Sinking ship?
by Jim Buzzerd
I sat down last Monday to type something for this space. I began by looking at some of the West Virginia University football players entering the transfer portal. Then I was seeing where some players at various schools around the country are reportedly receiving NIL deals approaching, and possibly exceeding, $1 million. Then I couldn’t get out of my mind the words of WVU president Gordon Gee who recently said he was proud of the 2022 record of 5-7.
Then I started thinking about head coach Neal Brown’s return next season. At one point it seemed he was almost certainly going to be fired. Of course, that decision would cost a hefty $16 million to the athletic department, so Brown will return for the 2023 season which, barring some miraculous turnaround, will likely be his last season at WVU. With that reality hanging over the program the exodus of players, decommitment of recruits began. This week even offensive coordinator Graham Harrell decided to bolt for the same job at Purdue. More carnage is likely.
Anyway, I was, and still am, so disillusioned with the football program that I just didn’t want to comment on the football situation. With that said there will be no further comment here on the football program until at least spring football.
At least the Mountaineer basketball team has my attention. They are 9-2 and appear well on their way to a better season than last season. Bob Huggins’ team has lost a competitive game to Purdue which is ranked first in both major polls this week. WVU lost 84-74 at Xavier in a game that the Mountaineers were in control, but let it get away late.
West Virginia figures to go to 10-2 with Stony Brook coming to the Coliseum this Thursday for a 6m. game on ESPN+. Then the Mountaineers are idle until New Year’s Eve (Saturday) when Big 12 play will commence at Kansas State at 7 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN+. The team will remain on the road and meet up with Oklahoma State on Monday, January 2 at 7 p.m. on ESPNU.
