards and 12 touchdowns, Austin rushed 72 times for 643 yards and three scores.

With the Mountaineer backfield depleted by injury, he amassed a school-record 572 all-purpose yards against Oklahoma. He ran 21 times for 344 yards and two touchdowns, caught four passes for 82 yards and added 146 yards on eight kickoff returns.

Full Article at: stltoday.com

Why Tavon Austin Will Win The NFL Offensive Rookie Of The Year

10 years ago, a player with the skill set of Tavon Austin wouldn’t have enticed NFL general managers into using a first-round pick.

The NFL changed its rules to favor offense and the result is a pass-heavy league where once unattainable passing records like Dan Marino’s single-season mark of 5,084 yards are shattered.

The new pass-happy culture has given birth to a new position in the NFL: the joker. The joker laughs at silly position distinctions like flanker, slot receiver or running back. He can line up anywhere on the field and when he does, he creates matchup nightmares for opposing defenses. Percy Harvin is a joker, so is Randall Cobb, and Tavon Austin will be one.

Full Article at: rantsports.com

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WVU cashes in on TCU errors

By
Ern
Published: May 25, 2013

West Virginia kept its Big 12 tournament championship hopes alive Friday night and it didn’t even require another otherworldly performance by Harrison Musgrave.

Yes, Musgrave pitched well, throwing seven innings of five-hit ball with five strikeouts against TCU in his first start in 13 days.

But the Horned Frogs pitched in so much that Musgrave didn’t even need to be at his best.

Full Article at: The Charleston Gazette

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McCartney getting his second chance

By
Ern
Published: May 25, 2013

There is a familiar saying that carries much weight around the West Virginia University football program.

“If at first you don’t succeed …”

You know it, seen in action over and over. How many athletes have failed at first, only to be granted a second chance and made the most of it.

Full Article at: TimesWV

Also from TimesWV:
Chuck Howley greatest all-around WVU athlete

Chuck Howley’s greatest fame came in football at West Virginia University and then with the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.

However, making the Wheeling native even more distinguished is the fact he is the only five-sport letterman in WVU athletic history. Besides football, he competed in track and field, wrestling, gymnastics and swimming (as a diver).

Howley lettered in those sports way back there in 1955-56-57. He played football as a two-way guard and center on the gridiron.

Full Article at: TimesWV

Jarrod West treasures time with his family

It came along too late to do me any good, but today I want to offer a very warm thank you to Jarrod West, the one-time West Virginia University basketball hero.

Normally, when West is given thanks it is for the final second prayer of a shot that he hit in the second round of the 1998 NCAA Tournament that lifted the Mountaineers past Cincinnati and Kenyon Martin, a team coached by Bob Huggins that was revisited recently by ROOT Sports.

But, as dramatic and heroic as that moment was in WVU history, it was something West put on Facebook a week back that hit home and needs to be spread far further than it reached with just his followers.

Full Article at: TimesWV

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How the Mountaineers can advance

By
Ern
Published: May 25, 2013

Here is the two-part scenario necessary for West Virginia to win its pool Saturday and advance to the Big 12 Tournament championship game on Sunday:

♦ WVU must defeat Oklahoma State on Saturday at 5 p.m.

♦ TCU defeat Kansas in Saturday’s late game, scheduled to begin 30 minutes after the conclusion of WVU-Oklahoma State.

Full Article at: WVMetroNews

Also from WVMetroNews:
WVU buries error-prone TCU

Harrison Musgrave received plenty of help from the defense. TCU’s defense.

With the Horned Frogs committing a record nine errors that led to six unearned runs, West Virginia’s ace enjoyed ample cushion in a 10-3 victory at the Big 12 tournament Friday night. The Mountaineers (32-26) improved to 1-1 in pool play and still must defeat Oklahoma State on Saturday to have a chance at advancing to Sunday’s championship game.

Full Article at: WVMetroNews

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Musgrave, Errors Push Mountaineers Past TCU

By
Ern
Published: May 25, 2013

In its second game of pool play at the Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City, the West Virginia University baseball team trumped TCU, 10-3, as the Horned Frogs committed a Big 12 Championship record nine errors in the contest.

The nine errors broke the previous record of six held by Texas Tech versus Texas A&M (1998) and Texas A&M versus Texas (2004).

Big 12 Pitcher of the Year Harrison Musgrave, who took the mound for the first time since striking out a career-high 14 batters in a complete-game shutout of the Horned Frogs on May 11, allowed two runs on six hits in seven innings of work. The six hits were the most Musgrave has allowed since his April 19 start against Texas, when he also gave up six hits.

Full Article at: WVi

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‘I always thought the university was missing an opportunity’

By
Ern
Published: May 25, 2013

West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck has been on plenty of tours around the state. Now approaching his fourth year as AD, the former Mountaineer quarterback is used to fielding questions during the spring and summer months about the approaching football season and even a few about basketball.

But everywhere he turned Thursday when the WVU Coaches Caravan made a stop at The Resort at Glade Springs, he was being bombarded with questions about a sport that has traditionally been an afterthought in Morgantown — baseball.

Luck answered every one of them with a huge smile.

Full Article at: The Register-Herald

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Musgrave, Errors Push Mountaineers Past TCU

By
Ern
Published: May 25, 2013

In its second game of pool play at the Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City, the West Virginia University baseball team trumped TCU, 10-3, as the Horned Frogs committed a Big 12 Championship record nine errors in the contest.

The nine errors broke the previous record of six held by Texas Tech versus Texas A&M (1998) and Texas A&M versus Texas (2004).

“They didn’t play a great game, but that doesn’t take anything away from the at bats we had against a really good pitcher,” coach Randy Mazey says. “I thought we went out there and battled against him pretty well. We went into it with a good game plan and the guys executed it.”

Full Article at: WVUSports

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WVU Faces TCU In Must-Win Game

By
John
Published: May 24, 2013

West Virginia University opened its inaugural appearance in the Big 12 tournament with a 7-2 loss to Kansas. In this pool-play format, another loss essentially eliminates the Mountaineers from any shot at advancing to the Big 12 Championship Game on Sunday.

Big 12 Pitcher of the Year Harrison Musgrave will get the start. He was the only pitcher on the staff to beat TCU during the regular season series a few weeks ago in Charleston.

In that start, Musgrave struck-out a career-high 14 batters and pitched a complete game shutout.

Musgrave is 5-0 with a 1.02 ERA in Big 12 games this season. The Mountaineers need a strong outing from him.

Full Article at: WVi

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Mountaineers lose opening game at Big 12 Championships

By
John
Published: May 24, 2013

West Virginia’s first-ever appearance in the Big 12 baseball championships got off to a rocky start Thursday. The third-seeded Mountaineers fell behind in the top of the first and never recovered, losing 7-2 to the sixthseeded Kansas Jayhawks at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City.

The loss puts WVU at 0-1 in Pool 2 play. The Mountaineers will face seventhseeded TCU today at 5 p.m. and second-seeded Oklahoma State on Saturday at the same time.

The best record from WVU’s four-team pool, which includes all of the aforementioned teams, will advance to Sunday’s championship against the Pool 1 winner.

Oklahoma defeated Baylor 2-0 and top-seeded Kansas State edged Texas Tech 4-3 in Thursday’s early Pool 1 action.

West Virginia (31-26) fell behind 2-0 in the top of the first. The score was tied at 0-0 for the first two batters of the game, but then Kansas led for the duration of the game.

Full Article at: Charleston Daily Mail

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Jets QB drama: Unnamed player bashes Sanchez

By
Shane
Published: May 24, 2013

The New York Jets’ QB drama continues to churn out the stories. And we’re in May.

After Mark Sanchez threw three interceptions on 11 passes during the team’s workout on Wednesday, it didn’t take long for the “Sack Sanchez” campaign to start.

An unnamed player told CBSSports.com’s Mike Freeman: “Everyone on the team likes Mark personally, but there’s a general feeling among some of the players that maybe it’s time to give someone else a chance.”

Full Article at: Sporting News

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Howley greatest all-around WVU athlete

By
Shane
Published: May 24, 2013

Chuck Howley’s greatest fame came in football at West Virginia University and then with the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.

However, making the Wheeling native even more distinguished is the fact he is the only five-sport letterman in WVU athletic history. Besides football, he competed in track and field, wrestling, gymnastics and swimming (as a diver).

Howley lettered in those sports way back there in 1955-56-57. He played football as a two-way guard and center on the gridiron.

But Howley excelled as a linebacker during his 12 years with the Dallas Cowboys. He still lives and owns a ranch in that city.

Full Article at: BDT Online

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WVU stumbles in Big 12

By
Shane
Published: May 24, 2013

Sixth-seeded Kansas welcomed No. 3 seed West Virginia to the Big 12 Championship with a 7-2 victory over the Mountaineers on Thursday night in front of a crowd of 3,766 fans at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

Kansas, unhappy with getting swept in Beckley by the Mountaineers during the regular season, put up three multi-run innings which caused mayhem for the WVU pitchers. The Jayhawks had four players with multi-hit games and 12 hits total.

Kansas right-handed pitcher Thomas Taylor got the win by giving up just two runs while throwing four-hit ball and striking out four over 7.1 innings pitched. Taylor retired 18 straight batters between the second and eighth innings.

Full Article at: Herald-Dispatch

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Kansas tops WVU 7-2 in Big 12 baseball tournament

By
Shane
Published: May 24, 2013

West Virginia was let down by just about every facet of its game Thursday night and lost its opener in the Big 12 baseball tournament to sixth-seeded Kansas 7-2.

Mountaineer pitchers gave up 12 hits, the hitters managed just seven and the defense committed three errors. It all added up to a lopsided loss to a team WVU had beaten three times in one-run games during the regular season.

The loss comes after West Virginia’s coaches and players had spent much of the three previous days trying to help tornado victims in the Oklahoma City suburbs.

Full Article at: The Charleston Gazette

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WVU Baseball Returns Attention to Big 12 Tournament

By
John
Published: May 23, 2013

The West Virginia baseball team went to Oklahoma with a mission, but that mission soon changed.

On Thursday, the Mountaineers step out on the diamond to play a baseball game. For many of the players and coaches on the team, it will be the first time their attention has shifted back to that initial mission since they arrived in Oklahoma City.

With tornados tearing through the area and devastating Moore, Okla., WVU has been nationally recognized for its efforts to help bring items to the victims in the community. The work Coach Randy Mazey and his players have done has brought a lot of attention to a West Virginia team that has spent all season exceeding expectations on its way to this week’s Big 12 Tournament.

Mazey leads his No. 3 Mountaineers in a meeting with No. 6 Kansas Thursday at 4 p.m. CT in an effort to bring some sense of normalcy back to the area. The tournament’s format has changed from double elimination to a round robin, giving each team three guaranteed games before the winner of the two pools face off in Sunday’s championship.

Full Article at: WVi

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Bob Huggins holds one scholarship

By
John
Published: May 23, 2013

Whatever will he do with it? He told me Tuesday the Mountaineers are recruiting Daxter Miles. He, like Tavon, is a Poet and plays for former WVU guard Cyrus Jones.

He can also hop.

It would appear Huggins has addressed the need for shooters with Remi Dibo and Jonathan Holton, albeit in a most unusual way that might just become the new normal. They also make WVU bigger and probably a better rebounding team — and if not, Elijah Macon and Devin Williams will lend a hand there.

Full Article at: Charleston Daily Mail

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Jets QB Smith joins Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Sports

By
Shane
Published: May 23, 2013

New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith has signed with rapper Jay-Z’s athlete representation agency Roc Nation Sports.

The 22-year-old joins New York Yankees player Robinson Cano, New York Giants player Victor Cruz and Skylar Diggins of the WNBA’s Tulsa Shock on Roc Nation’s client roster.

Smith, who left his previous representatives, Select Sports Group, following the 2013 NFL Draft in April, will be represented at Roc Nation by Kim Miale, a certified contract advisor with the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA).

Sports Pro Media

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WVU baseball reports minor violation

By
Shane
Published: May 23, 2013

The West Virginia baseball team inadvertently exceeded the NCAA’s 56-game regular-season limit, a violation that dates back to an exhibition against Potomac State staged last October.

The school’s compliance staff reportedly notified the NCAA of the violation, which deputy athletics director Mike Parsons said “will have no effect on the Big 12 tournament” that starts Thursday in Oklahoma City. Nor would it impact the Mountaineers’ eligibility for an automatic NCAA bid should they win the tournament this weekend, Parsons said.

The worst-case fallout, Parsons surmised, would involve WVU being docked a game or two next season. He didn’t suspect the mistake could lead to more serious sanctions such as reduced scholarships or postseason bans.

Full Article at: WAJR

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Mountaineers to begin tourney play today

By
Shane
Published: May 23, 2013

The West Virginia University baseball team is set to begin play in its inaugural Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship today, as it takes on sixth-seeded Kansas at 5 p.m. at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in its first of three games in round-robin play.

The tournament, which originally slated to start on Wednesday, was pushed back a day due to the disastrous EF-5 tornado that ripped through Moore, Okla., on Monday afternoon.

Because of the delayed start, administrators chose to switch the format from a double-elimination bracket to pool, which will place seeds No.1, 4, 5 and 8 in one pool and seeds No. 2, 3, 6 and 7 in the second pool.

Full Article at: Inter Mountain

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Adverse situations challenge for Mountaineers

By
Shane
Published: May 23, 2013

The circumstances to precede West Virginia’s first Big 12 baseball tournament seem to have come together to conspire against the Mountaineers.

They had their longest losing streak – five games – near the end of the regular season. WVU went from first place on May 11 to a tie for third and the No. 3 seed in the league’s eight-team, pool play event that begins with today.

West Virginia opens with sixth-seeded Kansas at 5 p.m. (Root Sports).

WVU has been in Oklahoma for nine days, just one more road trip in a season that’s featured 20 total. This one is the most unique, though, and not simply because of the length.

Full Article at: Charleston Daily Mail

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Bob Huggins talks WVU basketball with Boy Scouts

By
Shane
Published: May 23, 2013

Bob Huggins was in Bridgeport on Tuesday evening to speak at the 22nd Annual Stonewall Jackson Friends of Scouting Leadership Dinner.

The dinner honors people who support the Boy Scouts of America and keeps them up-to-date on the program.

The West Virginia University men’s basketball coach said the Boy Scouts of America has a positive influence on boys’ lives.

“I think it’s a great organization. I think anything that keeps kids off the internet, and out doing something, being productive is a great thing. They certainly do that, they teach a lot of life skills,” said Huggins.

Huggins said that other than a few appearances, he’ll be taking it easy in the off season.

WOWKTV

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Rams rookies Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey have something to prove

By
John
Published: May 22, 2013

This is another busy offseason week for the St. Louis Rams. The team starts OTAs on Tuesday. For the new players, this year’s rookie class, this is just another action-packed week in a hectic span that’s been going on since January. But at least this week, the players have the coaches and veterans on hand as they dive deeper into the transition from college to the pros.

“Oh man, it’s is definitely crazy,” Tavon Austin told TST last week at the NFLPA Rookie Premiere in Los Angeles, “just to see how many different positions I have to learn. After you relax, you start picking it up, but it’s still kind of hard.”

To be exact, Austin has three positions to learn. The Rams have him working on the outside as well as anywhere and everywhere on the inside.

Full Article at: Turf Show Times

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How the hell do you stop Baylor? Part I: What are they doing?

By
John
Published: May 22, 2013

After a third consecutive bowl appearance in 2012, it has become very apparent in Waco and beyond that the savior of Baylor football was not Robert Griffin III, but head coach Art Briles.

Briles had come to Waco via Houston in 2008. From 2002-07, he had transformed Houston from a Conference USA creampuff into a multi-season league champion with an explosive spread offense that had produced standouts quarterbacks like Kevin Kolb and Case Keenum. From 1999-2001, Briles had learned the college game under spread offense patriarch Mike Leach as Leach’s running backs coach while adding his own contributions to the Texas Tech run game. This drastically improved the Tech attack.

Briles’ own history as a football coach goes back to the 80′s when he got started in Texas High School football, the hotbed of modern offensive creativity. Briles began as a Wishbone/Veer offense guru before embracing the possibilities of the spread passing game in the 90′s and transforming Stephenville HS into a Texas 4A state power.

These roots are essential to understanding how Briles has come to develop the concepts of his particular brand of the spread offense.

…

After struggling through Griffin’s freshman year and sophomore campaign, which was marred by a knee injury that put him on the bench, Baylor exploded into prominence in 2010 with a 7-6 record that included a win at struggling Texas. Then 2011 happened, and opposing coaches descended into Big 12 Hell, a world of burning sulfur, prodding demons, weekly shootouts, and a Baylor football program that could no longer be penciled in as a win, even for Bob Stoops.

Full Article at: Football Study Hall

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Musgrave named Big 12′s Pitcher of the Year

By
Shane
Published: May 22, 2013

Nine West Virginia University baseball players earned All-Big 12 recognition, while redshirt sophomore left-handed pitcher Harrison Musgrave was named the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year, the conference announced on Tuesday.

A graduate of Bridgeport High School, Musgrave is the third pitcher in WVU history to earn a major conference award. Previously, Chris Enochs (1997) was the Big East Pitcher of the Year and Steve Kline (1993) was the Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Year. The last major award winner for WVU was Jedd Gyorko in 2008, who was named the Big East Rookie of the Year.

He was named the Big 12 Pitcher of the Week on four occasions this season, as well as being the National Pitcher of the Week three times.

Full Article at: Exponent-Telegram

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West Virginia Mountaineers Basketball Attrition Continues As Keaton Miles Will Transfer

By
Shane
Published: May 22, 2013

After two years under coach Bob Huggins, WVillustrated reported that sophomore forward Keaton Miles will transfer from WVU. This comes at little surprise, following the recent departures of Jabarie Hinds, Volodymyr Gerun, and Aaron Brown. Miles’ season was turbulent and his playing time ranged significantly throughout the season, though he did play in all but three games. The Dallas, TX native has not yet specified which school he will be transferring to in the fall.

Miles’ departure leaves even more questions unanswered regarding the future of WVU hoops, and puts Huggins further under the microscope for his already staggering transfer rate. Of the original 2011 recruiting class, only Gary Browne remains, and the depth for seasoned talent has dwindled.

We wish Keaton Miles good luck wherever he may transfer to.

Smoking Musket

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Keaton Miles to Transfer from WVU

By
Shane
Published: May 22, 2013

Keaton Miles has been granted a release to leave West Virginia basketball and seek a new start at another program.

Miles, who just finished his sophomore year with the Mountaineers, is the fourth player to transfer from WVU since the disappointing 13-19 season came to a close. He says he made his decision after speaking with both the coaching staff and his family back home in Dallas, Texas.

“I went to [the coaches] and asked them about my role and they said that they wanted me to play defense and rebound and I feel as though I made strides from my freshman year to my sophomore year, but I really couldn’t display that for some reason,” said Miles.

Full Article at: WVi

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More WVU hoops scoops and a call for some common sense

By
Shane
Published: May 22, 2013

If you read this space regularly, you know there’s been intrigue surrounding next season’s WVU men’s basketball roster.

But on Tuesday some of that intrigue was erased as the cleansing from last season continues.

Around 6 p.m., forward Keaton Miles announced via Twitter he’ll be leaving the team.

“I Really Want To Thank WVU For All The Support & Love They Showed Me While I Was Here,” Miles tweeted. “Once A Mountaineer Always a Mountaineer. Love All.”

Full Article at: The Charleston Gazette

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« Do take a moment to congratulate Brad HillHuggins announces Miles exit

By
Shane
Published: May 22, 2013

Charleston Daily Mail

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West Virginia Baseball Team Goes on Shopping Spree to Support Tornado Victims

By
Shane
Published: May 22, 2013

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WVU baseball squad shows class in midst of tragedy

By
Shane
Published: May 21, 2013

The scenes have been gruesome, devastation everywhere, words flowing from the mouths of reporters that are as difficult to comprehend as are the images on the eyes.

The Oklahoma City area has been flattened by tornadoes, spinning funnels of death two miles wide reaching into the sky. It’s removing whatever it is that is in its path, be it a stable filled with horses or a schoolhouse filled with children, innocent and frightened, trapped in the debris with heroic teachers laying atop the little ones, putting their own lives at risk for those lives of the children.

This, of course, is in Oklahoma, “Tornado Alley”, as it were. It is another world from our own in West Virginia, except that the reshaping of the world of collegiate sports has somehow placed the Mountaineer baseball team, which has had a tornado of a season of its own this year, in the midst of this disaster.

Full Article at: Exponent-Telegram

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