WVU Pressbox

WVU Sports News and Information

Mount Carmel Area’s Trevor Demko picks West Virginia

Posted by Ern on July 2, 2009 | No Comments

Mount Carmel Area defensive end Trevor Demko, who will be a senior this season, has made a verbal committment to accept a football scholarship to the University of West Virginia.

Demko, 6-6 and 225 pounds, visited Pitt and West Virginia last weekend and made his decision early this week, according to Mount Carmel Area head football coach Bob Chesney, who was Demko’s defensive coordinator the past two seasons under former head coach Mike Brennan.

Demko had 70 tackles last season, including nine sacks, one for a safety. In addition, he recovered two fumbles, one of which he returned for a touchdown.

Full Article at: newsitem.com

Category: Football, Recruiting

BIG EAST Announces 2009-10 Men’s Basketball Schedule Matchups

Posted by Ern on July 2, 2009 | No Comments

We get Pitt, Villanova & Seton Hall twice. I love it! I want to play the best two times - no cream puffs. Let’s prove that we are the best in the Big East by beating the best. It also helps the RPI.

The BIG EAST Conference has announced the league opponents and game sites for its men’s basketball teams for the 2009-10 season.

In 2009-10, the BIG EAST will play an 18-game conference schedule, allowing teams to face 12 opponents once and three opponents twice. It will mark the third year of the 18-game schedule, which began for the 2007-08 season. All 144 regular-season conference games will again be televised, either by CBS Sports, the ESPN family of networks or ESPN Regional Television.

Full Article at: BigEast.org

Category: Basketball, Big East

Big East launches Twitter, Facebook pages

Posted by Ern on July 2, 2009 | 3 Comments

Is there anyone in the world left who’s not on Facebook or Twitter? I think even my dog has a page on both.

Well, for you Big East fans, now you can follow league events and news on those two social networking sites.

The league announced the official launch of its own Facebook page and several Twitter accounts this afternoon. The sites will include breaking news, video, photos and more.

Full Article at: ESPN

Category: Basketball, Big East, Football

Mount Vernon’s Palmer picks West Virginia

Posted by Ern on July 2, 2009 | No Comments

No matter how many schools lined up to fetch her basketball services, Taylor Palmer decided her final decision could wait. The summer would be long and the choices would vary, she thought, so why not see it through first?

The plan was a good one, but so was what West Virginia had to offer a month ago.

“I didn’t know what to expect,” Palmer said. “When I went out there, it went beyond my imagination.”

Full Article at: lohud.com

Category: Basketball, Recruiting

One of Huggins’ own in Beckley

Posted by Ern on July 2, 2009 | No Comments

Rodney Crawford, hired Wednesday as the new basketball coach at Mountain State Academy, remembers it like it was yesterday, though it’s now going on a decade ago.

Likely, he’ll never forget it.

He was playing for Cincinnati, under legendary Bearcats — and now West Virginia — coach Bob Huggins.

Full Article at: The Register-Herald

Category: Basketball

Big deal my foot

Posted by Ern on July 2, 2009 | No Comments

Odds and ends and a few things I think I think:

# Let’s be honest about this Eugene Smith broken foot thing. If it’s a big deal then West Virginia’s football team is in a whole mess of trouble.

But it’s not a big deal.

Oh sure, you’d like to have a guy who stands to compete for your backup quarterback job to be able to do more than, well, stand in the two months leading up to the season. But we are, after all, talking about a backup quarterback. If he’s anything else this season then it means Jarrett Brown is either hurt or struggling, in which case that whole-mess-of-trouble thing rears its ugly head

Full Article at: The Charleston Gazette

Category: Football

Big East hoops field may change

Posted by Shane on July 2, 2009 | No Comments

Well, the 16-team format for the Big East Conference men’s basketball tournament seems primed for change after only one season.

Real shocker, huh? Well, it’s not what you think.

It’s not the first potential move by new Commissioner John Marinatto, whose first day in charge in the Providence, R.I., office succeeding conference “lifer” Mike Tranghese was Wednesday.

Nor is there any suggestion of going to back to a 12-team field and leaving the bottom four home from the Madison Square Garden party.

That, in this press row veteran’s opinion, would have been the best move.

No, this tweak for a five-day tournament is a suggestion from the coaches. If approved - and the Big East university presidents will likely yea or nay it before the end of the summer - the top four seeds would play on the first day of the event.

In the first 16-team field this past March, the top four seeds (Louisville, Pitt, Connecticut, Villanova) didn’t play until Day 3 (Thursday). The bottom eight seeds played on the opening day, and the winners of those four games faced seeds 5-8 the following day.

Full Article at: Charleston Daily Mail

Category: Basketball

Hawaii trip not for pleasure

Posted by Shane on July 2, 2009 | No Comments

When Barry Brunetti’s senior year begins - his mind free from making a college decision and solely focused on another state championship at Memphis (Tenn.) University School - he’ll have perhaps the best response for “How I spent my summer vacation.”

Brunetti, Rivals.com’s top-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the class of 2010, committed to West Virginia on June 15. On Wednesday he flew to the Hawaii island of Maui for the famed Super Seven quarterback camp led by guru Steve Clarkson.

“Things are going pretty good,” Brunetti said as he settled in his seat before a seven-hour flight. “To be noted the way I am now, it’s a blessing.

“I’m excited about this camp and I’m excited I’ve got the recruitment over with. I feel like a huge weight is lifted off my shoulders and now I can work toward another state championship.”

Brunetti led MUS to a 13-0 record and the Division AA state title as a junior. He rushed for 704 yards and 18 touchdowns and passed for 1,251 yards and 18 touchdowns.

The camp is reserved for the nation’s elite quarterbacks, who will coddled at the celebrity standard Grand Wailea Resort.

Full Article at: Charleston Daily Mail

Category: Football, Recruiting

WVU looks to avenge OT loss at Colorado

Posted by Shane on July 2, 2009 | No Comments

West Virginia plays the first of five games in the month of October against a University of Colorado Buffaloes team that ended any hope of a Mountaineer run for a national title by dumping a lethargic WVU squad by a 17-14 overtime score in 2008.

Senior quarterback Patrick White (19 carries, 148 yards) and sophomore runningback Noel Devine (26-133) became the first pair of backs to eclipse the 100-yard plateau in the same game against the Buffaloes since the 2002 season, but a missed 23-yard field goal by senior Pat McAfee to open the overtime period doomed the gold and blue to its second loss of the season.

Ironically, the two programs headed in different directions following that game as Colorado proceeded to drop seven of its final nine to fall out of any postseason play while WVU went on to capture a 31-30 win over North Carolina in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

Full Article at: NewsandSentinel

Category: Football

2009 WVU Preview: Several Solid Reasons for Optimism

Posted by Shane on July 2, 2009 | No Comments

I will say this up front: I am strangely optimistic about WVU’s 2009 season, which begins only nine weeks from Saturday at Mountaineer Field against the I-AA Liberty Flames.

Sure, WVU lost its greatest player ever—all-time college football rushing leader and WVU’s only four-time starting quarterback bowl-winner—in Pat White.

Big deal, who’ll miss him? Don’t let the door hit you in the butt on the way out, Pat. 

I am just kidding. We kid because we love.

I think I will miss White more than the team. He’s probably the best college football player I’ll ever get a chance to see in person. Every down was a privilege to watch. And yes, I’ll probably buy the NFL Sunday Ticket to watch White with the Dolphins.

WVU also lost its all-time leading scorer in kicker Pat McAfee. Equally bemoaned with his loss is the loss of the lovable video of SpongeBob displayed on the JumboTron while Mountaineers fans said, “Good one, Patrick!” after each made field goal and PAT.

So, WVU has lost its best player ever and greatest scorer ever. Why should I be optimistic?

Full Article at: Bleacher Report

Category: Football

WVU among field for Preseason WNIT

Posted by Ern on July 1, 2009 | No Comments

West Virginia University is among the 16-team field for the 2009 Preseason Women’s National Invitation Tournament that was announced Tuesday.

The Mountaineers, 18-15 a year ago, will host Towson (17-13) in a 7 p.m. first-round game on Friday, Nov. 13.

Ohio State headlines a field that includes 11 teams that played in the postseason last spring: Arkansas-Little Rock, Bowling Green, Florida Gulf Coast, Georgia Tech, Marist, New Mexico, North Carolina A&T, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, West Virginia, and Winthrop. They will be joined in the Preseason WNIT field by Chicago State, Eastern Illinois, Northern Colorado, Towson, and UTEP.

Full Article at: TimesWV

Category: Basketball

Transition Time in Morgantown

Posted by Ern on July 1, 2009 | No Comments

Big changes are taking place Tuesday at West Virginia University and in the City of Morgantown.

After an extensive search, it is transition time at WVU, where the university welcomed its 23rd president to campus. And as one official steps into his place of leadership, another Morgantown official says goodbye to a post he’s held for 18 years.

The first day at work for West Virginia University’s new President Dr. James P. Clements started early, with his first Presidential duty - getting his Mountaineer Card.

Full Article at: WVNSTV

Category: WVU News

GROSS EXPECTED TO SIGN WITH O’S

Posted by Ern on July 1, 2009 | No Comments

Just three weeks ago, Frederick High graduate Billy Gross expected to return to West Virginia University for his senior baseball season.

He was working out with the Moutaineers’ strength coach and getting ready to take summer classes. But thanks to a rapidly unfolding chain of events, Gross is about to fulfill his lifelong dream of playing professional baseball.

Gross said he will sign a free agent contract with the Baltimore Orioles this week, a reward for the good impression the standout pitcher made on scouts over the past 21Ú2 weeks.

Full Article at: Frederick News Post

Category: Baseball, Pro Sports

WVU recruiting class reports

Posted by Shane on July 1, 2009 | No Comments

One of West Virginia University’s most highly anticipated recruiting classes reported to school this week as the second semester of summer school started with only three absentees.

Among those not yet on hand, but expected soon, were two highly touted prospects — defensive lineman Tevita Finau and wide receiver Deon Long.

Finau’s journey to WVU has been a long one, having signed three letters of intent only to have problems getting through junior college requirements. According to a release put out by coach Bill Stewart, Finau has completed his class work and is waiting for his grades to be posted and to be accepted into WVU.

Finau’s talent is such that even though he has yet to even qualify to play at WVU, he has already been picked as a second-team All-Big East defensive lineman. The native Hawaiian was coached by former Mountaineer Dale Wolfley as a freshman at Phoenix College and was considered one of the top junior college players in the country.

Full Article at: TimesWV.com

Category: Football

Bulger Offers Advice to Brown

Posted by Shane on July 1, 2009 | No Comments

Marc Bulger played for the Mountaineers in the late 90’s and currently holds 25 passing records as a quarterback at West Virginia.  Bulger says he can relate to West Virginia University’s starting field general Jarrett Brown as he takes over this season for Pat White.

The current St Louis Ram says he was in a similar situation back when he took over for an injured Kurt Warner in 2002 for the Rams.  Bulger says Brown just needs to play his game.

NFL players and former Mountaineers like Bulger continue to roll into town for the Anthony Becht football camp this week.  Former WVU head coach Don Nehlen was at the camp on Thursday afternoon; Nehlen says it’s great to see both Becht and Bulger back in West Virginia.

West Virginia’s winningest coach recruited both guys early in their football careers. Nehlen says the fact that they have had such long tenures in the NFL is a tribute to their hard work over the years.  

WVU’s old fullback Owen Schmitt was helping out at Becht’s Camp.  Schmitt was suppose to have his own camp this week but that was cancelled; two weeks ago He was arrested for suspicion of a DUI in Washington.   However, the current Seattle Seahawk still wanted to give back to the state and lend a hand at Becht’s camp once again this year.

WBOY

Category: Football

Openers pivotal for WVU

Posted by Shane on July 1, 2009 | No Comments

Just how important are the first three games of the 2009 season for Bill Stewart and his Mountaineers? So important that discussions revolve around film studies and summer workouts.

“I would liken it to a bunker mentality,” Stewart explained last week. “We began watching film on Liberty on Monday. East Carolina was Tuesday and today (Wednesday) is Auburn.”

After his first three regular season games as the 32nd head football coach at WVU last fall, Stewart found himself the subject of hundreds of doubters and second-guessers.

West Virginia-a preseason favorite to win the Big East title and challenge for a possible berth in the national title game-found itself mired in a two-game losing streak and out of the national rankings for the first time in a very long, long time.

Making matters worse was the latest setback-a 17-14 overtime loss at the University of Colorado-in front of a national audience. Combined with the Mountaineers’ very poor effort in a 24-3 loss at East Carolina 12 days earlier, Stewart began fielding questions concerning his ability to prepare the program for the Big East schedule which was quickly approaching.

Full Article at: NewsandSentinel

Category: Football

WVU stumbling on practice facility project

Posted by Shane on July 1, 2009 | 1 Comment

Call it the long arms race.  It’s the race to land blue chip basketball recruits. It’s the race to become a national championship contender.

West Virginia University officially entered that race back in April of 2007. On the fifth of that month, athletic director Ed Pastilong hired Bob Huggins, one of the nation’s finest basketball minds and recruiters.

Of course, Huggins has already landed blue-chip players like Devin Ebanks and Kevin Jones. He’s scored shooter Casey Mitchell, expected to make a significant impact this coming season. He’s received a commitment from Noah Cottrill, a four-star national recruit whose roots are in Poca.

And now Huggins is after the longest of arms. He’s seriously in the hunt for Adreian Payne, a five-star, 6-foot-10 center with NBA potential from Dayton, Ohio. If the Mountaineer coach lands Payne, well, watch out … everyone.

Huggins, though, needs a little help in this marathon race. He needs help from WVU’s athletic department. And he really needs it now.

Here’s the deal: Mountaineer basketball is hot. Huggins is hot. High caliber recruits are taking a serious look at Morgantown. What he now needs to show them is a new practice facility.

Full Article at: The Charleston Gazette

Category: Basketball

WVU reserve QB has setback

Posted by Shane on July 1, 2009 | 2 Comments

Freshman quarterback Eugene Smith, a Parade All-American who signed with West Virginia in February, broke a bone in his left foot Thursday night in what is being called an off-the-field incident.

Dave Kerns, the team’s head athletic trainer, said Smith will need six-to-eight weeks to recover after fracturing the navicular bone, which is on the inside of the foot and at the base of the ankle.

Kerns said there is no damage to the ankle or the rest of the foot and only scrapes on the left leg.  “If the bone was displaced, it’d be a bigger problem, but this is a non-displaced fracture,” Kerns said. “Everything is in line.”

Kerns said Smith had X-rays and a CT scan last Thursday and began his rehabilitation Friday. He’s on crutches and wearing a protective boot, but is under orders to keep weight off the foot. The boot is to protect the foot in case Smith bumps into anything.   He will be re-evaluated after four weeks.

Smith, a 6-foot-4, 190-pound product of Miramar, Fla., arrived at WVU last month and had been impressing peers with his play in team drills during the time they’re prohibited from working with coaches.

Full Article at: Charleston Daily Mail

Category: Football

Getting ‘1-for-1′ crucial to Herd, outgoing AD says

Posted by Shane on July 1, 2009 | 1 Comment

Bob Marcum’s resignation as Marshall’s athletic director could have a major impact on the future of a sports event that piques the interest of most Mountain Staters.

The veteran Herd AD was an obvious force in getting the West Virginia-Marshall football series onto the field. While Marcum’s seven years at MU end today, the Friends of Coal-sponsored series is scheduled through 2012.

In a recent interview about his seven years in the AD’s chair at his alma mater, Marcum said one of his successor’s priorities should be an aggressive stance in trying to land a home-and-home extension with the Mountaineers for the Coal Bowl.

WVU Athletic Director Ed Pastilong has been steadfast in wanting a 2-for-1. The current seven-year series became a 5-for-2 when West Virginia won the first three games (needing two of those) in the series finally nailed down with some arm-twisting by Gov. Joe Manchin in May 2005.

Full Article at: Charleston Daily Mail

Category: Football

Smith injury further thins WVU quarterback depth

Posted by Shane on July 1, 2009 | No Comments

Jarrett Brown really needs to stay healthy.

That fact has been a no-brainer for West Virginia all along, but it’s enforced even more with the news that highly-touted freshman quarterback Eugene Smith has a broken foot.

Smith was expected to come in and compete right away for the backup job behind Brown, and in a perfect world he’d get some experience this year before taking the reins full time next season when Brown graduates. The injury, which was first reported in the Morgantown Dominion Post (note: subscription required) now throws into question whether Smith will be ready for the start of the season.

Team officials are saying Smith will be out 6-to-8 weeks. If it’s eight weeks, that means Smith wouldn’t be able to begin practicing until the final week before the season opens. If he can get back in six weeks or earlier (and never count out an athlete’s ability to beat a recovery timetable), then Smith could get in some preseason work. But for a true freshman trying to learn how to play quarterback at the college level, any missed time is crucial. It seems more likely that Smith would need until mid-September at least to be ready.

Full Article at: ESPN

Category: Football

WVU Women Invited to Preseason NIT

Posted by Shane on July 1, 2009 | No Comments

West Virginia University’s women’s basketball team will play Towson University in the first round fo the 2009 Preseason Women’s National Invitation Tournament in November.

The 16-team field was announced on Tuesday. The Preseason WNIT features a three-game guarantee format. The event opens Friday, Nov. 13 with first-round games. Second-round games will be played Nov. 15-16; semifinals will be Nov. 18-19; and the championship is set for Sunday, Nov. 22.  Teams that lose in the first two rounds will play consolation games on the second weekend, Nov. 20-22.

All games are hosted by participating schools, and sites are announced by the end of the preceding round.

Full Article at: WVMetroNews

Category: Basketball

A Veteran Approach

Posted by John on June 30, 2009 | No Comments

Heavily-recruited wide receiver Logan Heastie might show up as a freshman on the incoming fall roster, but his actions and intentions make him look like a veteran both on and off the field.

Ranked as one of the country’s best wide receiver prospects, the 6-foot-2, 192 pound newcomer wanted to take advantage of his widely-acclaimed reputation for catching balls. His commitment to the Mountaineer program was shown when he enrolled early at West Virginia and loaded up with 15 credit hours in the spring.

Simply put, the talented route runner knows that if you want to get a head start and climb up the depth chart at a nationally-renowned program, you have to do whatever it takes. Even if that means leaving behind the customs and traditions of high school graduation.

Full Article at: MSN

Category: Football

Marcum says MU should not back down in demand for 1-for-1 WVU series

Posted by John on June 30, 2009 | 1 Comment

Bob Marcum’s resignation as Marshall’s athletic director could have a major impact on the future of a sports event that piques the interest of most Mountain Staters.

The veteran Herd AD was an obvious force in getting the West Virginia-Marshall football series onto the field. While Marcum’s seven years at MU end today, the Friends of Coal-sponsored series is scheduled through 2012.

In a recent interview about his seven years in the AD’s chair at his alma mater, Marcum said one of his successor’s priorities should be an aggressive stance in trying to land a home-and-home extension with the Mountaineers for the Coal Bowl.

Why…?

Full Article at: Charleston Daily Mail

Category: Football

Informercial king Billy Mays played for the Eers?!

Posted by John on June 30, 2009 | 1 Comment

Anyone know anything about this? I’d say most of us have heard that Billy Mays was a student at WVU for some period of time. However, the article below states that he played football for the Mountaineers. I’m guessing as a walk on, but does anyone remember it?

Judging by his birth date, it would’ve been in the 1976 - 1980 range. Assuming the Tampa Bay news paper is correct, that is…

The voice that sold $1 billion in products was stilled Sunday when Mr. Mays, 50, was found dead in his Tampa condo by his wife, Deborah Mays. He was pronounced dead at 7:45 a.m. in his gated neighborhood near the Westshore Yacht Club. Tampa police said no foul play is suspected in his death, declining to offer a cause until an autopsy is completed this afternoon.

…

Born William D. Mays in Mc­Kees Rocks, Pa., on July 20, 1958, he played football at West Virginia University and helped with his father’s waste-hauling business. A trip with a friend to Atlantic City, N.J., in 1983 led him to try selling products on the boardwalk, learning how to work a crowd from the old school barkers who filled that walkway.

Full Article at: Tampabay.com

Category: Football, Random Stuff

Ruoff Signs Pro Contract

Posted by John on June 30, 2009 | No Comments

Ruoff, who finished as West Virginia’s career three-point field goal leader, made Washington one of his stops during pre-draft workouts. Although the heady shooting guard was not selected in the two-round NBA Draft, he did impress several general managers with his shooting ability.

Ruoff will play for the Wizards’ summer league team, with practices beginning on July 10. Washington’s first game will be on July 14. The NBA summer league is played at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nev. Washington is scheduled to play five games in the event.

Full Article at: Scout.com

Category: Basketball, Pro Sports
keep looking »

Ads

Search

Admin

Ads