West Virginia Blue
The Best Blogging Community in West Virginia Democratic politics, progressive policies, the good life and free living in Wild, Wonderful West Virginia.
Good afternoon, WvaBlue readers. This is your afternoon open thread to discuss all things Hill-related. Use this thread to praise or bash Congresscritters, share a juicy tip, ask questions, offer critiques and suggestions, or post manifestos.
As always, this is a crosspost from Congress Matters and I will refrain from my routine claim that this is the most important news of the day. That would be the what is happening in your own house this time of the year.
Sen. Byrd did not miss the vote today either, even thought it was finally just a majority wins event. His thoughts went to his friend Edward M. Kennedy.
Some West Virginians are die hard Pittsburgh Steelers fans while many here in the Eastern Panhandle like the Baltimore Ravens (or the Washington Redskins).
It's almost a great an internal state divide as the cole slaw on hotdog debate.
WVU wins another bowl game. Remember when people like former Senate Minority Leader and now former Republican political consultant Vic Sprouse were saying how the Mountaineers were doomed because Richie Rich went to Michigan? Of course Sprouse also thought Rudy Guiliani would be our next president too.
Michigan football practice was delayed nearly two hours late this morning after a player reported finding an unknown white powdery substance on the practice field. Head coach Rich Rodriguez immediately suspended practice while police and federal agents were called to investigate.
After a complete analysis, FBI forensic experts determined that the white substance, unknown to the players, was the goal line. Practice was resumed this afternoon after special agents decided the team was unlikely to encounter the substance again.
The Mountaineers continue to garner lots of good press before this season:
Off in the corner on that July day at the table sporting the 2008 West Virginia media guides, there were waves of laughter from those being entertained by the first-year Mountaineers coach.
But pinning down Bill Stewart to talk football, well, that wouldn't be quite so easy.
In a college football world where coaches who earn millions have become rock stars, Stewart is a bit of Buck Owens in a world of Motley Crue.
But he also is simply fun to listen to; asked a question about his Heisman hopeful quarterback Pat White and somehow Stewart ends up in the Bronx.
"Boys, if I could hit the curveball, I wouldn't be sitting here today," Stewart said. "I love baseball. I was there, last Wednesday, in the house that Ruth built, in the 27th to last game played at Yankee Stadium.
People love the new coach. The old coach, Richie Rich, not so much.
Stewart was named interim coach after Rich Rodriguez bolted for Michigan weeks before West Virginia played Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl last season. Few would have predicted that Stewart, a coach with a long resume as an assistant but one short on head coaching experience, would be the choice to replace Rodriguez, a coach who made the program a perennial national contender.
But hours after leading West Virginia to a 48-28 victory over Oklahoma at the Fiesta Bowl last January, West Virginia athletic director Ed Pastilong offered Stewart, a New Martinsville, W. Va., native, the position.
A dream scenario in the eyes of Stewart, who in his West Virginia bio says: "I was born a West Virginian, I was bred a West Virginian and hopefully when they lay me down I'll be a West Virginian, be it on the banks of the Ohio River or in the hills of Monongahela County."
Ask him about his returning core of players that makes West Virginia a consensus choice to win the Big East and Stewart, 55, ends up spinning yarns of growing up bleeding Mountaineer blue and gold.
Since this is a political blog I'll point out that Vic Sprouse wrote favorably of Richie Rich's decision to unlawfully break his contract with WVU.
Most WVU fans are already over "it" and have been for some time.
"It", of course, being Rich Rodriguez's departure from West Virginia. Despite protestations to the contrary by many UM fans, few here in West Virginia are obsessing.
Granted, people here don't like Rodriguez very much. When one says, "I plan on coaching at West Virginia for as long as they'll have me", it is supposed to mean that, and if one later backpedals, people tend to feel betrayed.
snip
And WVU fans aren't just going to forget about a $4 million contract that he signed and now claims holds him "hostage". Not on your life. That's money for our football program, which is an investment in something we love and are passionate about.
WVU fans fully expect him to honor his contract, because he signed it. There's nothing personal or hateful about it; it's "just business".
UM fans seem to miss the concept that Rodriguez himself isn't doing much to move on, either. He's made the whole departure it into a drawn-out, very public dispute, instead of just honoring the terms of the contract that he himself signed. Even considering that, however expecting a contract to be honored is not an "obsession," no matter what UM fans think.
If you disagree, you can get a second opinion. Call your bank and tell them that they are "obsessing" about your mortgage payments or your car loan and that they just need to let it go. Feed them the line about the psycho ex-girlfriend, too. Then, please come back here and let us know how that worked out for you.
While it's wrong to label an entire region in a derogatory manner, when it comes to sports: Michigan sucks.
This is a politics blog, not a sports blog. I want to consider the potential political fall out here.
The Manchin administration is aggressively pursuing a $4 million settlement from Rodriguez.
How will it look if West Virginia settles for significantly less? Could the handling of this case become an issue in the Attorney General race? What's the third question I should be asking? [There's always supposed to be 3 questions. :-)]
The fine folks at the excellent blue oklahoma were quite honorable in settling up on our Fiesta Bowl wager. Here's to hoping our respective schools face each other again next year for the national title.
The Fiesta Bowl matchup between the No. 9 ranked WVU Mountaineers and the No. 4 ranked Oklahoma Sooners should be one of the most exciting of the bowl games (Wednesday at 8 p.m. on Fox).
Here's what Sooners are saying about the big game:
West Virginia has more skill across the board than what we've seen. Starting with the quarterback. When I say more skilled, I mean faster and more explosive with game changers at the skill positions than what we've seen throughout the year. - Defensive Coordinator Brent Venables on West Virginia's offense. ...
We've seen this scheme a lot. West Virginia has great athletes in the backfield. They definitely add spice to it I guess. We just have to play fundamental football. You just have to play your assignment. - Defensive end Auston English on West Virginia's offense.
He can beat you by himself. And that's one thing we can't let him do. - Safety Nic Harris on West Virginia quarterback Pat White.
The Mountaineers appear to be responding well under Interim Head Coach Bill Stewart, according to sports editor Mitch Vogel in the Charleston Gazette:
"...We've had fun everywhere we've gone, [Stewart said]. You guys have been nothing but absolute angels. You have been in bed every night for curfew. You've practiced hard. I've been very pleased ... We've put people in the Mountain State at ease that we're coming out here, putting the Old Gold and Blue out on the field to show them what the Mountain State is all about.''
"I'm down with that,'' McAfee said.
It was a desperately needed blast of sunshine for WVU's program. While the coaching search drags on, Stewart is successfully putting on a happy face for the nation. And he may just be inspiring these Mountaineers.
By the way, I've issued a challenge to our fellow Democratic bloggers at blue oklahoma. I'm hoping to hear a response soon. Or perhaps that should be Sooner.
If he loses this case, former WVU coach Rich Rodriguez might find leaving the Mountaineers was expensive.
West Virginia University sued its former football coach, Rich Rodriguez, on Thursday, in an effort to secure a $4 million buyout from Rodriguez for breaking his contract with the school.
According to the lawsuit, WVU officials want a judge to determine that the school did not breach its contract with Rodriguez. They also say the contract requires Rodriguez to give written notice if the school breached the contract, and that he never did.
The lawsuit was filed by the WVU Board of Governors, on behalf of the school. It was filed Thursday in Monongalia Circuit Court, according to WVU spokeswoman Amy Neil.
Rodriguez, a Marion County native, left WVU after seven years to become the head coach at the University of Michigan. His departure has touched off an emotional firestorm among WVU fans, as the team prepares to play in the Fiesta Bowl Wednesday under assistant coach Bill Stewart.
I keep about half of half an eye on college football, so maybe someone with more expertise can answer this question. Has there been a season that was this competitive? I can't remember a recent season where there was such a constant flux in the top of the rankings.
The good news for West Virginia fans... when it matters the most: Missouri, West Virginia Are Sitting Pretty in the BCS. Both Missouri and West Virginia control their own destiny on the road to the national championship game.
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