Money Talks

As I listen and read articles about “Who’s Number One?” in college football today it makes me sick to my stomach, and I also see that money talks. Just because the two football teams that are number 1 and 2 in the BCS standings right now are in “Small” Money Markets doesn’t mean that they deserve a chance to play for a National title. Yes, there are teams out there that are in “Big” Money Markets and maybe would be favored if playing West Virginia or Missouri. That’s still not a good enough reason to say they should not be in the National title game. The reason those teams are in the back of the BCS standings are because they “LOST”. If there were two “Big” Money Market teams in the number 1 & 2 spots right now we would not be hearing the whining we are right now. But as soon as a “Small” Money Market team is there all they can see are dollar signs, and how much money is going to be lost. We hear this argument every year and until there is a college football playoff system in place, all we can do is the best you can in the system we have. No matter if they are a “Small” Money Market team or a “Big” Money Market team. With that said, West Virginia and Missouri are the best in college football with that system. So put your towel away and quit you’re crying, and save it for the ones that care, and that’s not West Virginia or Missouri fans. So let go… Mountaineers, and keep your eye on the goal this week. Lets concentrate on beating Pitt and then will worry about the National title game.

I would love to hear your thoughts or comments.

Hillbilly

Wow!

Wow! Do I need to say anything more. Lets keep up the intensity and hope that we keep our eye on the goal ahead, and New Orleans here we come.

I would love to hear your thoughts or comments.

Hillbilly

Merry Christmas!

All I want for Christmas is a National Championship, a National Championship, a National Championship. As LSU fell today to Arkansas so did there hopes of winning a National Championship, and a gift given to West Virginia getting into the National Championship game. This is what we have been waiting for the past couple of weeks. We had a gift given to us today, and lets not blow it. West Virginia needs to focus on the game ahead and keep chugging along and not let anything distract them from winning the ball game against U Conn and Pitt. Lets not give our gift away, lets keep it and lets show the nation who's #1.

I would love to hear your thoughts or comments.

Hillbilly

Keys to the game…

Keys to Saturday night’s game against Cincinnati is minimizing turnovers and penalties, but also getting Steve Slaton more involved in the game. It’s nice that Pat is running the ball effectively but we need to keep that strategy working by effectively getting Steve more touches and involved in running the ball too. When teams have to focus on more than one threat it allows West Virginia’s offense to run more successfully. Turnovers, turnovers did I say turnovers. West Virginia needs to keep a hold of the ball and not make silly decisions when throwing the ball. Cincinnati has a been good at creating turnovers, and Saturday night we need to make sure we don’t help the opposition. If West Virginia can implement the things I talked about then West Virginia will not have any problem winning this football game.

I would love to hear your thoughts or comments.

Hillbilly

Hopes and dreams...

Well, tomorrow night the Mountaineers take to the court with hopes and dreams that each season brings of winning the Big East, and the ultimate goal of winning the NCAA Tournament in March. This year’s team will be one to watch to see how fast they can familiarize themselves with Coach Huggins style of basketball and implement it on the court. This team can shoot the ball and and won the NIT Tournament. The only thing I see that will hurt West Virginia is having a legitimate “BIG” man in the paint that can play power basketball. Let see if Jamie Smalligan can develop into that player, if not West Virginia may struggle with keeping people out of the paint. I’m looking forward to this year’s season, but not keeping my hopes up to high until Coach Huggins has had some time to develop a team of his own choosing.

I would love to hear your thoughts or comments.

Hillbilly

This weeks poll results...

Who in the Top 5 will be the next to lose?

1. Ohio State - 100%
2. LSU - 0%
3. Oregon - 0%
4. Oklahoma - 0%
5. Kansas - 0%

Memories...

What was your best most moment in Mountaineer history? For me the 2007 Gator Bowl win over Georgia Tech was a game to remember. I know, I know it doesn't go back that far, but my memory isn't that great these days. When you reach the age over 35 it starts to go down hill. :) Just click the video on the side bar named West Virginia Mountaineers - 2007 Gator Bowl it's really a blood pumper. If this video doesn't get you pumped up when you watch it then you must not be a Mountaineer fan. Let me know what your best moment was. Maybe it will trigger something I forgot.

I would love to hear your comments or thoughts.

Hillbilly

Yes and No.

I just got finished watching the game and yes we won, but no we did not impress who we needed to push the Mountaineers up further in the BCS poll. Costly mistakes and penalties almost cost us the game. Pat White though showed what kind of player he is and coming through at the end with that "BIG" touchdown run. As I'm writing, Pat White was giving an interview and sounds like he is still has not recovered from that hit he took in the 3rd quarter. West Virginia may have hurt themselves in their cause by not beating Louisville in dominating fashion. It's these opportunities that you have to take advantage of and if you don't teams that do will pass you by like they have been the past couple of weeks.

I would love to here your comments or thoughts.

Hillbilly

This weeks poll results...

Who is this years MVP?

1. Pat White - 50%
2. Owen Schmitt - 38%
3. Darius Reynaud - 12%
4. Steve Slaton - 0%

Before you know it…

As the fall rituals of football season are in full swing and the crisp cool air sets in. Before you know it college basketball season will be under way. The sounds and smells of the Coliseum, a basketball hitting the hardwood floor, bodies pounding in the paint, the swishing of the ball in the net, whistles and buzzers going off, the screeching noises of sneakers along the floor, and all the screaming fans yelling "Let’s Go…Mountaineers!". These are all signs to tell us that basketball is coming. The Mountaineers have been on an emotional ride since winning the NIT tournament this year, first was losing Coach John Beilein to Michigan, then gaining Coach Bob Huggins, and then having to learn a whole brand new system of basketball. Coach Huggins is an excellent coach whose power, slam it in your face, defensive minded style of play will allow the Mountaineers to compete with those schools that killed them in the paint in years past while the 3 point shot failed to reach its target. I couldn’t tell you how many games I watched seeing the 3 point shot rain down on teams leaving them speechless on the court wondering how they can stop them. The same goes the other way, when I was left speechless, mad, and yelling "Why are you still shooting the 3 pointer?" when nothing was going in the basket. Those last few years though have been exciting and disappointing at times but I would not trade them for anything. The excitement is in the air and a new basketball season is upon us and with Coach Huggins at the reigns, I have the feeling we will have more exciting times to come.

I would love to hear your thoughts or comments.

Hillbilly

Come & Get it!

When I think of tailgating, the smoke and smells of the bbq, the noise of all the people coming and going come to mind. These are just a few of things that make tailgating fun and exciting. But what really makes a tailgate party is the food. I love to make sausage with peppers and onions on the bbq. Nothing satisfies your taste buds the most than sinking your teeth into a juicy sausage with peppers and onions. It sounds a little boring but you can't beat the taste. So what is your favorite tailgate food? I would love to hear what you prepare on game day and maybe you can give someone else a great idea for what to have at their next tailgate.

Hillbilly

A look ahead...

As the Mountaineers look ahead to Thursday’s night game against Big East rival Louisville Cardinals, a team that should not be taken too lightly. The Louisville Cardinals (5-4, 2-2 Big East) are averaging 37.0 Points/Game (29th overall), 510.4 Total Yards/Game (7th), and 360.9 Pass Yards/Game (5th). There defense is not much to talk about but they can score, and score often. As I talked about in my last post “Do we have what it takes?” we need to come into this game with an aim to blow them out of the sky with all muskets blaring, only leaving the smell of smoke and any doubt that the Mountaineers are a team to be reckoned with in the media and coaches minds. I looked at the poll rankings last night and this is the second week in a row a team has jumped the Mountaineers in the polls. Granted they did not play this past week, but the respect is not there with the media and the coaches. West Virginia will not get that respect until they can show week in and week out that the Mountaineers can play on the big stage every week and dominate on both sides of the ball. So as the sea of Blue & Gold dominates in the stands on Thursday night and the fans are rowdier than ever. All we can hope is that the Blue & Gold can do it on the field also.

I would love to hear your thoughts or comments.

Hillbilly

Do we have what it takes?

Yes, I'm asking that inevitable question no one likes to ask. Do the Mountaineers have what it takes to get them to the next level? The next level I'm talking about is the high confidenience level that is deep inside you that you can win every ball game without any doubt left over who the better team was. As a fan you want the Mountaineers to have this high confidenince level. They do for the most part, but when the pressure is on and the "big game" is in front of them they hesitate. Without that confidience level you leave yourself vulnerable to seeds of doubt. When we leave ourselves vulnerable we falter, we fail. When the Mountaineers start playing at this high level every game, nothing will stop them.

I would to hear your thoughts or comments.

Hillbilly

Finally something went right…

I know I’m a little late with this but finally something went right for the Mountaineers. When University of Connecticut beat South Florida last Saturday that’s just what the Mountaineers were waiting for to keep their chances of winning the Big East title and a BCS bowl clearly in their sites. As I reminisce to last year and my disappointment set in after the Louisville loss, I realized that West Virginia can never live up to the hype. We all feel that disappointment every year when West Virginia loses to a team that they should have beat by two touchdowns or more. There’s always something that goes wrong during that year to ruin West Virginia’s chances of a National title shot. West Virginia is playing excellent football both on offensive and defensive side of the ball. When in recent years have you seen such a defense from West Virginia? With everything clicking and that well oiled machine is on a roll, all we can do now is wait and hope that someone falls in front of us and we’ll gladly take their place in the ranks.

I would love to hear your thoughts or comments.

Hillbilly

...you might be a Mountaineer Fan.

I thought I would start this blog off on a funny note with a couple of..... you might be a Mountaineer Fan. Thanks to Glen for some of your input its always appreciated.

1. If you wear a coon skin cap to bed and your wife thinks it's sexy..... you might be a Mountaineer Fan.
2. If you bring a musket rifle to watch the game and think nothing's wrong..... you might be a Mountaineer Fan.
3. If your two hound dogs are named White and Slaton..... you might be a Mountaineer Fan.
4. When your morning ritual includes hopping out of the shower and screaming..."And Now...Let's Bring On The Mountaineers"..... you might be a Mountaineer Fan.
5. When your grandmother comes back from the beauty parlor with an Owen Schmitt mowhawk haircut, and says, "What not enough?" ..... you might be a Mountaineer Fan.
6. When your wife gets dressed up in a Mountaineer cheerleading outfit and gives you that look and says "Are you ready for some football?", and you get all excited beacause you think the game is on TV..... you might be a Mounatineer Fan.
7. When you're in Wal-Mart, and your wife screams to you..."Let's Go"....and you scream back..."Mountaineers"..... you might be a Mountaineer Fan.
8. When you tell your daughter she cannot get married in the fall, because you can't attend..... you might be a Mountaineer Fan.
9. When you watch the game on TV and you thought you saw your Aunt Jean but it was only the Mountaineers Mascot..... you might be a Mountaineer Fan.
10. When you go to a yard sell for a couch and its not for your house, but for the after-game bomb fire..... you might be a Mountaineer Fan.
11. When you and your wife don't hug, kiss, say hello or goodbye..... instead you high-five and chest butt..... you might be a Mountaineer Fan.
12. When ordering your new couch, you request fire retardent fabric.... you might be a Mountaineer Fan.
13. When your last will and testament includes the request to have your ashes shot from the Mountaineer Musket after a WVU Touchdown..... you might be a Mountaineer Fan.
14. If you are sitting here reading this and think this is funny.... you might be a Mountaineer Fan.

I would love to here your ..... you might be a Mountaineer Fan jokes also. Please feel free to leave them. All I ask is that they do not have foul or suggestive language. I will remove it from the post.

Thanks and I'll talk to you later.

Hillbilly