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Photo by Dan Friend courtesy of the WVU Sports Information Department

Ready For Action

WELCOME

Welcome to a new THIS WEEK IN WVU sports history by Jeffrey Mason Blue & Gold News We listened to your thoughts, and just as West Virginia University embarked on a new journey in the Big 12 Conference, we’ve done the same with a new look to the Blue & Gold News. As you will notice, our new style and layout is more modern. Some stories are longer, while some are shorter. Basically our goal is to give you the best coverage possible on Mountaineer athletics, but now in a more visually appealing design.

Hopefully you like these changes and continue to enjoy the content of the Blue & Gold News, as we embark on our 26th year of covering WVU sports.

Greg Hunter Publisher Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1505 Morgantown, WV 26507-1505 Physical address: 3717 Morgantown Industrial Park Morgantown, WV 26501-2347 Phone: (304) 291-2242 Fax: (304) 291-2253 Website: www.BlueGoldNews.com Email: WVU88BGN@aol.com Editors: Bob Bucy & Greg Hunter Associate Editor: Michael Carvelli Writers: Cam Huffman, Tony Dobies, Matt Keller, Jeffrey Mason, Kevin Kinder, Kevin DiGregorio & Greg McCracken Photographers: Kevin Kinder & Frank Salucci The Blue & Gold News is owned by YAPs Publishing of Morgantown and is not affiliated in any manner with West Virginia University.

The contents herein are the responsibility of this publication. Any opinions expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Blue & Gold News.

Advertising info can be obtained by calling (304) 291-2242.

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2013-14 PRINT SCHEDULE Issue 30 – July 6, 2013 Issue 1 – Aug. 24, 2013 Issue 2 – Sept. 7, 2013 Issue 3 – Sept. 14, 2013 Issue 4 – Sept. 21, 2013 Issue 5 – Sept. 28, 2013 Issue 6 – Oct. 5, 2013 Issue 7 – Oct. 12, 2013 Issue 8 – Oct. 26, 2013 Issue 9 – Nov. 2, 2013 Issue 10 – Nov. 9, 2013

Issue 11 – Nov. 16, 2013 Issue 12 – Nov. 23, 2013 Issue 13 – Nov. 30, 2013 Issue 14 – Dec. 7, 2013 Issue 15 – Dec. 14, 2013 Issue 16 – Dec. 21/28, 2013 Issue 17 – Jan. 4, 2014 Issue 18 – Jan. 11, 2014 Issue 19 – Jan. 18, 2014 Issue 20 – Jan. 25, 2014 Issue 21 – Feb. 1, 2014

Page 2 — BLUE & GOLD NEWS — August 24, 2013

Issue 22 – Feb. 8, 2014 Issue 23 – Feb. 15, 2014 Issue 24 – Feb. 22, 2014 Issue 25 – March 1, 2014 Issue 26 – March 8, 2014 Issue 27 – March 22, 2014 Issue 28 – April 5, 2014 Issue 29 – May 3, 2014 Issue 30 – July 5, 2014 Issue 1 – Aug. 23, 2014 Issue 2 – Sept. 6, 2014

Aug. 18, 2007 – The Associated Press preseason college football poll placed WVU third nationally behind No.1 USC and No. 2 LSU (months later on Nov. 26, 2007, West Virginia was ranked No. 1 in the Coaches’ Poll, but things went south fast thanks to a disappointing loss to Pitt and coach Rich Rodriguez’s surprise exit until Bill Stewart’s team righted the ship with an exhilarating 48-28 Fiesta Bowl “Shock the Nation” victory over Oklahoma). Later that same day, Mountaineer fans celebrated a 1-0 women’s soccer exhibition victory over Kentucky at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. Nikki Izzo-Brown’s 12th squad would go on to achieve a record of 18-5-2 (9-1-1, Big East Conference American Division Championship), win the Big East Tournament and defeat Navy, James Madison, and sixth-ranked Penn State before falling to No. 8 USC in the NCAA Tournament.

Aug. 19, 1988 – The Mountaineer football team wrapped up two-a-day practices with a scrimmage.

It opened the season against coach Don Nehlen’s alma mater – Bowling Green – on Sept. 3, a 62-14 blowout. That set WVU on the eventual path to an undefeated regular season and an appearance in the National Championship Game, just as the late ESPN broadcaster Beano Cook had predicted.

Aug. 20, 1962 – The birthday of center/forward Tim Kearney of Falls Church, Va., who lettered from 1981-84 and amassed 584 points and 502 rebounds during his career. His most impressive game may have been during WVU’s 87-78 upset of No. 1 UNLV at the Coliseum on Feb. 27, 1983 when he netted 15 points and snagged 10 boards.

Aug. 21, 2010 – Mountaineer letterman Marc Bulger (1996-99: 8,153 passing yards, second alltime to Geno Smith’s 11,662 yards) subbed for starting signalcaller Joe Flacco and completed 13 of 16 passes driving the Baltimore Ravens to two scores in their preseason 23-3 victory over the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. It was the last of 10 NFL seasons for the Pittsburgh native, who threw for 22,814 career yards with 122 scores, while spending the first nine of those years with the St. Louis Rams.

Aug. 22, 1998 – Most fans at Mountaineer Field were pulling for Pittsburgh? The Steelers defeated the Atlanta Falcons, 28-22, in the second-ever preseason NFL game in Morgantown. The first professional exhibition football game in Touchdown City was at old Mountaineer Field as the Steelers lost to the Cincinnati Bengals 19-3 in 1968.

Aug. 23, 2012 – Marlon LeBlanc’s seventh men’s soccer squad was ranked 23rd in the Soccer American preseason poll released on this date. With no men’s soccer in the Big 12 Conference, West Virginia joined the Mid-American Conference in 2012, and the Mountaineers finished the season with an overall record of 9-6-2, 4-2-1 in the MAC, good enough for second place.

Aug. 24, 2006 – Kevin “Boo” McLee, who was a three-sport star (football, basketball, and track) at Uniontown (Pa.) High School, was named as one of the 65 finalists for the Butkus Award by the Downtown Athletic Club. McLee, who lettered from 2003-06 at West Virginia, finished his Mountaineer career with 247 tackles and two interceptions. His 2005 performance (second leading tackler with 78 stops; first-team All-Big East selection) landed him on the list of finalists for the award and an invitation to the Senior Bowl. McLee, whose uncles had played at WVU, would see action in the NFL (St. Louis), CFL (Calgary) and the Arena Football League (Green Bay and Iowa). He later was drafted by Team Louisiana of the United National Gridiron Boo League and would also play McLee with the expansion Wheeling Wildcats of the Continental Indoor Football League in 2009.

Comments & Questions

Fearless predictions for the coming season It’s that time of the year again; when we all pick how West Virginia is going to finish the 2013 football season. It’s a much different year for predictions from 2012, when many of us said the Mountaineers would easily have a winning season. Check out how much different we think WVU will fare in its second year in the Big 12 Conference.

Michael Carvelli – A solid running game will help lead WVU to a 7-5 season and a seventh-place finish in the Big 12. It will then lose its bowl game to finish 7-6.

Tony Dobies – Following the spring game, I predicted West Virginia would not make it to a bowl in 2013, but I’ve since changed my mind.

The Mountaineers have surprised me at times during fall camp, and because of that, I’ll pick WVU to finish 6-6 this year.

Will Hirsch – I have the Mountaineers at 8-4 overall and 5-4 in the Big XII. I have us in the Buffalo Wild Wings bowl in Tempe and losing to Michigan. WVU will be 8-5 at season's end.

Cam Huffman – There are just too many unanswered questions to predict a big year for this team. It could happen, but somewhere around .500 is more likely. I’m going with 6-6 in the Mountaineers’ second season as Big 12 members.

Greg Hunter – If, as it appears, WVU’s defense is significantly better than last year and new offensive playmakers develop quickly, the Mountaineers should go bowling for a 12th straight year. With those “ifs,” I say 7-5.

Matt Keller – The defensive coverage ability and speed has increased. Schematically, it should be better as well. Younger, more talented - and physically larger - athletes are replacing upperclassmen on the depth chart.

Special teams have been shored up and the plug-and-play offense will do just that. This is a bowl team. 7-5.

leads me to go with a 6-6 season. Three-game stretch of Maryland, Oklahoma State and Baylor will be huge. Cannot afford a multiple-game losing streak with a young team. Let’s go Mountaineers.

Patrick Southern – A ton of uncertainty on offense. A defense that was one of the nation’s worst a season ago. And a Big 12 schedule to deal with. Yikes. Prediction: 5-7 Kevin Kinder Dana’s always been able To groom a new quarterback If this year’s an exception Fans will be yelling "Sack!"

The defense is retooled And transfers abound They’ll have to hit the ground running for WVU to be bowl bound.

The lines look better The passing game worse Thus a 6-6 record Is the pick of this verse.

Bob Bucy – 12-0. Just as I said in 1988 and 1993, the Mountaineers will go through the regular season unblemished. Much of it may be young, but there is a lot of talent for Holgorsen to work with.

And here are some predictions from Mountaineer fans who answered our question on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ BlueGoldNews).

Seth Ball – 8-4. Our underrated offense and improved defense will be enough to get us to eight wins.

Don Barnes – A surprise to everyone as they run the table and go undefeated. 12-0.

Bryan Douglas Hayes – 3-9, the experiment ends

Lacie Geary – I predict a 9-3 record for WVU this year. They may shock a lot of people especially with this year’s schedule.

Brian Fawber – 6-6. Learning curve for new weapons on offense; Defense begins to find its way; watch out for the ‘Eers in 2014.

Jeffrey Mason – 6-6 – Losing Geno, Tavon and Stedman means diminished expectations for the 2013 Mountaineers. In fact, I was contemplating a 5-7 or 4-8 season this season, but I eventually moderated my prediction.

H Jason Hall – 10-2. Unknown offensive firepower is here with a defense that has matured a lot.

Greg McCracken – The 2013 season is one of the toughest to predict with so many unanswered questions two weeks before the season. I believe the defense will significantly cut down the number of big plays and the offense will find a rhythm by mid-season which

Aaron Mills – I think they are being underrated and disrespected. 9-3 with losses to Oklahoma, TCU and Oklahoma State Charlie Morgan – I should think 3-0 in OOC games and 5-4 in conference with a final record of 8-4. Defense is better and hopefully the competition at QB will make the offense better than hoped for. I am excited about the linebackers and the wide receivers.

Zachary T Romeo – 8-4, barring major injuries. The defense will be light years better and overall the offense will be close to as good as last year .

Bob Surgeon – 6-6 from the head not the heart Jeff Surgeon – 8-4. The Big 12 is the toughest conference top to bottom.

Kevin S. Moss – 8-4 with a much-improved defense!!

Joshua Taylor – 5-7, too young and need more experience.

Adam Pierson – 8-4 is a great season.

Won’t be surprised if we lose more. We’re hurting at the most important position in college football - QB. Next year may be a special year for this team.

Jayson Teasley – 7-5, young on the offensive side but the D will step up Jamie Whitt – 9-3 because Holgs will have a full arsenal at his disposal!

Prediction totals 12-0 – two 6-6 – seven 11-1 – zero 5-7 – three 10-2 – one 4-8 – zero 9-3 – three 3-9 – one 8-4 – eight 2-10 – zero 7-5 – four 1-11 – zero Average predicted win total – 7.069

Conrad Krasyk – I am looking for this team to be better than expected, so I am going with 8-4. Look for an upset or two.

Each week, the staff at Blue & Gold News answers your questions about West Virginia athletics. If you have a question you’d like to submit to us, tweet them to us @BlueGoldNews or email them to us at

Bill Tully – 5-7. I was right on the prediction last year with all our “star power.” B12 teams have too much talented depth for week in/ week out success.

The Blue & Gold News welcomes all letters from its readers. No unsigned letters will be published. All letters received become the property of YAPs Publishing.

wvu88bgn@aol.com

August 24, 2013 — BLUE & GOLD NEWS — Page 3

2013 Mountaineer Football Roster

No. Name Pos. 5 Mario Alford WR 53 Tyler Anderson LB 89 Darren Arndt DL 48 Justin Arndt LB 34 Ishmael Banks DB 33 Jared Barber LB 26 Travis Bell DB 50 Al-Rasheed Benton LB 41 Alex Brooks LB 95 Christian Brown DL 31 Isaiah Bruce LB 13 Andrew Buie RB 63 Michael Calicchio OL 15 Dante Campbell WR 94 D.J. Carozza DL 12 Ronald Carswell WR 16 Terrell Chestnut DB 7 Ford Childress QB 40 Hodari Christian LB 13 Thomas Chroniger DB 98 Will Clarke DE 88 Cody Clay FB 38 Shane Commodore DB 25 Darwin Cook DB 81 Vernon Davis WR 92 Trevor Demko DL 87 John DePalma LS 9 K.J. Dillon DB 76 Pat Eger OL 24 Sam Eggleston WR 17 Dozie Ezemma DL 62 Curtis Feigt OL 29 Dustin Garrison RB 70 James Gayeski DL 1 Shelton Gibson WR 64 Mark Glowinski OL 32 Brandon Golson LB 84 Terrance Gourdine WR 39 Malik Greaves DB 52 Tanner Grose LB 51 Marvin Gross DE 43 Jarrod Harper DB 73 Russ Haughton-James OL 18 d'Vante Henry LB 42 Garrett Hope FB

Darrien Howard LB 99 Dontrill Hyman DE 70 Brandon Jackson OL 23 Brodrick Jenkins DB 8 Karl Joseph DB 79 Nick Kindler OL 45 Eric Kinsey DE 35 Nick Kwiatkoski LB 7 Nana Kyeremeh DB 8 Josh Lambert K/P 77 Marcell Lazard OL 46 Scott Levine PK

Ht. 5-9 6-2 6-2 5-11 6-0 6-0 6-1 6-2 5-11 6-3 6-1 5-9 6-9 6-4 5-11 6-0 5-11 6-5 6-0 6-0 6-7 6-3 6-1 5-11 5-10 6-6 6-5 6-1 6-6 5-11 6-2 6-7 5-8 6-4 6-1 6-5 6-2 6-0 6-2 5-10 6-4 6-1 6-5 6-5 6-3 6-2 6-4 6-3 5-10 5-10 6-6 6-2 6-2 5-10 6-1 6-6 5-11

Wt. Cl. 175 Jr. 244 Sr. 230 So. 212 RFr. 182 Jr. 233 Jr. 188 Jr. 220 Fr. 220 Fr. 308 So. 231 So. 190 Jr. 325 Jr. 212 So. 280 Fr. 180 So. 177 So. 234 RFr. 218 Fr. 205 Sr. 273 Sr. 252 So. 180 Fr. 203 Sr. 176 RFr. 260 Jr. 244 So. 200 So. 302 Sr. 176 RFr. 235 Sr. 314 Sr. 182 Jr. 250 So. 175 Fr. 305 Jr. 220 Jr. 190 Sr. 205 Fr. 196 Jr. 225 Fr. 212 RFr. 312 So. 205 Jr. 245 So. 250 Fr. 265 Jr. 338 So. 183 Sr. 200 So. 298 Sr. 265 So. 232 So. 180 So. 199 RFr. 293 Fr. 190 Fr.

Hometown Greenville, GA Morgantown, WV Martinsburg, WV Martinsburg, WV Richmond, VA Mocksville, NC Belle Glade, FL Newark, NJ Cleveland, OH Bridgeton, NJ Jacksonville, FL Jacksonville, FL Brooklyn, NY Clermont, FL Parkersburg, WV Macon, GA Pottstown, PA Houston, TX McKeesport, PA Hyattsville, MD Pittsburgh, PA Alum Creek, WV Morgantown, WV Cleveland, OH Miami, FL Kulpmont, PA Cumming, GA Apopka, FL Pleasant Hills, PA Houston, TX Pomona, NY Berlin, Germany Pearland, TX Deptford, NJ Cleveland, OH Wilkes-Barre, PA St. Mathews, SC Miami, Fla. Jacksonville, FL Princeton, WV Baltimore, MD Frostburg, MD Plantation, FL Moore, OK Woodlands, TX Dayton, OH Warsaw, NC Euclid, OH Fort Myers, FL Orlando, FL Camp Hill, PA Miami, FL Bethel Park, PA Worthington, OH Garland, TX Bloomfield, NJ Clarksburg, WV

No. Name Pos. 94 Jon Lewis DL 55 Grant Lingafelter OL 22 Alex Louthan K/P 78 Marquis Lucas OL 52 Tanner Macioce LB 25 Kyle Majnaric WR 33 Nate Majnaric FB 27 William Marable DB 80 Jacky Marcellus WR 82 Devonte Mathis WR 69 Tony Matteo OL 85 Ivan McCartney WR

Isaac McDonald DB 27 Nick Meadows LS 14 Paul Millard QB 40 Mike Molina PK 48 Michael Molinari H/P 16 Logan Moore WR 19 K.J. Myers WR 19 Brandon Napoleon DB 38 Cameron Nash RB 6 Carlton Nash DB 97 Noble Nwachukwu DL 65 Tyler Orlosky OL 18 Nick O'Toole P 57 Adam Pankey OL 36 Shaq Petteway LB 31 Michael Pulice FB 91 Quincy Redmon WR 47 Doug Rigg LB 93 Kyle Rose DL 90 Shaq Rowell DL 15 Ricky Rumph DB

Rushel Shell RB 6 Daikiel Shorts WR 3 Charles Sims RB 4 Wendell Smallwood RB 2 Dreamius Smith RB 89 Chai Smith WR 56 Jewone Snow LB 67 Quinton Spain OL 50 Martez Stone LB 40 Houston Syvertson P 71 Tyler Tezeno OL 10 Jordan Thompson WR 37 Wes Tonkery LB 9 Clint Trickett QB 10 Nana Twum Agyire DB 24 Jeremy Tyler DB 59 Stone Underwood OL 11 Sean Walters LB 28 Ellijah Wellman FB 11 Kevin White WR 22 Avery Williams DB 72 Brendan Willis OL 54 Dayron Wilson LB 28 Daryl Worley DB 31 Maurice Zereoue RB

Ht. 6-3 6-5 5-10 6-4 5-10 6-2 6-0 6-0 5-8 6-1 6-4 6-2 6-5 5-11 6-2 5-9 5-11 5-11 6-2 6-0 5-8 5-10 6-2 6-4 6-3 6-5 6-0 6-1 6-4 6-1 6-4 6-4 5-10 6-0 6-0 6-0 5-11 5-11 5-10 6-2 6-5 6-2 6-2 6-3 5-7 6-2 6-2 6-0 6-0 6-4 6-1 6-2 6-3 5-11 6-3 5-11 6-2 5-8

Wt. Cl. 240 Fr. 265 Fr. 205 Fr. 312 So. 210 Jr. 202 So. 232 Sr. 198 Sr. 175 Fr. 210 RFr. 296 RFr. 182 Sr. 205 Fr. 220 Fr. 219 Jr. 150 Fr. 204 Jr. 200 Jr. 197 So. 178 RFr. 180 Fr. 184 Fr. 271 RFr. 296 RFr. 220 So. 323 RFr. 225 Jr. 220 Fr. 230 Fr. 237 Sr. 283 So. 305 Sr. 172 Fr. 215 So. 201 Fr. 213 Sr. 196 Fr. 217 Jr. 198 RFr. 242 Jr. 335 Jr. 242 RFr. 220 Fr. 280 Fr. 168 So. 222 Jr. 180 Jr. 189 So. 195 Fr. 285 Jr. 215 RFr. 235 Fr. 211 So. 183 So. 250 Fr. 220 Jr. 190 Fr. 188 Jr.

Hometown Morgantown, WR Chagrin Falls, OH Grayson, GA Miami, FL Pittsburgh, PA Akron, OH Akron, OH Va. Beach, VA Immokalee, FL Hollywood, FL Clinton, OH Miramar, FL Hialeah, FL Williamstown, WV Flower Mound, TX Hurricane, WV Parkersburg, WV Fairmont, WV Jacksonville, FL Rahway, NJ Piscataway, NJ New Smyrna, DE Wylie, TX Cleveland, OH Corona, CA Hamilton, OH Steubenville, OH Avon, OH Cumberland, MD Bloomfield, NJ Centerville, OH Maple Heights, OH Daytona Beach, FL Hopewell, PA Clayton, NJ Houston, TX Wilmington, DE Wichita, KS Warmister, PA Canton, OH Petersburg, VA Cleveland, OH Shady Spring, WV Houston, TX Katy, TX Shinnston, WV Tallahassee, FL Chevy Chase, MD Lithona, GA Brookhaven, MS Hollywood, FL Huntington, WV Macungie, PA Washington, D.C. Centreville, VA Woodbridge, VA Philadelphia, PA Hempstead, NY

Unofficial Preseason Depth Chart

OFFENSE WR (x) – Kevin White, K.J. Myers LT – Quinton Spain (16), Nick Kindler (1) LG – Marquis Lucas, Pat Eger (19) C – Tyler Orlosky, Tony Matteo RG – Mark Glowinski, Russell Haughton-James RT – Curtis Feigt (7), Nick Kindler (1) IR (y) – Mario Alford, Daikiel Shorts, J. Thompson WR (z) – Ronald Carswell, Ivan McCartney (11), Terrance Gourdine QB – Clint Trickett, Paul Millard/Ford Childress RB (a) – Cody Clay (6), Garrett Hope, E. Wellman RB (b) – Charles Sims, Dreamius Smith, Andrew Buie (11), Dustin Garrison (8), Wendell Smallwood

Page 4 — BLUE & GOLD NEWS — August 24, 2013

DEFENSE DT – Will Clarke (22), Dontrill Hyman NT – Shaq Rowell (12), Christian Brown DE – Kyle Rose (1), Eric Kinsey (1), Noble Nwachukwu Spur – Isaiah Bruce (12), Wes Tonkery (1), Hodari Christian Sam – Doug Rigg (18), S. Petteway, Al-Rasheed Benton Will – Jared Barber (6), Nick Kwiatkoski (1), Sean Walters Buck – Brandon Golson, Dozie Ezemma, Tyler Anderson BCB – Ishmael Banks (4), B. Jenkins (11), T. Chestnut (3) FS – Karl Joseph (13), K.J. Dillon, Jeremy Tyler BS – Darwin Cook (23), Ricky Rumph, Jarrod Harper FCB – Travis Bell (1), Avery Williams, Brandon Napolean (Career starts are in parenthesis)

SPECIAL TEAMS Punter – Michael Molinari (6) or Nick O'Toole or H. Syverston Placekicker – Josh Lambert Kickoffs – Josh Lambert or Nick O'Toole or Michael Molinari Holder – Michael Molinari (26) LS – John DePalma (13) PR – Alford, Thompson, Carswell KR – Sims, D. Smith, Worley, Smallwood Bold – Returning starters Italics – Returning lettermen

Numerical Roster 1............................... Shelton Gibson, WR 2...............................Dreamius Smith, RB 3....................................Charles Sims, RB 4........................ Wendell Smallwood, RB 5.................................... Mario Alford, WR 6................................. Daikiel Shorts, WR 6....................................Carlton Nash, DB 7.................................Ford Childress, QB 7............................... Nana Kyeremeh, DB 8......................................Karl Joseph, DB 8..................................Josh Lambert, K/P 9.................................... Clint Trickett, QB 9.........................................K.J. Dillon, DB 10........................ Jordan Thompson, WR 10........................ Nana Twum Agyire, DB 11....................................Kevin White, WR 11................................... Sean Walters, LB 12........................... Ronald Carswell, WR 13.................................. Andrew Buie, RB 13........................ Thomas Chroniger, DB 14....................................Paul Millard, QB 15............................ Dante Campbell, WR 15................................. Ricky Rumph, DB 16.............................Terrell Chestnut, DB 16.................................Logan Moore, WR 17............................... Dozie Ezemma, DL 18................................. d'Vante Henry, LB 19..................................... K.J. Myers, WR 19........................ Brandon Napoleon, DB 22...............................Avery Williams, DB 22..................................Alex Louthan, PK 23........................... Brodrick Jenkins, DB 24............................. Sam Eggleston, WR 24.................................. Jeremy Tyler, DB 25.................................. Darwin Cook, DB 25................................ Kyle Majnaric, WR 26...................................... Travis Bell, DB 27............................. William Marable, DB 27................................ Nick Meadows, LS 28.............................. Ellijah Wellman, FB 28...................................Daryl Worley, DB 29............................. Dustin Garrison, RB 31................................... Isaiah Bruce, LB 31............................Maurice Zereoue, RB 31................................Michael Pulice, FB 32............................ Brandon Golson, LB 33...................................Jared Barber, LB 33................................. Nate Majnaric, FB 34............................... Ishmael Banks, DB 35............................. Nick Kwiatkoski, LB 36............................... Shaq Petteway, LB 37...................................Wes Tonkery, LB 38....................... Shane Commodore, DB 38...............................Cameron Nash, RB 39................................ Malik Greaves, DB 40.............................Hodari Christian, LB 40.......................... Houston Syverston, P 40.................................... Mike Molina, PK 41....................................Alex Brooks, LB 42...................................Garrett Hope, FB 43.................................Jarrod Harper, DB 45..................................... Eric Kinsey, DL 46.................................... Scott Levine PK 47...................................... Doug Rigg, LB 48........................... Michael Molinari, H/P 48....................................Justin Arndt, LB 50....................... Al-Rasheed Benton, LB 50.................................. Martez Stone, LB 51................................. Marvin Gross, DE 52................................. Tanner Grose, LB 52..............................Tanner Macioce, LB 53...............................Tyler Anderson, LB 54............................... Dayron Wilson, LB 55............................Grant Lingafelter, OL 56................................. Jewone Snow, LB 57................................. Adam Pankey, OL 59..........................Stone Underwood, OL 62.................................... Curtis Feigt, OL 63.......................... Michael Calicchio, OL 64.............................. Mark Glowinski, OL 65.................................. Tyler Orlosky, OL 67................................Quinton Spain, OL 69....................................Tony Matteo, OL 70.......................... Brandon Jackson, OL 70...............................James Gayeski, DL 71................................... Tyler Tezeno, OL 72................................Brendan Willis, OL 73............. Russell Haughton-James, OL 76.......................................... Pat Eger, OL 77............................... Marcell Lazard, OL 78............................... Marquis Lucas, OL 79....................................Nick Kindler, OL 80............................Jacky Marcellus, WR 81.................................Vernon Davis, WR 82.............................Devonte Mathis, WR 84....................... Terrance Gourdine, WR 85............................. Ivan McCartney, WR 87................................ John DePalma, LS 88.......................................Cody Clay, RB 89.....................................Chai Smith, WR 89...................................Darren Arndt, DL 90................................... Shaq Rowell, DL 91..................................... Nick O'Toole, P 92............................Quincy Redmon, WR 92.................................Trevor Demko, DL 93....................................... Kyle Rose, DL 94....................................... Jon Lewis, DL 94................................... D.J. Carozza, DL 95.............................Christian Brown, DL 97.........................Noble Nwachukwu, DL 98...................................... Will Clarke, DL 99............................... Dontrill Hyman, DL

Holgorsen's Views

Lots of decisions to make

By Cam Huffman

Dana Holgorsen isn’t into making predictions – and he definitely has wanted no part of looking back and comparing the 2013 West Virginia University football team to the one that finished a disappointing 7-6 in 2012.

But after three weeks of preseason practices prior to the start of classes at WVU, the third-year head coach seems pleased with what he’s seen from this year’s team so far.

“I am happy with where we are at on all three sides of the ball, especially defensively,” Holgorsen said Aug. 15, which was his final session in front of the media during the preseason camp. “Our first defense is really coming along, and it is where we have the most experience coming back. First team, we are really happy with, and the motivational level they are playing with is extremely satisfying.”

The coach’s statement about defense is music to Mountaineer fans’ ears. Last season – WVU’s first as a Big 12 member – the defense finished as the worst, statistically, in the school’s football history, costing WVU a shot at a successful inaugural campaign in its new league. So any indication of improvement is reason for those around the program to celebrate.

“It could be in relation to where we were last year, which we definitely are way ahead of where we were,” said Holgorsen on the basis of his evaluation of his defense. “We are talking about many of the same bodies, so we ought to be ahead of where we were last season.”

Holgorsen did caution, though, that the offense, which hasn’t reached the production level of the 2012 group, could be mak-

fer Clint Trickett has won the job – but the inside receivers have been a major point of frustration during camp, as well. There just hasn’t been another Austin in the mix.

“I have plenty of excuses on why it looks bad, of which none of us want to hear them,” said Holgorsen. “I do not want to hear them. I do not want to look at them. You do not want to hear them. You may write about them, but it is what it is.

“We need to get guys in here that we trust and like. Which one of the guys is going to develop into an All-Big 12 performer?

I don’t know yet. There is talent there, and they just need to keep playing. We are not discouraging them. With that said, we play a game in two weeks, and we have to get guys ready to play.”

One possible solution is to use a position of strength to help improve a position of weakness. WVU seems to be loaded at running back with proven performers in Andrew Dana Holgorsen Buie and Dustin Garrison, an impressive freshman in Wendell Smallwood and two talented transfers in Dreamius Smith and Charles Sims.

Holgorsen said one or more of those running backs could see some time in the slot.

“We have done some of that,” he said. “Charles Sims (a senior transfer from Houston) could be our best inside receiver right now. We have done a little bit of that with him, a little bit with Andrew Buie and Dustin Garrison. Wendell can play inside (receiver). We just need to figure out what the plan is.”

There’s also plenty of competition on special teams. Luckily for Holgorsen and his staff, it’s more about selecting the best out of some quality options instead of just finding somebody capable of handling the duties.

“The actual specialists, I’m going to brag on those guys a little bit,” said Holgorsen. “Josh Lambert (a redshirt freshman placekicker) is doing well. John DePalma (a sophomore long snapper) is light years ahead of where he was last year. That is a very under-appreciated position until they are not very good. But he looks very good.

“Our punters are booming the ball.

(Sophomore) Nick O’Toole has a strong leg. (Junior) Michael Molinari has done a great job punting and has also been doing a lot of kickoff stuff. Huey (freshman walk-on Houston Syvertson) is doing great, as well, and has maybe the “There are some things that we can do differently this year strongest leg of all three.” than we did last year. They are going to be small differences that While personnel is always critical to the success of any footyou really won’t be able to tell from the stands. I like to think that ball team, Holgorsen learned last year that leadership is just as these guys are just a year more comfortable in what we are ask- valuable. The coach said multiple times throughout camp that ing them to do.” the 2012 team did not have the right type of leadership to get The news on offense hasn’t been quite as positive. West Virback on track once things turned sour after a 5-0 start. ginia is trying to replace three of the best offensive weapons in “We’ve been working on that since January,” he said. “We the school’s history – quarterback Geno Smith and wide receivare developing a whole room full of leaders. That’s how you win ers Stedman Bailey and Tavon Austin – and there has, undera championship. standably, been a period of adjustment.

“You don’t win a championship with just one or two guys that WVU spent most of the camp trying to find a quarterback – a you look to. You win one with a whole room full of leaders that decision has not been announced as to whether redshirt freshtake the bull by the horns and say, ‘We’re going to do some man Ford Childress, junior Paul Millard or Florida State transspecial things.’ I like where we’re at right now.”

August 24, 2013 — BLUE & GOLD NEWS — Page 5 ing the defense look better than it really is.

“I hope, and you don’t know this until you actually start playing, that defensively we are ahead of last year based on coaching, experience and schemes,” said Holgorsen. “I hope it is not because we are inadequate on offense. How are you going to know, though, until you start playing?”

Keith Patterson has taken over the role of defensive coordinator from Joe DeForest, who’s now working exclusively with the WVU special teams this season. But Holgorsen doesn’t think the improvement is as simple as shuffling of assignments on the coaching staff.

“It’s the same scheme,” he explained. “There are going to be some small changes that Keith is going to like to do compared to what Joe liked to do, but it relatively is the same scheme.

offensive outlook

new faces and new challenges

By Greg Hunter There’s a lot missing from the Mountaineer offense of last season.

Gone are the three biggest stars (Geno Smith, Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey).

Gone are eight starters (Smith, Austin, Bailey, Josh Jenkins, Joe Madsen, Jeff Braun, J.D. Woods and Ryan Clarke).

Gone is 98 percent of West Virginia’s passing yards (Smith threw for 4,205 of WVU’s total of 4,292 yards).

Gone is 81 percent of the Mountaineers’ receptions (306 of 378) and 85 percent of their receiving yards (3,640 of 4,292) Gone is 83 percent of West Virginia’s total offense yards (5,426 of 6,526).

Gone is 76 percent of WVU’s all-purpose yards (6,055 of 7,932) Gone is 55 percent of the Mountaineers rushing yards (1,221 of 2,234).

Gone are six of West Virginia’s top eight rushers (Austin, Shawne Alston, Smith, Woods, Bailey and Clarke).

Gone are the top three receivers (Bailey, Austin and Woods), who between them accounted for a combined 289 catches last season and 584 in their careers (and who are individually No. 2, No. 1 and No. 19 on WVU’s all-time list).

Gone are 276 career starts, while the returners hold just 62 career starts between them. Offensive tackle Quinton Spain (14 career starts), running back Andrew Buie (11 career starts) and receiver Ivan McCartney (10 career starts) are the only offensive players in 2013 who have double figure career starts under their belts. WVU entered last season with 10 players who had such experience.

All those offensive weapons helped West Virginia rack up some impressive numbers in 2012. The Mountaineers finished the season in the top 10 in the FBS ranks in scoring offense (No. 9, 39.46 points per game), passing offense (No. 10, 330.15 yards per game) and total offense (No. 10, 502.00 yards per game).

Obviously defensive deficiencies (No. 118 in pass defense with 312.54 yards a game, No. 114 in scoring defense with 38.08 points per game and No. 108 in total defense with 472.46 yards per game) were the biggest reason WVU finished the season with a 7-6 record, not something better. But even West Virginia’s star-laden offensive of 2012 could sputter at times, being held to 14 points in each of three blowout losses – Texas Tech (49-14), Kansas State (55-14) and Syracuse (38-14). With a WVU defense that gave up 34-or-more points in nine games, the Mountaineers couldn’t afford any offensive stumbles last season.

What will 2013 hold? No one knows for certain. The defense does return 18 players who have starting experience, compared to just 10 this season on the offensive side. It’s hoped that this year’s defense is significantly improved. It has to be because with so much talent and experience gone, it’s highly unlikely West Virginia’s offense can match last year’s numbers, when it scored 31 points or more nine times and 42 or more six times.

Quarterback – The graduation of Geno Smith leaves WVU with its first true battle for the starting QB job in many years.

There was some interesting competition for the first-team job behind center in 1992-93 (Jake Kelchner and Darren Studstill), 1994 (Chad Johnston and Eric Boykin) and 2001 (Brad Lewis and Rasheed Marshall), but since 2005 (Adam Bednarik and Pat White), the Mountaineers have entered every season with a clear-cut starter at QB. But 2013 is different. Not only does West Virginia have a quarterback battle for the first time since Pat White was a redshirt freshman, but WVU actually has a three-way fight for the starting job involving redshirt freshman Ford Childress and juniors Paul Millard and Clint Trickett. The Mountaineers haven’t had three quarterbacks genuinely competing for the starting job in Page 6 — BLUE & GOLD NEWS — August 24, 2013

Charles Sims

28 years, when Mike Timko, Tony Reda and John Talley each wrestled for the job throughout the 1985 season. Unfortunately for WVU, none of the three ever really seized the reigns, as the Mountaineers managed an uninspiring 7-3-1 record.

How this three-headed battle will work out is still to be determined, even as the 2013 season opener quickly approaches.

Each of the three brings different attributes to the table.

Millard has the most experience in Dana Holgorsen’s system, as the 6-foot-2, 219-pound junior from Flower Mound, Texas, served as Smith’s understudy for the past two years. Having arrived at WVU in January of 2011, he’s spent two and a half years in the system, so he should know it the best. Millard, who married his high school sweetheart, Laura Poe, this summer, subbed in for Smith in 11 games over the previous two seasons (four in 2001 and seven in 2012), but almost all that time was in blowout situations. He was thrust into just a handful of meaningful plays during that time, though he did come through with a big 37-yard touchdown pass to Stedman Bailey at Oklahoma State last year in a fourth-and-13 situation when Smith had to sit out a play because his helmet was knocked off. In his West Virginia career to this point, Millard has completed 16 of 34 pass attempts for 211 yards with three interceptions and three touchdowns.

Millard may have the most experience with WVU’s offensive system, but Trickett has the most game experience at the college level, having played in a total of 17 games, starting two of

them, during his two seasons of varsity action at Florida State.

Subbing often for the Seminoles’ normal starter E.J. Manuel, the 6-foot-2, 180-pound Trickett threw for 947 yards during his FSU career, having completed 66 of 106 passes with seven TDs and four interceptions. Florida State’s offense is based around a pro-passing style, so Trickett is having to learn a new system at WVU in Holgorsen’s spread attack. But the son of long-time college coach Rick Trickett, who is currently the offensive line coach at Florida State and also had two stints at WVU (1978-79 and 2001-06), appears to be getting a good grasp on Holgorsen’s system since transferring to WVU in May. Immediately eligible to play for the Mountaineers because he graduated from FSU with a degree in social sciences this spring, Clint is a fourthyear junior who is used to playing in pressure situations, which is something WVU’s other two QB candidates can’t really claim.

Certainly Childress can’t claim it at all, as the Houston, Texas, native hasn’t yet stepped onto the field for a game in college, but he is probably the most physically gifted of the three. He arrived at WVU in January of 2012, so he’s spent the past year and a half working with the offense, but he was redshirted last year and is still seeking his first game action. What Childress lacks in experience he more than makes up for in DNA. At 6-foot-5, 234 pounds, Childress looks the part of a quarterback, and the fastballs he can whistle to all points on the field shows he has the arm to go with the size. It also doesn’t hurt his football resume

offensive outlook Freshman of Year in 2009, rushed for 2,370 yards and 29 that his father is Ray Childress, a College Football Hall of Fame TDs in his three seasons with the Cougars. He also caught defensive lineman from Texas A&M who was a five-time Pro 158 passes for another 1,707 yards during his UH career. If Bowler during his 12-year NFL career. those receptions took place at WVU, he would already be All three will have to depend on their arms, because none seventh on the school’s career list among all players, and have the running ability of recent Mountaineer quarterbacks.

The littlest of the bunch, Trickett, is probably the best scrambler. easily the best among running backs, topping Noel Devine’s But none will be compared to Geno Smith or Jarrett Brown, say 98.

Statistically Sims’ best year came as a true freshman in nothing of Pat White and Rasheed Marshall, when it comes to 2009, when he rushed for 698 yards on 132 carries with running the football. nine touchdowns, and he also caught another 70 passes for It will be a very interesting three-way battle to follow. The 759 more yards with one TD. Houston’s offensive coordistarter may not be known until shortly after noon on Aug. 31, nator that year? Dana Holgorsen. and the possibility certainly exists that Only one Mountaineer running back the starter in game one may not be the (Mickey Walczak with 49 catches same guy who starts game six or game Mountaineer Offense in 1981) has caught more than 35 12.

Quarterbacks passes in a season.

Running back – The Mountaineers Ford Childress (6-5, 234, RFr.) Sims has good size and exare missing an awful lot of offensive Paul Millard (6-2, 219, Jr.) cellent speed to go with those pieces. The spot with the fewest deparClint Trickett (6-2, 180, Jr.) good hands. Smith, a 5-foot-11, tures, though, is running back, where A-Backs (running backs) 217-pound junior college transjuniors Dustin Garrison and Andrew Andrew Buie (5-9, 190, Jr.) fer from Butler (Kan.) C.C., has a Buie, who have 19 career starts beDustin Garrison (5-8, 182, Jr.) combination of power and speed. tween them, return.

Cameron Nash (5-8, 180, Fr.) A first-team all-KJCCC selection True, powerful short-yardage speCharles Sims (6-0, 213, Sr.) last season when he rushed for cialist Shawne Alston has graduated, Wendell Smallwood (5-11, 196, Fr.) 984 yards and 17 TDs on 120 carbut WVU has three promising newDreamius Smith (5-11, 217, Jr.) ries (8.2 yards per attempt), Smith comers – senior Charles Sims, junior Maurice Zereoue (5-8, 188, Jr.) enrolled at WVU this past JanuDreamius Smith and freshman Wenary and had the advantage of godell Smallwood – to add to the backB-Backs (fullbacks) ing through spring practice with the field mix.

Cody Clay (6-3, 252, So.) Mountaineers. A native of Wichita, The 5-foot-8, 182-pound Garrison Garrett Hope (6-3, 245, So.) Kan., Smith originally signed with came out of the gate as a true freshMatt Majnaric (6-0, 232, Jr.) the University of Kansas coming man in 2011 to lead WVU in rushing.

Michael Pulice (6-1, 220, Fr.) out of Wichita Heights High, but acThe Pearland, Texas, native ran for 742 Ellijah Wellman (6-2, 235, Fr.) ademic shortcomings sent him to yards that season, topped by tying a Inside Receivers junior college for two seasons beMountaineer freshman single-game reMario Alford (5-9, 175, Jr.) fore his path eventually led him to cord with 291 rushing yards against Dante Campbell (6-4, 212, So.) another Big 12 school.

Bowling Green, which was also his Vernon Davis (5-10, 176, RFr.) The lone true freshman among first-ever start. A knee injury in practice Sam Eggleston (5-11, 176, RFr.) this running back bunch is Smallleading up to the Orange Bowl sideShelton Gibson (6-1, 175, Fr.) wood, who got a jumpstart on his lined him for that victory over ClemJacky Marcellus (5-8, 175, Fr.) college career by enrolling at WVU son and slowed him for much of the Devonte Mathis (6-1, 210, RFr.) this past January. A product of East2012 season. He did see action in 10 of Logan Moore (5-11, 200, Jr.) ern Christian Academy in Elkton, Md., West Virginia’s 13 games last season Quincy Redmon (6-4, 230, Fr.) the 5-foot-11, 196-pound Smallwood but was limited to 207 rushing yards.

Daikiel Shorts (6-0, 201, Fr.) is a native of Wilmington, Del. EvenGarrison says he’s 100 percent healthy Chai Smith (5-10, 198, RFr.) tually the young running back may be now, though, and his elusiveness with Jordan Thompson (5-7, 168, So.) the best of this whole group, and his the ball in his hands is a trait that can Wide Receivers skill level is evident by the fact that he’s be a huge plus, be it taking a handoff or Ronald Carswell (6-0, 180, So.) pushing for playing time already despite catching the ball out of the backfield (33 Terrence Gourdine (6-0, 190, Sr.) the fact West Virginia possesses four career catches for 244 yards).

Kyle Majnaric (6-2, 202, So.) other running backs with plenty of exThe 5-foot-9, 190-pound Buie took Ivan McCartney (6-2, 182, Sr.) perience. Smallwood’s role this year is up the slack for the injured Garrison in K.J. Myers (6-2, 197, So.) still to be determined, but the Mountainthe 2012 Orange Bowl and never broke Kevin White (6-3, 211, Jr.) eers' coaches think he has a very bright stride after that. The Jacksonville, Fla., future. It’s just a matter when that future native topped WVU’s rushing list last Offensive Linemen begins. year with 851 yards. His career best Michael Calicchio (6-9, 325, Jr.) The future for Rushel Shell at West came at Texas, leading the MountainPat Eger (6-6, 302, Sr.) Virginia will have to wait for the 2014 eers to a win over the Longhorns with Curtis Feigt (6-7, 314, Sr.) season.

The 6-foot-0, 215-pound prod207 yards on the ground. The third-year Mark Glowinski (6-5, 305, Jr.) uct of Hopewell, Pa., transferred to junior also catches the ball well, totaling Russell Haughton-James (6-5, 312, So.) WVU recently after playing his freshman 41 career grabs for 403 yards.

Brandon Jackson (6-3, 338, So.) season at Pitt. Shell was ranked the No. Buie and Garrison each have two Nick Kindler (6-6, 298, Sr.) 4 running back in the nation coming out season’s worth of experience in the Marcell Lazard (6-6, 293, Fr.) of Hopewell High, where he shattered Mountaineer offensive system. That Grant Lingafelter (6-5, 265, Fr.) many of the school records previously gives them a leg up on their backMarquis Lucas (6-4, 312, So.) held by Tony Dorsett. Among Shell’s field competition, but West Virginia’s Tony Matteo (6-4, 296, RFr.) marks is a Pennsylvania state high coaches insist there will be enough Tyler Orlosky (6-4, 296, RFr.) school record of 9,078 rushing yards playing time and enough touches for all Adam Pankey (6-5, 323, RFr.) in his four-year prep career. As a true five of the running backs.

Quinton Spain (6-5, 335, Jr.) freshman at Pitt last fall, he was second A graduate transfer from the UniverTyler Tezeno (6-3, 280, Fr.) on the team in rushing with 641 yards sity of Houston who arrived at WVU in Stone Underwood (6-4, 285, Jr.) and four TDs on 141 carries. But Shell early July, Sims is an intriguing prosBrendan Willis (6-3, 260, Fr.) decided to leave the Panther program pect. The 6-foot, 213-pound fifth-year Players listed alphabetically midway through spring drills, and after a senior, who was the Conference USA

Kevin White

well-chronicled search, he eventually decided to make the move to West Virginia. As a transfer, he won’t be able to participate in any games this coming season, so he’ll have to be content with practice until the 2014 campaign rolls around.

The Mountaineers also have a couple walk-on running backs on the roster. The most interesting of those is Maurice Zereoue, the younger brother of former WVU star Amos Zereoue. The 5-foot-8, 188-pound Maurice grew up on Long Island in Hempstead, N.Y., just like his older brother. Maurice didn’t gain nearly the accolades in high school that Amos did, and so he took an academic path when he decided to enter college. Maurice did come to the state of West Virginia for college, but initially chose Potomac State Junior College. He spent two years at junior college in Keyser, but Pot State doesn’t have a football program, so he didn’t play the sport again until he transferred to WVU last year and tried out for the team as a walk-on. Now a fourth-year junior, Maurice still has a long ways to go before anyone compares his ability to his brother’s, but he’s an interesting prospect who has caught the attention of the Mountaineer coaching staff.

In Dana Holgorsen’s offense, running backs like Buie, Garrison, Sims, Smallwood, Smith and Zereoue are known as A-Backs. Those are the glory guys who will run it often, catch it a good bit and get their name in the headlines.

Holgorsen’s offense also features B-Backs, which in many ways are like the old-fashioned, guard-in-the-backfield fullback types, though Holgorsen will also use the B-Backs at the H-back and tight end positions at times as well. No matter where they line up, though, they don’t touch the ball often, but that doesn’t make their role less vital than the so-called “skilled players.”

Last year’s senior B-Back Ryan Clarke had two carries, which was two more than he had his junior year. Cody Clay, a redshirt freshman who settled in as WVU’s prime B-Back last season, wound up with two touches himself in 2012, both on receptions.

The 6-foot-3, 252-pound Clay may ultimately get a few more opAugust 24, 2013 — BLUE & GOLD NEWS — Page 7

offensive outlook portunities to catch the ball this year, but his primary role – and one he excels at – will always be as a blocker. The Charleston, W.Va., native has won high praise from West Virginia’s coaching staff for his hard work and versatility. He can line up in the backfield and act as a conventional lead-blocking fullback.

An all-state tight end at George Washington High School, he’s still comfortable at the end of the line, and he’s also athletic enough to flex out in passing situations as an H-back or even an inside receiver. Clay will likely get a few more chances to catch the ball this year, but no matter how many receptions he ends up with, his most important role will still be protecting the Mountaineer quarterback and opening up running room for those glory grabbing A-Backs.

Will Johnson, who like Clay was a tight end in high school, was ticketed to back up Clay, but the Minnesota native left the team midway through preseason camp.

Johnson’s departure leaves the Mountaineers with two back-up possibilities behind Clay.

Ellijah Wellman, a 6-foot-2, 235-pound freshman from Huntington, W.Va., was the only West Virginia native that WVU signed to a scholarship in the class of 2013. He’s also targeted to be a B-Back. Unlike Clay, Wellman’s high school background was as a running back and middle linebacker (where he won the Huff Award to the top prep defender in the state each year). Wellman will be more of a conventional lead-blocking fullback in comparison to Clay, who is more multi-dimensional. West Virginia also recently added more depth in this fullback spot, as Garrett Hope, who had been playing linebacker, moved over to fullback midway through the preseason camp. A special teams standout as a true freshman last seaDaikiel Shorts son, the 6-foot-3, 245-pound Hope, who is a native of The Woodlands, Texas, will give the Mountaineers another physical blocker in the backfield.

Wide receiver – With Austin, Bailey and Woods all now in the WVU offensive stats through the years NFL, West Virginia has some huge shoes to fill at receiver.

Year/Rec. Rush Off Pass Off 3rd Con Total Off Score Off It’s not a question of quantity for the Mountaineers, who had 1986/4-7 177.5 163.1 45% 340.6 19.1 17 receivers working with coach Lonnie Galloway in preseason 1987/6-6 269.7 110.7 30% 380.3 27.0 camp. The question, though, goes to quality. Austin was the first 1988/11-1 277.9 188.0 53% 465.9 41.1* non-lineman drafted this past year by the NFL, going in the first 1989/8-3-1 232.5 184.3 49% 416.8 28.3 round to the St. Louis Rams with the eighth overall pick. He had 1990/4-7 199.9 156.9 36% 359.8 19.7 288 receptions for 3,413 yards in his four seasons at WVU. Bai1991/6-5 189.0 136.4 41% 325.4 17.0 ley, who also was picked by the Rams two rounds later, is sec1992/5-4-2 229.3 178.7 39% 408.0 26.0 ond behind only Tavon on West Virginia’s career list with 210 1993/11-1 233.8 213.5 34% 447.3 34.0 1994/7-6 156.6 210.4 35% 367.0 22.8 catches for 3,218 yards. He’s No. 2 only because he saw just 1995/5-6 160.7 212.9 37% 373.6 23.0 three years of varsity action before leaving for the NFL. 1996/8-4 131.8 192.5 30% 324.3 22.6 Now WVU is looking for new names and new playmakers.

1997/7-5 169.7 213.8 39% 383.5 30.0 The Mountaineer coaches will quickly point out that in Holgors1998/8-4 153.8 308.3 44% 462.2 34.2 en’s offense, a receiver with a 100-catch, 1,000-yard season is 1999/4-7 144.3 225.0 37% 369.3 26.5 basically an annual event. The only question is who will step up 2000/7-5 138.6 216.7 28% 355.3 29.7 and assume that role. But the fact of the matter is that no cur2001/3-8 181.1 164.6 33% 345.7 21.4 rent West Virginia receiver has done it in the past. WVU’s return2002/9-4 286.9 128.2 30% 415.1 31.2 ing receivers totaled 33 receptions for 263 yards with two touch- 2003/8-5 217.2 162.3 34% 379.6 30.8 downs in 2012. Among those six returning receivers who caught 2004/8-4 252.8 163.9 36% 416.6 31.2 2005/11-1 272.4 116.5 45% 388.9 32.1 passes last year, there was just one reception of longer than 15 2006/11-2 303.0* 158.4 50% 461.4 38.8 yards.

2007/11/2 297.2 159.0 48% 456.2 39.6 But that doesn’t mean there aren’t intriguing prospects at re2008/9-4 209.9 150.5 42% 360.4 24.5 ceiver. There’s just precious little major college experience in the 2009/9-4 186.4 191.1 42% 377.5 26.2 group.

2010/9-4 159.7 213.0 45% 372.7 25.2 Among the returnees, only three receivers have ever started a 2011/10-3 122.7 346.8* 41% 469.5 37.6 game before. Sophomore Jordan Thompson, whose 13 catches 2012/7-6 171.8 330.2 44% 502.0* 39.5 last year are tops among the returning receivers, started three * indicates all-time WVU team record for a single-season Page 8 — BLUE & GOLD NEWS — August 24, 2013

games, and Dante Campbell, another sophomore, started one game and recording two catches on the season. Unfortunately a shoulder injury, which also kept the 6-foot-4, 212-pounder from Clermont, Fla., sidelined in the spring, has greatly curtailed Campbell’s practice time in preseason camp.

The most experienced Mountaineer receiver is one who wasn’t even with the team at the end of last season. Ivan McCartney, who started 10 games and caught 49 passes as a sophomore in 2011, had just nine receptions and one start through the first eight games in 2012 before abruptly leaving the squad in midseason. The Miramar, Fla., native explored transfer options, but early this past summer he decided he wanted to return to WVU, and he called West Virginia’s coaches to see if he could come back. Holgorsen and his staff green-lighted McCartney’s return, and he’s been at work ever since trying to knock off the rust. At 6-foot-2, 182 pounds, he appears to be in excellent shape. He’s nearly 40 pounds heavier than when he enrolled at WVU as a freshman in 2010, and he’s saying all the right things about wanting to do whatever his team will need him to do.

McCartney, Thompson and Campbell are the only returning receivers with previous starts at WVU to their credit, but they aren’t the only returnees who could factor into the receiver picture this year. At the inside receiver, Connor Alria worked his way into the rotation last season, but he left WVU's camp in mid-August and is exploring transfer opportunities. Three other walk-ons remain at inside receiver – former Fairmont State (W.Va.) University quarterback Logan Moore, a fourth-year junior, sophomore Kyle Majnaric and redshirt freshman Sam Eggleston – and each is trying to work his way into playing time at that position.

On the outside, K.J. Myers has quietly had an impressive fall camp. The 6-foot2, 197-pound sophomore from Jacksonville, Fla., caught only two passes last year as a redshirt freshman, but his leadership, blocking and pass catching during camp appear to be putting him in line for significantly more opportunities this season.

These returnees are getting plenty of competition from a variety of newcomers.

Eventually some of these newcomers may be West Virginia’s most potent weapons at receiver. It’s just a matter of how quickly they understand the system. Several potential contributors weren’t even at WVU this spring, so they are having to learn the offense in rapid fashion.

At the outside receiver, Ronald Carswell is the one completely new face. A 6-foot-0, 180-pounder from Macon, Ga., by way of Itawamba (Miss.) Community College, Carswell started his college career at Alabama, but lasted just one season with the Crimson Tide before moving on to junior college. Now he has a second chance at WVU, where he will be a sophomore in terms of eligibility. His excellent speed helped him haul in 44 passes for 429 yards in 2012, his lone season in the juco ranks.

Four other outside receivers may not yet be familiar names to Mountaineer fans, though each did participate in spring practice.

Kevin White is a 6-foot-3, 211-pound native of Emmaus, Pa., who spent last season playing at the junior college level at Lackawanna (Pa.) College, where he had 39 receptions for 535 yards last year. He caught some attention with a big Gold-Blue Game performance (five receptions for 72 yards) this past April and now hopes to parlay that into a strong sophomore season at WVU.

Gone from West Virginia's 2012 offense are 276 career starts, while the 2013 offensive returners hold just 62 career starts between them.

Austin, simply because he is small and extremely quick. The Georgia Military College product, who saw time at both running back and receiver at the junior college level, was headed to Arizona until newly-hired WVU assistant coach Tony Gibson convinced this past February him to change his mind. Alford is trying to learn all the details that go into becoming a slot receiver for the Mountaineers, but if he can figure them all out, he could be very dangerous.

The same can certainly be said for Gibson, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound true freshman from Cleveland Heights, Ohio. A fourstar recruit who had scholarship offers from most major college Daikiel Shorts was another receiver who was a January enpowers, Gibson has already shown in practice that he has the rollee, though he came from the high school ranks. The 6-footskill to backup the hype. Though a sprained knee slowed him a 0, 201-pound native of Clayton, N.J., attended Eastern Chrisbit in the first week of preseason camp, his ability, especially to tian (Md.) Academy, where he was a teammate of WVU running make a big play after the catch, was already drawing rave reback Wendell Smallwood. Shorts, who has a little Stedman Bai- views. Also an outstanding kickoff and punt returner, the Mounley-look to him, used his early entry into West Virginia to quickly taineers will likely use Gibson on special teams as well as on ofpick up the offense, and he’s definitely part of the conversation fense this year. when it comes to playing time at receiver. The biggest question Jacky Marcellus is the third of the three new slot receivers. is probably what spot, as Shorts moved from outside receiver to At 5-foot-8, 175 pounds, the Immokalee, Fla., native is another inside receiver in the final days of preseason camp because of small slot receiver, but he too has good quickness. A knee injury needs at his new position. cut short his senior season in high school, but he seems close to A conventional redshirt freshman, Devonte Mathis is another 100 percent now.

Mountaineer who followed the pipeline from Miramar, Fla., to Offensive line – WVU’s interior trio last season – guards Josh Morgantown, just like Geno Smith, Stedman Bailey, Ivan McJenkins and Jeff Braun and center Joe Madsen – had a total of Cartney and others. A jack-of-all-trades in high school, seeing 126 starts between them. All three were seniors and are now action at quarterback, running back and receiver, the 6-foot-1, gone. Their replacements likely won’t have any starts, and only a 210-pound Mathis is now looking to make his own mark at WVU. handful of game reps, on their collective resume.

He was used mainly at outside receiver in the spring but saw At center, redshirt freshman Tyler Orlosky currently holds time at inside receiver during the preseason camp. the upper hand for the battle for the starting job. The 6-footAnother Miramar receiver trying to make a name for himself 4, 296-pound native of Cleveland, Ohio, spent his true freshis Terrance Gourdine. The 6-foot-0, 190-pound senior spent his man season on the scout team, working mainly at guard. But he first two college seasons at Eastern Michigan, where he had one moved to center this spring and appears to have the lead for the career catch, before transferring to WVU in 2011. A walk-on at starting job. Tony Matteo, also a 6-foot-4, 296-pound redshirt West Virginia, he sat out his initial season with the Mountainfreshman from Ohio (Clinton), is Orlosky’s primary competition eers to fulfill his transfer requirements. Eligible for game action for the starting center spot. in 2012, he was unable to crack the rotation and did not see any Pat Eger, a 6-foot-6, 302-pound senior, had worked at center game action. But now a fifth-year senior with maturity under his in spring drills before an injury sidelined him. Having 19 games belt, Gourdine is making a strong push for playing time. at either tackle and guard during his time at WVU, Eger learned Vernon Davis, a converted cornerback, is also trying make an the new position, but since the start of preseason camp, he’s impact at receiver. worked primarily at guard. His versatility could help the MounThere is plenty of new talent on the outside receiver position, taineers at any of the offensive line spots, but for the moment, it but some of the flashiest newcomers are lining up at the inside appears he’s settling back into the guard position, though he still receiver spot. is getting some practice reps at tackle and center should a need Finding another Tavon Austin is probably impossible, but in arise at those positions. their short time at West Virginia, Mountaineer coaches are alAs preseason camp comes to a close, Eger was pushing hard ready smiling when asked about a trio of new slot receivers – for a starting job at guard, but at the moment, it appears that Mario Alford, Jacky Marcellus, Shelton Gibson.

Marquis Lucas at left guard and Mark Glowinski at right guard All three arrived at WVU this summer, so each is still just were holding down the No. 1 spots. learning the system. But they also have obvious raw skills. The A junior college product from Lackawanna (Pa.) College, 5-foot-9, 175-pound Alford may be the easiest to compare to Glowinski arrived at West Virginia in the summer of 2012, but he redshirted last season. Now a 6-foot-5, 305-pound junior, the Scranton, Pa., native certainly will see action and likely will start this season. Lucas, a 6-foot-4, 312-pound thirdAndrew year sophomore from Miami, Fla., has spent the past couBuie ple of years working for this opportunity. After a redshirt season in 2011, he played in just one game last season – a few snaps of mop-up duty in the blowout win over Kansas.

But it appears that Lucas is on the cusp of earning a starting job this season, unless Eger makes a late charge to win that spot.

Further depth at the guard positions will come from a pair of sophomores – Russell Haughton-James and Brandon Jackson. Stone Underwood, a 6-foot-4, 285-pound junior college transfer, had played center during his time at Copiah-Lincoln (Miss.) Community College, but the Mountaineers moved him over to guard midway through the preseason camp. He also has a redshirt year available, so if he doesn’t see any game action this season, he would still have two years of eligibility remaining starting in 2014.

The three high school offensive line recruits West Virginia signed in this class – Tyler Tezeno, Grant Lingafelter and Marcell Lazard – all appear promising, but like most true freshmen offensive linemen, each will likely redshirt during their rookie season.

offensive outlook

Jordan Thompson

Lingafelter and Lazard, both of whom are working as tackles, will need to be ready in 2014, because West Virginia’s top three tackles this season include two seniors (Curtis Feigt and Nick Kindler) and a fourth-year junior (Quinton Spain).

Spain is the only returning offensive player who started all 13 games last year. The 6-foot-5, 335-pounder from Petersburg, Va., gives West Virginia something every team wants – a talented and experienced left tackle. The 6-foot-7, 314-pound Feigt, who is a native of Berlin, Germany, started the final six games of the 2012 season at right tackle and will likely hold down that job again this year. Kindler has played in 26 games over the past two seasons, starting one of them. He’ll likely be the primary backup behind both Spain and Feigt this year. Michael Calicchio is a 6-foot-9, 325-pound walk-on who also will provide depth at the tackle spot. The fourth-year junior from Brooklyn began his college career at WVU in 2010 but then transferred to C.W. Post, where he lettered in 2011. He transferred back to WVU last year, though he did not see any game action with the Mountaineers.

He could be in line for some opportunities this year, though.

WVU has another promising young offensive lineman, but he won’t get back to practice until at least October. Adam Pankey, a 6-foot-5, 323-pound freshman from Hamilton, Ohio, was pushing for a starting job at offensive guard in the spring before he suffered a knee injury. Pankey is reportedly mending well from the surgery that followed the injury. He spent most of the preseason practice sessions alternating between jogging around the field and riding a stationary bike. It’s hoped that Pankey will be able to get back on the practice field by midseason, but if he’s ready to make a real bid for playing time at that juncture remains to be seen.

August 24, 2013 — BLUE & GOLD NEWS — Page 9

Defensive outlook

Does experience equal improvement?

By Greg Hunter At every turn, West Virginia’s defensive coaches and players were reminded of their woeful 2012 statistics.

The questions came during each preseason media session – Will you? Can you? How? After all, the Mountaineers’ 2012 defensive statistics were historically bad.

WVU allowed more points last year (38.1 per game) than at any time in its history. In fact, in the last century, only one West Virginia defense (1978, 33.1 points per game) gave up over 30 points a game, so the 2012 unit, which was five points a game higher than that, was in a stratosphere all by itself.

The West Virginia defense allowed 34 or more points in nine of the 13 games last season, and six times it gave up 45 or more.

Again, those were numbers without precedent at WVU. Obviously points are what count the most, and the Mountaineers were No. 114 in scoring defense among the 120 teams who formed the FBS ranks of college football. West Virginia was also near the bottom in pass efficiency defense (No. 119, 166.72),

Page 10 — BLUE & GOLD NEWS — August 24, 2013

pass defense (No. 118, 312.54 yards per game) and total defense (No. 108, 472.46 yards per game). About the only defensive category where WVU didn’t rank in the lower echelon of the FBS was rushing defense (No. 60, 159.9 yards per game), and that was still the worst statistical season West Virginia had had against the run in over a decade.

There were a lot of reasons for the Mountaineers’ defensive problems last year – four of the five defensive assistants in 2012 were new, the 3-4 scheme was also new and, probably most importantly, WVU lost a lot of very good defenders from the 2011 squad. Gone were stalwarts like Bruce Irvin, Najee Goode, Keith Tandy, Julian Muller and Eain Smith. The first three of those wound up in the NFL. West Virginia was left with little defensive experience or depth. It wound up having to play seven true freshmen on defense, including an unprecedented (at least in the last 30 years) three in the d-line.

But last year’s trial-by-fire has left the 2013 West Virginia defense with considerably more experience and depth. The Moun-

taineers return 24 defensive lettermen this year (compared to 17 last year), and 15 of them have started at least one game in the past (compared to just nine with such experience entering last year).

There were some further coaching changes on the West Virginia defense this past offseason, as Tony Gibson and Brian Mitchell were brought in to oversee the safeties and cornerbacks respectively.

In addition, linebacker coach Keith Patterson added the role of defensive coordinator to his duties, replacing last year’s coordinator, Joe DeForest, who will work exclusively with West Virginia’s special teams this year. Defensive line coach Erik Slaughter is the only Mountaineer assistant coach – offensive or defensive actually – whose job description remains exactly the same this season as it did last.

And while West Virginia will again base its defense out of a 3-4 look, as it did last year, Patterson’s scheme will feature some differences from that which DeForest employed.

Defensive outlook sack or a tackle for loss last year, though Kinsey came to WVU Will any of that make this year’s unit better than it was in from Miami’s Northwestern High School with the reputation as a 2012? All those with the Mountaineers certainly believe that to strong pass rusher. be the case, but the real proof will come starting Aug. 31.

Nwachukwu, whose last name is pronounced WATCH-uhDefensive line – One season a weakness, the next seakoo, came to WVU from Wylie, Texas, in 2012 as a 6-foot-2, son a strength. That’s how rapidly things can change in college 240-pound defensive lineman. He was the one true freshman football. d-lineman that the Mountaineers redshirted last year. He may not West Virginia entered 2012 with just three defensive linemen – Will Clarke, Jorge Wright and Shaq Rowell – who had any sig- have seen any game action, but that doesn’t mean his redshirt year was a waste. He added over 30-pounds of muscle during nificant experience the season before. WVU was forced to play that time, and at 271 pounds, he’s now physically ready to comthree true freshmen d-linemen – Christian Brown, Eric Kinsey pete at the FBS level. and Korey Harris – to provide badly Between Rose, Kinsey and Nwaneeded depth for the unit.

Mountaineer Defense chukwu, only one will start, but all three Now three lettermen are gone from will almost certainly see significant playlast year’s defensive front – seniors Defensive Linemen ing time this coming season, be it with Wright and J.B. Lageman, as well Darren Arndt (6-2, 230, So.) the regular defense or in one of as Harris, who was dismissed from Christian Brown (6-3, 308, So.) the pass rushing packages. Rose the team after getting arrested in the D.J. Carozza (5-11, 280, Fr.) can even slide down and play offseason.

Will Clarke (6-7, 273, Sr.) noseguard on occasion, and last But the Mountaineers still have five Trevor Demko (6-6, 260, Jr.) year Kinsey saw a bulk of his acholdovers who saw considerable action James Gayeski (6-4, 250, So.) tion while playing defensive tackle last year, including two starters, Clarke Marvin Gross (6-4, 225, Fr.) in pass rushing situations. and Rowell. In all, Slaughter has eight Dontrill Hyman (6-4, 265, Jr.) While Rowell will likely remain defensive linemen at his disposal this Eric Kinsey (6-2, 265, So.) the starter at noseguard, and year who appear capable of handling Jon Lewis (6-3, 240, Fr.) Rose can play there as well, the Big 12 action. And more importantly, Noble Nwachukwu (6-2, 271, RFr.) primary backup at that position none of them are true freshmen, unKyle Rose (6-4, 283, So.) figures to be Christian Brown. like those first-year players who weren’t Shaq Rowell (6-4, 305, Sr.) The 6-foot-3, 308-pound sophophysically ready for the role that was Linebackers more from Bridgeton, N.J., saw forced upon them last year.

Tyler Anderson (6-2, 244, Sr.) action in 11 games as a true Clarke and Rowell are the seJustin Arndt (5-11, 212, RFr.) freshman last season. Brown isn’t nior leaders of this year’s d-line. With Jared Barber (6-0, 233, Jo.) any bigger than he was in 2012, 22 and 12 career starts respectively, Al-Rasheed Benton (6-2, 220, Fr.) but the year in the weightroom they are among the most experienced Alex Brooks (5-11, 220, Fr.) has made him much stronger, Mountaineers this season. A 6-foot-7, Isaiah Bruce (6-1, 231, So.) and he’s drawn praise from the 273-pound defensive end from PittsHodari Christian (6-0, 218, Fr.) WVU coaches during the camp. burgh, Pa., Clarke had 26 tackles last Dozie Ezemma (6-2, 235, Sr.) He had 11 tackles last year, and year, including 6.5 for lost yardage. In Brandon Golson (6-3, 220, Jr.) he’ll likely have the opportunity to his career, he’s been credited with 3.5 Tanner Grose (5-10, 196, Jr.) increase that number significantly sacks, which is the most of any returnd’Vante Henry (6-5, 205, Jr.) this year. ing Mountaineer. That low sack numDarrien Howard (6-2, 250, Fr.) The one brand-new face comber may say something about the need Nick Kwiatkoski (6-2, 232, So.) peting for playing time in West WVU faces in finding pass rushers year, Tanner Macioce (5-10, 210, Jr.) Virginia’s defensive line this seaand the long, lanky Clarke certainly Shaq Petteway (6-0, 225, Jr.) son is junior college transfer has the skill to be part of that pressure Doug Rigg (6-1, 237, Sr.) Dontrill Hyman. The 6-foot-4, package.

Jewone Snow (6-2, 242, Jr.) 265-pound junior from Warsaw, At 6-foot-4, 305 pounds, RowMartez Stone (6-0, 242, RFr.) N.C., by way of Hinds (Miss.) ell came to West Virginia from Maple Wes Tonkery (6-2, 222, Jr.) Community College, has terrific Heights, Ohio, via Iowa Western ComSean Walters (6-1, 215, RFr.) skills, but he still is trying to learn munity College, a couple years ago. A Dayron Wilson (5-11, 220, Jr.) the Mountaineer system, having just arbackup in 2010, in which he recorded Safeties rived in Morgantown a week or so beeight tackles, he stepped into the startThomas Chroniger (5-11, 205, Sr.) fore the start of preseason camp. A ing noseguard role last year and quickly Shane Commodore (6-1, 180, Fr.) second-team NCJAA All-American last proved himself to be a force in the midDarwin Cook (5-11, 203, Sr.) year at Hinds, he had 14 sacks, 20.5 dle. With 42 tackles, he helped control K.J. Dillon (6-1, 200, So.) tackles for loss and 62 total tackles in the interior line, and much is expected Malik Greaves (6-2, 205, Fr.) his two junior college seasons. His tranof him again this season.

Jarrod Harper (6-1, 212, RFr.) sition to D-I is going well, but it’s still unClarke and Rowell will almost cerKarl Joseph (5-10, 200, So.) clear how quickly he can develop into tainly remain starters this coming year, William Marable (6-0, 198, Sr.) an every-down player. Hyman will likely but there is still competition for the third Isaac McDonald (6-5, 205, Fr.) begin the season as Clarke’s backup, starting d-line position. Kyle Rose and Ricky Rumph (5-10, 182, So.) and he will probably have some role for Eric Kinsey each saw plenty of playJeremy Tyler (6-0, 195, Fr.) WVU as a designated pass rusher in ing time in the defensive line last year, nickel and dime packages. as a redshirt freshman and true freshCornerbacks Trevor Demko, a 6-foot-6, man respectively. Each even started a Ishmael Banks (6-0, 182, Jr.) 260-pound junior, also will provide game. This year they are competing to Travis Bell (6-1, 188, Sr.) depth in West Virginia’s defensive line. become full-time starters, though redTerrell Chestnut (5-11, 177, So.) A pair of true freshmen – Marvin shirt freshman Noble Nwachukwu also Brodrick Jenkins (5-10, 183, Sr.) Gross (6-4, 225 lbs.) and Jon Lewis (6is in that mix.

Nana Kyeremeh (5-11, 180, So.) 3, 240 lbs.) – show promise, but both Rose and Kinsey each played in all Brandon Napoleon (5-10, 178, RFr.) need a year in the weightroom to get 13 games last season. Rose, a 6-footCarlton Nash (5-10, 185, Fr.) bigger and stronger before they can 3, 283-pound sophomore from CenNana Twum Agyire (6-0, 189, So.) contend for playing time. Each will alterville, Ohio, wound up with 25 tackAvery Williams (5-11, 183, So.) most certainly redshirt this year. les, while Kinsey, a 6-foot-2, 265-pound Daryl Worley (6-2, 190, Fr.) Linebackers – West Virginia is mixsophomore from Miami, Fla., was credPlayers listed alphabetically ing and matching linebackers, and the ited with four stops. Neither recorded a

entire two-deep still is in flux. It’s not a matter of numbers, as there are as many as 12 linebackers competing for the eight twodeep spots at the four linebacker positions. There is also plenty of experience among those dozen players, as nine of them have played significant snaps for WVU in the past and seven have started a game at some point in their career. Senior Doug Rigg (18 career starts) and sophomore Isaiah Bruce (12 starts last year as a redshirt freshman) are the most experienced of the bunch, but guys like Jared Barber (six career starts), Tyler Anderson (one career start), Wes Tonkery (one career start) and Nick Kwiatkoski (one career start) also have plenty of playing time, plus some starting experience, on their resume.

On top of those nine, three newcomers are also pushing for playing time – juco transfer Brandon Golson and a pair of true freshmen, Al-Rasheed Benton and Hodari Christian.

Darwin Cook

There are a lot of decisions still to be made in terms of how the linebacker two-deep will look, but the one guy who will almost certainly see his name with the first unit is Bruce, who was WVU’s second leading tackler last year with 94 stops.

But even Bruce may undergo some change. In West Virginia’s defensive alignment, there are two inside linebackers (known as the Sam and the Will) and two outside linebacker (Spur and Buck). Bruce spent all last season playing inside linebacker, usually at the Sam. But in preseason camp, Bruce has seen increasingly more time on the outside at the Spur. The 6-foot-1, 231-pound sophomore from Jacksonville, Fla., certainly runs well enough to play the Spur, where he’ll be involved in more pass coverage and blitzes than he would inside, and he’s also smart enough to understand all the assignments that go with playing multiple positions.

The decision on what linebacker spot Bruce ultimately plays actually will have more to do with what the WVU coaches want from those around him. In their effort to get their four best linebackers on the field at the same time, the decision will be more about whether inside ‘backers Jared Barber, Nick Kwiatkoski and/or Doug Rigg are among those top four, or if Spur Wes Tonkery in that quartet. WVU’s starting Will, Sam and Spur will likely come from this group. The only question is where do the Mountaineers use Bruce and who will be the other two to start along side him. The Buck linebacker spot calls for a slightly different skill set, and Golson, as well as Dozie Ezemma and Tyler August 24, 2013 — BLUE & GOLD NEWS — Page 11

Defensive outlook Anderson, are working there.

Only senior safety Darwin Cook has more game experience than Rigg. A 6-foot-1, 237-pound fourth-year senior from Oradell, N.J., Rigg has played in every game for WVU since arriving on campus prior to the start of the 2010 season, except for two games he missed as a sophomore when he was banged up. He started nine games as a sophomore and nine more as a junior, when he was the team’s fifth-leading tackler with 58 stops. More of a run-stopper than pass defender, Rigg has played the Will linebacker in the past but normally lines up at the Sam now.

Barber is much like Rigg in many ways, right down to the size, where the junior from Mocksville, N.C., is 6-foot-1, 233 pounds. Like Rigg, Barber is probably better against the run, as he recorded 34 tackles last year, when he started four games.

Kwiatkoski, a 6-foot-2, 232-pound sophomore from Bethel Park, Pa., is probably the best athlete of this trio of inside ‘backers. Kwiatkoski arrived at WVU as a strong safety but moved down to linebacker while redshirting in his initial season with the Mountaineers in 2011. He played in 12 games last season as a redshirt freshman, starting one and recording 28 tackles as well as three pass breakups.

Shaq Petteway is also very much in the mix for playing time at one of the inside linebacker spots. Though a high school linebacker, Petterway, a 6-foot0, 225-pound junior from Steubenville, Ohio, played safety as a true freshman at WVU in 2011. He saw game action Shaq at the bandit safety that year and was Petteway heavily used on special teams, finishing with eight tackles in all. He moved back to linebacker prior to last season, bouncing between what was then called the Star (now Spur), as well as the Sam and even the Buck. He never started a game at any of them but did see a good bit of action on the defense, and was again a special teams standout, combining for 42 tackles in all.

Redshirt freshman Sean Walters, another converted safety, and true freshman Al-Rasheed Benton, also are battling for a spot on the depth chart at inside linebacker. Another true freshman linebacker, Darrien Howard, had wanted to join the Mountaineers for preseason camp, but NCAA Clearinghouse issues kept him out for the entire stretch. WVU coaches still hope that he’ll be admitted, but even if he does get into school at this late date, his opportunities to earn playing time this season have probably slipped by, and he’d likely be redshirted.

At the Spur, Bruce appears to be the first option, though Wes Tonkery could very well end up the starter there if Patterson decides the defense is better with Bruce inside. Another in the line of converted safeties, Tonkery is a 6-foot-2, 222-pound junior who also played running back for Bridgeport (W.Va.) High School. After a redshirt year in 2010, Tonkery saw time on special teams and at bandit safety as a redshirt freshman. He spent most of that season backing up Terence Garvin, but when Garvin was forced to miss the Orange Bowl with an injury, Tonkery got the start in that memorable victory over Clemson. When WVU converted from the 3-3-5 odd stack to the 3-4 last season, Tonkery moved from bandit safety to Star linebacker, though in reality, the positions weren’t that much different. He again backed up Garvin, recording 10 tacles and an interception along the way. This year his position is now called Spur, and Page 12 — BLUE & GOLD NEWS — August 24, 2013

WVU defensive stats through the years Year/Rec.

Rush Def

Pass Def Sacks 3rd-Dn % Total Def

1986/4-7 193.1 188.5 28 44.8 1987/6-6 144.5 135.5 27 40.1 1988/11-1 147.5 152.4 44 44.8 1989/8-3-1 128.2 203.9 39 34.8 1990/4-7 129.0 191.9 22 39.5 1991/6-5 156.1 174.0 23 35.2 1992/5-4-2 153.1 219.9 18 38.6 1993/11-1 127.0 235.1 27 39.6 1994/7-6 115.6 231.3 36 40.7 1995/5-6 135.0 164.5 34 33.1 1996/8-4 61.5 157.5 59 24.7 1997/7-5 137.5 223.4 46 38.9 1998/8-4 171.3 179.5 38 34.5 1999/4-7 192.0 218.4 24 35.3 2000/7-5 142.3 245.9 31 33.1 2001/3-8 213.2 136.7 24 32.6 2002/9-4 115.8 215.1 16 35.7 2003/8-5 130.7 249.8 16 35.0 2004/8-4 126.5 202.0 24 38.8 2005/11-1 109.7 201.1 29 36.9 2006/11-2 93.3 243.3 31 41.2 2007/11-2 112.9 188.8 40 36.0 2008/9-4 131.6 197.3 25 42.0 2009/9-4 126.7 209.8 29 32.3 2010/9-4 86.5 174.6 45 26.3 2011/10-3 144.8 203.5 31 35.8 2012/7-6 159.9 313.7 23 45.9

Score Def

381.6 26.0 280.0 17.6 299.9 17.3 332.1 18.4 320.9 19.7 325.4 20.4 373.0 21.6 362.1 17.7 346.9 22.0 299.5 19.1 217.5 12.4 350.9 23.3 350.8 22.3 410.4 26.5 388.2 29.7 349.9 24.4 330.8 21.2 380.4 21.3 328.5 19.6 310.8 17.8 336.6 21.7 301.7 18.1 328.9 17.0 336.5 21.7 261.1 13.5 347.2 26.8 473.6 38.1

with Garvin having graduated, and playing with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tonkery is attempting to earn a starting job.

Hodari Christian, a 6-foot-0, 218-pound true freshman, also could be in the mix at the Spur. The McKeesport, Pa., native graduated from high school a semester early, allowing him to get a jumpstart on his college career by enrolling at WVU this past January. Quiet as a mouse off the field, he made some noise in spring practice and could earn some playing time this fall.

Junior college transfer d’Vante Henry could also have been part of the picture at the Spur. The 6-foot-5, 205-pounder junior arrived at WVU from Arizona Western College earlier in the summer. He worked out with the team through most of June and July but returned home to Moore, Okla., for what was described as a “personal issue” shortly before the start of preseason camp. He never participated in any of the camp practices, and his status with the club remains unclear.

One junior college transfer who did arrive at WVU for camp was Brandon Golson. A product of Georgia Military College, where he was a teammate of current Mountaineer receiver Mario Alford, the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Golson is an extremely athletic linebacker who could potentially provide a huge impact at the Buck linebacker. Golson has the speed and strength to be an excellent pass rusher, as he showed at Calhoun (S.C.) High School, where he had 30 sacks in his junior and senior seasons. But he’s also athletic enough to drop into pass coverage, providing West Virginia with the exact skills it needs at the Buck. Golson arrived at WVU just a week before the start of preseason camp, so he didn’t have the advantage of learning much about the defensive system before he hit the practice field in August. If he can figure things out, Golson very well could be West Virginia’s starting Buck, but if he wants to be an every down player, he’ll have to pick things up quickly.

The Mountaineers do have a couple nice backup options at the Buck if Golson doesn’t work out. Dozie Ezemma played in 12 games last year, primarily in pass rushing situations, and recorded five tackles and one sack. The 6-foot-2, 235-pound senior from Pomona, N.Y., started his college career at Division II New Haven and spent two seasons playing for the Chargers. But he decided he wanted to try the FBS level, and he came to WVU as a walk-on in 2011. He sat out as a transfer that first year before working his way into the lineup as a pass rush specialist last year. Now a fifth-year senior, Ezemma’s best attribute is still getting after the quarterback, though he’s improved his all-around game.

Tyler Anderson, another former walk-on, also can help at the Buck. The 6-foot-2, 244-pound senior from Morgantown also has seen practice time during this camp at inside linebacker.

He’s versatile enough and smart enough to lend a hand at whatever position is necessary. In his career, Anderson has totaled 32 tackles, and he also had an interception last season against James Madison.

Jewone Snow also could factor in at the Buck or one of the inside linebacker positions. But his health situation has left his status in doubt. After starting seven games at middle linebacker for WVU as a redshirt freshman in 2011, recording 42 tackles along the way, shoulder injuries have severely hampered Snow ever since. He only played in a few games last season, and his status for this coming year remains in doubt, as he still is battling injury.

Defensive outlook

WVU's defense allowed more points last year (38.1 per game) than any season in its history Bell, who has 24 career tackles to his credit, appears to be in line for a starting job at the boundary corner.

The 6-foot-0, 182-pound Banks, a junior from Richmond, Va., always was a natural corner, though he did see some playing time at safety last year when the depth in that unit became perilously thin. He did start four games at cornerback in 2012 and played in 11 games in all, as he finished with 20 tackles. He now appears to have the leg up on the starting job at the field corner.

Those starting cornerback spots aren’t cemented just yet, though.

Fifth-year senior Brodrick Jenkins, who has 11 career starts, is still very much in the mix. The 5-10, 183-pounder from Fort Myers, Fla., has recorded 78 tackles and three interceptions in his career. Avery Williams, a 5-foot-11, 183-pound sophomore from Washington, D.C., also remains in contention. After playing five games as a true freshman in 2011, Williams missed all the 2012 season with a neck injury and took a medical redshirt. Now healthy, he is battling for playing time at cornerback.

The same is true for sophomore Terrell Chestnut and redshirt 1, 195-pound Tyler, who is a native of Lithonia, Ga., has earned Safeties – No starting positions for WVU, on offense or defreshman Brandon Napoleon. After redshirting in 2011, Chestnut fense, are more set in stone than free and boundary safety. Karl high praise from the WVU coaches during camp and seems worked his way into the lineup at the boundary corner position at likely to avoid a redshirt during his rookie season.

Joseph and Darwin Cook return as the starters at those two midseason and eventually earned a starting role. But a knee inIsaac McDonald is another young safety who could have spots. jury a couple plays into the Pinstripe Bowl knocked him out of been in the safety mix. But the 6-foot-5, 205-pound true freshThe biggest question for those positions comes in terms of that game, as well as for all of spring practice. He’s healed now, man from Hialeah, Fla., missed all of preseason camp while he depth, as West Virginia has only one player, K.J. Dillon, with though, and also in the thick of the cornerback fight. So is Napoawaited on the academic green light from the NCAA Clearingsafety experience behind the two returning starters. leon, the 6-foot-0, 178-pounder from Rahway, N.J., who is the Depth may be a concern, but as long as they’re healthy, Cook house. He eventually did gain qualifier status, but it came just as son of former Mountaineer running back Eugene Napoleon. A camp was wrapping up. He’s now enrolled and has started prac- high school quarterback, the younger Napoleon has pleased the and Joseph should give WVU an excellent tandem on the back ticing with the team, but a redshirt would seem likely since he end of the defense.

WVU coaches with his development at cornerback. missed so much time in August.

A 5-foot-10, 200-pound hammer, Joseph won a starting free Six cornerback prospects should be plenty, but another thrust Cornerbacks – Quantity isn’t a problem for the Mountaineers his way into the mix during preseason camp. Daryl Worley was safety role as a true freshman last year. He may have started as at cornerback this year, as there are seven players in contention an outstanding safety and wide receiver at William Penn Charter a youngster, but the Orlando, Fla., native wound up starting all for the two positions. It’s not an overly youthful group either, as 13 games for WVU. He was the team’s leading tackler with 104 in Philly the past few years, and the Mountaineers expected the five of the seven have seen game action in the past. stops and earned freshman All-American honors. Even more is 6-foot-2, 190-pounder would become a safety once he got to But after watching a secondary, particularly the cornerbacks, West Virginia. But after the coaches got a closer look at his size, expected from the hard-hitting Joseph in year two. got roasted so often by opposing passing attacks last year, this Cook’s 2012 season was hampered by an injury, which kept speed and athleticism, they decided to try him at cornerback, area still must be considered a question mark … at least until it him out of the starting lineup for three games and out of action and so far that’s where he’s remained. In fact, even though WVU proves otherwise. completely for one. But in between, the Cleveland, Ohio, nadoesn’t really need another corner, especially a young one, WorWest Virginia actually began preseason camp with eight tive started 10 games and amassed 75 tackles, the fourth most ley has been so good through camp that he may eventually push cornerbacks, but that number dropped to seven when Nana on the team. A 13-game starter in 2011, when his 99-yard fumfor not only playing time but also a starting position as a true ble return for a TD in the Orange Bowl began West Virginia’s av- Kyeremeh was sidelined after a few days with shoulder complifreshman this season. cations. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound sophomore, alanche of points, Cook has played in 38 games in his career, who played in all 13 games last year as a true started 23 (more than any other current Mountaineer) and refreshman, starting one of them, underwent surcorded 169 tackles and three interceptions. Not bad for a high gery and will miss the entire 2013 season. He has school defensive end who didn’t even know how to backpedal a redshirt available, so he’ll be a third-year sophowhen he came to WVU from Shaw High School.

Dillon is listed as the backup to Joseph at the free safety, but more when he returns to action in 2014.

WVU’s first-year assistant coach Brian Mitchthe 6-foot-1, 200-pound sophomore from Apopka, Fla., also could see plenty of action in West Virginia’s nickel and dime de- ell still had plenty of contenders for the cornerback spots, even after the loss of Kyeremeh. fenses. In those scenarios, he’ll likely move down and play the By the time camp concluded, the starting jobs Spur linebacker, helping the Mountaineers in their underneath were being held by players who had each spent coverage or providing another speedy blitzer off the edge. As a true freshman last season, Dillon played in all 13 games, finishing some time at safety in the past – Travis Bell and Travis Bell Ishmael “Icky” Banks. with 20 tackles, most of which came on special teams.

The 6-foot-1, 188-pound Bell, a junior from Belle After Joseph, Cook and Dillon, WVU’s safeties get very young.

Glade, Fla., had played in 24 of West Virginia’s 26 Ricky Rumph is a 5-foot-11, 182-pound sophomore who games as a true freshman and sophomore in 2010 saw action in nine games, totaling nine tackles, as a true freshman last season. But his action in 2012 came at cornerback. The and ’11, all of them at safety. He even started one when Terence Garvin was hurt in 2011. But after Mountaineer coaches moved him to safety early in the preseathree games last season, a shoulder injury sideson camp, so he’s adapting to a new position. lined Bell for the rest of the campaign. He qualiA trio of youngsters – redshirt freshman Jarrod Harper, true fied for a medical redshirt, so he came back as a freshman Malik Greaves and true freshman Jeremy Tyler – fourth-year sophomore this season. He remained also are in the mix for a spot on the depth chart at safety. A reat safety until the last couple days of spring praccord-setting running back from Frostburg, Md., the 6-foot-1, tice, when the coaches decided to try him at cor212-pound Harper has all the tools he needs to be an excelnerback. The switch proved so effective that now lent college safety. All he lacks is game experience. The 6-footAugust 24, 2013 — BLUE & GOLD NEWS — Page 13

Special Teams Outlook

Some awfully big shoes to fill

By Tony Dobies West Virginia has made decent improvements in special in preseason drills; when classes start at the school, teams each year under head coach Dana Holgorsen. that number has no limit). Eventually, when a couple After not being a threat in the return game, Tavon Austin scholarship freshmen position players did get into Josh changed that. The coverage units were once the laughing stock camp prior to the start of the fall semester, WVU did Lambert of the Big East and are now a formidable bunch. The specialists bring Molina in to give him some practice work. But have been the issue, and this year it seems the Mountaineers all indications are that Lambert will handle all the field have an influx of newcomers or inexperience that could provide goals and extra points.

WVU with some potential improvements at those areas.

While all indications point to Lambert being the Placekicker – In 2008 with current Indianapolis Colts punter guy to do all the fields goals and extra points, he has Pat McAfee at the helm for the kicking, punting and kickoff duyet to lockup the kickoff chores. Nick O’Toole and ties, the Mountaineers were one of the best kicking teams in Michael Molinari are each challenging Lambert for the Big East. In that year, McAfee boomed 85 percent of his that duty. field goals through the uprights. He also made all 36 of his extra Punter – This is perhaps the position of most conpoints that season. cern for West Virginia considering it has struggled in Since then, the kicking game hasn’t been the same. that area for the last four years.

In Tyler Bitancurt’s first year on campus, he did well for a In his senior season (2008), McAfee averaged 44.7 freshman. He hit 13-of-15 field goals and didn’t have a kick yards per punt with 25 inside the 20-yard line. In that blocked. It didn’t translate to a successful rest of his career, season, he had 20 punts of more than 50 yards. however.

A year later in 2009, Scott Kozlowski kept the poIn his four years, he was 50-of-73 on field goals (68 percent) – sition basically up to par with McAfee. He averaged a very significant drop from McAfee’s four years on campus. In 44.4 yards per punt and had nearly as many 50-yard addition, Bitancurt had nine field goals blocked. punts. Then it took a significant drop.

Last season alone, Bitancurt was 11-of-19 and could be conThe combination over the last three seasons of Bisidered one of the key reasons why WVU lost to TCU. In that tancurt, Molinari, Gregg Pugnetti and Corey Smith game, Bitancurt missed four of his five field goals (50 yards, 43 was underwhelming. With those four, WVU averaged yards, 55 yards, 36 yards) in the overtime loss.

39.6 yards per punt. In the last two seasons, WVU Bitancurt ranked No. 79 in the country in field goals made per had a combined 25 punts land inside the 20-yard game, but his field goal percentage was among the worst of the line and 15 of more than 50 yards. Compare those to kickers in the top 100.

McAfee’s senior year, and it will give you a good idea Perhaps the biggest knock on Bitancurt was his leg power. of how much the position has struggled.

He wasn’t very consistent or accurate from beyond 45 yards. He Molinari is the only one of those four who returns was 1-of-4 from 45 yards or longer in 2012, forcing the Mounin 2013. Now a junior, the Parkersburg native has taineers’ offense to take more unconventional risks on fourth shown improvement, but is it enough to ultimately downs in that area of the field. win the job?

In fall camp, West Virgnia has had a variety of players reBitancurt has now graduated, and WVU is hoping that it can West Virginia went into the junior college ranks turning punts and/or kickoffs. Receivers Mario Alford, Ronfind a more consistent kicker for the future. It seems from all ac- this past year, and used a scholarship on Nick O’Toole to help counts that it may have done just that. Josh Lambert, a 6-foot-1, solidify the punting. A 6-foot-5, 220-pound sophomore, O’Toole ald Carswell, Shelton Gibson, Vernon Davis, Jacky Marcellus and Jordan Thompson, as well as running backs Charles Sims, 199-pound redshirt freshman from Garland, Texas, has won the played one season at Fullerton College and ranked third in the praise of the Mountaineer coaches throughout preseason camp. California Community College Athletic Association with an aver- Dreamius Smith and Wendell Smallwood, and defensive back Darryl Worley, have been getting most of the practice reps in the while Bitancurt was a senior. age of 41.8 yards per punt and a long of 62 yards. He finished return game.

Lambert has the credentials to be WVU’s kicker for the next that season with 15 punts downed inside the 20-yard line. He The only one out of that group who has returned a kick in a four years. He was a two-year starter at Garland High School also had an illustrious high school punting career at California game for the Mountaineers before is Thompson, who had five and was named All-District 10-5A first-team kicker as a senior. powerhouse Mater Dei. kickoff returns last year for an average of 13.4 yards per try.

He was the Chris Sailer National KickO’Toole hasn’t disappointed in fall The speedy Sims could prove an explosive weapon for WVU ing Event Field Goal Last Man Standing camp, but he’s also not been handed Mountaineer Special Teams the keys to the punting position just yet on kickoff returns, but the fifth-year senior who transferred to champion.

His numbers in high school weren’t either. Molinari is definitely in the mix of West Virginia from Houston never returned any kickoffs or punts Placekickers outstanding (9-of-16 on field goals with the competition, and freshman walk-on during his three seasons of varsity action with the Cougars.

Josh Lambert (6-1, 199, RFr.) Special teams coach Joe DeForest said he would like to have successful kicks from 47, 48 and 51 Houston Syvertson from Shady Spring, Scott Levine (5-11, 190, Fr.) two players for punt returns and four for kickoffs. yards), but he has shown sparks of beW.Va., also has wowed observers at Alex Louthan (5-10, 205, Fr.) Snapper, holder, coverage units – While much of the rest of ing more consistent than those numtimes.

Mike Molina (5-9, 150, Fr.) the special teams unit is changing, the snapper and holder will bers would normally infer.

O’Toole may ultimately win the job, Michael Molinari (5-11, 204, Jr.) Of course, how Lambert will handles but Molinari and Syvertson aren't going be familiar. Molinari will retain the holding duties, a chore he has Punters done without a bobble for the past two years. the pressure of kicking before full stadown without a fight.

Josh Lambert (6-1, 199, RFr.) John DePalma stepped in as a true freshman and handled dium can’t be accurately answered unKick returners – It will be nearly imAlex Louthan (5-10, 205, Fr.) all of WVU’s long snapping. The 6-foot-5, 244-pound sophotil he goes out and performs when the possible to replace Austin as a return Michael Molinari (5-11, 204, Jr.) more from Cumming, Ga., is being backed up by Nick Meadlights are on. specialist. He returned every punt for Nick O’Toole (6-5, 220, So.) ows, a 5-foot-11, 220-pound true freshman walk-on from WilThe Mountaineer coaches had so the Mountaineers last year, averagHouston Syvertson (6-2, 220, Fr.) liamstown, W.Va. much confidence in Lambert that for ing 11.0 yards per try and taking one The coverage teams are still being formed, though last year the first week of preseason camp, he 76 yards for a touchdown. He was also Long Snappers true freshmen Garrett Hope and K.J. Dillon were among the betwas the only placekicker at practice.

WVU’s primary kickoff returner, averJohn DePalma (6-5, 244, So.) ter ones on those units. Those two figure to be key members West Virginia has recruited three walkaging 25.4 yards in that category and Nick Meadows (5-11, 220, Fr.) of most of the special teams phases this year, along with guys ons – Scott Levine, Alex Louthan and bringing one of those back 100 yards Holder like Shaq Petteway, Brodrick Jenkins, Wes Tonkery and Avery Mike Molina – to eventually challenge for a TD. Michael Molinari (5-11, 204, Jr.) Williams. Redshirt freshmen Sean Walters, Brandon Napoleon Lambert, but WVU didn’t want to take This year, West Virginia may have a and Jarrod Harper also will likely factor into these special teams up a camp spot (by NCAA rule, only return-by-committee strategy unless a Players listed alphabetically units as well.

105 players are allowed to participate player or two steps up.

Page 14 — BLUE & GOLD NEWS — August 24, 2013

The Second time through the big 12

By Matt Keller & Cam Huffman But before one dashes off to fret opener is against William & Mary, an While the buzz and excitement is over the challenges – and there are FCS program that went just 2-9 last decidedly less than it was for Wes many – in a rebuilding year, consider season. Kansas, in its second seaVirginia’s inaugural run through the Big 12 Conference, there’s still much that the last four times Holgorsen has son under Charlie Weis, should be had, as an assistant, to replace the improved, though the overwhelmto embrace about the 2013 football majority of his offensive yards, his ing question is to what degree, and schedule. teams have churned out 11 (OklaMaryland, off a 2-10 year, figures to First, all six home games are be better as well. against foes that have never played at homa State, 2010), eight (Houston, As for individual talent, West Virnew Mountaineer Field. And of those, 2008), eight (Texas Tech, 2006) and nine (Texas Tech, 2005) wins. Holginia will match-up against a pair only Oklahoma State and William & Mary have ever appeared in Morgan- gorsen has always referred to his sys- of big-time receivers in Oklahoma tem as a plug-and-play, meaning the State’s Josh Stewart and Tracey town at all.

Mountaineers will plug in new players Moore and a running back in Baylor’s West Virginia gets marquee home and simply keep rolling – or so goes Lache Seastrunk who has already contests against conference favorthe idea. The specialists should be predicted he would win the Heisman iteOklahoma State and also Texas, Trophy. The Mountaineers get anand it hosts a Thanksgiving weekend better and the defense should, pregame against Iowa State that should dictably, make major strides in cover- other chance to see if they can stop age and overall ability under new co- the Longhorns’ defensive end Jackmake for a bundle’em-up ending. son Jeffcoat off the edge – remember Eight bowl teams dot the slate, and ordinator Keith Patterson.

Consider, too, that one team, Geno Smith’s fumbles at Texas last the third and seventh winningest proGeorgia State, is playing its inauguseason – and see if they can again grams of all-time in Texas and Oklaral season at the FBS level after gocreate some magic as it did last year homa essentially bookend a nineing 2-10 last year, and the home in front of the largest crowd in UT games-in-10-weeks march that will history and winning at determine whether night on the road. head coach Dana HolBig 12 Preseason Media Poll Or going to Oklagorsen’s third team can Rank, Team (1st place votes) Points homa 31 years to the exceed perhaps the 1. Oklahoma St. (15)....365 week when West Virlowest expectations in 2. Oklahoma (8)............355 ginia pulled what lega decade. Many, if not endary WVU head most, pundits and pre3. TCU (9).....................347 coach Don Nehlen dictions call for WVU’s 4. Texas (8)...................337 called the victory that streak of 11 consec5. Baylor (2)..................282 put his program on utive bowl games to 6. Kansas State (1).......240 the map, in 1982. The end, and it could cer7. Texas Tech................161 Mountaineers will be tainly be jeopardized 8. West Virginia............126 trying to pull off a similar by that gamut, one in 9. Iowa State..................96 upset that would likely which the Mountain10. Kansas.....................56 vault this arguably uneers must play four derrated team into the preseason top 25 proWVU’s Preseason National Team Rankings Top 25, and the national grams. The Big 12 foes • no top 25 preseason rankings consciousness. combined for a 75-53 In all, it shapes up to record last year, and WVU’s Big 12 Preseason Predictions be one of those most only Kansas’ 1-11 mark th • 6 (USA Today magazine) Mountaineer-like of seakept that from being • 7th (Football Outsiders, Gold Sheet, College Football sons, the ones in which a robust 74-42 (63.8) Matrix) West Virginia, underwinning percentage.

• 8th (Athlon, Phil Steele, Compughter Rankings, Pick dog and undervalued, Every Big 12 school Six) comes out of nowhere but the Jayhawks went • 9th (Lindy, The Sporting News, Arena Fanatic) and presents itself as a bowling last year, a legitimate team, carrynine-for-10 ratio that is • 10th (McIllece Sports, Cap Heresy) ing with it the hopes of a unprecedented in colWVU Individual Preseason Honors state and, maybe more lege football history. In • Isaiah Bruce: third-team all-Big 12 (Phil Steele’s) importantly, the expecall, four of WVU’s 2013 tations of nobody but • Andrew Buie: third-team all-Big 12 (Phil Steele’s) foes (Texas, Oklahoma, themselves.

TCU and Maryland), • Will Clarke: third-team all-Big 12 (Phil Steele’s) So sit back and enjoy have won Associated • Karl Joseph: second-team all-Big 12 (Phil Steele’s) as we bring you a quick Press national titles, • Charles Sims: Big 12 Preseason Newcomer of the team-by-team look into and another, Oklahoma Year what awaits in 2013.

State, came within a • Quinton Spain: third-team all-Big 12 (Phil Steele’s) The schedule’s already game of playing in the • Jordan Thompson: fourth-team all-Big 12 (Phil made; the memories are BCS title game just two Steele’s) yet to come. years ago.

opponent previews

William & Mary

Oklahoma

Aug. 31 in Morgantown, W.Va.

Sept. 7 in Norman, Okla.

2012 record: 2-9 2013 Schedule Aug. 31............ at West Virginia Sept. 7........................Hampton Sept. 14................. at Lafayette Sept. 21............... Rhode Island Oct. 5......................at Villanova Oct. 12..............................Penn Oct. 19........................ at Maine Oct. 26............. James Madison Nov. 2..............New Hampshire Nov. 9.................... at Delaware Nov. 16......................... Towson Nov. 23................. at Richmond Head coach: Jimmye Laycock

(William & Mary, '70) Laycock's record at W&M:

215-160-2 in 32 seasons Lettermen returning: 40 Starters returning: 17

(8 off., 7 def., 2 spec.)

W&M's record vs. WVU: 0-15-1 Last meeting: WVU, 49-34, '72

2012 record: 10-3 (Cotton Bowl) 2013 Schedule Aug. 31........ Louisiana-Monroe Sept. 7................. West Virginia Sept. 14............................Tulsa Sept. 28.............at Notre Dame Oct. 5.................................TCU Oct. 12................ vs. Texas (Dallas) Oct. 19...................... at Kansas Oct. 26.................... Texas Tech Nov. 7......................... at Baylor Nov. 16.................... Iowa State Nov. 23............at Kansas State Dec. 7......... at Oklahoma State Head coach: Bob Stoops

(Iowa, '83) Stoops' record at OU:

139-34 in 13 seasons Lettermen returning: 45 Starters returning: 12

(7 off., 4 def., 1 spec.)

OU's record vs. WVU: 3-2 Last meeting: OU, 50-49, '12

Like West Virginia, the Tribe might not settle its quarterback battle until the season-opener, if then.

Brent Caprio and Mike Graham are still locked in a battle for the QB job at the FCS program, with Caprio seeming the surer bet because of his consistency. The spot hasn’t produced well in recent years, and could again struggle, as the Tribe rebuild off a 2-9 season in which they averaged 21 ppg.

The offensive line, paced by center Matt Crisafi – a starter for 29 straight games – has been hurt by inconsistency and a backfield that, again like West Virginia, is shuffling players.

Darnell Lewis (power) and Keith McBride (balance) should get majority carries, with Mikal Abdul Saboor trying to break into a starting role off a decent frosh season (242 yds). Receiver Tre McBride (6-1, 200 lbs.) is the marquee threat off an All-CAA sophomore season (897 yds, 10 TDs).

Defensively, linebacker Luke Rhodes (72 tackles as a freshman) and tackle George Beerhalter give W&M strength in the middle. Physical safety Jerome Couplin led conference defensive backs with 91 tackles and will anchor the backfield with corner DeAndre Houston-Carson. The latter comes off 11 starts as a freshman and blends size (6-1, 205 lbs.) and speed.

Not since 2007 has Oklahoma entered the season with such an unproven quarterback.

Of course, that was the year when the Sooners earned a spot in a BCS bowl under future NFL player Sam Bradford, only to be crushed by West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl.

Now, Oklahoma tries to shift from a pocket passer in Landry Jones, who is now with the Pittsburgh Steelers, to Tebow-esque quarterback Blake Bell (6-6, 263 lbs.). The Belldozer will settle into an offense that figures to throw far fewer times than it did last season against the Mountaineers, when Jones set a school record with 554 yards in a 50-49, last-minute victory in Morgantown.

Running back Damien Williams (5-11, 211 lbs.) mixes speed and strength and should be the feature guy, with fullback Trey Millard also a major possibility for significant carries because of an inexperienced line that comes off a season in which it was battered and beaten quite often.

Wideouts Sterling Shepard (621 yds.) and Trey Metoyer (259 yds.) are solid, and mixed with Jalen Saunders (62 rec.) should be stout.

Defensively, Oklahoma was the weakest it has been in years, finishing 64th in total defense and No. 50 in scoring. Recruiting focus was on the line.

Placeicker Michael Hunnicut is a proven commodity.

August 24, 2013 — BLUE & GOLD NEWS — Page 15

Opponent previews

Georgia State

Maryland

Oklahoma State

Baylor

Texas Tech

Sept. 14 in Morgantown, W.Va.

Sept. 21 in Baltimore, Md.

Sept. 28 in Morgantown, W.Va.

Oct. 5 in Waco, Texas

Oct. 19 in Morgantown, W.Va.

2012 record: 1-10 2013 Schedule Aug. 30........................Samford Sept. 7..................Chattanooga Sept. 14........... at West Virginia Sept. 21....... Jacksonville State Oct. 5...................... at Alabama Oct. 12............................... Troy Oct. 19............... at Texas State Oct. 26..... at Louisiana-Monroe Nov. 2.......... Western Kentucky Nov. 16......Louisiana-Lafayette Nov. 23......... at Arkansas State Nov. 30.............South Alabama Head coach: Trent Miles

(Indiana State, '87) Miles record at GSU:

first season Lettermen returning: 46 Starters returning: 16

(7 off., 7 def., 2 spec.)

GSU record vs. WVU: 0-0 Last meeting: have never met

2012 record: 2-10 2013 Schedule Aug. 31..... Florida International Sept. 7................ Old Dominion Sept. 14............. at Connecticut Sept. 21....vs. W. Virginia (Baltimore) Oct. 5................at Florida State Oct. 12.......................... Virginia Oct. 19.............. at Wake Forest Oct. 26........................ Clemson Nov. 9........................ Syracuse Nov. 16.............at Virginia Tech Nov. 23.............Boston College Nov. 30.................at N.C. State Head coach: Randy Edsall

(Syracuse, '80) Edsall's record at UM:

2-10 in 1 season Lettermen returning: 37 Starters returning: 14

(7 off., 5 def., 2 spec.)

UM's record vs. WVU: 21-26-2 Last meeting: WVU, 31-21, '12

2012 record: 8-5 (Heart of Dallas Bowl) 2013 Schedule Aug. 31..... vs. Miss. State (Houston) Sept. 7......... at UT-San Antonio Sept. 14.......................... Lamar Sept. 28........... at West Virginia Oct. 5...................Kansas State Oct. 19...............................TCU Oct. 26................. at Iowa State Nov. 2................. at Texas Tech Nov. 9........................... Kansas Nov. 16........................at Texas Nov. 23........................... Baylor Dec. 7.......................Oklahoma Head coach: Mike Gundy

(Oklahoma State, '90) Gundy's record at OSU:

59-30 in 7 seasons Lettermen returning: x45 Starters returning: 14

(7 off., 7 def., 0 spec.)

OSU's record vs. WVU: 2-2 Last meeting: OSU, 55-34, '12

2012 record: 8-5 (Holiday Bowl) 2013 Schedule Aug. 31.........................Wofford Sept. 7........................... Buffalo Sept. 21....... Louisiana-Monroe Oct. 5................... West Virginia Oct. 12.............at Kansas State Oct. 19..................... Iowa State Oct. 26...................... at Kansas Nov. 7.......................Oklahoma Nov. 16.... vs. Texas Tech (Arlington) Nov. 23....... at Oklahoma State Nov. 30..........................at TCU Dec. 7..............................Texas Head coach: Art Briles

(Texas Tech, '79) Briles' record at BU:

23-25 in 5 seasons Lettermen returning: 47 Starters returning: 15

(6 off., 7 def., 2 spec.)

BU's record vs. WVU: 0-1 Last meeting: WVU, 70-63, '12

2012 record: 8-5 (Meineke Bowl) 2013 Schedule Aug. 30......................... at SMU Sept. 7.......... Stephen F. Austin Sept. 12.............................TCU Sept. 21................. Texas State Oct. 5........................ at Kansas Oct. 12..................... Iowa State Oct. 19............. at West Virginia Oct. 26..................at Oklahoma Nov. 2............. Oklahoma State Nov. 9..................Kansas State Nov. 16............ vs. Baylor (Arlington) Nov. 28........................at Texas Head coach: Kliff Kingsbury

(Texas Tech, '02) Kingsbury's record at TTU:

0-0, first season Lettermen returning: 53 Starters returning: 15

(5 off., 8 def., 2 spec.)

TTU's record vs. WVU: 1-1 Last meeting: TTU, 49-14, '12

The Panthers come off a 1-10 season, and have taken a pair of payday games against WVU and Alabama in the first six weeks of their initial year in the FBS. In just its fourth season of football, GSU figures to be somewhat improved with a solid offensive line and Kentucky transfer Alex Smith at tight end.

The quarterback play remains in flux, with Ben McLane, Ronnie Bell and Clay Chastain battling.

Chastain is the expected starter, and will rely on back Travis Evans sans a legit go-to wideout.

Defensively, Georgia State, which is based in Atlanta, is dotted with transfers from higher-level schools. The line, beat up much of last year, should be improved and must take some pressure off undersized linebackers.

The back of the 4-3 set includes three seniors, led by corners Brent McClendon and Jamal Ransby.

Both are shorter than 5-10 and should have difficulty matching up versus the Mountaineer passing game.

Georgia State is clearly overwhelmed talent-wise, but has nowhere to go but up after a season of injuries and youth. This should be the easiest game on the slate for the Mountaineers, and comes at a nice time.

The Terps struggled with injuries last season, but do return 12 starters.

No position was hit harder than quarterback, where C.J. Brown (6-3, 210 lbs.) now looks to be the starter, beating out Perry Hills and Ricardo Young. The senior has five career starts and threw for 842 yards last season.

Brandon Ross and Albert Reid (a one-time WVU commit) figure to share the running back chores now that probable starter Wes Brown is suspended for a year following an offseason arrest.

Maryland does boast two solid receivers in Stefon Diggs (848 yds., 15.7 ypc last year) and Deon Long, a junior college transfer who originally signed with West Virginia before attending New Mexico, then dropping down a level. Long led the juco ranks with 1,625 receiving yards and 25 touchdownss last year, and he has the physical tools to play at a high level.

The defense lost both ends and needs shored up its linebacking corps, but the backend is solid with corners Jeremiah Johnson and Dexter McDougle.

Injuries and lack of consistency also hurt special teams last year.

Maryland should be much improved with another year of experience and the very dangerous return ability of Diggs.

The Big 12 preseason favorite, OSU has the depth and talent to make another major bowl run despite a quarterback battle that could rage all season.

It doesn’t seem to matter much, as the quarterback corps has had the Midas touch in the past. Clint Chelf and J.W. Walsh are fighting for the spot, and both could play this season.

The offense, which has scored 30 points in 30 of its last 31 games, should keep rolling with Josh Stewart (15.3 ypc), Tracy Moore (1,067 yds.) and Charlie Moore all taller, experienced receivers. Add in a line that continues to perform despite losing NFL draft picks and a backfield that is trying for its seventh straight season with a 1,000-yard rusher (expect Scout.com top 30 power back Josh Stewart to start), and the Cowboys are arguably the top offense in the conference.

The specialists are, for the first time in awhile, unproven with kicker Bob Stonebraker and punter Mike Reichenstein replacing the excellent Quinn Sharp.

The pass defense should improve (No 110 last year), but the line loses three starters, and despite a plethora of seniors, there isn’t much reason to believe OSU can consistently stop most league offenses.

The Bears return 12 starters and welcome arguably the finest tandem of preseason skill position players in back Lache Seastrunk and receiver Tevin Reese.

Seastrunk ran for 1,012 yards last year and mixes well with bulldozer Glasco Martin (6-1, 220 lbs.), a change-up back.

Reese is a smallish at 5-foot-10 but has 4.31 speed and benefits from Art Briles’ spread ystem, much like touted frosh Robbie Rhoades.

Four of five ofensive line starters are gone, but the left side strength should help quarterback Bryce Petty (6-3, 225 lbs.) as the junior becomes the latest NFL-sized signalcaller to ride the system’s wave to excellent production.

The defense, which has allowed an average of 30 points the last three years – 37.2 the last two seasons – should get a better rush and has experience throughout.

Penn State transfer Shawn Oakman will help at DE, and the linebackers have increased speed with Sam Holl and Eddie Lackey.

The secondary allowed 324 yards per game and a 62.7 completion percentage in 2012. Safety Ahmad Dixon and corner Joe Williams are the anchors.

Both kickers are back, along with gifted return men Antwan Goodley and Levi Norwood.

The youngest head coach of a BCS football program, Kliff Kingsbury is bringing the Air Raid style back to his alma mater, where he played under guys like Mike Leach and Dana Holgorsen.

After an 8-5 season last year under now-Cincinnati coach Tommy Tuberville — one that included losses in four of the last six games — the Red Raiders’ first assignment is to find a quarterback to replace Seth Doege.

Sophomore Michael Brewer, who has battled injuries during ball camp, and true freshman Davis Webb are the top two candidates.

Brewer was the backup behind Doege last season, throwing for 375 yards and four touchdowns.

The starter will have some proven targets in Eric Ward (1,053 yards and 12 touchdowns last year) and speedster Jace Amaro.

The biggest question marks come on the offensive line, where a pair of sophomores and a redshirt freshman will be among the starters, and the secondary. The Red Raiders will have to replace D.J. Johnson and Cody Davis, two solid defensive backs, from a defense that wasn’t exactly stingy against the pass in 2012.

Texas Tech will be able to throw the football, but can it stop opponents from doing the same?

Page 16 — BLUE & GOLD NEWS — August 24, 2013

opponent previews

Kansas State

TCU

Texas

Kansas

Iowa State

Oct. 26 in Manhattan, Kan.

Nov. 2 in Fort Worth, Texas

Nov. 9 in Morgantown, W.Va.

Nov. 16 in Lawrence, Kan.

Nov. 30 in Morgantown, W.Va.

2012 record: 11-2 (Fiesta Bowl) 2013 Schedule Aug. 30................ North Dakota Sept. 7.......Louisiana-Lafayette Sept. 14............ Massachusetts Sept. 21.......................at Texas Oct. 5.......... at Oklahoma State Oct. 12............................ Baylor Oct. 26................. West Virginia Nov. 2...................... Iowa State Nov. 9................. at Texas Tech Nov. 16..............................TCU Nov. 23.....................Oklahoma Nov. 30..................... at Kansas Head coach: Bill Snyder

(William Jewell, '63) Snyder's record at KSU:

159-83-1 in 22 seasons Lettermen returning: 42 Starters returning: 8

(7 off., 1 def., 0 spec.)

KSU's record vs. WVU: 2-1 Last meeting: KSU, 55-14, '12

2012 record: 7-6 (Wild Wings Bowl) 2013 Schedule Aug. 31............... vs. LSU (Arlington) Sept. 7................. SE Louisiana Sept. 12.............. at Texas Tech Sept. 28............................ SMU Oct. 5....................at Oklahoma Oct. 12.......................... Kansas Oct. 19........ at Oklahoma State Oct. 26.............................Texas Nov. 2.................. West Virginia Nov. 9.................. at Iowa State Nov. 16............at Kansas State Nov. 30........................... Baylor Head coach: Gary Patterson

(Kansas State, '83) Patterson's record at TCU:

109-30 in 11 seasons Lettermen returning: 43 Starters returning: 16

(6 off., 9 def., 2 spec.)

TCU's record vs. WVU: 1-1 Last meeting: TCU, 39-382OT, '12

2012 record: 9-4 (Alamo Bowl) 2013 Schedule Aug. 31........ New Mexico State Sept. 7...........................at BYU Sept. 14...................... Ole Miss Sept. 21...............Kansas State Oct. 3................... at Iowa State Oct. 12......... vs. Oklahoma (Dallas) Oct. 26...............................TCU Nov. 2........................... Kansas Nov. 9.............. at West Virginia Nov. 16........... Oklahoma State Nov. 28................... Texas Tech Dec. 7......................... at Baylor Head coach: Mack Brown

(Florida State, '74) Brown's record at UT:

141-39 in 14 seasons Lettermen returning: 53 Starters returning: 20

(10 off., 9 def., 1 spec.)

UT's record vs. WVU: 0-2 Last meeting: WVU, 48-45, '12

2012 record: 1-11 2013 Schedule Sept. 7................ South Dakota Sept. 14......................... at Rice Sept. 21............ Louisiana Tech Oct. 5...................... Texas Tech Oct. 12...........................at TCU Oct. 19......................Oklahoma Oct. 26............................ Baylor Nov. 2..........................at Texas Nov. 9......... at Oklahoma State Nov. 16................ West Virginia Nov. 23................ at Iowa State Nov. 30................Kansas State Head coach: Charlie Weis

(Notre Dame, '78) Weis' record at KU:

first season Lettermen returning: 33 Starters returning: 13

(5 off., 6 def., 2 spec.)

KU's record vs. WVU: 0-2 Last meeting: WVU, 59-10, '12

2012 record: 6-7 (Liberty Bowl) 2013 Schedule Aug. 31...............Northern Iowa Sept. 14.............................Iowa Sept. 26........................at Tulsa Oct. 3...............................Texas Oct. 12................ at Texas Tech Oct. 19........................ at Baylor Oct. 26............ Oklahoma State Nov. 2..............at Kansas State Nov. 9................................TCU Nov. 16.................at Oklahoma Nov. 23......................... Kansas Nov. 30............ at West Virginia Head coach: Paul Rhodes

(Missouri Western, '89) Rhodes' record at ISU:

18-20 in 3 seasons Lettermen returning: 36 Starters returning: 11

(5 off., 4 def., 2 spec.)

ISU's record vs. WVU: 0-1 Last meeting: WVU, 31-24, '12

Notre Dame transfer Dayne Crist didn’t pan out well for Kansas head coach Charlie Weis under center. The former blue chip quarterback threw more interceptions than touchdowns in 2012, and he spent most of the latter part of the season standing on the sidelines.

Weis is hoping BYU transfer Jake Heaps won’t follow that same path.

Heaps, who set BYU freshman records in passing yards, touchdowns and wins in 2010, will try to help turn around a KU team that finished 1-11 last season.

Michael Cummings, a mobile quarterback who showed some positive signs when replacing Crist at the end of the year, is also in the mix.

Justin McCay, a former Oklahoma receiver who had to sit out last season as a transfer, should help. He has big play potential and became familiar with the offense last year on the Kansas scout team.

Senior Jayhawk running back James Sims, who led the Big 12 in rushing last year with 1,013 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground, despite missing three games with a suspension, is also a huge weapon and an NFL prospect.

On defense, the Jayhawks will run almost entirely out of nickel and dime packages, hoping to combat the offenses in the Big 12. KU gave up 36.1 points a game in 2012.

The Horned Frogs’ first year in the Big 12 wasn’t without its challenges. TCU finished 7-6, its lowest win total in eight years.

But with a freshman quarterback who won three conference games on the road back in the mix, many feel that veteran head coach Gary Patterson is poised to put his team back in the position it enjoyed for much of its time in the Mountain West Conference — on top.

While most teams in the Big 12 are looking for a QB with any experience, TCU actually has two. Trevone Boykin threw for 2,054 yards and 15 TDs as a freshman, and he didn’t even play the full season. Casey Pachall actually started the first four games of the year and won them all before leaving the school and entering a treatment program after being arrested for driving under the influence. Pachall, who is 15-2 as the starter for the Horned Frogs, was back in time for spring drills and will likely get his old job back.

Defensive end Devonte Fields, one of the top defenders in the league, will also be back on the field after he serves a two-game suspension.

In the scoreboard-busting Big 12, TCU is the one team that emphasizes defense, allowing just 22.6 points a game last season

The eyes of Texas are definitely upon head coach Mack Brown.

After winning a national title in 2005 and losing in the BCS Championship game in 2009, Brown’s Longhorns have gone 5-7, 8-5 and 9-4 the last three seasons, and UT fans are getting restless.

Brown, though, seems confident that with 19 starters returning, the most of any FBS squad, from a Longhorn team that played well down the stretch and beat Oregon State in the Alamo Bowl, he can field a club that lives up to the expectations of Texas football.

He has some experience at quarterback, where David Ash, who averaged 224.9 passing yards a game last year, has started 18 games since being thrown to the wolves as a freshman. Ash, though, didn’t have a great spring, and Case McCoy, the brother of Texas legend Colt McCoy, is still waiting for another shot.

Manny Diaz didn’t have a great debut in his first year as the Longhorns’ defensive coordinator, as UT allowed 29.2 points per game. But the group did play better late in the year, and it will have nine starters back, including Jackson Jeffcoat, one of the league’s top pass rushers.

Defensive end Alex Okafor is now in the NFL, as is safety Kenny Vaccaro, and those will be two important holes to plug.

Kansas State appears to have some holes, but it’s not easy to count the Wildcats out after they surprised everybody by winning a Big 12 title in 2012.

Like many teams in the conference, K-State is searching for a quarterback to replace Heisman finalist Collin Klein.

Daniel Sams, the backup to Klein last year, is feeling some heat from junior college transfer Jake Waters.

Sams, though, is a dual-threat guy who could run a similar attack to the one Klein perfected.

There’s also a major void to fill on defense in the form of Arthur Brown, a linebacker who was drafted in the second round by the Baltimore Ravens.

Bill Snyder, the Wildcats’ 73-year-old head coach, has proven his ability to reload in the past, and he has used the junior college route to find immediate help in the past.

He also has a solid running back in senior John Hubert, who could take some of the pressure off of K-State’s first-year signalcaller.

Hubert rushed for 947 yards, the fourth most in the Big 12, and 15 touchdowns last season, averaging five yards per carry.

On defense, senior safety Ty Zimmerman will have to become a leader.

The Cyclones have been competitive every season since Paul Rhoads took over as Iowa State’s head coach in 2009, but they still haven’t put any consistent pressure on the teams at the top of the Big 12.

They finished 6-7 in each of the last two seasons, and this time around they’ll have to replace 11 starters, the most of any Big 12 teams.

Still, Rhoads seems confident this team is ready to go toe-to-toe with every opponent it will face.

And ISU fans have shown optimism as well, buying a school-record 43,000 season tickets for the 2013 season.

Part of that optimism comes from having a set starter at quarterback for the first time in the Rhoads era.

Sophomore Sam Richardson has just two career starts, but he threw eight touchdowns and only one interception last year and made plays with both his arm and his legs.

Richardson certainly won’t have to do all of the running, though, with six running backs all looking for playing time in Rhoads’ physical offense. That depth should help ISU improve on last year's 150.1 rushing average.

Defense is a huge question for Iowa State. Last year, they ranked 109th nationally with only 15 sacks, and that was with since-graduated Jake Knott and A.J. Klein, two of the best linebackers in the conference.

August 24, 2013 — BLUE & GOLD NEWS — Page 17

Quarterback battle

three contenders for qb job Childress, Millard, Trickett each fighting for the starting spot

By Michael Carvelli As West Virginia went into spring practice, it appeared that the battle to become the school’s next starting quarterback would be a two-horse race.

On one side, you had Paul Millard.

The rising junior was one of the first recruits brought in when Dana Holgorsen and his coaching staff arrived in 2011. Millard had spent his first two seasons at WVU backing up Geno Smith.

On the other side, Ford Childress.

The redshirt freshman with all the physical tools that make a successful quarterback. The 6-foot-5 signalcaller with a big arm came to WVU with the heavy expectations of becoming the quarterback of the future.

Ford Childress

So the battle ensued. The two went back and forth throughout 14 practices and the yearly Gold-Blue Spring Game, but as the Mountaineers closed out the spring, no progress in naming a starter had been revealed.

Millard and Childress had battled to a stalemate, and there was still plenty for them to prove to the coaching staff before they were willing to hand the keys to the offense over to a new quarterback.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever been 100 percent pleased with any quarterback, but they’re not where they need to be right now,” offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson said during the spring.

“They still make inexperienced mistakes every day … There has never been a quarterback race more even than them.”

After not seeing anyone pull away during spring, the staff needed to do something to amp up the competition a little more.

Something that would cause an even larger sense of urgency Page 18 — BLUE & GOLD NEWS — August 24, 2013

among the two quarterbacks who were already on the roster.

Enter Clint Trickett.

A two-year backup to E.J. Manuel at Florida State who saw some playing time as a redshirt freshman, Trickett made the decision to transfer to West Virginia for his final two seasons of eligibility in the state where he grew up when his father, Rick, was the offensive line coach for the Mountaineers (2001-06).

The chance to get to come home and play for the school he had also grown up watching was too much for him to turn down.

“During the second recruiting process, some of the schools were pretty quick to say (the job) is yours if you want it, and I didn’t really like that,” Trickett said. “You’re really going to have to compete wherever you go, and I didn’t really trust what those other coaches were saying.

“Dana just said, ‘Hey, I’m not promising you anything, but you’re going to get chances.’ That’s all I could ask for.”

Trickett’s road to Florida State started when he wasn’t recruited by WVU, which was still running an offense that relied on having a more mobile quarterback – something that didn’t fit Trickett’s playing style quite as well.

“I wanted to come here out of high school, but it didn’t work out. I didn’t really get recruited because it was such a different offense then,” he said. “When Geno left, I wanted to come here after the fall, but I failed a class and didn’t have enough credits, so I had to go back in the spring.

“I took a couple visits, but I knew I was coming here. It was a no-brainer. I’m from here, I’m a West Virginia kid, so it was easy.”

This is actually Trickett’s second competition for a starting job since the 2012 season ended. When he realized he had to stay at Florida State for the spring semester, he battled with highly touted freshman Jameis Winston to become the Seminoles’ starter.

Winston would go on to earn the starting job from Trickett.

If he would have won the job at Florida State, Trickett would have had quite the decision to make.

“It would have been a little tougher,” Trickett said. “I would have had to thoroughly sit down with my family. It was pretty much an easy one, though.”

Even though Holgorsen brought in Trickett after the spring, the quarterbacks who were there didn’t see it as a message that the coaches didn’t believe they could perform.

It was just a chance to go up against more competition and prove themselves as the guy who should run out with the firstteam offense on Aug. 31 against William & Mary.

“It just opened up the competition even more,” Millard said.

“I never thought that it was something about them not liking what they saw. That never crossed my mind.”

They all claim to be close off the field, and the three quarterbacks even joke around with one another whenever they get some downtime in between drills during practice. But there’s always a bit of uncomfortablility in a situation like this.

Even though they’re teammates, they still have a job to do.

And that job involves competing, and eventually beating, the other two out to earn that position in the starting lineup.

“This has challenged all of us to not even take one snap off and just be as good as you can each snap,” Childress said. “I’m good friends with Paul and Clint. We all hang out all the time.

“But on the field, I’m not too fond of them.”

On paper, Childress has all of the tools to become the starter who fits in perfectly with Holgorsen’s offense. He’s bigger, stronger and his four years of eligibility means that he also might have the most amount of potential and upside moving forward.

But he has yet to take a single snap in a college game.

“The closer it is, the harder it is. Those decisions aren’t easy when you’re talking about who is going to play and not going to play. It affects kids’ lives.

Someone is going to be the guy and somebody is not." – Dana Holgorsen Millard had limited experience in his first two seasons as Smith’s backup, and although Trickett is new to the WVU offense, he was put in plenty of situations in big games at Florida State where he was needed to step up and make plays.

An injury to Manuel during Trickett’s freshman season at FSU thrust him into action against then-No. 1 Oklahoma and gave him his first career start against Clemson.

Millard has played in 11 games throughout his WVU career, primarily in mop-up duty for Smith once games have gotten out of hand. Last season, he completed nine of his 19 pass attempts for two touchdowns and threw a pick.

For his career, Millard has completed less than 50 percent of his passes (16-of-34) with three scores and three interceptions.

His biggest play came against Oklahoma State last season when he came on the field after Smith lost his helmet. Millard found Stedman Bailey for a 37-yard touchdown pass.

The experience at quarterback helps, for sure, but Holgorsen has said a major factor that will affect his decision is something you can’t measure. It has to be seen once they get out on the field and run the Mountaineers’ offense.

“They all make good decisions at times, but because of inexperience they make poor decisions that get them in trouble,” Holgorsen said. “The guy that reduces the poor decisions will be the guy that wins the job.”

The coaches and players believe that the way the offense is set up is simple enough that anyone – no matter how much experience they have – can step in and have success. The system has proven to work throughout Holgorsen’s time at West Virginia, Oklahoma State, Houston and Texas Tech.

Since Holgorsen became the offensive coordinator at Texas Tech, the only quarterback who hasn’t thrown for 4,000 yards has been former Red Raider quarterback and current Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury.

“With the simple offense, you can make an impact no matter how old you are,” Childress said. “It’s just nice to know the system can do that. It’s been proven time and time again, so whatever happens, we know it’s going to be a productive offense.”

It’s going to come down to the intangible things like that ability to make a key decision or to have the poise and presence that a quarterback needs.

“The decision isn’t made on paper,” Dawson said. “You have to take into account the number of reps they’ve all had compared to each other. It just comes down to finding out who gives us the best chance to win, and that’s a decision we’ve got to make.”

As of right now, because of their experience in the offense, Millard and Childress have taken the most reps of the three. But they’ve tried to help Trickett get as much experience and as many reps as they possibly can in camp.

“We’re trying to give Clint more reps based on the fact that he hasn’t had a lot of reps,” Dawson said. “He is behind if you look at the whole number of reps that each guy has taken and the only way to get Clint up to speed is to give him more. That’s happening by design.”

Quarterback battle

And throughout that adjustment period, Trickett said that both Childress and Millard have been quick to help him with whatever he might need.

“They haven’t been like, ‘I’m not going to help you because you’re new.’ They’ve helped me learn how to handle Coach Dawson and Coach Holgorsen,” Millard said. “They’re good guys.”

And just like Trickett can look to the guys who have been at WVU, the other two can go to Trickett for advice as well because of his experience playing in big games.

“He knows what he’s doing,” Childress said. “He’s played in big games and he’s been through three years of college football, so he’s a good guy to be around and see what kind of tricks he can show me.”

The coaches have constantly talked about how this year’s team is looking to find leaders – something they didn’t have a season ago. And often times that leadership role tends to fall on the shoulders of the quarterback.

Replacing someone like Geno Smith, who was constantly applauded by the coaching staff and his teammates for being a tremendous leader, will be difficult for anyone to do. But for the three signal callers competing to fill his shoes, it’s been difficult in a way to try to take over full leadership of the team without knowing for sure whether or not they’ll start.

“When you’re in a competition, it’s hard to be that guy,” Trickett said. “Naturally, I feel like I do have some leadership qualities in me and now I’m just showing my leadership through my actions instead of my words.

“But whenever the decision is made – if I’m the guy – then the more vocal part of me will come out.”

While Trickett just got to WVU a few months ago and is still trying to win over his new teammates and become a leader, that’s a role that Millard spent most of his spring practice trying to perfect.

After waiting in the wings for Smith to leave for two seasons, Millard feels that his time has come.

“I’ve been here for two and a half years now, and one thing I pride myself in is my work ethic and how hard I work,” Millard said. “I’m a competitive guy, and I came here to play football. I didn’t want to come to school here and not play.

“It’s definitely different (than he expected), but it’s just like life.

Life throws you curveballs and the best guys can hit those curveballs and poke them opposite field and run with it. That’s what I’m trying to do. I didn’t expect all that’s happened, but that’s what life’s about, so I just have to go out there and compete every day.”

Much like his older counterparts who made their decision to come to WVU when they noticed that they would have an opportunity to compete for the job, Childress saw that Smith would be on his way out after his true freshman seaPaul son. He knew it could give him four Millard years to start.

And he’s hoping that’s the way the competition turns out.

“Obviously I want to start now,” Childress said. “The whole reason I came here was because I had a great opportunity to start for four years, and that’s what I’m planning on doing.

“It’s going to come down to finding someone who can lead the offense, and have everyone else look at you and know that you’re the guy who can really step up and do it.”

But it’s not just the quarterback position that West Virginia will have to figure out by the time the season starts, as the Mountaineers have also been trying to find the receivers for the quarterback to throw the ball to.

After losing Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey and J.D. Woods to the NFL, West Virginia wasn’t really sure about the depth it had at receiver. But with newcomers like Kevin White emerging in the spring, KJ Myers, Jordan Thompson and Ivan McCartney providing the minimal experience they can and other new faces like Mario Alford, Ronald Carswell and Shelton Gibson ready to make a name for themselves, it looks like WVU might have a decent amount of weapons to work with. But much like that quarterback position, there isn’t much experience at the wide receiver position.

“I was pleasantly surprised (with the receiver depth) when I got here,” Trickett said. “When you lose those three guys who we lost, you’re worried about how much depth we’ve got. Especially on the outside, we’re pretty deep.

“I came here for the spring game and I saw a little bit of it, but even then we didn’t have all of the guys we have now. Coach was like, ‘This team’s going to be a lot different than it is this spring.’ I trusted him about that, and he was right.”

When the Mountaineers wrapped up camp last week, the staff was still looking at the three quarterbacks and evaluating where they were.

Holgorsen said the staff is getting closer to determining who their guy is going to be.

Holgorsen and Dawson made it a point to give each of the three quarterbacks an equal amount of reps with the first-team offense when the Mountaineers went into team sessions.

They wanted to make sure that all three had the same opportunity to show that they had what it takes to take over if their name was called in a game.

But as the end of camp drew closer and closer, it became obvious that the Mountaineers needed to put a more exact timetable on when the decision would be made.

“Within the next few days, it’s over with,” Dawson said during the final week of preseason camp. “If you want to push and make a great impression, now’s the time to do it. It’s getting to the point where that’s the case on offense and with the defense too. Once the decision is made, a lot of kids know the decision before it’s even made.

“It’s pretty clear who’s playing well and who’s not," added WVU's offensive coordinator.

The important thing for those players is that, when they might not play as well as the other guys on certain days in practice, they bounce back and not dwell on the days that have passed.

Holgorsen said they need to focus on the next day.

“I’ve said it since the beginning of camp, if you have a bad day you need to be prepared to come out and have a good day,” Holgorsen said.

“I anticipate that, by the end of practice, we’ll be 100 percent sure of the direction we’re going to go in.”

And a lot of signs point to Trickett, who was the one to take every snap with the first-team offense during the team session that media members got to watch toward the end of camp.

But like they have since they got to West Virginia, Holgorsen and his staff have played their cards close to the vest. They haven’t given many specifics on who has an edge, saying we’ll find out when the Mountaineers take the field Aug. 31.

They’ve seen Millard and Childress both make progress from where they were in the spring.

“Paul and Ford have elevated their game,” Holgorsen said.

“Is that because there’s another competitive body or because they’ve had all spring and all summer and 17 days of camp to take reps?”

No matter what the reason might be, that progression has kept the task of making the final decision and naming their starter even tougher for the Mountaineer staff.

“The closer it is, the harder it is,” Holgorsen said. “Those decisions aren’t easy when you’re talking about who is going to play and not going to play. It affects kids’ lives. Someone is going to be the guy and somebody is not.

“And it’s hard to deal with if you’re not the guy.”

Clint Trickett

August 24, 2013 — BLUE & GOLD NEWS — Page 19

sites & sights

Chasing improvement … and ballcarriers

By Kevin Kinder As West Virginia chases an improved football record in 2013, one of the key factors in achieving that goal is, coincidentally, pursuit. It’s a key element in changing the mindset and base performance of the defensive unit, and coordinator Keith Patterson has been emphasizing it with a series of drills this fall.

As is often the case, though, it’s not just the action of chasing a ballcarrier that is the subject of Patterson’s scrutiny. It’s the techniques and fundamentals that go into it that have him expositing like a professor in front of an auditorium full of students.

(That is, in fact, precisely what he’s doing, although his pupils are on the field with him rather than holding down seats in a classroom.)

Take in any practice session at WVU this fall, and you’ll see the defense, both in position groups and as a whole, run what at first blush appears to be a strange combination of sprints on the field.

Without an opposing offense, the running seems to be almost random, but after a few repetitions, it becomes apparent that each player is working on his own initial assignment. Even then practicing pursuit angles, chasing down imaginary ball carriers, and finally sprinting to the end zone as if a turnover has been gained. Even simulated tackles, with appropriate arm wrap-up, are part of the drill. One of the keys is getting every player in the proper position from which he can execute his assignment and get on the correct path to track and pursue the ball carrier – fundamentals which were lacking last year.

“So many times, pursuit is someone trying to make a play with all the right intentions, but playing outside the framework of the defense,” said Patterson, his voice gravelly from constant instruction since the start of fall camp. “They are giving great effort, but they aren’t playing smart. So, in pursuing the football, we are very detailed in how we are going to attack the ballcarrier in space. If you don’t work on that, you won’t get better at it. So we break it down to its smallest element.

“We work that, and then piece it together into the whole defense,” added Patterson. “For example, in some of those pursuit drills we run in practice, we’ll take video clips of those, and then apply them to what a player might see in 11-on-11. We’ll show them something they did, and they’ll say, ‘That’s a tracking drill coach.’ That way, everyone sees it and knows their responsibilities.”

That emphasis spreads to personal video study and the meeting room, as on-field practice time is limited. It’s the only way, in Patterson’s view, that something as fundamental as chasing the ball becomes second nature.

“You have to spend time and become a student of the game, and that’s where we’ve challenged our kids,” he rumbled. “You can’t just play by the seat of your pants.”

To assist in that effort, Patterson and the defensive staff also changed the way they taught the defense this year. Stealing a page from WVU head coach Dana Holgorsen’s playbook, Patterson went to a shorter, more basic installation of his system.

In doing so, he was able to get his players to concentrate more on the techniques of playing than on what formation they

Kevin Kinder Through his website, BlueGoldNews.com, and the Blue & Gold News magazine, Kevin has covered West Virginia athletics for more than two decades.

Page 20 — BLUE & GOLD NEWS — August 24, 2013

were in or how they were supposed to adjust to offensive alignments.

Those items will have to be addressed, of course, but the first year WVU coordinator was more concerned with those issues, like pursuit techniques, that are important no matter what front or coverage is being run.

“Sometimes defensive staffs focus on adding so much defense …”

Patterson said, trailing off as he contemplated the effects of overloading defenders with too many keys to process or alignments to consider.

“We kind of changed our approach and just did a basic install,” the defensive coordinator continued. “I think that forces you to emphasize getting good at something. We’ve taken our teaching methods and the way we’ve installed it and changed it.

We went a week and a half and played nothing but base defense. If you cannot play base defense, you aren’t going to be a good defense.

If I have to come out the first week and zone pressure or blitz, we’re in trouble. We’ve just played base fronts and base coverages. We’ve forced fits at time, but 90 percent of the time we were just bringing four and playing base coverage.”

The results have been good so far. Patterson noted that, combined with the work his squad did in the spring, that the natural reactions and initial steps are good. Now he can really begin zoning in on the finest points of technique, and then add things like nickel and dime packages in the last few days of camp.

“Where we are now compared to the spring, we’re now focused on that detail. Not on the responsibility, but how we get there,” he emphasized. “I sense we are getting into that attention to detail. That’s what I challenge our coaches with. If that guy is an nth of an inch from where he is supposed to be, then coach him. I think we have made huge strides, because we are coaching attention to detail. Footwork, reactions, pad level, power base – all those little things we can focus on because we aren’t adding scheme.”

Of course, West Virginia’s defense can’t just sit back, rush four guys and play deep thirds the whole game. Patterson, as well as anyone, knows that getting pressure on the quarterback and moving him off the spot are keys to combating pass happy Big 12 teams. However, it’s his belief that to get there, players must first be comfortable with the elements that lead to good play. He also wants his defense to create rather than react, which leads to the suspicion that there won’t be as many game-to-game adjustments as there were a season ago. How that plays out remains to be seen, but for now, it’s pursuit – both literally and figuratively – that loom large in WVU’s defensive system.

Erik Slaughter

Mountaineers In The NFL

Player, Position Team Years In NFL Tavon Austin, WR St. Louis Rams R Stedman Bailey, WR St. Louis Rams R Don Barclay, OL Green Bay Packers 1 Jeff Braun, OL Miami Dolphins R Selvish Capers, OL New York Giants 2 Terence Garvin, LB Pittsburgh Steelers R Najee Goode, LB Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1 Bruce Irvin, OLB Seattle Seahawks 1 Will Johnson, FB Pittsburgh Steelers 1 Adam Jones, DB Cincinnati Bengals 7 Ellis Lankster, DB New York Jets 4 Joey Madsen, OL Pittsburgh Steelers R Pat McAfee, P Indianapolis Colts 5 Ryan Mundy, DB New York Giants 5 Ryan Nehlen Buffalo Bills R Chris Neild, DL Washington Redskins 2 Darius Reynaud, RB Tennessee Titans 5 Kent Richardson, DB Cleveland Browns R Geno Smith, QB New York Jets R Keith Tandy, DB Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1 J.T. Thomas, LB Chicago Bears 2 Pat White, QB Washington Redskins 1 J.D. Woods, WR Pittsburgh Steelers R Currently on a Canadian Football League roster Scooter Berry, DL Montreal Alouettes 2 Noel Devine, RB Montreal Alouettes 2 Jock Sanders, WR Saskatchawn Roughriders 3 Currently on an Arena Football League roster Julian Miller, DB Utah Blaze R Joe Sykes, DL San Antonio Talons 2

defensive scheme

Communication key for Patterson

By Matt Keller West Virginia’s defense during the last two seasons has mimicked the real estate market. It’s up, it’s down, it remains about space and location, location, location.

And despite the Mountaineer defense not utilizing either effectively during its inaugural trip through the Big 12 – playing and looking more out of place than at any time in the school’s recent history – there’s renewed optimism brewing in Morgantown.

That confidence percolates from the trifecta approach of firstyear defensive coordinator Keith Patterson: direct upfield push and pressure, getting numbers to the ball, and tackling effectively in space. With that, the thought is that the turnovers will come.

It’s a “turned on it’s ‘eer” approach from that of Joe DeForest, West Virginia’s former coordinator turned special teams coach who harped upon creating turnovers while lessening the importance of total yardage and, perhaps the biggest detriment, actual defensive stops. Propriety dictates one should note that DeForest was forced to play eight true freshmen, and four of the redshirt variety, and that much of the mental issues were youthful indiscretion. Still, relying upon the fickle mistress that is a turnover isn’t a statistically sound investment.

Consider: Houston and Oklahoma State, schools near and dear to WVU head coach Dana Holgorsen. Houston ranked No. 82 out of 120 FBS teams in turnover margin in 2011, then rose to fourth last year. DeForest’s own OSU squad was No. 1 in turnover margin in 2011, then fell to No. 58 last year.

A tipped pass, a fortunate bounce, a lucky deflection.

Those are intangibles.

Patterson’s thought is a defense must be based upon more surefire principles, controllable ideals like swarming, tackling, sound reactions and physicality and fundamentals. And once that base is established, then the grip and strip tactics come into play. Turnovers cannot be the primary object. They must be a bi-product of the primary.

“It’s an awareness issue more than anything,” Patterson said. “It’s about being physical, more than anything. I think that’s how you cause turnovers. Getting people playing with tremendous effort and the more players you get around the ball, your chances for turnovers go up.”

Even that’s not the be-all, end-all. There’s more than one way to skin the proverbial cat.

“It’s been kind of interesting,” said Patterson, who also served as the defensive coordinator at Pitt and Tulsa.

“There’s been years when we have been really incredible at forcing turnovers. In years that we’re not, suddenly sacks and TFLs seem to go up. We talk about it all the time. It goes back to making players ball conscious. Attacking the ball and ball carrriers and loose ball security in attacking the ball when we see it loose.”

There have been other changes as well. West Virginia is no longer playing head-up on opposing offensive linemen. Instead, they are “shading,” or aligning and playing gaps. And instead of taking initial sidesteps to create misdirection, as WVU did under DeForest, Patterson has preached direct slashing into the backfield for quicker disruption. The Mountaineers will still loop and stunt, but that aspect will be lessened in favor of changing the line of scrimmage and pushing into the opposing pocket to create greater discomfort for opposing quarterbacks and ball carrriers.

But, again, the more-than-one-way matra holds. Like a tight, itchy sweater that doesn’t breathe … it can be the fit, the feel, the fabric.

“That’s the gist of our package,” Patterson explained. “We’re a multiple 3-4. That’s the way we’re personneled. Being multiple means we can move from a 3-4 scheme to a 4-3 scheme

to a 3-3 stack team. That’s a handful to prepare for in a week. If they see us send four down linemen onto the field, they probably know what front and coverage is coming. But when you have those type guys, guys who can play with their hand on the ground, can stand up – and I think we might have a few of those guys – then when you move from a four-man front to a threeman with the same people on the field, that’s an issue.

“Some of that goes back to those tall, lengthy bodies. When you put that 6-foot-6 guy in proximity to the quarterback, he is still impacting him. Maybe impacting his vision, squeezing the throwing lane. When they drop, they don’t have to be great cover guys. Just their presence (affects offenses). Our (graduate assistant), Tanner Antle, he was 6-foot-4 and played that buck position (at Tulsa), but he could also play that willie linebacker

And what better way than the combination of speed and bodies who shrink the field, the space, the one indisputable advantage spread offenses are trying to exploit – simply by walking upon it.

“What we do on defense, everything that I like to try to do, are things the spread offense doesn’t like,” Patterson said. “That’s why I build our package to defend spread offenses.

"I don’t believe in ever letting an offense dictate," continued West Virginia's defensive coordinator. "That’s why we have a plan and adjustments for everything. Just because they line up in this, they can’t force me to do this. Just because they have a certain formation and structure, they are not going to force me to do this. I’m going to do this, this or this. Spread offenses are all about match-ups. Get the ball in this guy’s hand, in space,

spot in the 3-3 stack. We were playing Boise, and he had that tall presence, and he would drop into the boundary and sit, and Kellen Moore would never throw the comeback route because of the length of him and his ability to jump. Once you get those body types, and you can move with some suddenness, and they have the length, they don’t have to be great cover guys. It’s hard to throw off of them.”

And with that change, Patterson noted, defenses need longer players.

Guys with significant wingspans who are multifaceted players and can move and morph into a myriad of positions and alignments at a moment’s notice.

It’s exactly what West Virginia has been building, getting tall linebackers and defensive linemen in the last two classes.

It’s become a space game.

The offense wants to create it, and the defense wants to eliminate it.

versus a guy that I’m a better athlete than. If he misses, it’s a 10-yard gain. That’s the way the game has changed more than anything. Those are nothing but long handoffs. All the bubble screens, the tunnel screens, checking the backs out of the backfield and getting the ball quickly, to me, all those are long handoffs.

“We really challenge our players to become students of the game and understand the defense and what we are trying to accomplish,” added Patterson. “It’s a process, and it takes time to do that. It’s being consistent every day. We have a communication progression that we follow and talk about every day. I tell our players that a silent defense is a defeated defense. You have to be able to communicate. If you can’t communicate, that tells me you don’t understand what we are doing. You’re going to leave somebody playing on an island.”

And no man is one onto himself – at least that’s the hope in this latest reincarnation of the Mountaineer defense.

August 24, 2013 — BLUE & GOLD NEWS — Page 21

recruiting roundup

a baker's dozen worth of commits

By Kevin Kinder Since we last met, West Virginia’s 2014 football recruiting class has more than doubled, jumping from six commitments as of June 19 to a baker’s dozen as of press time.

Davonte James

Three linemen and four defenders make up the seven most recent additions to the class.

The Mountaineers added four verbal commitments during the last week of July, with a pair of offensive linemen and two defensive players coming on board. Junior college cornerback Jaylon Myers (6-1, 190 lbs., Hutchinson CC/Hutchinson, Kan.) was the first, committing to WVU on the July 24, and he brings the height and size that defensive coordinator Keith Patterson is looking for, especially in the secondary. While length and wingspan are more commonly associated with basketball recruiting, Patterson believes that those attributes can help against passing attacks by disrupting the quarterback’s vision and cutting down Each week, we present multiple updates on recruiting targets at BlueGoldNews.com. Be sure to check out those reports, along with all of the late breaking information on the recruiting scene, at your top source for WVU athletics news. We also provide game recaps of West Virginia’s football verbal commitments, with exclusive comments from selected players each week. It’s the perfect complement to the in-depth articles you read each week in the Blue & Gold News! Partnered with FOXSportsNEXT and Scout. com, BlueGoldNews.com provides the most comprehensive coverage of West Virginia University athletics on the web. You can also follow us on Twitter (@BlueGoldNews) or on Facebook. at http://www. facebook.com/bluegoldnews

Page 22 — BLUE & GOLD NEWS — August 24, 2013

on throwing lanes. Myers can do that, West Virginia’s Football Commitments For The Class of 2014 and he combines that skill with a physical Player Pos. Ht. Wt. 40 School–Hometown style of play that allows him to execute Class of 2014 press coverage right off the line.

Devante Averette LB 6-0 218 4.5 Ellsworth (IA) C.C.–Melvindale, MI A native of South Carolina, Amanii Brown OL 6-5 264 5.0 Morgantown H.S.–Morgantown, WV Myers played at Georgia MiliWilliam Crest QB 6-4 190 4.6 Dunbar H.S.–Baltimore, MD tary College, the alma mater of Jamie Herr OL 6-5 265 5.1 Eastern Christian Acad.–Elkton, MD current WVU players Mario AlDavonte James LB 6-3 220 4.6 Springfield H.S.–Springfield, OH ford and Brandon Golson, beJosh Krok OL 6-8 290 5.2 McKinley H.S.–Niles, OH fore heading to Hutchinson for Jacob McCrary WR 6-0 175 4.5 Coral Reef H.S.–Miami, FL this season. That tie, which was Jaylon Myers DB 6-1 190 4.4 Hutchinson (KS) C.C.–Augusta, SC Tyree Owens DE 6-4 240 4.7 Oviedo H.S.–Oviedo, FL mined by current WVU assistant Lamar Parker WR 5-9 165 4.4 Booker T. Washington H.S.–Miami, FL coach Tony Gibson in the reWalter Rauterkus OL 6-6 285 5.0 Avon H.S.-Avon, OH cruitment of Alford and Golson, Ricky Rodgers WR 6-2 195 4.5 Gateway H.S.–Monroeville, PA has now yielded a third commitJustin Scott OL 6-6 285 5.1 Pierce (CA) C.C.–Detroit, MI ment for West Virginia.

Class of 2015 The day after Myers’ pledge, Stone Wolfley TE 6-4 240 4.7 Morgantown H.S.–Morgantown, WV the Mountaineers nabbed anJovon Durante WR 6-1 185 4.5 Jackson H.S.–Miami, FL other juco when offensive lineman Justin Scott told the coachAt 6-foot-6, 285 pounds and still growing, the tackle prospect ing staff he was committing.

Scott (6-6, 285 lbs., Pierce College/Woodland Hills, Ca- stands out even among his fellow offensive linemen. He also has lif.) had offers from schools across the nation, including drawn notice for his pass protection ability in Avon’s spread offense, which is very similar to West Virginia’s Air Raid implemenWashington State, Wyoming, Cincinnati, Kansas and tation, and he believes that yet another year in that system will UTSA, and also had interest from Florida, Miami, Tenhelp him prepare for college. nessee, Michigan State and Ohio State, among others.

Rauterkus acknowledges that he’ll probably be destined for After visits to the Bearcat and Mountaineer campuses, a redshirt, but he has no problem with that decision should it though, he didn’t see the point of waiting any longer to come. make his choice.

“I think Coach Crook saw my potential,” Rauterkus told Blue“I just felt the love from everyone on my visit,” Scott GoldNews.com the day he committed. “I don’t think I’m done told BlueGoldNews.com after his trip to WVU. “The growing, and I can add a lot more weight with my size. I haven’t players, the coaches, and everyone there. The facilities were fantastic, and I love that it’s a college town. I liked gotten anywhere near my peak yet.”

Another lineman, Jamie Herr of Eastern Christian Academy, everything about my visit, so when I got back home I joined the Mountaineer commitment parade. He follows curthought, ‘Why wait?’” rent Mountaineer freshmen Daikiel Shorts and Wendell SmallLike every other offensive line commitment of the wood from that Maryland prep power, and chose WVU over ofpast couple of years, Scott, who is a native of Detroit, fers from Florida State, Syracuse, Tennessee, Boston College, Mich., stands tall. He’s also very nimble afoot, which Connecticut, Pittsburgh and Rutgers. Herr (6-5, 265 lbs., Eastshould give him the chance to play tackle in Division I. ern Christian Academy/Elkton, Md.), like Rauterkus, plays in the He’s held down the left tackle spot during his junior college casame sort of offense as WVU, and thinks that, along with his rapreer and should get more good work on the competitive Caliport with his former and future teammates, will help him acclifornia juco scene. He’s also a likely December graduate, which would give him a head start on his final two years of college eligi- mate quickly.

“I talk to Daikiel and Wendell almost weekly,” Herr told FOXbility, which he will have three years to complete.

SportsNEXT. “They’re my teammates, so I felt if I went out there Defense was on the agenda a few days later when Florwith them, they’ll treat me the way they did in high school, and ida native Tyree Owens tabbed West Virginia as his college I’d have fun with them out there.” destination.

In the first week of August, WVU pulled in a pair of linebackA defensive end who shows speed and quickness throughout his game, Owens is still learning the nuances of playing the spot. ers to bring its current commitment total to 13. The first, Davonte But as he develops those techniques and skills, he could have a James, had listed West Virginia as his leader for quite some time, big impact on the edge. Evaluators love that potential, and have and while he played out the suspense a bit during his announcement, it came as no surprise when he tabbed the Mountaineers. him pegged as the No. 55 defensive end in the country going “I loved the family environment and everything about their athinto his senior season. So too did schools such as Georgia Tech, letic facilities,” he told FOXSportsNEXT. “It definitely helps to Iowa State, Virginia, Boston College, Cincinnati, Wake Forest, have seen players like Darrien Howard and others before him go North Carolina State and Wisconsin, all of which made scholarto West Virginia. I also liked the fact they play some of the top ship offers. teams in the nation like Texas, Oklahoma and others.”

Owens (6-4, 240 lbs., Oviedo HS/Oviedo, Fla.) recorded 80 James (6-3, 225 lbs., Springfield HS/Springfield, Ohio) also tackles and six sacks as a junior, and he is expected to exceed had offers from GA Tech, Cincinnati, Purdue, Illinois and Indiana. those numbers this year. His pursuit skills and ability to find Completing the duo was enthusiastic Devante Averette (6-0, the ballcarrier in traffic should make him more than just a pass rusher, and while it may take him a bit of time to develop he’s the 218 lbs., Ellsworth CC/Iowa Falls, Iowa). A very active player who racked up 79 tackles, 3.5 sacks and 15 TFLs as a freshman, he kind of prospect that West Virginia has often been able to turn too is slated to graduate in December and enroll at West Virginia into a standout performer.

On the penultimate day of July, WVU went two-for-one, grab- in January of 2014. A potential spur on the WVU defense, Averette can truly play all over the field, having taken snaps at defenbing a pair of offensive line commitments. The first, Walter Rauterkus, is a bit of an under-the-radar prospect from Avon, Ohio, sive end, outside linebacker, inside linebacker and even cornerback at Ellsworth. but there’s nothing inconspicuous about his size.

COMMENTARY

FROM THE STANDS with Kevin DiGregorio

WVU fans divided on the football season to come I’ve come across two schools of thought in my limited travels in and around various parts of Mountaineer country over the past few months.

One says that the West Virginia University football team will be lucky to win four games in the upcoming season. The other says WVU will shock the prognosticators, and much of the world, and win at least 10.

Hmmm.

They can, I assure him. And there are other wins on the schedule besides that. More on that later.

Then there’s Dan. Like Bart, he gives me his prediction for the upcoming Mountaineer football season almost every time I see him at the gym. And I see him often.

“I’m telling you,” he said one day last week, “the Mountaineers are going to be good. They’re going to surprise everyone.

They’re going to get 10 wins … at least.”

(I always wonder whether Dan and Bart ever run into each other at the gym.)

I said nothing verbally but apparently said a lot with my facial expression or body language or both.

“You don’t believe me, do you?” Dan asked.

“You wait and see. The only losses are Oklahoma away and either Oklahoma State at home or Texas at home. Ten wins. I guarantee it.”

That’s not a good guarantee, I suggest to him. It’s not a good bet. There are more losses on the schedule than just those. But more on that later.

Ed agrees with me. Sort of.

“It doesn’t look good for the Mountaineers,” he tells me.

But like Bart, Ed goes overboard. “I don’t see more than four or five wins on the schedule.”

There are more, I suggest to him. You just Shelton Gibson have to believe.

Ron concurs, sort of.

“I don’t see more than three losses,” he says. “And with a few breaks, WVU will lose only one or two.”

I think they’re all wrong. That also suggests you are all wrong, That’s too optimistic, I propose. West Virginia is not that as I’ve come across exactly zero people who fall in the midgood. dle of those two extremes. Now, I realize some pundits and And so it goes, with Jeff and Michael and Anne and … well would-be pundits have forecast a more mundane six-, seven… name someone. Or someone I’ve talked to in my completely or eight-win season for the Mountaineers in various media outunscientific poll. lets, but I haven’t talked to any of those folks personally. No, I even ran into someone in Tennessee who told me WVU according to my completely unscientific and perhaps too unreli- would turn things around this year and put up big numbers in able pseudo poll of WVU fans across the state – and to a much terms of wins. lesser extent, across the country – the Mountaineers will finish And then there was a guy in North Carolina who assured me the year at 4-8. Or 10-2. the Mountaineers would be lucky to compete with anyone in “Do you think they can even get that many wins?” Bart asked the Big 12. And then there was another guy in Tennessee, sevme the other day at the gym. It was at least the 10th time he’s eral more in North Carolina, a few in Pennsylvania and even one asked that in recent months. in Mississippi. But none of them said anything different. They all “Seriously, four wins is all I see,” he continued. “William & thought the Mountaineers would either win about four or about Mary is a given. Georgia State is a lock. Then … I don’t know 10, nothing in between … maybe Maryland and Kansas. Can they beat Maryland this In my now 20 years of writing this column – and yes, this ofyear?” ficially begins the 21st year of “From the Stands” – and my 34

years of missing very few home football games at WVU, I don’t think I’ve ever seen such polarization among the faithful. Normally, everyone falls into the same camp. Or at least, there is a heavy lean in one direction or another. Either the Mountaineers are going to win 10 or 11, or they’re going to win eight or nine, or they’re going to be lucky to win five or six most fans believe.

Not this year.

And so, this year everyone will be wrong. That’s my guess.

As I said in the prediction piece of this issue, “WVU will finish 7-5. Or 6-6. Or maybe 8-4. I’m not smart enough to know, but I believe WVU will be average to a cut slightly above that.”

I come to that conclusion three ways.

First, I think the Mountaineers will be better defensively than last year (which admittedly is not saying much, as last year’s squad was perhaps the worst defensive team I’ve seen in Morgantown) but will also be less explosive offensively, having lost Geno Smith, Stedman Bailey and Tavon Austin. Simply put, WVU will be a pretty decent team but not one that can come close to running the table.

Second, when I quickly count the wins and losses on the schedule I come up with an 8-4 record. I see four sure wins (William & Mary, Georgia State, Maryland and Kansas), two sure losses (Oklahoma, Oklahoma State), and six toss-ups or possible victories. Out of those, I think WVU will beat Texas, Texas Tech and Iowa State at home and win at least one on the road out of Baylor, Kansas State and TCU. That puts them at 8-4, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see the record shrink a game or two with WVU finishing at 7-5 or even 6-6.

Third, if you take the mean from my completely unscientific poll – averaging 10-2 with 4-8 – you get a record of 7-5. Simple math.

In the end, what I can say for sure is something that I included in my prediction and almost always say when I have to make a forecast for WVU’s season – I’m not smart enough to know.

I don’t think anyone else is either.

See you in the stands.

Kevin DiGregorio A native of Charleston and 1983 West Virginia University graduate, Kevin has been a columnist for the Blue & Gold News since 1992

August 24, 2013 — BLUE & GOLD NEWS — Page 23

varsity sports report

On your mark, get set … Go

By Greg McCracken This past weekend in Morgantown, traffic was moving slow, lines at the stores were long and good luck getting seated in a restaurant without at least a 30-minute wait.

In Morgantown, those are all the signs that another academic year at West Virginia University is underway.

It also means that the fall WVU athletic teams are ready to kickoff their respective seasons.

Leading the way will be the highly successful women’s soccer program under the direction of head coach Nikki Izzo-Brown, who is in her 18th season at WVU. The Mountaineers are looking to repeat the success of their first year in the Big 12 Conference, which saw them win the regular-season championship. The Big 12 coaches have already tabbed the Mountaineers as the team to beat this season when seven of the nine coaches voted WVU first in the Big 12 preseason poll.

Texas Tech received the other two first place votes and is picked to finish second. The Mountaineers return nine starters from last year’s squad, and WVU’s goals are the same as they are every year – win the conference championship and make the NCAA Tournament.

The coaches also voted five WVU players to the preseason All-Big 12 team. Senior midfielder Kara Blosser, senior forward Frances Silva, junior defender Jess Crowder, junior Kate Schwindel and freshman Ashley Lawrence all made the squad. A native of Toronto, Lawrence was the only firstyear player to earn a spot on the preseason squad.

As usual, the Mountaineers will be playing a tough schedule. It starts Aug. 23 when the Mountaineers compete in the Penn State Invitational.

First up will be the fourth-ranked Nittany Lions and then a matchup with Syracuse on Aug. 25.

WVU’s men’s soccer team finished 9-6-2 in 2012 but missed the NCAA Tournament, so the goal this year is to get back to the postseason. Head coach Marlon LeBlanc had a senior-heavy team last season that just didn’t find a way to win enough of the crucial games. His team is younger this season, but he played many freshmen last season and believes that will pay dividends this fall.

“We’ve got a good group,” noted LeBlanc. “I think we’re at the point

now where we’re probably never rebuilding but more so retooling. The incoming guys are going to very good.

Part of that is when you lose a big class, you bring a big class in.”

Leading WVU this year will be junior forward Andy Bevin, a second-team all Mid-American Conference pick last season. LeBlanc also believes that Ryan Cain, Jamie Merriam and Majed Osman will join Bevin in leading the Mountaineer offensive attack. The coach knows that he has some work to do to rebuild his midfield and defensive backfield.

“Defensively, I’m not that concerned, because our coaching of our defenders is pretty good,” said LeBlanc. “We were in the top five in the country in fewest shots allowed last year. We’ve always been a stingy defensive team, and we’re not going to concede a whole lot of goals.”

The WVU volleyball team is also hard at work and focused on getting its first-ever Big 12 win this season. Last year was tough for a young West Virginia squad, which was 0-16 in the Big 12 and 8-22 overall. But the Mountaineers do return all six starters from last season. The team received some exciting news recently when ESPNU announced that it will televise West Virginia’s match against the defending national champions Texas Longhorns on Oct. 23 live from the WVU Coliseum.

“We are excited to be a part of another program first for WVU volleyball this season with our program’s first televised match,” said head coach Jill Kramer. “Joining the Big 12 Conference has certainly elevated the national exposure for our volleyball program.”

Head coach Sean Cleary of the women’s cross country team announced last week that he has hired former Mountaineer Erin O’Reilly as an assistant coach.

O’Reilly, a 1993 West Virginia University graduate, has spent the last 10 seasons as an assistant at Boston College. She was a member of the Mountaineer coaching staff from 1994-2002.

“It’s very exciting to have Erin come back and join the staff here,” said Cleary. “While she spent some time in Boston progressing her coaching career, she has always been a Mountaineer, and our student-athletes will benefit greatly by having her on staff."

Page 24 — BLUE & GOLD NEWS — August 24, 2013

Mountaineer Scoreboard 2013 FOOTBALL 2013 WOMEN’S SOCCER William & Mary (Fox Sports 1)............. noon Tue. Aug. 13 Rutgers (exhibition)........................(W, 3-0) at Oklahoma* (FOX)......................... 7:00 Sat. Aug. 17 at Georgetown (exhibition).............(W, 1-0) Georgia State (Mountaineer Network)...... noon Fri. Aug. 23 at Penn State................................ 7:30 vs. Maryland (Baltimore’s M&T Stadium).... TBA Sun. Aug. 25 vs. Syracuse (Penn State)................... 2:30 Oklahoma State*........................... TBA Fri. Aug. 30 Central Michigan........................... 5:00 at Baylor*....................................... TBA Sun. Sept. 1 Morehead State............................ 1:00 Texas Tech*................................... TBA Fri. Sept. 6 at Duke.......................................... 6:00 at Kansas State*........................... TBA Sun. Sept. 8 vs. North Carolina (Duke).............11 a.m. at TCU*.......................................... TBA Fri. Sept. 13 Eastern Kentucky.......................... 5:00 Texas*............................................ TBA Sun. Sept. 15 Kentucky....................................... 1:00 at Kansas*..................................... TBA Fri. Sept. 20 Richmond...................................... 7:00 Iowa State*.................................... TBA Sun. Sept. 22 Wright State.................................. 1:00 Fri. Sept. 27 at Oklahoma State*....................... 8:00 2013 VOLLEYBALL Sat. Aug. 24 Gold/Blue scrimmage................... TBD Sun. Sept. 29 at Baylor*...................................... 1:00 Texas*........................................... 7:00 Fri. Aug. 30 vs. Eastern Illinois (Toledo).......... 10 a.m. Fri. Oct. 4 Fri. Aug. 30 vs. Loyola-Chicago (Toledo).............. 5:00 Fri. Oct. 11 Iowa State*................................... 7:00 Sat. Aug. 31 at Toledo....................................... 2:00 Sun. Oct. 13 TCU............................................... 1:00 Fri. Sept. 6 Norfolk State................................ noon Fri. Oct. 18 Kansas.......................................... 7:00 Fri. Sept. 6 Canisius........................................ 6:30 Fri. Oct. 25 at Oklahoma................................. 8:00 Sat. Sept. 7 Fordham....................................... noon Sun. Oct. 27 at Texas Tech................................ 7:00 Sat. Sept. 7 Navy.............................................. 6:30 Nov. 6, 8 & 10 at Big 12 Tourney (Kansas City)............TBA * Indicates Big 12 Conference opponent Fri. Sept. 13 at Morehead State........................ 7:00 2013 MEN’S SOCCER Sat. Sept. 14 vs. Campbell (Morehead State).........11 a.m.

Sat. Sept. 14 vs. Hampton (Morehead State).............. 4:30 Sun. Aug. 18 Ohio State (exhibition)...................(W, 1-0) Tue. Sept. 17 at Duquesne................................. TBD Fri. Aug. 23 at Villanova (exhibition)....................... 4:00 Fri. Sept. 20 Liberty........................................... 1:00 Fri. Aug. 30 Central Connecticut State............. 7:30 Fri. Sept. 20 Georgetown.................................. 6:30 Mon. Sept. 2 Radford......................................... 2:30 Sun. Sept. 22 UMBC........................................... 1:00 Fri. Sept. 6 at Georgetown.............................. 4:00 Fri. Sept. 27 Kansas State*............................... 6:30 Sun. Sept. 8 at Indiana...................................... 7:30 Wed. Oct. 2 at TCU*......................................... TBD Mon. Sept. 13 Wright State.................................. 7:30 Sat. Oct. 5 at Texas Tech*............................... 2:00 Sun. Sept. 15 at St. John’s.................................. 7:00 Wed. Oct. 9 Baylor*.......................................... 6:30 Sat. Sept. 21 Michigan........................................ TBD Sat. Oct. 12 at Iowa State*............................... TBD Wed. Sept. 25 Penn State.................................... 7:00 Wed. Oct. 16 Robert Morris................................ 6:30 Sun. Sept. 29 Akron*........................................... 7:00 Northern Illinois*........................... TBD Sat. Oct. 19 Kansas*........................................ TBD Sat. Oct. 5 Stony Brook.................................. 7:00 Wed. Oct. 23 Texas* (ESPNU)................................ 7:00 Tue. Oct. 8 Sat. Oct. 26 at Oklahoma*................................ TBD Fri. Oct. 11 at Hartwick*................................... 7:00 Tue. Oct. 29 Marshall........................................ 6:30 Tue. Oct. 15 High Point..................................... 7:00 Sat. Nov. 2 Texas Tech*................................... TBD Sat. Oct. 19 Georgia State................................ TBD Wed. Nov. 6 at Kansas*.................................... TBD Tue. Oct. 22 at American................................... 3:00 Sat. Nov. 9 at Kansas State*........................... TBD Sat. Oct. 26 Western Michigan*........................ 7:00 Wed. Nov. 13 Iowa State*................................... 6:30 Fri. Nov. 1 at Buffalo*..................................... 7:30 Sat. Nov. 16 TCU*............................................. TBD Fri. Nov. 8 Bowling Green*............................. 7:00 Thu. Nov. 21 at Texas*....................................... TBD Fri. Nov. 15 MAC semifinals (at No. 1 seed)............ TBD Sat. Nov. 23 at Bayor*....................................... TBD Sun. Nov. 17 MAC finals (at No. 1 seed).................... TBD * Indicates Mid-American Conference opponent Wed. Nov. 27 Oklahoma*.................................... TBD 2013-14 MEN’S BASKETBALL Sat. Nov. 30 at Buffalo....................................... TBD Dec. 5-21 vs. NCAA Tournament................... TBD Mon. Nov. 4 Fairmont State (exhibition)................... TBA Fri. Nov. 8 Mount St. Mary’s............................ TBA 2013-14 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Fri. Nov. 1 Concord (exhibition)............................. TBA Tue. Nov. 12 at Virginia Tech (ESPN)..................... 1:00 Fri. Nov. 8 Ohio State...................................... TBA Sun. Nov. 17 Duquesne...................................... TBA Fri. Nov. 15 vs. Mississippi (Honolulu, Hawaii)........... TBA Thu. Nov. 21 Georgia Southern.......................... TBA Sat. Nov. 16 vs. Washington St. (Honolulu, Hawaii).... TBA Sat. Nov. 23 Presbyterian................................... TBA Sun. Nov. 17 vs. Hawaii (Honolulu, Hawaii)............................TBA Tue. Nov. 26 vs. Old Dominion (Cancun)(CBS SN)...... TBA Sun. Nov. 24 Virginia........................................... TBA Wed. Nov. 27 vs. Wisc./St. Louis (Cancun)(CBS SN).... TBA Sat. Nov. 30 at Youngstown State...................... TBA Mon. Dec. 2 Loyola............................................ TBA Tue. Dec. 3 Coppin State.................................. TBA Thu. Dec. 5 at Missouri (ESPN2)........................... 7:00 Sat. Dec. 7 Fairleigh Dickinson........................ TBA Tue. Dec. 10 Gonzaga (ESPNU)............................. TBA Sat. Dec. 14 Marshall (Charleston)........................... TBA Sat. Dec. 14 vs. Marshall (Charleston)...................... TBA Wed. Dec. 18 Delaware State.............................. TBA Sun. Dec. 22 Purdue (ESPNU)................................ TBA Sat. Dec. 21 at Duquesne.................................. TBA Sun. Dec. 29 vs. William & Mary (Charleston)........... TBA Sun. Dec. 29 vs. Elon (Charleston)............................ TBA Sat. Jan. 4 at TCU (Big 12 Network)......................... 4:00 Thu. Jan. 2 at Kansas....................................... TBA Mon. Jan. 6 at Texas Tech (ESPNU)...................... 7:00 Sat. Jan. 4 at Oklahoma State......................... TBA Sat. Jan. 11 Oklahoma State (Big 12 Network).......... 4:00 Wed. Jan. 8 Baylor............................................. TBA Mon. Jan. 13 Texas (ESPNU)................................... 7:00 Sun. Jan. 12 Texas.............................................. TBA Sat. Jan. 18 at Kansas State (Big 12 Network)........... 1:30 Wed. Jan. 15 at Iowa State.................................. TBA Wed. Jan. 22 Texas Tech (Big 12 Network).................. 8:00 Sat. Jan. 18 Oklahoma....................................... TBA Sat. Jan. 25 at Oklahoma State (ESPN or ESPN2)..... 2:00 Wed. Jan. 22 at Texas Tech................................. TBA Tue. Jan. 28 at Baylor (ESPN2).............................. 7:00 Sat. Jan. 25 at Texas.......................................... TBA Sat. Feb. 1 Kansas State (Big 12 Network)............... 1:30 Wed. Jan. 29 Iowa State...................................... TBA Wed. Feb. 5 Oklahoma (ESPNU)............................ 7:00 Sat. Feb. 1 at TCU............................................ TBA Sat. Feb. 8 at Kansas (ESPN).............................. 4:00 Sat. Feb. 8 Kansas State................................. TBA Mon. Feb. 10 Iowa State (ESPNU)........................... 7:00 Thu. Feb. 13 at Oklahoma.................................. TBA Sat. Feb. 15 at Texas.......................................... TBA Sun. Feb. 16 TCU................................................ TBA Sat. Feb. 22 Baylor (Big 12 Network).......................... 1:30 Wed. Feb. 19 Oklahoma State............................. TBA Wed. Feb. 26 at Iowa State (Big 12 Network)............... 8:00 Sat. Feb. 22 at Kansas State............................. TBA Sat. March 1 TCU................................................ TBA Wed. Feb. 26 Texas Tech..................................... TBA Wed. March 5 at Oklahoma (ESPNU)........................ 9:00 Sun. March 2 at Baylor......................................... TBA Sat. March 8 Kansas (ESPN or ESPN2)..................... noon Big 12 Championships (Kansas City)... TBA Tue. March 4 Kansas........................................... TBA March 12-15 Remainder of games times & TV slate will be released at a later date March 7-10 Big 12 Championship (Okla. City)........ TBA Sat. Sat. Sat. Sat. Sat. Sat. Sat. Sat. Sat. Sat. Sat. Sat.

Aug. 31 Sept. 7 Sept. 14 Sept. 21 Sept. 28 Oct. 5 Oct. 19 Oct. 26 Nov. 2 Nov. 9 Nov. 16 Nov. 30

rants 'n raves

getting reacquainted with old friends

By Bob Bucy West Virginia’s football team may have left behind a lot of old rivals when it moved to the Big 12, but it is trying to reconnect with its traditional foes.

WVU director of athletics Oliver Luck announced last month the Mountaineers’ football rivalry with Virginia Tech will be renewed for a two-game series beginning in 2021.

“During my three years as athletic director at West Virginia University, I have heard from legions of Mountaineer fans, particularly those in the Southern part of the state, who have expressed their strong sentiments to renew the football rivalry with Virginia Tech,” Luck said. “This game is great for college football.

We all know that the two schools have extraordinary fan bases, and both schools will be counting down the days until the Hokies and the Mountaineers meet again.

“I want to thank Virginia Tech Athletic Director Jim Weaver Ronald and Coach Frank Beamer for their efforts in helping to get the Carswell two teams back on the football field. It will be a great day for all involved when the rivalry is renewed.”

Both schools will battle for the Black Diamond Trophy once again, starting with the 2021 game being played in Morgantown on Sept. 18, with the second year of the deal taking place in 2022 in Blacksburg on Sept. 24. The Black Diamond TroWVU last played Virginia Tech in 2005, with the Hokies claimphy, which was started in 1997, went to the winner of the annual ing a 34-17 decision in Morgantown. The series eventually game, and was used as a symbol of the Appalachian region’s ended as Virginia Tech left the Big East Conference to begin its rich coal history. current membership in the Atlantic Coast Conference, as contests in 2004 and 2005 were played as non-conference games.

Future WVU Football Schedules When the series resumes in 2021, there will be a 16-year hiatus 2014 in the border rivalry.

Home – Towson, Baylor, Oklahoma, TCU, Kansas, Kansas The series has been played 51 times, beginning in 1912 with State Away – Maryland, Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, West Virginia owning a 28-22-1 overall advantage. The MounIowa State taineers own a 16-9 record in games played in Morgantown and Neutral – Alabama (8/30 in Atlanta, Ga.) 5-1 in games played at a neutral site, while Virginia Tech has a 2015 12-7-1 mark in games played in Blacksburg.

Home – Liberty, East Carolina, Maryland, Texas, Texas The most current portion of the series was played every year Tech, Oklahoma State, Iowa State Away – Baylor, Oklahoma, TCU, Kansas, Kansas State from 1973 until 2005, a span of 33 years. The Mountaineers 2016 edged the Hokies during that time, 17-16.

Home – Maryland, Baylor, Oklahoma, TCU, Kansas, Virginia Tech is not the only old rival WVU is hoping to face Kansas State again. Luck recently said that he is negotiating with counterparts Away – East Carolina, Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Iowa State at both Pitt and Penn State in hopes of renewing those series, at Neutral – BYU (9/14, Landover) least on a two-game basis.

2017 ****** Home – East Carolina, TBA, Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma West Virginia University officials recently announced a broad State, Iowa State partnership with IMG College designed to bring new national Away – Maryland, Baylor, Oklahoma, TCU, Kansas, Kansas State and corporate support and brand recognition to the University’s 2018 athletic program. The agreement is effective with the 2013-14 Home – TBA, TBA, Baylor, Oklahoma, TCU, Kansas, academic year.

Kansas State The 12-year agreement, guaranteed to pay to WVU more than Away – East Carolina, Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Iowa State $80 million over 12 years, plus revenue-sharing opportunities 2019 over the length of the partnership, includes management of loHome – TBA, TBA, Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, cal game broadcasts and coaches’ shows for radio and televiIowa State sion; publications such as media guides and schedules; digital Away – Maryland, Baylor, Oklahoma, TCU, Kansas, platforms including social media and web sites; corporate sponKansas State 2020 sorships; at-event promotions and game day hospitality; stadium Home – TBA, TBA, Baylor, Oklahoma, TCU, Kansas, and venue signage including scoreboards and ribbon boards; Kansas State and advertising in university-owned and leased athletic facilities.

Away – TBA, Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Iowa WVU retains some existing sponsorships with corporate entiState 2021 ties such as athletic apparel and footwear, health care, financial Home – Virginia Tech, TBA, Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma services and pouring rights.

State, Iowa State “It was time for WVU Athletics to grow our multimedia and Away – TBA, Baylor, Oklahoma, TCU, Kansas, Kansas sponsorship sales, especially with our recent move to the Big State 12 Conference,” said West Virginia’s director of athletics Oliver 2022 Home – TBA, TBA, Baylor, Oklahoma, TCU, Kansas, Luck. “With the resources, services and proven track record that Kansas State IMG College brings, WVU now has the opportunity to expand its Away – Virginia Tech, Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, revenue base by engaging new national sponsors while building Iowa State our athletic and university brand. I’m extremely pleased with this *All dates and games are subject to change move.”

WVU joins several other Big 12 schools that have partnerships with IMG College, including Baylor, Kansas, TCU and Texas.

IMG currently represents more than 90 universities nationwide as well as the NCAA and its 88 championships.

“West Virginia athletics under the direction of Oliver Luck has done a great job building its corporate partner program, and we’re thrilled to add our resources to expand on these efforts,” said Ben Sutton, president of IMG College. “West Virginia is one of last major schools to handle multimedia and sponsorship sales in house. The university’s decision to entrust IMG to grow its sponsor and revenue base while building the school brand continues to validate IMG’s collegiate services and burgeoning national marketing platform.”

Under the contract, IMG will identify a dedicated team to be based in Morgantown.

Also, radio broadcasts will move to IMG Audio, the largest independent radio network in the U.S. IMG will partner with West Virginia Media Holdings to develop television inventory, including coaches shows and other ancillary TV programming to be determined. ****** The outsourcing of WVU’s multi-media rights, which since the mid-1960s had been handled in-house by the Mountaineer Sports Network, will mean some changes in terms of radio stations that will broadcast the game, the content that will be available, etc.

But one thing that won’t change is the play-by-play announcer for WVU football and men’s basketball.

Tony Caridi, who has handled those duties for MSN since 1996, will remain as the chief announcer for the new network, which will be known as the Mountaineer Sports Network by IMG. Besides his play-by-play duty, Caridi will host the sports’ respective coaches’ shows. Caridi will also host a television show to be developed covering WVU sports.

Under terms of Caridi’s agreement, he will continue to appear on “Northside Automotive Statewide Sportsline,” a popular radio show on the MetroNews Radio Network airing weeknights from 6-7 p.m.

Caridi’s recent broadcast partners on MSN – Dwight Wallace (color) and Jedd Drenning (sidelines) – also are expected to be part of the crew with IMG. “I’m excited to continue my relationship with the Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG and the wonderful and passionate fans that love the Mountaineers,” Caridi said. “It’s an honor and privilege to be associated with a network that’s always been respected as one of the nation’s best, particularly as coverage of Mountaineer sports now expands.”

Caridi, who began working with MSN in 1987, initially doing play-by-play of television games and also working as a feature reporter, is a multiple winner of the state’s Sportscaster of the Year Award.

“Following our recent agreement with WVU to carry Mountaineer sports, we had two immediate objectives: to quickly build our affiliate network, and bring Tony Caridi back to the booth calling Mountaineers sports,” said Joe Potter, Senior Vice President, Operations for IMG College. “Over the past several weeks, affiliate pick up has been extremely strong, and now we’re absolutely thrilled Tony has committed to our broadcasts.” ****** West Virginia men’s basketball coach Bob Huggins announced last month that Aaric Murray, who would have been a senior this coming season, is no longer with the program.

“We came to a mutual agreement that it would be in his best interest to finish his collegiate career somewhere else,” said Huggins.

Murray, who graduated in May from WVU, averaged 8.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game last year as a junior.

August 24, 2013 — BLUE & GOLD NEWS — Page 25

Oliver luck interview

wvu's readies for year two in the big 12

One on one with WVU's director of athletics

By Michael Carvelli

It’s been more than a year since West Virginia University made the move from the Big East to the Big 12 Conference. The Blue & Gold News recently sat down for an exclusive interview with the man who played a big role in getting WVU into its new conference, director of athletics Oliver Luck.

In the first part of that conversation, Luck discusses the growing pains that came with the first year in the new conference, WVU’s agreement with IMG and the possibility of the power conferences branching off and forming a new, separate federation under the NCAA umbrella. ****** Blue & Gold News – Getting ready for year two in the Big 12, what are your thoughts on the Big 12 and what did you learn that you can use in the second year?

Oliver Luck – I think the biggest shock, if you will, that we had to learn is that the Big 12 is deep. I’m talking about all sports.

Even if there are only three other wrestling programs or two gymnastics programs, they’re all good.

As I’ve said before, we had to learn that our B-game or our C-game was not necessarily good enough on any given day.

We’ve got to bring our A-game. That’s, to be honest, a little bit different than our history in the Big East.

(Women’s soccer head coach) Nikki Izzo-Brown, she’s a great coach, and they did really well (last year) and won a Big 12 ConPage 26 — BLUE & GOLD NEWS — August 24, 2013

ference championship. I asked her after the season, now that you’ve had the time to reflect on it, what’s the biggest difference.

And she said, well, in the old Big East, there were some pretty good women’s soccer teams like Notre Dame – which is typically a top-10, top-15 program – and it’d be a tough game that we might win or tie, whatever, but we’d fight and scratch and claw and get out of there with a 1-1 tie. But then we’d go play Providence and we’d win 4-0. In this conference, every week we have a Notre Dame.

That’s evident because we won the regular season championship and then got bounced in the first game of the tournament.

We were the No. 1 seed, and I think TCU was the No. 8, and we lost 2-0. I was at that game, and we played poorly. That’s really the biggest challenge that, quite honestly, all the teams face.

When you look at wrestling, where we’ve had historically a pretty good program because we can recruit Pennsylvania well, and the Eastern Wrestling League was good and all of a sudden, over the years, you’re comparing yourself against Edinboro and Shippensburg and Clarion. Nothing against those schools, but in a lot of cases, they don’t have the full allotment of scholarships.

Wrestling is very important at those schools, but it’s not quite like when you wrestle against schools like Oklahoma State or Iowa State. I think there is a realization that we have gone into a very competitive conference, a great conference, and that’s great.

It’s forcing us to upgrade everything we do, and that’s a good thing. But that’s probably the biggest lesson that came out of the first year.

B&GN – One of the challenges we heard about in the first year, a sort of constant theme, was the travel aspect of things.

Men’s basketball talked about it a lot, and obviously that schedule just came out. It looks like everyone sort of tried to help because there aren’t as many 9 p.m. games, some back-to-back road games where you can stay out and you don’t have to go out and back. What did the league try to do to help that?

Luck – We asked for three things really in terms of basketball, for both the men and the women. I haven’t studied the schedules closely, but we asked for three things.

It was to try to get one game, maybe two, before the start of the winter semester. You still have to travel, but at least when you get back at 3 a.m. or whatever it is, the kids don’t have to get up for class the next morning. That will help us. We asked for some stay-over games and as many early tips as possible.

That depends on television, and because of the season, we had last year, it’s probably easier for the Big 12 and the TV partners to say we don’t need WVU in primetime; we can put them in with the early game. It’s an indication that they were willing to work with us, and they thought those requests were reasonable at the end of the day.

Oliver luck interview B&GN – Any other travel situations, outside of basketball?

Luck – I don’t think we have as many back-to-backs (in football), without a bye week being stuck in between. Hopefully this will go on, and it’s not just a one-year deal. But having said that, I also realize it’s hard to make schedules. I used to make schedules for a league, and sometimes you can’t accommodate everyone. I think the conference was more than willing to try and will be willing to try as we go into the next few years.

B&GN – Those sports are chartering, but some of the other sports that travel just as much like volleyball, they don’t have that luxury. What are you trying to do with their travel, because it can be even more daunting?

Luck – Volleyball and baseball are probably the two that travel a lot. Women’s soccer has to get out there as well, so there’s team travel going on, and we try to make it as simple as we can.

We’re not chartering for those teams, but down the road, who knows, we may have the resources to begin to charter for those teams. It’s a pretty steep number, so we just try to minimize the travel.

These kids are getting used to it. It’s a different era now with student-athletes than in the past. You can go talk to girls on our volleyball team. First of all, look where they come from. With the exception of football, all of these kids have played club ball. And what do you do in club ball? You travel. My daughter, who plays college volleyball (at Stanford), she has played – as a club kid throughout junior high and high school – in more communities across the country than she does now that she’s playing college volleyball.

They get used to travel. They understand how to pack a bag.

People that don’t travel as much for business maybe don’t realize how accustomed these kids are to traveling. It’s what they grow up with with club sports. Basketball has AAU teams that go all over the place, and baseball goes everywhere, so does volleyball and swimming. Our rifle team is over in Europe shooting this summer, and (rifle head coach) Jon Hammond goes to shoot over there in whatever intercontinental competitions they have. It’s much more a part of what these kids are used to now.

It certainly wasn’t the case when I was a kid.

years, we can take that and talk to our folks about it and say, ‘Let’s look at our budget for the next 10, 12 years and figure out what we need in terms of operational dollars and we can look at our revenue streams and, obviously, the more money you’re guaranteed, the more you can count on it.’

We can’t necessarily count on ticket money because ticket sales go up and down a little bit. We can’t count on MAC money, because it can also go up and down. But now, two of our revenue four legs are guaranteed, so this will allow us to look over the next 10 years and see what we can bond, because we know we’ll have that revenue coming in, and we can look at what we need to spend money on.

There are a lot of needs here, particularly as we start to ramp up a lot of the Olympic sports. We have a swim team that doesn’t have a 50-meter pool (the 38-year-old pool at the WVU Natatorium is just 25 meters), and there are very few elite swimmers who will accept a scholarship without a 50-meter pool. That’s a real simple issue that is holding our swim team back. It’s a little bit like baseball. In the past, kids came to look at our baseball field and they were like, ‘Well, I’m not sure I want to play here.’

Our football and basketball infrastructure is good. There needs to be some improvements over at the football stadium, because we really haven’t done too much at the stadium in 30 years, but a lot of the Olympic sports require some upgrades.

We don’t have our own indoor tennis facility on campus. I get pictures from every coach who goes on their first swing through the Big 12. They’ll come back and say look at what Kansas State built with their tennis facility or look what someone else did with "I think what’s happening, in the bigger picture, is their swimming complex, and they’re beautiful facilities.

They’ve been able to do that over the years because they’ve that these 'Power Five' conference schools are made some pretty substantial TV money going back a while, beginning to move in a certain direction and the more so at least than what we’ve been making. The short another members of Division I are typically not going swer is that everyone is going to clamor for the dollars, and never enough to go around, but we’ll just have to set prito have, just based on their television packages, there’s orities and spend it wisely. the funds to do a lot of the things that the B&GN – You mentioned IMG. The Mountaineer Sports Network was a good in-house program, but you decided that it was 'Power Five' schools are." – Olver Luck better to outsource it. What ultimately went into that decision?

Luck – I have to be very careful with what I say, as you know, B&GN – Financially in general, are you comfortable with because we’re in the middle of a lawsuit (with the West Virginia where you’re at and where you’re headed? Because, obviously, Radio Corporation). But I’ll just say that I believe this puts us in you had to do some things to get out of the Big East and into the a better position to maximize the value of our assets. And the Big 12 that, at least short term, put some constraints on you. money is guaranteed. We’re insuring ourselves, in a sense, in the Luck – There are always going to be some constraints. The event of any kind of economic downturn. bottom line is that Big 12 revenue is much bigger than what I think we’d all agree that this isn’t the wealthiest state in the we had been receiving in the Big East, and certainly much bigcountry, and we’re expanding our ability to attract sponsors in a ger than what the remnants of the Big East have with the Ameri- very big way because of the IMG network – and that would have can Athletic Conference. I think mid-term and long-term we’re in been true if it had been Leerfield or any of the other companies great shape. that have a national presence. Ultimately, at the end of the day, This year we’re on a 67-percent share of the Big 12 revenue I thought it was the wisest thing for the University to do. There’s and the following year it’s 86 or 87 percent and then 100 peronly one school in the “Power Five” grouping of schools that cent. But I think at the end of the day it was, financially, the only doesn’t partner with either Leerfield or IMG, and that’s Michigan decision that made any sense long term for the University. Short- State. I don’t like leaving money on the table if it’s not in the best term pains, sure, but there are a lot of long-term gains. interest of the school.

B&GN – Knowing that there is additional revenue coming to B&GN – We’ve talked in the past about the cost of full attenyou as you escalate up in that Big 12 money, is it hard in a way dance (in terms of additional money for scholarship athletes) and because I know all the programs are making requests and you why that isn’t implemented yet. It’s sort of in the news now, do have so say no to some people … Is it hard not to start throwing you think that’s something that could happen in the near future all of that money out the window already or how do you do that? and are you guys prepared when that happens?

Luck – The good news is that with the way the university Luck – We’ve budgeted for it. It’s really not that bad, but it deworks, which is the same as almost all businesses, is that if it’s pends on the details of it. I’ve already asked our CFO to plan that a guaranteed revenue stream, like the TV money that’s guaraninto his annual budget. I thought it was going to happen a year teed or the IMG money that’s guaranteed for the next number of ago. I think what’s happening, in the bigger picture, is that these

“Power Five” conference schools are beginning to move in a certain direction and the other members of Division I are typically not going to have, just based on their television packages, the funds to do a lot of the things that the “Power Five” schools are.

The big boys, I think, sincerely believe they can do more for their student-athletes. Whether that would be providing a stipend, providing some travel dollars. There are cases when parents of kids, who are following their teams around at the NCAA Tournament, have to sleep in their car at night because they can’t afford a hotel. Should we provide a little stipend for parental travel?

People forget that kids are going to school all over the country now. Our kids don’t just come from Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. They’re coming from Florida and Texas and Kansas, and how do they get home when mom needs help or whatever else could happen? I think there’s a growing divide between the issues that the “Power Five” schools want to do, things they want to implement, and what some of the smaller schools want or don’t want because they might not necessarily have the money to do that. And I respect that, but just because they may not have those funds doesn’t mean that Texas or Florida or Georgia or West Virginia shouldn’t be able to do it. That’s a very interesting development that’s bubbling up, and I think ultimately those “Power Five” schools – because it’s all about football – will begin to coalesce and have a stronger voice in terms of doing some of the things that they really think they want to do.

They don’t want to have professional players or employees.

It’s not like they’re just jettisoning the NCAA model, but I think there are certain things that the bigger schools would like to do and there’s a sense that those initiatives have been held back by some of the smaller schools just because they didn’t have the dollars.

B&GN – What’s your opinion on that? There’s talk of a Division IV and talk of even separating completely. What are your thoughts on that?

Luck – I don’t think separating is wise. And I really don’t think there are that many, if any, athletic directors who want that. I do think that there’s some value in looking at a separate, standalone, federation under the NCAA umbrella that may be football only.

Football drives our business; that’s the reality. You guys come in here to talk about football. You’re not here to talk about volleyball or women’s soccer, and I love those sports. But there’s a legitimate debate that should take place of whether or not football should fall under the same rules as the swim team.

I don’t know. There’s a strong argument that they shouldn’t, because football is generating all of this revenue. No other organization in the nation would have 17 different business lines, one of them hugely profitable, the second pretty profitable and everything else isn’t that much. Long ago we would have jettisoned all of those things, but now we have it for a lot of good reasons, including Title IX, which I’m a big supporter of and love what it has done for women’s athletics.

But I think that there’s a sense that football can be managed better, quite honestly, and there’s a real reason to begin to look at that.

The spark for this whole thing could be all of this stuff that’s going on between the O’Bannon case and autograph issues. A lot of this stuff is sort of coming to a head, and that may be the spark where the “Big Five” conference schools say we don’t want professionals, we don’t want strikes, we don’t want lockouts, but there are some things we can do that should help these kids.

August 24, 2013 — BLUE & GOLD NEWS — Page 27

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Mountaineer Memories – The DVD Library Of Magical West Virginia Moments

Sold Out 2 0 0 8 To s t i t o s Fiesta Bowl – West Virginia vs.

Oklahoma – In one of the biggest games in their school’s history, all the stars of the ninthranked West Virginia Mountaineers shown bright in beating the No. 4 Oklahoma Sooners 48-28 in the 2008 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Ariz. The Mountaineers rallied behind their proud leader, Coach Bill Stewart, and after the game publicly lobbied for him to be their next head coach. West Virginia responded promptly, naming him as head coach the day after their emotional Fiesta Bowl victory.

DVD contains the complete 2008 Fiesta Bowl broadcast by Fox without commercial

2007 Mountaineer Football Highlight D V D – “ I t ’s Mountaineer Pride” – As much of a success story as the 2007 season was, it was also a major transition time for WVU football.

The Mountaineers faced many obstacles throughout the year, but they remained focused and came together in the end to score a dramatic victory over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl.

From August through January, WVU withstood many blows, but a resilient group of young men kept the program moving forward. The Fiesta Bowl win was a shining moment that proved to never underestimate the strength of a Mountaineer.

2006 Mountaineer Football Highlight DVD – “Stay Humble, Stay Hungry” – Individual success comes through team success. That is the philosophy of WVU football, and it was never more evident than in 2006. Players worked together as a team, and in the end, the players, coaches and fans reaped the benefits. Nothing or no one is more important than the team. Despite past successes, WVU remained humble yet hungry in its drive to achieve even more. Throughout the season, the Mountaineers played at a fast, physical and furious pace, leading West Virginia to great heights individually and to a Gator Bowl title as a team.

2006 Nokia Sugar Bowl – West Virginia vs.

Georgia – Steve Slaton rushed for a record 204 yards and the No. 11 Mountaineers gave a much needed boost to the beleaguered Big East Conference, upsetting eighthranked Georgia 3835 on a Monday night in the first Nokia Sugar Bowl played outside of New Orleans. WVU used a lightning attack to fuel a 28-0 first quarter lead. The powerful Bulldogs came charging back, but WVU cemented the victory on a fake punt by Phil Brady helped West Virginia run out the clock.

This DVD contains the complete 2006 Sugar Bowl broadcast by ABC without commercial

2005 Mountaineer Football Highlight DVD – “Sweet As Sugar” – The 2005 Mountaineers mixed strong veteran le a de rs hip w ith youthful energy into a formula that truly jelled. An 11-1 record was a great achievement for these Mountaineers, who worked hard, sweated, cried, laughed and celebrated together.

The national experts did not expect much, but the 2005 Mountaineers delivered a Big East title, a BCS bowl berth and one of the best seasons in school history. Fans enjoyed watching a team that had just the right mix of veteran leadership and youthful exuberance to deliver a season that was” Sweet As Sugar.”

“The Legends Of West Virginia” – This DVD features more than 60 minutes of the officially licensed “COACHES TAPE” just like the pros use in scouting players for the pro football draft. These are the video highlights supplied to the pro football head coaches and team scouts as they make the ir s e le c tions during the pro football draft, which is rapidly becoming as big as the championship game.

Watch highlights of former Mountaineer football greats like Brandon Myles, Dan Mozes, Marc Bulger, Amos Zereoue, Rasheed Marshall, Chris Henry and Kay-Jay Harris, as well as many other legends of college football.

“Fields Of Glory – Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium” – Join “Fields of Glory,” as we head down a country road to Mountaineer Field, home to one of college football’s powerhouses – the WVU Mountaineers.

Get an in-depth look at game day in Morgantown, including some unique WVU traditions, such as the “Pride of West Virginia” and the Mountaineer mascot. Plus you can sing along to “Take Me Home, Country Roads” like the Mountaineers do after every home win.

Brent Musburger narrates this series which captures the pageantry and traditions from the “cathedrals” of college football.

2007 Mountaineer Basketball H i g h l i g h t DVD – “Young Champions” – Yo u n g … unseasoned … untested … just a few words used in the preseason to describe the 2007 WVU basketball team. But youth is a wonderful thing, and it’s full of surprises.

With little expected of them, the young Mountaineers came out of the shadows of past WVU basketball teams to create its own identity. They emerged as winners, as game after game they delivered, much to the delight of the Mountaineer nation.

Young at heart, but savvy at the game of basketball, the 2007 Mountaineers brought an NIT championship back to West Virginia.

2006 Mountaineer Basketball Highlight DVD – “Sweet Memories” – Never before in the history of West Virginia basketball has one senior class meant so much to the program, the University and the state. Five young men defined character and class and took WVU basketball to heights it hadn’t reached in almost 50 years. They were giant killers until they became giants themselves.

Lofty rankings and national exposure put them among college basketball's elite, but they never forgot they were student/athletes first and foremost.

Along the way, these seniors left a legacy of “Sweet Memories" which will last a lifetime.

2005 Mountaineer Basketball Highlight DVD – “Elite Company” – Character, heart and class all defined the 2005 West Virginia University men’s basketball team.

These Mountaineers represented WVU with the fight and pride of a champion.

By putting together a six-week run to capoff the season, West Virginia boldly went where no WVU men’s basketball team had been in 46 years.Along the way, the world of college basketball found out what Mountaineer basketball was about. Crisp shooting and a never-say-die attitude gave this team and its fans one wild ride to close out the season. It was a ride that put the 2005 Mountaineers in “Elite Company.”

Mountaineer DVDs – No video collection is complete without these West Virginia memories

$22.95 or $15.95 for each DVD (plus $6.95 S&H per shipment), Check (payable to Blue & Gold News), money order or Visa/MasterCard orders only, no CODs Send form to: Blue & Gold News, Mountaineer DVDs, P.O. Box 1505, Morgantown, WV 26507

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August 24, 2013 — BLUE & GOLD NEWS — Page 29