In my tempo-free studies and writing for sites as College Chalktalk and Hoopville, charting the first few minutes of each half is a favorite practice to gain insight. The first few minutes of each half set the tone. Teams aim to come out strong and establish their game plan. Here is a first five possession look of the Pitt-West Virginia contest.

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I believe we all would agree that the two premier sports in all of college are Football and Basketball. There are schools of course that dominate one sport or the other such as Alabama in Football and Duke in Basketball. But I wondered what teams excelled in both and reasoned that this criteria reflects favorably on a school's athletic programs. When I looked into this question I found some interesting facts.

Since 1998, the pinnacle of college football has been to win a BCS bowl game. In basketball, the equivalent is to appear in the final four. I decided to look at this current era and find which school have won BCS bowl games and have also appeared in the Final Four.

There are eight schools that meet the criteria of having won a BCS bowl game and appearing in a final four. Of these eight schools, only Florida has won the National championship in both Football and Basketball. Three other schools have won a National Championship in Football (Ohio State, LSU, and Texas). One School (Kansas) has won a National Championship in Basketball. Rounding out the eight are WVU, Louisville, and Oklahoma State with wins in a BCS Bowl game (three for WVU) and a Final Four appearance.

WVU can be proud of the strides they have made in the last fifteen years in these two major sports and with the leadership of Luck, Holgorsen, and Huggins, I believe we will soon be celebrating a National Championship in Morgantown. .

OK,

After what can only be described as the biggest ass-whoopin’ in College Bowl history, I think we can ALL agree that the future is brighter than ever for the EERs…

That being said, Dana Holgorsen has proven unequivocally that he is the right man for the job, and one of the best offensive minds in the game today.

Accordingly, I think it is time that we put our minds together and finally come up with an official nickname for our beloved head coach.

Everyone in the College Basketball world recognized Coach Huggins and "Huggy Bear." I think it’s time his Mountaineer Football counterpart receives his own unique moniker…

So get creative and post your favorite "handle" for Coach Holgorsen. After we receive everyone’s submission, maybe we can be 5th Year, Country Roads, or WVUIE97 to create an official Nickname poll where we vote for Dana’s new official nickname.

Here is a little bit of inspiration to get your creative juices flowing (Orange Bowl pun intended)…

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(Inspired from an original ESPN blog posting on 1/6) The Night of the Orange Bowl 'Twas the night of the Orange Bowl and all through the nation, The ‘Eers were underdogs on every TV Station. ESPN said there was no way we could win, That Clemson would blow us out in the end. Said that the ‘Eers were more lucky than great, One didn't even know West Virginia was a state!! The fans were nestled all snug in the stand, Clapping along with the Mountaineer band. I put on my blue and gold sweatshirt and cap, Settled into my chair, a bowl of chips in my lap. When on the TV there arose such a clatter, I turned up the sound to see what was the matter. Touchdown after Touchdown after Touchdown they scored And it wasn’t the Tiger from Clemson that roared. When what to my wondering eyes should appear, But the melted down musket of that wild Mountaineer. The man with the ball was so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be Geno Smith. More rapid than eagles his passes they came, Then he pointed and scrambled and called teammates by name. Now Austin ! Now Bailey! Now Buie and Alston! On Milhouse! On Brown! On Cook! and Irvin! Dance down those side lines and stretch for that score! We’re going to do things tonight no team’s done before! The coach praised his players, the fans stayed for hours, Coach never dried off from his Gatorade shower. Before leaving the scene Geno made one more call, He marched up the stairs to the ESPN stall. He spoke first to Lou Holtz, who alone picked us to win, Then turned to Mark May with a devilish grin. "I can see by your tie you have now changed your hue— It was Tiger orange, now it’s Old Gold and Blue. A Pitt man wearing Mountaineer colors I've not met, It sure looks to me like you've just lost a bet!" He turned with a jerk, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, as he strode out of sight, "The couches are burning in Morgantown tonight!"

Don't sleep on this one.

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According to AZ's website, Casteel took the AZ jo http://www.goazwildcats.com/content/casteel-hired-defensive-coordinator-159/. Does anyone know why he would leave WVU for AZ? Is it just for RR or does he not get along w/ Holgs? Seems odd to leave us now with the future looking so bright. Could it be a money thing? I'd be really surprised if AZ is offering more money than us. Can anybody shed some light on this please?!?!

Hey guys. Hope this isn't seen as rude or obnoxious but I thought some of y'all might have some interest in looking at my Orange Bowl Preview here. I like the way ESPN does a unit-by-unit preview and matchup, so I tried to mimic it. I think this will be an even game and I had to go with my Mountaineers and picked them to win 28-24. I'm looking for a big game from Geno, maybe not statistically, but I think the kid will make some crucial big-time plays to win us the game. I'm pumped!

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Having to lose to WVU each year and HCDH must have been too much for the GrahamCracker! So he's off to warmer weather where Bruce Irvin can't get him, Geno can't outplay his QB's and more importantly where he'll be able to avoid the Mountaineers 365 days a year.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11348/1196788-100.stm

I can't wait for someone to sum up his career at Pitt. Oh wait, I can. It stinks! So congrats to Pitt. Coach #4 within a 15 month span. That's got to be a record.

Now, I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a game by getting knocked on his ass and falling down for his team.  He won it by knocking the other poor dumb bastard down for his.  Men, all this stuff you’ve heard about WVU football not wanting to play SPITT, wanting to stay out of the game, is a lot of horse dung.  Mountaineers traditionally love to play and fight.  All real Mountaineers love the sting of the game.  When you were kids, you all admired the WVU linebacker, the WVU running back, the fastest runner, the big time safety, the toughest corner.  Mountaineers love a winner and will not tolerate a loser.  Mountaineers play to win every game all the time.  I wouldn’t give a hoot in hell for a WVU player who lost and laughed.  That’s why Mountaineers have never and never will lay down for any opponent.  Because the very thought of losing is hateful to Mountaineers.

Now, we’re a team.  We live, eat, sleep, play as a team.  This individuality stuff is a bunch of crap.  The bilious bastards who wrote that stuff about individuality for the Saturday ESPN scoreboard don’t know anything more about real football than they do about fornicating.

We have the finest facilities and equipment, the best spirit and the best HFC coach in the world.  You know, by God I actually pity those poor bastards we’re going up against.  By God, I do.  We’re not just going to tackle the bastards, we’re going to run through them on each and every damn play!

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Things have sure taken some unexpected turns in WVU football this past year.  Until I wrote that sentence I didn't realize what a huge understatement it actually was.

Coach Holgorsen's recent comments about team effort and selfish thinking concern me.  I fully expect young men who are not mentored well to become selfish and believe that it is all about themselves.  I consider myself a pretty active parent and I have to remind my teenage sons weekly that the world doesn't revolve around them.  It is possible that the Coach is doing all he can to institute the kind of football program that is comprehensive in its approach - sports, school, self-development.  This statement could be part of that pursuit: 

"We’re going to take who wants to win; we’re going to take who wants to pull for his teammates and who wants to be all-in on this thing – not guys that pout and mope because they’re not playing or any of the rest of it," he said. "We’re going to be a united team, and the only way I know how to get that accomplished is to make sure that we’re only taking people that are focused and headed in the right direction." 

However, I can't help but wonder three things about the real condition of the present WVU football team culture:  

(1) Did last spring's coaching dissension/change create more animosity than we've previously imagined; namely, players who were loved by Coach Stew have had to start all over with Holgy and have not fared so well?  

(2) Have players perceived the coaching changes as a Holgorsen "Take Over" from Stew (amid the tawdry details about Casinos, slander, etc...), and has this set the tone for the apparent "I'm gonna get mine" mentality of some players?  

(3) Are Holgorsen & his new staff taking the necessary time to nurture and mentor these young men off the football field?

I remember when Bob Knight was ousted at Indiana University and the old school coach was critiqued for his "I brought you here to win and do what I say, not to be your nurturer" attitude.  Young men - many unaccustomed to having a male authority figure in their lives - now had a mean, angry, old, white man screaming at them.  "Gee, I wonder why Bob Knight's success coaching young men of this generation began to wane?"

Mentoring is more about what is seen than what is heard; the old adage being "More is Caught than Taught." Assuming that the Coach is a good man, and that he's doing all he can to develop young men comprehensively, putting his stamp on a program is still a long-term project.  It takes a ton of personal interaction with players to get a "unified" team that shares the coach's passion and focus.  Something Bob Knight's protege Mike Krzyzewski ably adapted into his coaching style and Duke Basketball has been the beneficiary.

However, it is possible that this season at WVU we're seeing in some players a selfishness that was ingrained into them by a coach's attitude.  If that is the case, I'm not sure which Head Coach's DNA is was.