Somebody asked me if I would rather have John Beilein as coach now, since he’s having such a good year……here was my answer.

WVU owes a debt of gratitude to John Beilein. He put us back on the map in College hoops after some inconsistent years under the curiously fading Gale Catlett. I will never forget when we beat Chris Paul led Wake in 2 OTs to get to Sweet 16.

Unfortunately, he believed he took WVU as far as it could go in Bb. We were in a killer tough league, with some Mt Rushmore level coaches to go against every night (Calhoun, Petinio, Boeheim, ect). This was not a cash grab (like the other guy), even though he too sued the school to lower the exit fee. His was quiet and settled without much fanfare (unlike the other guy). He wasn’t looking but left for what he thought was a better fit for him. Great lakes guy, great school with a huge amount of money to spend on athletics.

Lucky for us, Huggins, after turning down WV 5 years earlier, was itching to get back. Only a few days after returning as NIT champ, Beilein confirmed speculation that he was leaving for Ann Arbor. Huggins phone rang in Manhattan, KS and he accepted the offer.

Whereas Beilein is more cerebral, introverted and self effacing in tone, Huggins portrays a quick wit, brash talker with a seething underbelly of ultra competitiveness. A self proclaimed gym rat that owed every chance he got on the court to hard work and repetition, Huggins fits WV to a tee. He has that chip the size of a small building on his shoulder. He is a native son that chafes anytime some outsider makes a side joke about his school or state. He wants to show people that pound for pound, no state can come close to WV in toughness, pride and loyalty.

WVU fans wear their hearts on their sleeve, which can get them into trouble now and again, but heck, nobody’s perfect, just ask him. Huggs likes to give kids second and sometimes third chances, but don’t dog it on the court or fail to take a charge, or you won’t last long. Five years in, he's still working on some unfinished business. If his health holds out, there is no limit to what we can do with Huggy Bear pacing the sidelines, barking at the ref or his point guard to get their a$ses in gear! Just ask people in Cincinnati if they’d take him back.

So which guy would I rather have…….?

Hope I answered your question.

So here's the deal... Around my house, we have a little saying. Anytime someone (or something) annoys me, "I Want To Punch You In The Face."

This year, more than most, it seems like there are a lot things that I just Want To Punch In The Face!

Feel free to take to the comments section and let Smoking Musket nation know who or what needs Punched In The Face!

So without further ado, Here but a few of the WVU related things that I Want To Punch In The Face!

1. Marshall University: First off, YOU ARE NOT OUR RIVALS!!!! Rivalry would signify some sort of competitive status between opponents. Last time I checked, you've never beaten the EERS on the the Gridiron. At best you are the annoying little kid from down the street who still wets himself and wonders why the cool older kids won't let you hang out with them.

Congratulations!!!! I WANT TO PUNCH YOU IN THE FACE!!!

2. Crews who have officiated WVU men's basketball games this season: Don't even get me started. I'm talking to you Syracuse Crew!!!

Congratulations!!!! I WANT TO PUNCH YOU IN THE FACE!!!

3. Dabo Swinney: Ol' Dabo, Dabo, Dabo. I don't know who I want to punch more. You or your parents for naming you Dabo... On second thought, since Coach Holgorsen and the Mountaineers already kicked your ass, I might as well complete your humiliation...

Congratulations!!!! I WANT TO PUNCH YOU IN THE FACE!!!

4. People who think WV is part of Virginia: Really ESPN? Check the date, we are currently in the year 2012. WV has been an independent member of the union since 1863. Come on Brad Nessler.... Seriously...?

Congratulations!!!! I WANT TO PUNCH YOU IN THE FACE!!!

5. John Marinatto: You weren't getting away fat boy. Pull up a chair. I'm going to attempt to punch that clueless look off your face! P.S. Have fun single handily destroying a once promising league!

Congratulations!!!! I WANT TO PUNCH YOU IN THE FACE!!!

6. This really has nothing to do with WVU... But Alabama and Knick's fan Jack Blankenship: Anyone with a face this contorted needs to be punched solely on principal.

Congratulations!!!! I WANT TO PUNCH YOU IN THE FACE!!!

Hey guys. So a lot of you may know me by now by from seeing me post here and on BECB. I'm from a town in central West Virginia in Nicholas County called Summersville, a relatively small town of maybe 2,000 people. In said town there is a locally-owned sports bar named "Maloney's Bar and Grill." It's owned and run by a very good friend of mine named Aaron Maloney. Aaron is one of the biggest and most rabid Mountaineer fans that I have ever met. He's in his early 30's and he hasn't missed a Mountaineer home game since he was around 12 or so. His bar is absolutely chock full of Mountaineer memoribilia, including ticket stubs from every game he has attended pressed under glass on the tables, signed jerseys from former Mountaineer greats, a Nike Pro Combat helmet purchased from the "Yard Sale," pictures of Mountaineer Field all over the walls, etc. He really has one of the best collections of memoribilia for WVU that I've ever seen... Well, he did, anyway...

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Iowa State fan here.

Do you guys think the Backyard Brawl will continue as a non-conference game in the future? I really hope it does, and see no reason not to as you both left the Big East for greener pastures. As some of you might know, our fiercest rivalry is outside the Big 12, with Iowa. We play every year, almost always in week 2 (occasionally week 3). We all really enjoy it, and guarantees a meaningful non-conference game every year. I would have to think you guys would look into doing the same with the Brawl. College football is about hatred for your uppity shit head neighbor, and it would be a shame to see such a hate-filled affair fall by the wayside for no reason. I think it would be a great addition to the Big 12's annual non-con slate, alongside the Cy-Hawk. Thoughts? (and welcome aboard)

I hate Pitt (love the Steelers, Pens, and Buccos)! I absolutely hate that part of Pittsburgh called Oakland. In my heart, Pitt is a school that has a severe identity crisis in the best city in America. To me, it doesn't epitomize the city at all. I hate it. (Did I make myself clear?). I truly feel that Pitt fans have turned into more of a "wine and cheese" crowd ala 3/4 of the universities in the ACC and feel this shift has steadily occurred over the past 20 years.

I love beating Pitt...at anything. We once had a charity walk in my academic department and I remember personally turning it into a competition and wanting to beat my Pitt counterpart, which I did. (How sad!) I can't imagine NOT beating Pitt. I can't imagine not hating them. My hatred would start to wane (like it has Penn St....Once hated them as much, if not more, but now I'm indifferent to that school).

Hating, in this case, keeps me healthy! And Pitt is the perfect medicine.

I'm on a mission to spread the word to as many ears as possible to keep the Backyard Brawl in football (it will remain in b-ball) on AT LEAST an every other year basis. However, if I have my way it will be EVERY year.

Whats Up Everyone. I've been messing around with Photoshop for a while, and thought I'd share this wallpaper I made with you guys. I'm in the mood to share since today has been such a great day. Big XII here we come. Can't wait!

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Take a look and use as you wish! Dimensions are 1440 X 900 and I'm happy to resize if anyone needs it.

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)…

via cdn1.sbnation.com

via l.yimg.com

via farm7.static.flickr.com

via kegsneggsblog.com

via flavorinternationale.files.wordpress.com

via fitsnews.com

(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!"