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**Alert- This is a highly nerdy, highly specific article. Those who aren't NCAA Football video game dorks should go about their business. Nothing to see here** Because on many levels I could be loosely described as a "geek", I've been spending the last couple of weeks searching for the player ratings for the Mountaineers on NCAA Football 2010 by EA Sports. See, I'm the type of football fan that suffers through the summer as if it was a dark, wet swamp, infested with mosquitos, so hot and humid that your skin feels like it weighs 500 pounds. And the football season on the other side is a tropic breeze as you sit on the beach with a cold beer in one hand and something buxom in the other. (Until you lose to ECU. Then it's back to the swamp.) So to bide my time until REAL football arrives, I console myself with the knowledge that even if the actual Mountaineers won't be taking the field for another 4 solid months, the virtual Mountaineers can be kicking all kinds of ass at my command in EA Sports NCAA Football until then. (Unfortunately, to date, the virtual Mountaineers always, always, always do better than the real ones.) As the game is set to release precisely two weeks from today, I was beginning to think that I would have to actually wait to buy the game to find out whether or not EA Sports would represent the Mountaineers as the college football powerhouse that they are (hang on, I can't see the keyboard through these blue-and-gold-colored glasses). Alas, all my searching had been in vein until today. I FINALLY FOUND THE DAMN ROSTERS!!! As far as the ratings are concerned, it appears as if the Mountaineers will have a sufficient rating to compete, but not even a rating as high as many of their Big East counterparts. And because I know that this can stimulate the sort of conversation that amuses me as I wait for the interminably long off-season to wind down, let me give you a few of the ratings I found.  A collection of those interested in the contents of this article BIG EAST TEAM RATINGS (Ratings by overall grade, offense, and defense grades.) USF B+ B+ B+ Rutgers B B B+ Cincinnati B B+ B+ West Virginia B B+ B- Pitt B B B Connecticut C C+ C- Syracuse D+ C- D+ Louisville C+ B- C So it would appear that by team ratings alone, EA Sports is expecting the Mountaineers to finish tied with Pitt for 4th place in the Big East. Not looking good so far. Individual WVU Player Ratings Obviously, NCAA 10 follows the tradition of all college games and provides only player numbers instead of names for the rosters of a given team. (For example, Jarrett Brown is QB #16 and so forth.) When it comes to the freshmen, I've lined up the provided height/weight figures with what's listed on WVU's roster, which is never perfect, but should line up pretty well. Take a look at some of the player ratings for the Mountaineers this year, along with the pertinent specific attributes. (I'm going to limit myself to skill position guys and the projected starters for everything else. Additionally, because my browser is somewhat screwed up, I can only see the overall ratings for the defensive players, so that's what I'll post): QB Jarrett Brown: 89 overall, 89 throwing power, 85 accuracy, 85 speed  Thought we were through having badass QB's in Morgantown? Come get some, noobs!! Coley White: 84 overall, 87 throwing power, 82 accuracy, 87 speed Gino Smith: 81 overall, 85 throwing power, 84 accuracy, 81 speed RB Noel Devine: 94 overall, 96 speed, 96 agility, 95 elusiveness (damn!) Tavon Austin: 82 overall, 92 speed, 92 agility, 82 elusiveness Mark Rodgers: 85 overall, 90 speed, 90 agility, 85 break tackle FB/TE Tyler Urban: 77 overall, 79 speed, 66 catch, 80 pass block, 79 run block WR Alric Arnett: 90 overall, 91 speed, 92 acceleration, 88 catch Jock Sanders: 90 overall, 92 speed, 92 agility, 86 catch  Suspended or not, Jock's in the game. EA got no love for driving under the influence arrests. Wes Lyons: 87 overall, 88 speed, 86 catch, 90 jumping (up button when you're throwing, boys and girls) Bradley Starks: 85 overall, 88 speed, 87 catch, 79 throw power, 76 throw accuracy (had to throw that in just in case we've got some cheesers reading this that want to play him at QB) Logan Heastie: 84 overall, 93 speed, 93 acceleration, 80 catch O-line Don Barclay: 89 overall, 88 pass block, 90 run block Josh Jenkins: 86 overall, 86 pass block, 89 run block Chad Snodgrass: 87 overall, 88 pass block, 89 run block Eric Jobe: 86 overall, 86 pass block, 87 run block Selvish Capers: 93 overall, 89 pass block, 94 run block D-line Scooter Berry- 81 ovr Chris Neild- 80 Thor Merrow- 85 (Still on the game, even if he's not on the team. Strange, strange rating.) Julian Miller- 77 Linebackers Reed Williams- 85 Anthony Leonard- 75 JT Thomas- 73 Pat Lazear- 81 (Very strange that they would make Lazear better than either Leonard or JT Thomas) Cornerbacks Brandon Hogan- 84 overall, 90 speed Kent Richardson- 81 overall, 91 speed Guesley Dervil- 82 overall, 91 speed Brantwan Bowser- 77 overall, 92 speed (this is my best guess as to who this guy is. I spent 10 minutes trying to figure out who was the #33 sophomore DB until I finally gave up.) Safeties Quinton Andrews- 81 overall, 90 speed  That's right. Q's still on the team in virtual NCAAland. He better not be a problem for this coach, though, because I'll not only cut him, I'll delete the mfer. Robert Sands- 79 overall, 88 speed Sidney Glover- 80 overall, 89 speed Nate Sowers- 67 overall, 86 speed, 86 throw power, 84 throw accuracy (surprising that they still give him credit for his QB prowess.) Kickers Scott Kozlowski aka puntazgetsl8d: 84 overall  All praise the comedy gods. This is going to be a fun season for me and the Kozman. Tyler Bitancurt- 81 (even though they got his number and year wrong, this must be him) Summary The typical roster problems arrive from NCAA Football games in being unable to identify certain players by number, year status, or otherwise, but overall this seems like a relatively fair rating for most of the players on the Mountaineers. The most glaring flaw is the rating of the defensive linemen, as there wasn't a single person that watched a WVU football game last year that came away honestly believing that Thor Merrow was better than Chris Neild or Scooter Berry. Additionally, Reed Williams as an 85 rating apparently disregards his pre-injury abilities in favor of a more wait-and-see perspective. But WVU fans should be pleased that the wide receiver corp is infinitely better on the game this year than in any year I can remember, and the skill positions are as solid as one could possibly expect given the situation WVU is in this year. So if you happen to be a nerd who happens to like the Mountaineers and also happens to play college football video games, things could be worse...  |
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**You have entered the Coaches' Caravan Chat**  HuggUlongtime: So then I says to the waitress, "Yeah, next time bring your own melons" HuggUlongtime: HAHAHA I love that story. Dolla_Dolla_Bill: That's a real humdinger, Bob. Lynyrd_Skynyrds_long_lost_brother: LOL I GET THAT JOKE. THAT'S HILAAAAARIOUS. HuggUlongtime: Who the hell let this guy in here? HuggUlongtime: Like anyone paid 100 bucks to hang out with the coach of a baseball team that makes the College World Series like I drink nonalcoholic beer. Lynyrd_Skynyrds_long_lost_brother:  HuggUlongtime: AHA, I'm just f***in with you bro. kid: Excuse me, Mr. Stewart? Dolla_Dolla_Bill: Hey there, chubby little fella. What can ol Bill do ya fer. kid: Where do you think the Mountaineers will finish in the Big East this year? kid: And if I may be permitted a follow-up, where is the cake? Dolla_Dolla_Bill: Well say now, that's a real good question. Real good. Lookin around at all the INCREDIBLE teams in the Big East this year I sure don't know. I mean, South Florida reminds me of the '95 Nebraska Cornhuskers, and Cincinnati looks like the '72 USC Trojans. And Pitt? Jeez Louise, they're practically the '92 Dallas Cowboys. kid: So where do you think we fit in? kid: Also, the direction of the cake, please. Dolla_Dolla_Bill: I'd have to say that I think we'll finish fourth. HuggUlongtime: /talking to someone else HuggUlongtime: ... and then the janitor looks at me and says, "Well, I'm certainly not cleaning up all this barf." HuggUlongtime: Wait, did you just tell that kid you think you're going to finish FOURTH in the Big East? Dolla_Dolla_Bill: Yeah, that's what I've been telling everyone. HuggUlongtime: Jesus, way to raise expectations around the program there, Billy Boy. HuggUlongtime: Please tell me this is some kind of weird ploy to get your players motivated. Dolla_Dolla_Bill: Nah, I think that's where we'll finish. I mean did you watch last year? The rest of our conference is like a buzzsaw, and we're the wood. HuggUlongtime: I don't know how to say this, but if you finish fourth in the f***ing big east... in football... I'll kill you until you're dead from it. Dolla_Dolla_Bill: Well that's sure a helluva mean thing to sa... HuggUlongtime: You're playing in a BASKETBALL LEAGUE. The teams you think you'll finish behind have had relevant football programs for like, 3 weeks. HuggUlongtime: And it doesn't exactly do you any favors on the recruiting trail when kids see that you think your team sucks. Dolla_Dolla_Bill: Now wait just a goshdarned second. Dolla_Dolla_Bill: Just because I respect the other members of my conference doesn't mean my team won't play well. HuggUlongtime: Respect? You think that's respect? Let me show you respect. HuggUlongtime: HEY, STEVE! Lynyrd_Skynyrds_long_lost_brother: Um, it's Greg, sir. HuggUlongtime: WHATEVER. HuggUlongtime: FETCH ME A GIN AND TONIC BEFORE I KICK YOUR TEETH IN Lynyrd_Skynyrds_long_lost_brother: Yes, sir. HuggUlongtime: Now THAT'S respect. Dolla_Dolla_Bill: That's not respect. That's fear. HuggUlongtime: What's the difference? You're talking about your opponents like they piss excellence. Dolla_Dolla_Bill: We just have different styles. Dolla_Dolla_Bill: See, watch this. Dolla_Dolla_Bill: /to reporter Dolla_Dolla_Bill: I sure do hope my boys are capable of matching up against the incredible, NFL-ready talent they'll face in the opening game against the juggernaut Liberty Flames. Otherwise, we could lose by 80.**You have entered the WVU Players Chat**  whatcanbrowndo4U: That is absolutely stupid. I wonder what Coach Stew has been smoking?  puntazgetsl8d: coach and me been blastin them bluntz, yafeelme |
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Remember when summertime was awesome? You'd feel that freedom from being out of school, hanging out with friends, accomplishing basically nothing over the course of a 3-month period. Your entire existence during the winter months was spent longing for the day when the last school bell would ring and you'd be free and happy and unencumbered by the constant dregs of responsibility. That was a long time ago. Now, as a working stiff, summer is basically the same as any other season to me, only with more sweating. Sure, there's a week-long vacation planned, but as far as my own personal entertainment is concerned, summer sucks. It seems like the entire period from June to August is spent counting down the days until fall arrives again, and the Mountaineers once again take the field.  Yeah, whatever, kid. One day you'll grow up and summer will be just like every other season. By the way, have I ever told you I used to walk 10 miles to school in the snow, uphill? Come back here, you little twerp. I really like the NBA (I'm one of the few, I know), so the playoffs have kept me entertained for the last few weeks. But there's only 7 games left, and after that it's exclusively baseball for 3 solid months. And while I like the national pastime as much as the next guy, these months are excruciating while waiting for the bliss that comes every fall upon my return to Morgantown. Sure, my nerdy side will be satisfied when NCAA Football '10 comes out and I'll at least get a sense of the atmosphere of college football as I drive my beloved Mountaineers to championship after championship that they only seem to win when I'm in control of the dynasty. (Is it too early for "Jude for Athletic Director" campaigns to start based on my NCAA Football prowess? I don't think so.) This year, the first game is interminably scheduled for SEPTEMBER 5th, and basically serves as a glorified scrimmage against the mighty Liberty Flames. (Apparently the Mount Vernon Baptist Church intramural squad was unavailable.) Sure, technically WVU's football season ended in late December (and that's if you subscribe to the theory that it didn't end after consecutive losses to ECU and Colorado), but at least the Mountaineer basketball team had a nice season and NCAA berth. So now, with nothing else to do but work and wait, we're in the doldrums of summer, counting down the days until June, July, and August have passed and the Blue and Gold return to the football field once again. Imagine that. Anxiously counting down the days until summer's over. Never saw that one coming. - If by "poise" they mean losses to ECU, Colorado, Cincinnati, and Pitt, then the 2008 Mountaineers were practically stoic. They're actually charging 20 dollars for the season highlights of WVU football from last year. (Must be a short DVD.) Even better, the title of the DVD is "Poise Under Pressure". I know every team is forced to paint the previous season in a positive light to sell DVDs to the rabid fanbase. I understand that. But either expectations are drastically low in the athletic department and an 8-4 season is seen as an example of "poise", or someone needs to cut the crap and release a DVD with a more accurate title, "2008-2009 Mountaineer Highlights- Not Nearly What Anyone Expected".  WVU's marketing department is either blissfully unaware or psychopathically optimistic. The last time I spent that much money in Vegas, I woke up with my head in a gold-seated toilet surrounded by 13 unconscious hookers and a collection of fine chocolates and schnapps. Many WVU fans learned last week that UNLV was added to the Mountaineers' schedule for the 2010 football season, but most probably didn't realize the cost. According to this article from the Charleston Daily Mail: Quote: West Virginia is paying UNLV a guarantee of $740,000, plus 3,000 tickets (from which UNLV keeps the proceeds, at about $50 apiece) ... and on Oct. 9, 2010, the Mountaineers will get what WVU Deputy Athletic Director Mike Parsons calls "about a $2 million day ... that's about our usual game day." The purpose behind securing UNLV's one-way-only visit to Morgantown is to add the ever-important 7th home game that will allow the WVU athletic department to remain self-sustaining (one of the few athletic departments in Division I to exist as such). But those numbers probably jump out at season-ticket holders who have seen their ticket prices and required Mountaineer Athletic Club We know these one-and-done games are guaranteed win revenue-generators, and we've come to accept that. But you're telling me the athletic department has to shell out almost a million dollars to just to bring in a crappy UNLV team and there were no other reasonable alternatives? (WVU already has a D-II school on it's schedule for 2010, so its choices are limited to D-I schools for that UNLV slot. Marshall barely counts as a D-I school, so the Mountaineers were in a precarious situation anyway.) Sorry, but I'm going to need to see either: a) Some evidence that UNLV was the only D-I school available, and this was the price tag that came with them, or b) A drastic reduction in the cost of season tickets and/or rescinding the absurd required MAC "donation" that accompanies those tickets. - This link exists solely to justify the use of this picture. 101 new nurses are set to start at West Virginia University Hospitals. This really isn't newsworthy, but gives me a flimsy excuse to post a picture of a hot girl in a nurse's outfit to spice this article up a little bit.  This was the story of the year in West Virginia, no matter what anyone from Charleston or Morgantown tells you. Yuengling is finally sold in West Virginia This article from the State Journal details Yuengling's long journey into the Mountain State. I've heard rumors for years about various reasons why Yuengling wasn't sold in West Virginia, but apparently the real reason was as simple as the owner's hesitancy to expand beyond the company's ability to produce. The story's worth reading, though, if for no other reason than this line by its author, Ann Ali: Quote: In a reverse of the 1977 movie "Smokey and the Bandit," which focused on the transportation of Coors beer east of the Mississippi River, Yuengling had a short way to go and took a long time to get to West Virginia. I, for one, am overjoyed by the fact that I can buy Yuengling locally. Living in the eastern panhandle meant that I only had to travel about 20 minutes to buy Yuengling in the past, but spending that money closer to home and benefiting the tax dollars of our state (as opposed to freaking Maryland) is certainly more well-received by my conscience. - I hope New Zealand is ready for some wild careening into the lane. In basketball news, Truck Bryant has been invited to join the under-19 USA Basketball team. There are 17 invitees (including Wake Forest’s Al-Farouq Aminu, Duke’s Seth Curry, Kansas’ Tyshawn Taylor, Florida’s Kenny Boynton and Mississippi’s Terrico White) and 12 roster spots available for Team USA's U-19 World Championship Team, which will play in New Zealand starting on June 25. The previously-cited article quotes Truck as saying that, "I think this will be one of the greatest experiences of my life... I’m looking forward to the opportunity to represent West Virginia University on the USA Basketball Team." Left out of that quote was Truck's excitement over the opportunity to travel to a different continent to continue his quest of jumping into tall things. (Just kidding, Truck. Congratulations.) Congratulations as well to Da'Sean Butler, who was invited to attend the 2009 USA Basketball Men's World University Games Team training camp June 16-24 in Colorado Springs, Colo, as reported in this article. True, this happened two weeks ago, but like I said, summer is here. We don't report much in the summer. |
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**You have joined the Michigan Athletic Department Chat**  dickrod: Alright now, boys. I got me a blue chip prospect the likes of which you've never SEEN thats gonna come play football for the gold and blue. dickrod: I mean the maize and blue. dickrod:   my_favorite_martin: See, that's the kind of progress we expected to see when we brought you in here at a price that is looking increasingly flabbergasting considering the state of the economy in Michigan. Who is it? dickrod: Glad you asked. Come on in, Greg! les_paulus: Hey there, Coach. my_favorite_martin: Wait, your big plan is to start a kid for one year that hasn't played football since Star Wars Episode III- Revenge of the Sith came out? dickrod: I'm telling you. This kid had the goods back when I was coaching a team that had a winning record. les_paulus: Well, actually Coach, I was coming here to tell you that dickrod: ... les_paulus: Sorry, Coach. When it comes down to it, I just wanted to go somewhere where I could have a chance to play consistently, and Syracuse is my hometown. dickrod: You can't be serious. You're gonna go play for those losers instead of the MICHIGAN WOLVERINES??? les_paulus: Actually, they finished with a 3-9 record just like you last year, Coach. my_favorite_martin: So let me get this straight. Not only did you stain the reputation of the winningest program in college football history by leading them to their first bowl-less season in 33 years. my_favorite_martin: Not only did you cause the transfers of two blue-chip QB's and one blue-chip offensive lineman. my_favorite_martin: Not only did you cost the university millions of dollars to bring you in here. my_favorite_martin: But you also recruited a 4-year basketball player to play QB for a single season, did so publicly, and didn't even get him to commit to Michigan?!?!? dickrod: Sounds like someone needs to hold the rope. my_favorite_martin: Hold this rope.**You have entered the Syracuse Practice Field Chat**  the_red_barrone: Great to have you here, Greg. Let's get in a few throws here in practice. les_paulus: I couldn't be more excited to be here, coach. Let me show you what I've got. les_paulus: /throws football**Vanilla_Thunder has entered the chat**  Vanilla_Thunder: /violently blocks les_paulus Vanilla_Thunder: GET THAT S*** OUTTA HERE!!! les_paulus: Aww, man. This again? |
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Three Mountaineers were drafted in this weekend's NFL draft, including the guy commonly accepted as The Greatest Mountaineer Football Player, so obviously this required some Couch-style coverage. Pat White, Ellis Lankster, and Pat McAfee were selected by the Dolphins, Bills, and Colts, respectively, each providing Mountaineer fans with their own flimsy excuse to watch even more football on Sundays than they already were. (Example: "I know the Redskins game was just on, but I need to watch Pat White play in this Dolphins game! I'll mow the grass tomorrow.") Let's break this baby down player-by-player: Pat White- Miami Dolphins Obviously, the story of the draft for Mountaineer fans was the draft status of #5. With most draft analysts predicting that White would get drafted in the late second or early third rounds, Mountaineer fans sat at the edge of their seats waiting to find out for which team they would have a new affection. White was drafted in the second round by the Miami Dolphins and 44th player taken overall, and immediately thereafter I received about 10 text messages with some variation of "I guess we're Dolphins fans now."  Expect to be seeing a lot more teal in West Virginia. As many are aware, Miami is probably the perfect fit for the multi-talented and athletic former WVU QB (it hurts to say the word "former" there). Miami was a trendsetter in the NFL last season running a version of the "Wildcat" spread offense in which a speedy players handle the ball and are given a number of options at the snap. Sound like anyone we know? White has battled the perception that he isn't going to be able to play quarterback in the NFL because of his size. The Dolphins are a team that have the system and the personnel to put him in the best possible situation to succeed, taking 10-20 snaps a game with the option of running or passing. White demonstrated the maturity and leadership that Mountaineer fans have grown accustomed to after being selected by the Dolphins. ''I just want the opportunity to play,'' White said in this Miami Herald article after being selected with the Dolphins 44th overall selection. ``I had no expectations, I was just hoping someone would give me a chance, and the Dolphins have. I am grateful and ready to get to work.'' As for which position he prefers, White understands that his immediate value may not be as a quarterback. ''I can play multiple positions, so I'll see where I end up,'' White said. ``I'm ready for anything.'' (Source- previously cited article.) But Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland indicates in this Sun Sentinal article that Pat White isn't being brought to Miami to merely split out wide as a wide receiver. He indicates that White was drafted to compete with Chad Henne and Chad Pennington to be the starting quarterback of the future in Miami. For his part, Pat is ready to do whatever is necessary for his future team to win. "I am excited to see how they can utilize my talent," White said in this Charleston Daily Mail article. "They have a lot of great players in Miami, from wide out to running back, but I just want to get out there and win games." That PW found a good fit in Miami is certainly good news. More importantly, he didn't wind up with the Cowboys, which would have tested my allegiances like never before. (I would have a hard time rooting for the Cowboys even if they were playing against Al Queda.) Ellis Lankster- Buffalo Bills Lankster wasn't invited to the NFL scouting combine, so his selection by the Buffalo Bills in the 7th round (220th overall) was exciting news for Mountaineer fans. In this article on the Bills' official team site, Lankster gives the standard-issue reaction to being drafted by the Bills: “I’m very excited,” said Lankster. “My expectation was getting a chance to play for an NFL team. The Buffalo Bills have given me a great opportunity.” Lankster introduced himself to Bills fans by saying that "“My man-to-man press and my coming up to hit a lot and getting aggressive are my best strengths." Grammatical train wreck aside, Lankster will fit in nicely with a young secondary in Buffalo, and may also be given the opportunity to return kicks or punts as he did at WVU.  Excuse me, I'll take that. Pat McAfee- Indianapolis Colts McAfee was taken two spots after Lankster by the Colts, who still have placekicker and probable future-hall-of-famer Adam Vinatieri on their roster. The Colts' punter last year, Hunter Smith, however, agreed to terms with the Washington Redskins (hail) and their only other punter, Mike Dragosavich, was claimed off waivers from Cleveland in February. Translation: Hope you Colts fans like rugby-style punts! In addition to his ability as a wrestler, McAfee might prove useful in kickoffs for the Colts, as Vinatieri is more recognized for accuracy than for power.  It is a touch of a step up from wrestling some guy named WarPig to the NFL. Notable Undrafted Mountaineers A couple of Mountaineer players have already signed undrafted free agent contracts. Guard Greg Isdaner, who quixotically left school a year early to enter his name into the draft, was not selected, but signed a contract with the Dallas Cowboys last night. (I believe my hate for the Cowboys will overcome my desire to see Isdaner do well in this situation.) Two-time All-America offensive tackle Ryan Stanchek signed a free agent deal with the Atlanta Falcons. Linebacker Mortty Ivy is still unsigned as of this posting, but should find his way to an NFL team in the coming days. |
