Money, The Draft, and a thought on the National Championship

A few weeks ago the the Charleston "Daily Mail" put out an article about coaches salaries and more importantly about WVU coaches salaries. The story focused on WVU's running back's coach, Chris Beatty, and how much or how little he makes relatively. Now before I start, lets just get it out of the way, Chris Beatty makes 175K/year and its more than I make and just about anyone else I know. His job security is better than any bank and his future is very bright due to his performance. So many might question this article that tries to argue that Coach Beatty is under- compensated. I argue that if you are reading this blog and have ever gotten misty eyed when you hear Appalachian Spring in an elevator, you should be a fan of coach Beatty and should support him getting a raise. Its probably the right time for me to say that coach Beatty has never asked for a raise publicly. What Coach Beatty has done is bring some great athletes to come play football at WVU. Now I know that WVU is a University and coach Beatty makes more than most professors. Also, I'm academic as they come, but there is not a person that can argue the revenue and exposure that WVU has over the last few years from their winning ways in the cage and on the field. I won't argue that the folks that are most responsible for that are the guys like Pat White, Kevin Pittsnoggle, Steve Slaton, etc. But shouldn't the guy who convinces these guys to come to the little town in the hills of northern WV, which is so far from home, get more credit and compensation. IMO....if you are good at what you do and make someone else lots of money you should be compensated for it.

I'm going to watch the draft like I always do. Its really NFL party that they invite us college football guys to. Its very nice to see who goes where, but after awhile Mel Kiper's hair starts to get on my nerves. I'll be Mowing my grass by noon. (But it only takes 20 minutes).

Quick....someone asked me the other day who won the National Championship in1997. I thought for a second and answered it was split between Michigan and Nebraska...which was correct. (However, I'm a college football dork and remember these things). I got to thinking about it though, and I thought that many National Championships are like many women I have dated. You remember some because every minute was hell but you stay with it because you want to see what happens next. This would be the great teams you love to hate like Miami in 03, Nebraska in 95, and USC in 2004. The other category would be the teams that capture your heart and you follow them like a young private does a general in the heat of battle. These are fewer far between in football but some that come to mind are OSU in 03, BYU in 84, Texas 05' and Alabama in 1992. I've left a whole lot of years out because, in my mind, they fall into the day to day relationship category. We had a two loss team win it a few years ago and a team that lost to a team that was unranked last season. I guess its the day to day stuff that keeps you going.

The 8 row hiatus

I have not written in a long while, and it may seem like I'm one of those guys who only likes football except when their team is doing well in the tournament. Nothing can be further from the truth. I loved watching the progress of the team this year, and there were many times I wanted to share my thoughts but I just did not do it. Oh well.....

As it turns out about the time football season and Pat was capping off his career with a memorable performance in the tire bowl, I started hearing rumors of another kind. In late February, I got the bad news that I will no longer be employed in WV and I would have to once again move to Oklahoma City. We could see the writing on the wall, but the news has made my life a little hectic. Yesterday i signed a lease for a place in OKC, and I will probably be there by May. I will not be able to see things at Mountaineer field from 8 rows away. As much as it pains me, I have to consider myself lucky that I was able to watch guys like Pat White, Steve Slaton, Owen Schmitt, and Noel Devine in such close proximity. I'm still a fan though........and I will continue 8 rows of eers from 1200 miles away from the mother ship.

The end of the basketball season ended in such a bummer, and I can't really explain how bad it hurt to go out like that. One thing for sure, you can't expect to go to the sweet sixteen every year and upsets happen to every team. The theory about the team being tired is total BS in my opinion, but I have a slight connection with the whole thing and I do want to share.

I stated above that I will be going to OKC and on the days before the tournament, I was there in the land of red dirt and high winds looking for a house. Getting there was a task since Charleston was covered in fog and we had to wait in a small terminal for 8 hours. Turns out the chartered plane from Miami Air needed sercurity and we had to go through the commercial security and such. Coming back we were delayed once again while a military plane slowly boarded. This airline is the same service that was late getting to Morgantown and barely got Huggs and the crew to Minneapolis on time. Needless to say, I could feel their pain when I heard of the whole fiasco and had to wonder if our delays kept them from getting there on time. I would have gladly taken a commercial flight in order to avoid an upset like that one. As the stranger says in the Big Lebowski, "Sometimes you eat the bear and sometimes the bear eats you."

Pat's Top 10 According to Dolomite

I won't be attending the USF game. I'm not mad at the team or giving up on them, but I do have a new position at work and some responsibilities I have to attend to. I have attended 9 of our 11 games this year and will try attend that many for the rest of my life, but even my myopic ass knows that sometimes, some things have to come before football.

That does not diminish the fact that we have a very important revenge game, and it is the last game for the greatest player that has ever played football at WVU. In honor of his last game, I would like to list, what I think, are his top 10 plays. Most of these plays are legendary and I'm proud to say that I saw most of them live.

10. The last game in 2005 was against USF, and we had the confrence and BCS bowl game locked up. However, respect for the conference and WVU was on the line. For the first time all season Steve Slaton was having trouble finding holes and Pat just took over. Pat drops back, surveys field and scampers 70 yards to a game changing score.

9. In the Fiesta Bowl last year, OU had just scored to bring the game within 14 I think. On second down, Pat drops back, looks over the field and delivers a laser to a double covered Tito Gonzales. Tito catches it, a DB rolls off of his back and he goes 83 yards and starts the rout of the sooners. Pat got drilled on this play, and the whole thing was more reminiscent of something Payton Manning would do than a running QB.

8. Pitt ran a punt back against us in the 2006 brawl and got back into the game at the end of the half. At the start of the second half, Pitt started to blitz and Pat hit Super Steve on two 60+ yard wheel routes for scores.

7. This isn't one play but at the end of the 4th quarter in the 07 Gator Bowl WVU had a slim 3 point lead against Georgia Tech. RR simply told Pat that we needed a few first downs, and Pat simply delivered that. We kept the ball for the final 5 minutes of the game and came back from 18 points down.

6. The second half against Louisville in 06 was something most would like to forget and many have. However, in the 4th quarter Pat White solidified himself as a leader in my eyes with his performance. Despite numerous fumbles by SS and Owen Pat just kept going and running for for first downs and throwing for TD's. We lost, but Pat showed that he is THE leader of the team and program and that he was never going to give in.

5. Against Louisville in 08, in the second half, Pat once again showed his leadership by simply making all of the plays. He took one in from 45 and threw for two more. In doing so, he broke the all time record for rushing by a NCAA QB. I couldn't think of a more deserving guy.

This is when it gets good......man I'll miss Pat.

4. Strange things happened to WVU in November of 2007 and it all began against Louisville. In the first half, WVU scored in multiple ways, but Brian Brohm and Harry Douglas proved to be constant thorns in our sides. With two minutes to go Louisville kicked a field goal to tie it up. Pat got us to the 50 and on second down, he got loose for a 50 yard scoring run. Incredibly clutch and classic Pat White.

3. In sub zero temperatures in 2005 against Pitt, Pat dropped back looked left for Drey on a screen, right for Brandon Miles on a screen but both were covered. HB Blades nearly takes his head off, but Pat makes him miss. Pat then scampers 70 yards to an icy, endzone and 445-21 blow out over the hated Pitt Panthers. When he was interviewed at the half by Erin Andrews, Dave Wannstadt broke down the play much like last year. Andrews asked what Pitt needed to do in order to stop WVU and White in the second half. Wanny being Wanny simply said that they must get faster.......

I'm starting to get misty eyed here...

2. The first quarter of the Sugar Bowl in 2006 might have been the most magnificent display of offense I have ever seen. In the second half, the Bulldogs, who were playing a basic home game, came back on us. After a penalty we had a 3rd and 9 from our 9 with three minutes to go. Pat drops back and takes off. I'm not sure how many he juked, but it was at least half of the Georgia defense. Many, if not most, will remember Phil Brady's fake punt to ultimately seal it, but that play would have never been possible had Pat not made one of the most amazing 11 yard runs you will ever see.

With water on the keyboard.....

1. You might recall that in 2005, Louisville was the hands down favorite to win the league, and WVU was a young team with little expectations. Pat didn't even start the game and played little through the first 52 minutes. Down by 17, Adam Bednarick got injured and Pat had to come in and convert a first down with a 2nd and 20. He did just that with a nice pass to Drey. After drops by Jollah and Brandon Marshall, Pat then had a 4th and ten. Louisville only rushed three and Pat ran around Eric Johnson and Elvis Dummervill (both in the NFL) to get the first down. WVU scored a few plays later. After an amazing on sides kick and a field goal it was once again 4th down and a long yard this time. Louisville brought the house and Pat used his speed and vision to take it around the corner to a first down. Steve Slaton scored to set up the game tying extra point two plays later. These two plays kept this game alive. More importantly, this game was the catalyst for WVU's unparallelled success from 2005-07. From this point on, WVU would not lose another football game for another year, and would only lose 3 more in the next two seasons. One thing for sure...he will be missed. Lets hope I can replace one of these plays with a play tomorrow....IMO chances are good.

Good Times and Bad Times on the Ohio

First the good

My attorney and I started the day in Lexington, and quickly made our way to view the kickoff at Papa Johns stadium (the slice as they call it.) The first half was more of the same BS we have seen all year. Trips inside the 5 that ended with missed field goals or little daddy slipping while walking in the endzone. Can Noel Devine get some longer cleats or something? The guy seems get tackled by the turf more than any player I have ever seen when its cold. Also, for a guy that was a special teams coach, you would think that Stew of all people would realize that Pat Mac does not kick the ball well when kicking from the left hash and inside the ten. I know that most of our third down plays in the redzone involve some sort of run pass option for Pat, but you would think that we would change it up if we know we are going to kick the field goal on 4th down?

The second half was amazing. Louisville fans were giving us high fives and confessing their man love for PW. I was amazed when Pat was left in during the 4th quarter to get the record, but I was glad that I got to see it. Overall it was a good trip but pretty darn cold.

On Black Friday, my attorney and I woke up at 5am like many other Americans, but it was not so we could catch a good sale or get a wii. It was to head north, to Yinzer town to see the 101st addition of the backyard brawl. This was about revenge. And despite the fact that we had to sit in the nose bleed seats and brave the cold Ohio River wind, I knew we were going to get ours. Instead, we gave another one away. Two posessions inside the ten with no points, another we got down to the ten but it was called back for a penalty. Same story, same river wind, but a different result. When Lashan McCoy got the ball on the edge on the same fake dive play that killed us last year and took it for a key first down I knew it was all over. Cincy winning against the Cuse took a little bit of the sting away, but irrelevance after being dominant for so many years is a little hard to swallow.

Bad Chili and Good news from Geno......

You know in Cincinnati they put pasta on Chili. I'm serious. They take a glorious American tradition and mix it with spaghetti noodles. If you like such a thing, all I have to say is Wendys and the Olive Garden don't mix. I have severe disdain for Ohio, and its things like this that fuel my little fire pit of hatred.

At some point around 10 pm Thursday, I was thinking about Cincy chili, listening to their fans do their basketball cheer (weak, gay) and thinking about how unpleasant my drive home was about to be. As you all know a few things happened, I got really happy, a grown man confessed his love for me, and we lost in OT on a bullshit, nutless, dumb fuck call. We didn't deserve to win at all and that is all that matters. Although it would have been one hell of a story.

I missed the UCONN game or at least missed blogging about it and at this time it doesn't matter. All the good things we were doing ended. However, you only have to go down one post to see my keys to WVU winning games. After Auburn, I said that we HAVE to run the ball up the middle to be successful. We did for two games and then a gigantic, proverbial Dent hit or left our program. Next to guard the center is the most unglorified position on the field. However, I was amazed at the beginning of the game how nobody seemed to be concered how we were going to be without our big guy in the center. My fears were realized when we rushed for only 99 yards the whole game and the middle of the line was dominated by their DL. For all the trash that we talked about Mike Dent we needed him most and he might be the most important part or our team other than Pat.

For a few brief moments on Saturday, though, we almost jumped the general lee over the big bowl of carbohydrate laced chili. The worst thing about it was how it would have been......However, for all of these types of games you have to think of the Louisville game in 05, the Rutgers game in 06, etc. and how these things tend to work themselves out for good and for bad. Not even gastric bypass and the rest of the delusional Notre Dame fans are lucky enough to win all of them.

Despite all of the gloom and doom and all of the projections of a 6-6 season and a bowl game in mid-December, we have some good news for Mountaineer Nation. Fans, welcome Euguene (Geno) Smith to our team. He came via, Damon Cogdell, who played at WVU back when the author was raising hell in White Hall and the Mountainlair. Eugene is a 4 star QB and will fit in nicely with his good friend and high school teammate Bailey Stedman. I don't know if it makes a dam bit of difference or not, but after the game was over on Saturday we all clapped for the team. Despite the loss ,the fans that stood in their seats and even stayed after the game (that would be me), all cheered for the team when the game was over. ES and BS were there to see that, and I would think that the team's effort coupled with the fan's disappointed yet warm reaction would mean a great deal to a young man trying to choose his football destination. We need to remember this moment when ES is in the game in a few years, throws a pick, and we want to boo him. He believed in us when we needed him most (and we do).

Turning the corner

I recently said that WVU was running the prevent offense and that they couldn’t score in a Women’s Prison with a handful of barbies. The quote is actually supposed to be with a handful of pardons, but I thought I heard barbies and just left it that way. At any rate, today it appears that I was incorrect about the WVU part too.

For the first time since the Fiesta Bowl, it felt like the good old days. WVU pounded Auburn (like every SEC team they have played), and they did it very convincingly. The most impressive thing is that WVU all but spotted Auburn 17 points, and it didn’t even matter. I think that everyone in that stadium from the Chik-a-filet guy, to me, to Captain Green Bean, to Little Daddy and Pat White knew that there was no reason to panic and that good things were about to come to the old gold and blue. Of course after the game, the question that was on everyone’s mind was, “Where has this been all year?” Answers to this question include but are not limited to:

“Auburn sucks….”

“Chris Beatty is calling plays”

“Rich Rod and Calvin were calling plays in from the couch”

“Auburn really sucks…”

“Noel figured out how to run in the zone”

“Mike Dent can finally block”

“Mullen figured out how to call plays”

“Pat played extra hard because it was against a school from Bama”

“Tubberville is a moron.”

I will not address all of these, but some of them are just too good to pass up. Firstly, Auburn has the most talented defense we will face all year. I was watching the replay of the game with my attorney and on our first scoring drive Noel had a 4 yard run off of the right side that would have gone for 40 against any other team. In the words of our beloved Stew, the boys at Auburn strained and really got after it(at least in the first half), and to categorize that performance against them as anything but improvement would be a serious case of bad judgement. Sure their offense is weak, but I have to call them like I see them and what I saw was our team dominate a good Auburn defense for 60 minutes. Since that issue has been cleared up, I’m sure that all of you are now on the edge of your seat asking what we did differently on Thursday? Well, baby birds, you came to the right place because I’m going to feed ya. Out of all the things that it could be, I’m convinced that the success we saw on offense can mainly be attributed to one thing. For the first time all year the inside zone play worked more than it didn’t work. Auburn had to respect our inside running game and it opened out those beautiful outside runs that we love so much. On the first scoring drive Pat faked the middle hand-off to Jock and optioned to his left where he later pitched to Little Daddy. The backers froze on the fake and allowed Pat to get outside where he then pitched it. Now the reasons for being able to run the inside zone play are many, and whether its better second level blocking by our lines interior or more patient running by Noel or just better playcalling by Mullen I do not know. I do know however, that WVU is 4000-0* over the last couple of years when we run the inside zone play with success, and to me that is all that matters. Furthermore, if we can continue to run the inside zone play with great success (said in my best Kazahk accent) I strongly feel that every team left on our will have a very difficult time stopping us.

*Stats made up by me in order to legitimize this blog.

Stats and a microwave

I’m really not a stat guy. Sure I like to know how many yards Little Daddy and the Great one run for, but, IMHO, most stats are simply numbers that most folks use to justify losses. I love it when people refer to stats like Passing Yards/attempt, Net punting, or pass defense efficency. In my 20+ years of watching football, I have never been watching a game and thought to myself how good a certain team is doing with their pass defense efficency.

Other than wins and losses, when you really think about it, there are only about 5 stats that really matter.

1. Turnover margin…There is no better way to lose a game than giving the ball away. Likewise, teams that do not turn the ball over and take it away often find ways to win games they shouldn’t. UCONN the past couple of years is a good example of this style of play. We have been tremendous over the last few years at taking the ball away, but we have been giving it away over the last few years as well. See the last two losses at USF and ECU and Colorado games.

2. Penalty yards….Lack of discipline and mental mistakes make up about 75% of all penalties I think. How many drives did we have killed last week because of holds by Ryan Stancheck. One was on a reverse that was run to the opposite side of the field. On the other side of this how many times did JT Thomas jump offsides against Marshall on third down essentially giving them a firstdown. Teams that make too many penalties, IMO, show a serious lack of focus and suggest that the coaches attention to detail is not what it should be. Say what you want to about Nick Saban but you don’t see Alabama jumping offsides and getting called for chop blocks and false starts do you?

3. Scoring defense…This one is pretty obvious. In 2006, WVU had a great offense, but the defense was horrible. I strongly feel that the amount of yards are much less important a stat than the amount of scoring your defense allows.

4. Scoring offense….I’m not even going to explain much, but the term total offense always gets to me. 500 yards of total offense against Marshall and only 27 points. You have to score to win, and right now, WVU couldn’t score in a women’s prison armed with a box of chocolates and a fistful of barbies. Simply put that is our problem this year….

5. Time of possession….Good things happen when you have the ball more than your opponent. Its not the be all end all…in 2006 we scored so fast that many teams had the ball much longer than us, but generally if you win this battle you win the game too.

On another note, I was at the microwave at work today, minding my own business, watching my burrito cook. Someone was nice enough to bring me late night taco bell and I had some leftovers. I hear someone walk by me, slow down and I cringe immediately. I cringe because it reminds me of my dating days. Occasionally you would take a girl out and realize after about 10 minutes that she was absolutely, socially retarded and has not one original or meaningful thought in her little, self-absorbed head. The audible stop and pause behind you at the microwave is akin to the deep breath your date would take right before she plows on through another meaningless, two-man soliloquy on whatever ills are plaguing her life at that moment. So after my cringe, I prepare for a sequence of events that begins with a stupid question about what is cooking and then ends with me giving that person with a look of total hatred is about to ensue. Why even ask the question in the first place? If I wanted to talk about everything I ate throughout the day I would have a food blog. So this person asks me what I’m eating. I don’t even reply; I just look inside the microwave where even Stevie Wonder could tell that a burrito is cooking. This is generally followed with some sort of eye contact and a head nod where I confirm through non-verbal communication that she is indeed seeing a burrito. It never works, because this is where it gets really fun. I’m kind of used to pointing out the obvious to people…… have managers that I have to do it for all of the time. However, this next level that people always have to take it to is what makes me go absolutely bat-shit crazy. For some odd reason, people always feel compelled to tell you how they don’t like what you are eating or they just go oooo or yuck. Not that I care what they think…I’ll eat what I want to regardless of whether or not you like it. (I’m my own man in that kind of way). I do find it tremendously rude and the whole thing having no value what so ever.

OK…enough of that

I also have to add that the best sports movie ever made is The Big Lebowski. It has more quotes than just about any movie there is and plenty of Creedance and Bob. A group of Nihilists are main characters and Flea has a part in it. White Russians and sarsaparillas are a staple and the whole movie centers around the greatest social sport that just about anyone can play…. and in color too. Last night while bowling, I realized that my favorite movie is also a sports movie, and in the words of the stranger, I’m glad that I came to that realization before the good lord gypped me. Ahh…the Dude abides.