The Charleston Gazette - WVU

Heart attack claims former WVU coach Stewart

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Mon, 21 May 2012 14:46:07 -0400

MORGANTOWN -- Bill Stewart, whose improbable rise to the top of the college football coaching ranks was equaled only by his inglorious fall, died Monday of an apparent heart attack while playing golf.Stewart, 59, was taken by ambulance ...

Stewart ‘a true Mountaineer'

sports@wvgazette.com (Mitch Vingle) — Mon, 21 May 2012 21:38:59 -0400

Shelly Poe wept.It had been hours since she received news of Bill Stewarts death. Still, the former WVU sports information director had trouble coming to terms with the loss of her friend."Could there be a nicer person. I dont think so," Poe said...

Stew's loyalty was genuine

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Mon, 21 May 2012 21:40:30 -0400

MORGANTOWN - Billy Stewart was unlike anyone I ever met. If you knew him - and you probably did, if only from afar - he was probably like no one you ever met, either. Sure, that sounds like something you say about a guy who just died, which Stewart did Mon...

Van Zant out as WVU baseball coach

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Sat, 19 May 2012 17:23:41 -0400

MORGANTOWN - In recent months, Oliver Luck had already begun trying to upgrade West Virginias baseball program, allowing a full complement of scholarships for the first time and beginning the process of looking for alternatives to dilapidated Hawley Field....

Big 12, SEC have deal for football champs to play

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:59:46 -0400

The Big 12 and the Southeastern conferences have announced a deal that will pit their football regular-season champions against each other in a New Years Day bowl game for five years beginning in 2014, positioning themselves for the expected switch to a fo...

Pennsylvania QB commits to WVU

( ) — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:02:42 -0400

Chavas Rawlins, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound quarterback from Monessen, Pa., has verbally committed to West Virginia. Ranked by recruiting service Scout.com as the 58th best quarterback in the nation, Rawlins picked the Mountaineers over more than a dozen schools...

WVU, Alabama to open 2014 football season

(Staff, wire reports) — Thu, 17 May 2012 22:42:14 -0400

ATLANTA - West Virginia will face national champion Alabama in the 2014 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at the Georgia Dome. Chick-fil-A Bowl officials made the announcement Thursday. The Aug. 30, 2014, game will mark the first meeting between the teams. "Pl...

WVU president says Lucks staying

sports@wvgazette.com (Mitch Vingle) — Thu, 17 May 2012 14:30:03 -0400

West Virginia University president Jim Clements said on Thursday athletic director Oliver Luck is staying in Morgantown for the foreseeable future.Lucks name has been mentioned as a candidate for the open athletic director job at Stanford, among others. Th...

Schedules are made to be adjusted

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Thu, 17 May 2012 22:40:20 -0400

MORGANTOWN - Cleaning out a crowded notebook and a cluttered mind while wondering just how excited you folks should get about this football game with Alabama in two years:That, of course, is an eternity in this era of conference expansion and the resul...

Mountaineers to visit Gonzaga in basketball

( ) — Thu, 17 May 2012 22:44:11 -0400

Gonzaga had to travel across the country in order to play and beat West Virginia in the first round of the NCAA tournament in March. Now it appears as if the Mountaineers will try to return the favor. Speaking at an event in Shepherdstown Thursday night, a...

Everhart home after long detour

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Tue, 15 May 2012 22:59:32 -0400

MORGANTOWN - You might never know it by looking at his resume, but Ron Everhart is a West Virginia guy through and through.Really, he is.OK, so he left the state while still in high school, opting to play at DeMatha Catholic in Hyattsville, Md., rather tha...

Everhart to join WVU basketball staff

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:41:00 -0400

MORGANTOWN - Bob Huggins has filled the opening on his West Virginia basketball coaching staff and its no surprise who will step in.Fairmont native Ron Everhart, formerly the coach at Duquesne and a friend of Huggins since college, will fill the spot vacat...

ACC TV deal could nudge FSU toward the Big 12

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Mon, 14 May 2012 22:21:42 -0400

MORGANTOWN - Did the ACC not learn anything from raiding the Big East not once, but twice.If that conference didnt it should have, namely that a conference split among schools that value football and those beholden to basketball is far less likely to survi...

Dumb jocks not just a West Virginia problem

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Sat, 12 May 2012 22:29:56 -0400

MORGANTOWN - The incidents come at a pace that is somewhat frightening at times, so by now we should be numb to it.Still, every time an athlete is arrested or otherwise runs afoul of society, we seem shocked.A drug arrest here, a violent crime there, a DUI...

Next big question for Big 12. Expansion

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Thu, 10 May 2012 23:11:49 -0400

MORGANTOWN - The Big 12 Conference has a newly minted commissioner and soon will have one of those gargantuan television contracts that keep money flowing freely.The league will also have what appears to be rock-solid stability through 2025 assuming that t...

WVUs Cook, Garwin arrested for shoplifting

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Thu, 10 May 2012 23:14:03 -0400

West Virginia starting safeties Darwin Cook and Terence Garvin face misdemeanor shoplifting charges stemming from the alleged theft of snacks from a Morgantown convenience store. A criminal complaint says a Monongalia County sheriffs deputy arrested Cook a...

Will RFP spell RIP for MSN.

sports@wvgazette.com (Mitch Vingle) — Wed, 09 May 2012 22:39:55 -0400

LAST THURSDAY, I asked West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck where his school was getting the money for all its recent moves. In the past, those within the athletic department cried the blues over finances.Luck said it was a good question and outline...

Luck still not dismissing Stanford A.D. rumor

sports@wvgazette.com (Mitch Vingle) — Tue, 08 May 2012 22:31:42 -0400

WEST VIRGINIA University fans are undoubtedly interested in whats going on down on the Farm.No, not the one down the street from you, but the one at Stanford. The Farm is the campus nickname there, derived from the days when horses rather than students roa...

Report: Big 12 agrees to media deal extension

(Staff reports) — Tue, 08 May 2012 22:50:42 -0400

Last Thursday, West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck told the Gazette the Big 12 had extended the granting of television rights from a minimum of six years to 13. Now, CBSSports.com is reporting that extension has led to a lucrative new media rights ...

Did Marinatto have a prayer.

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Mon, 07 May 2012 23:07:17 -0400

MORGANTOWN - There is no question that John Marinatto left the Big East Conference worse off than when he inherited it from Mike Tranghese three years ago. A league teetering on the brink of football insignificance took the final steps over the edge. A men...

Seahawks sign Irvin

( ) — Mon, 07 May 2012 23:19:41 -0400

The Seahawks have signed first-round pick Bruce Irvin, a defensive end taken 15th overall in last months draft to help fill Seattles need to add a speed pass rusher coming off the edge. The terms of the multi-year deal were not released.Selecting Irvin so ...

7 home games still the ideal for WVU

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Sat, 05 May 2012 22:54:45 -0400

MORGANTOWN - With the official cancellation of West Virginias series with Florida State, the Mountaineers now have nice, tidy 12-game football schedules set through the next five seasons - no muss, no fuss. Each year through 2016 WVU has a nine-game Big 1...

Big 12 hires new commissioner

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Thu, 03 May 2012 22:43:18 -0400

STANFORD, Calif. - A teary-eyed Bob Bowlsby walked out of a Stanford auditorium to a roaring ovation from university coaches and staff members Thursday, leaving behind a lasting legacy at one of the nations top athletic programs for a conference in need of...

Luck tackles Big 12 issues, finances

sports@wvgazette.com (Mitch Vingle) — Thu, 03 May 2012 22:43:51 -0400

WEST VIRGINIA athletic director Oliver Luck seems to be embracing his job more every day.So much so that on Thursday he went as far as using a mountaineering term to describe his whirlwind schedule."Its like seeing a false peak," he said, referri...

Ebanks growing as Lakers starter

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Thu, 03 May 2012 22:44:24 -0400

MORGANTOWN - Bob Huggins hasnt had a chance to watch much of what Devin Ebanks has been able to accomplish in recent days and weeks because hes been on the road so much, including Big 12 coaches meetings in Phoenix and Mountaineer Caravan stops around the ...

Just one trip to Charleston for WVU basketball

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Wed, 02 May 2012 22:01:54 -0400

MORGANTOWN - For only the second time in 11 years, West Virginia wont be playing a second mens basketball game in Charleston next season. In fact, the first one still has yet to be finalized. Blame it on the Big 12, but dont get used to it."Absolutely...

WVU, Florida State settle on canceled game

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Wed, 02 May 2012 22:03:15 -0400

Florida State and West Virginia have reached a settlement after the Mountaineers pulled out of the teams scheduled 2012 football game. Florida State athletic director Randy Spetman said Wednesday that WVU has agreed to pay $500,000 by the end of May. The F...

WVU unveils system to prioritize ticket requests

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Wed, 02 May 2012 19:21:59 -0400

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- West Virginia Universitys athletic department is implementing a system to prioritize donors seeking tickets for football and mens basketball games.

The...

Switzer-Nehlen reunion symbolic as WVU heads into Big 12

sports@wvgazette.com (Mitch Vingle) — Tue, 01 May 2012 21:27:49 -0400

AS PART of the Mountaineer Athletic Clubs spring tour of West Virginia, former Oklahoma football coach Barry Switzer will act as a greeter to the Big 12 today and Thursday in Wheeling and Parkersburg, respectively. MSNs John Antonik spoke to Switzer, who s...

WVU officials taking part in Big 12 meetings

( ) — Tue, 01 May 2012 21:28:40 -0400

West Virginia coaches Dana Holgorsen, Bob Huggins, Mike Carey and athletic director Oliver Luck have been participating in the spring Big 12 meetings in Phoenix. The meetings, held at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, end today. Big 12 television and ...

Duuuude tackles Bruuuuce and others

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 22:16:24 -0400

MORGANTOWN - The ridiculous facts I can recall are so random and obscure that they serve me absolutely no purpose.To wit:

Lost in Space, the futuristic TV series from the 1960s, was set in 1997.

A goldfish has a memory of three seconds, which i...

Four WVU players sign free-agent contracts

( ) — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 21:33:37 -0400

Just one day after the conclusion of the NFL draft, four former West Virginia players signed free-agent contracts.Defensive end Julian Miller signed with the Cincinnati Bengals, safety Eain Smith agreed to terms with the Washington Redskins, offensive ...

Bucs select WVUs Tandy, Goode on drafts final day

(Staff, wire reports) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 22:47:46 -0400

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have selected West Virginia cornerback Keith Tandy in the sixth round of the NFL draft.The pick Saturday came one round after the Bucs took Tandys college teammate, linebacker Najee Goode, with the 140th selection overall. ...

Dawson eager to pick up the pace of WVU offense

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 22:51:43 -0400

MORGANTOWN - Dana Holgorsen likes to talk about the tempo of his West Virginia offense and what a disruptive force it can be. But after concluding spring drills last week, it wasnt tempo that was his main concern."Its more about execution than it is t...

Irvin celebrates jackpot pick

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 20:15:44 -0400

MORGANTOWN — Bruce Irvin was a happy guy late Thursday night when he got on the phone for a conference call with the media.
And why not. He was about to become a multimillionaire after the most stunning turn in the first round of the NFL draft.<...

Snaps key if WVU to crackle in Big 12

sports@wvgazette.com (Mitch Vingle) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 21:14:51 -0400

PERHAPS THE No. 1 question asked of those within and around West Virginias football program is this: How will the Mountaineers fare in the Big 12. Its a terrific question. From 2003 to now, WVU was unquestionably the premier program in the Big East. But th...

First-round surprise

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 23:13:31 -0400

MORGANTOWN -- Last month, just after Bruce Irvin had wowed a group of NFL coaches, scouts and personnel directors during his pro day workout, he was full of confidence about his status in the upcoming draft, saying he couldnt imagine that "there are 3...

Catching up with Huggins; predicting the Big 12s future

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 22:20:27 -0400

MORGANTOWN - Cleaning out a crowded notebook and a cluttered mind while wondering if Storrs, Conn., is, for the first time, within Bob Huggins recruiting territory.I wondered that, of course, because it seems the roads heading out of Storrs - there are...

Logans Williamson leaving West Virginia

( ) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 22:21:05 -0400

Paul Williamson has decided to leave West Virginias basketball program and seems likely to wind up playing in the West Virginia Conference at Fairmont State.A walk-on from Harts who played at Logan High School, Williamson was an occasional surprise for...

Despite losing record, Mountaineers in mix for Big East baseball tourney berth

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 22:50:05 -0400

MORGANTOWN - As disappointing as it has been to date, West Virginias baseball season is far from over. In fact, the Mountaineers still have one goal well within reach.With four Big East series remaining, West Virginia is very much in the thick of the race ...

Hostetler connects WVUs past, future

sports@wvgazette.com (Mitch Vingle) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 22:50:54 -0400

CONSIDER THIS A Where Are They Now column. One that nicely collides with a Where They Are Going piece.It centers on former West Virginia and Super Bowl quarterback Jeff Hostetler, who was in Charleston on Monday to help with an open house of the South ...

Swinging through the Valley

sports@wvgazette.com (Mike Whiteford) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 22:07:33 -0400

Deniz Kiliclis happiness as a freshly minted West Virginian extends beyond basketball.Even after an injury-plagued season that ended on some discouraging notes, the 6-foot-9, 260-pound Mountaineer forward has reason to be upbeat."I love West Virgi...

Best way to build your defense. Turnovers

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:41:40 -0400

MORGANTOWN - From a defensive perspective, the most encouraging thing about West Virginias Gold-Blue scrimmage Saturday night was not that the defense actually outscored an offense expected to be among the most highly-charged in the country this fall. It w...

WVU, Holgorsen to see familiar faces in Big 12

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:43:21 -0400

Dana Holgorsen is familiar with Big 12 country, having spent time under Mike Gundy at Oklahoma State and Mike Leach at Texas Tech. As West Virginias second-year coach, Holgorsen now gets to introduce the conference to the Mountaineers, who along with TCU w...

WVU's Goode among top MLBs in draft

(Chicago Tribune) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:49:33 -0400

The 2012 class of middle linebackers is led by underclassmen Luke Kuechly of Boston College and Donta Hightower of Alabama. If neither player had declared himself eligible for the draft, its possible no middle linebacker would have been chosen in the top t...

Holgorsen, Crutchfield named states top college coaches

( ) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 08:00:00 -0400

WHEELING - Two record-setting coaches share the annual Furfari Award as West Virginia College Coach of the Year. The co-winners, in balloting by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association, are repeat honoree Jim Crutchfield, the mens basketball coach...

Sizing up Squirt

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 20:45:47 -0400

MORGANTOWN - Jordan Thompson has acquired the nickname "Squirt around West Virginias football team.It was given to him by Stedman Bailey, another of WVUs receivers, because of Thompsons diminutive size. Hes just 5-foot-7 and 159 pounds, easily the sma...

Defense dominates the day

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 22:51:25 -0400

MORGANTOWN - Perhaps Dana Holgorsen wasnt overstating things or trying to provide motivation after all when he praised the work of West Virginias defense early last week.After spotting WVUs high-powered offense a 14-0 lead on the first two possessions, the...

Big questions and answers in Morgantown

sports@wvgazette.com (Mitch Vingle) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 22:53:49 -0400

MORGANTOWN - For the most part, the Gold-Blue spring game is a carnival.This year, West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen was the barker, standing on the field behind his quarterbacks.It was rainy and cold. There were 12-minute quarters, then 10-minute qua...

Mountaineers will keep it basic in spring finale

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 23:25:20 -0400

MORGANTOWN - Most of the work Dana Holgorsen hoped to accomplish this spring is already done. Now comes the time to show the progress made.Well, sort of.West Virginia concludes its spring drills toady with the annual Gold-Blue game at Mountaineer Field. Th...