September 5, 2025 • 31 mins
Mike Asti of WV Sports Now joins the show for a look ahead at WVU-Ohio.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Listen to a recorded version of the Morning Spiel online
at w kmcnews dot com, brought to you by Royal Water.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
It's been it's been a struggle for the last couple
of segments for me tech wise. We'll get it, We'll
get it together. It's just it's been one of those weeks.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Guys.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
It's been. It's been a long week, a lot going on.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
And uh, you know, I'm I'm I as excited as
I am for high school football tonight. I am dreading
the weather possibilities because the lightning delay. I said this
last night. I was watching the the Dallas Philly game
and I didn't stay up after the delay because I
had to get get to bed somewhat early. And uh,
(00:44):
as I'm watching the game, Chris Collinsworth made a comment
and he's like, players hate this, and I'm like, I
I I actually said in a in a group chat,
I'm in I actually said no. And you know, that's
that's a great analysis, Chris, because I personally love it.
I'm always in favor of a lightning delay. I would
like more lightning.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Delays, please.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
That's That's exactly what I'm looking for, especially when if
your most broadcasters aren't getting paid by the hour, so
that's what we want. We want we want to have
nothing to talk about for however long it is. I
don't need to rag on Chris Collinsworth. He does generally
a pretty good job. But I was a little annoyed
by that comment. I was like, well, who wants the
lightning delay? Who doesn't hate the lightning delay? Right, Mike
(01:26):
Costi's here with Mike. You hate the lightning delay? I
mean who doesn't?
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Who likes the delay?
Speaker 4 (01:30):
Well, as I said last night watching the game, that
if you want somebody who is experienced covering lightning delay games,
you're talking to him. Because covering West Virginia football, they
had three of them in the last two years combined.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Yah.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
One of them was a night game against an FCS
and Ducaine that was a close game at the time,
and I'll never forget having Mike Montoro come over to
me in the press box just to inform us that
Ducaine is unwilling to ever forfeit the game because the
school was so close, even though it's an fcspay game,
and they're willing to come back tomorrow. And I wanted
to tell him, well, send the message to Ducaine that we.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
Are all.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
I guess I can't say here on the air, but it's.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Something probably not willing to come back tomorrow.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
Yeah, or we are not willing to come back tomorrow.
We are not willing to have this go any longer
than it already is. And yeah, right back at you, Ducaine. Obviously,
West Virginia ended up winning that big. The Penn State
game had a weather delay. I've definitely experienced weather delays
covering the Pirates and baseball, of course, weather delays and
end up being there for eight plus hours on end,
(02:39):
and you just never know and the whole thing. I
was surprised the NFL game actually started as soon as
it did, because I'm well aware of the rules that
if you have lightning within six miles it's either six
or eight miles from the stadium, then it's another half
hour that's added on. So they were lucky they didn't
have another one. But I've been at games where we
were delayed. We thought we were going to start again,
(03:01):
players were coming on the field, and then there was
lightning again, and then it's thirty more minutes on the clock.
So I'm well aware of the situation of whether delay
is covering games, and you know, I'm skilled of being
able to fill some time talking, so maybe I could
get through it as a broadcast. But when you're just
covering in the press box or when you're playing, I
know some coaches that took some naps, and I probably
(03:23):
would recommend that in the future if anyone's experiencing it,
because there's no other chance to sleep.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
I remember the this would have been a few years before.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
It would have been I think right after you graduated,
but a few years before you were covering.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
You were on the beat.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
The WVU Marshall delay is still probably one of the
most intent. Of course, they didn't even finish that game.
That was one of the most intense delays that I
can ever remember. And I was like, I was going
racking my brains last night and I was remembering that
that delay was so long that I went out.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
I didn't go to the game.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
I'm not a big I typically if I'm going to
work the game, I'll go to the game. But I typically,
especially football that's a sport, I much prefer watching on television.
If I'm not in the press box, I want to
watch it on TV. I just think you lose too
much from the atmosphere, Uh, to actually enjoy the watching
of the football and enjoy the chess match and enjoy
the football, and then it really becomes more about the experience.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
I know, this is a very nerdy way of saying
I prefer.
Speaker 4 (04:20):
I actually agree. There's a few sports that if I'm
going to go as a fan that actually, I mean,
I'll do it, but that actually enjoy the watch. Maybe
hockey because yes, so much of the actual fun of
it and almost it's almost arguably sometimes easier to follow
the act.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
You see a lot more when you're there that you
do not see. But football, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:40):
If you're in the press box and you have the
the aerial vantage point, then it's great no matter what sport.
If you're in the press box, you can definitely see everything.
But yeah, if you're in the stands and you're you know,
behind some some pillar, or you're behind some taller person,
or you're way far from the action when it's happening
on the other side of the field, then it actually
is better to watch it home, certainly if you're going
(05:00):
to look at replay or anything like that.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
And as Mike as Mike as Mike knows, I'm always
behind some taller person.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Usually I don't have I don't have that problem.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
As much as I'm very often behind some taller person
as a as a five foot five person, but uh none. Nonetheless,
what I was remembering, though, was that it had occurred
to me that, uh, that delay was so long that I, like,
I went out and got lunch, Like, I left, I
left my I was living at Western Apartments, and I
I like, I went out. I was like, this doesn't
seem like it's going to end anytime soon. And what
(05:32):
was even crazier is it wasn't really that bad by me.
It was horrible on the other side of town. It
was like it was like it just it just hung
over that part of Morgantown.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
Yeah, uh and uh.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
And weather it's interestingly, yeah, interesting because it'll just sit sometimes.
And that that is uh yeah, that was That was
a long like I said, did not finish the game.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
And that's one of the few times.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
I can remember that occurring in uh, in my life.
Of course, that game was at a hand in the
fourth quarter as it was. I don't think Marshall wanted
to do that, though from what I remember correctly.
Speaker 4 (06:01):
I'm sure they wouldn't be willing to forfeit either, and
they would be willing to come back the next day.
And of course, the West Virginia Marshall and the Gridirons
not something we have to worry about for a while
because they are not on each other's schedule in the
coming year. Despite what Tony Gibson was trying to allude
to with his cryptic emojis on tweets when every time
West Virginia would would change a game on their schedule,
but don't, I don't his source was incorrect.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Tony is Tony tweeting the the what is it? The
eyes just just the little eyes was every.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
Time West Virginia would change games that we've talked about
on the past on this show, because we knew they
were tinkering games, and I was kind of alluding to
they're eventually likely going to get out of the Alabama game.
The SEC changed the format they do, and Tony Gibson
would throw up eyes the I emojis on many of
those tweets, either from West Virginia's Marshalls even media members,
(06:51):
and I was always sitting there saying, Tony, I mean,
it's possible you have better sources than me. You're a
head coach of a you know, a powerful program. You
certainly know the people at West Virginia. I think my
sources are good, and I'm not hearing this happening, and
it didn't happen, and I don't I don't know. Maybe
he was just having some fun on social media, which
I also support. But in closing, before we fully get
(07:11):
into the the game preview here, I just hope that
there's no weather delay in Athens for the Mountaineers and
Ohio because I am going going to the game to
cover it and I would like to get home. It's
an evening four pm kickoffs, so not a full night kickoff.
I'd like to get home sometime within that same day,
not having linger into the next morning, and a weather
(07:32):
delay I think would ruin those plans.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
So yeah, let's let's talk about that other team in
green that is Ohio University, the Bobcats. I fell in
the first game, but to their credit, you know, we
talked about this new coach lost lost Tim Albin, who
obviously took a bit of a bigger job after the
great run Ohio went on last year.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
But Brian Smith, new head coach.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
It was an internal promotion helped them win the Bowl game,
win the Cure Bowl Game. They have won three straight seasons.
They have had ten win years, all of which were
under Tim Alban in his four year tenure there. They
come out in Week one and play pretty well in
a game that otherwise you know, they probably were not
(08:16):
expected to win for starters, but they struggled a bit early.
Rutgers got some big plays, but then they kind of
took it to them in the second half, came from behind.
Strong Ish passing game, strong ish running game. Again, It's
always it's kind of hard to tell with at this
point in the year what is good and what It's
(08:37):
just early, but you could tell they've got some weapons.
Between Sia Bengora and Chase Hendricks, there are some weapons
on this Ohio team.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
This is not going to be a cakewalk by any means.
This is one of the better group of five programs
in the country, certainly off the last several years. And
you mentioned, yeah, their coach did move on, But when
you're a group of five program and your coach moves
on after ten win years, that's a compliment to your program.
He had to take a better job. But they promote internally,
(09:08):
and Rich Rodz brought this up. It's not like what
West Virginia's doing with a full new staff, a full
new culture, a whole roster overhaul. They promoted a coordinator
who coached the bowl game. Many of the other coaches
are still there and the quarterbacks still around with many
of his weapons that are still around. It's not the
exact team from a year ago. Different parts are different,
but their core pieces are there. Not the case for
(09:30):
West Virginia, but that's what happens when you're that successful
of a group of five program. And this is not
going to be a cakewalk because they just showed they
can hang with a power four. Rutgers only scored three
points in that second half. They almost blew the game.
And dare I say if that game was in Athens,
like this game is going to be against WU, maybe
(09:50):
Rutgers would have lost that game. Maybe this is why
you don't want to necessarily go on the road and
play this Ohio team at their place. And it's a
two for one. So Ohio's going to come to mo
Oregon Town and the pit games at home. So this
would have had West Virginia have all the out of
conference games at home and that probably be frowned upon.
So I get why it's at Ohio this year, but
it's a risk, it's a gamble. It won't be a cakewalk.
(10:12):
This is an Ohio team that can score with the
best of them against anyone. And Barkinavara puts up numbers.
Look at all their games in recent memory. It doesn't
matter who he's playing. He puts up numbers. Even if
they lose, he puts up numbers. You're not going to
stop him. You have to hope to contain him. That
adage is very true in this game. And they also
(10:32):
are very similar to West Virginia that they like methodical drives,
they like to churn the clock, but they also can
score in a hurry, so they're never going to be
out of a game. If they get up, you're gonna
have to score quickly or else they're going to bury you.
And even if you're up by two scorers at halftime,
which didn't happen against RMU but maybe could happen in
this game, there's still a talent differential that favors the Mountaineers.
(10:54):
Of course, in the Big Twelve, they could certainly come back.
Rutgers I'm sure sat back and thought, Okay, we got this.
They're a good team, but we got the win. And
they said, no, no, no, you just cannot make mistakes
against them or they will kill you. And again, unlike
the Rutgers matchup alex they are at home. This is
a sold out atmosphere, and you could absolutely make an argument.
(11:14):
I know they played Iowa State recently and they did
beat them. I know they played Pitt twenty years to
go in a bad pit season. You know, aside from
claiming things, we can argue the histories of West Virginia
and Pitt if you go way back one hundred years.
But West Virginia certainly has the argument of the most
historic program Ohio has ever faced in program history, and
certainly the most historic program to go to Athens. So
(11:38):
they're up for this. They win this game, there's a
mural on the wall. Probably maybe not to the level
of what Marshall would celebrate, of course, in the state,
which is you know, part of why fans don't want
to deal with it, but Ohio would certainly brag. And
maybe the only saving grace is there could be maybe
a contingent, maybe an advantage contingent of West Virginia fans
at that game because of the close proximity, and a
(11:59):
lot of people are Virginia fans all over the country
in the world that maybe Ohio doesn't have. If you
don't go to Ohio, you're probably not an Ohio Bobcats fan.
You're probably an Ohio State fan. If you're in the
state and say, didn't go to college West Virginia, you
don't got to go to college to be a West
Virginia fan. You live in West Virginia, you're from West Virginia,
you're a Mountaineer fan, and sometimes you're just a Bandwagon
fan because of the history of the program. So they're
(12:21):
going to be that there's going to be a West
Virginia contingent. But what Ohio does because they were at home,
maybe could make this game a little different than what
the Rutgers experience was for the Bobcats.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
You know.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
The one thing though, that I will say, I feel
like there is a cumulative effect and this is where
I think I think it's going to be kind of
the inverse.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
I think WVU, this is.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
Kind of where I'm at right now, and you I'm
curious to get your take on this. I think for WVU,
I think the game script is going to look pretty
similar to what last week looked like for the Mountaineers.
But for Ohio, I think the game script is going
to look the inverse. I think Ohio is going to
come out early playing well. Where I think they're gonna
(13:00):
get worn down is I think playing two Power five
opponents in back to back weeks seems like that's gonna
and as much as effort as they had to put
into the second half last week, I think what's probably
gonna happen is they're probably gonna run out of gas
late in this game.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
I'm not guaranteeing that, of course, but if.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
I was gonna if I was, if I was gonna
put on my Crystal Ball or I'm sorry, I put
on my my Prognosticator hat and look at my crystal Ball,
that's sort of where the game script is going.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
In my mind that Ohio.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
That was a hard fought matchup for them last week
against a Power five opponent, and I feel like it's
gonna be really tough to sustain that in back to
back weeks for another four quarters.
Speaker 4 (13:39):
Yeah, and it very well could be the case. I'm
gonna be honest here, pretty much any result would not
surprise me. For this game. If Ohio starts out hot,
and certainly if they get a mistake or get a
turnover in their favor, like West Virginia gave to Robert Morris.
But Robert Morris could not take take advantage because they
had a new quarter back, a new cast of characters,
(14:02):
they had a roster overhaul from the season earlier. They
were a winning program of the year earlier that contended
in the NEC. But my colleague in Pittsburgh, who was
covering the game on the RMU side, said, if this
was last year's Colonial team, I think they would at
least scored a touchdown or so, like Dukane did a
couple of years ago. But they had a quarterback battle,
they had a whole new roster, they had chemistry issues,
So that was kind of an advantage for West Virginia.
(14:23):
They could endure all their mistakes. If that happens again,
then what you're saying certainly could occur, or maybe even
in general, maybe they get up from the crowd and
Ohio starts out strong, maybe they get a lead, maybe
they score on that first that first drive of the game,
and then maybe West Virginia fans get concerned and then
they pull away because they're the more talented bunch. Maybe
you can't see all the backups like week one, but
(14:44):
you do have to see the starters, and then you
pull away at the end because again you're the better team.
Or maybe it's like the Rutgers game where you have
your issues, maybe even late, but you hang on because
you do enough early because maybe you do have a
lot of fans support, and maybe you play stronger and
you played better and cleaner and more disciplined in the
first half. That certainly the coaches have been preaching to
(15:07):
the West Virginia players all week. If they start out
and fumbled in the first two plays again on offense
like week one, I think rich Rod, we may see
the very first time where rich Rod has a public
outburst because he's been keeping it in. And I can
tell you and I know you were wondering this with
even some mutual friends. He was pretty calm despite saying
he was disappointed and they got to be better in
(15:28):
the postgame presser after Urmu. But I did hear from
some birdies that that energy he gave us to the
media of the Kong Kum collected, I know we can
be better. No big deal. It's, you know, kind of
a Week one fcs, kind of like a preseason. Was
not what he gave them at.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
Halftime, and it was old school rich Rod.
Speaker 4 (15:45):
I'm very mad. There were even rumors that he turned
off the ice cream machine this week. I can't confirm
that because we aren't allowed back there, at least not
all the time as media. But I did hear that
he wasn't willing to give them the ice cream and
sprinkles due to the mistakes in Week one this week,
so to get the ice cream machine back, they can't
have fumbles again even if they win. But I also
wouldn't be surprised if West Virginia just dominates. We talked
(16:08):
about this possibility too throughout the week. Would not be
surprised if West Virginia just dominates and says, okay, Ohio,
you're good, but we kind of shook off our rust
in Week one. Jaheim White is the best player on
this field, probably in terms of a prospect. He's gonna
have one hundred and fifty yards an average of six carries,
three touchdowns, and he's gonna gash you and you can't
stop him. Our lines bigger, we have some sec transfers
(16:31):
on the line. We do and we're better at the trenches.
We're gonna with knite jeem white and you're gonna lose
by twenty points despite being a good program. That could
be the result, and Alex. The other result is that
would not have me fall off a chair, but it
would be disappointing for West Virginia fans. Is they make mistakes,
Ohio takes advantage, and Ohio's a really, really good group
(16:52):
of five team and they win the game, and they
have an historic upset, and they get the upset that's
talked about nationally, and they put it on a wall
somewhere and they're celebrating, and and they're on the streets,
and uh, I don't know, maybe your girlfriend will drive
down there and join them. I know she went to Ohio,
but that could happen. That this is not like RMU,
(17:14):
where even if you make mistakes, they're just not going
to win. Because they are MU. Ohio can win the game.
This is on the board. There's a reason why this
spread is only three and a half. Last I checked
in favor of the Mountaineers. If they were at home,
maybe it would be bigger, but this is at Ohio.
They just cannot do what they did against RMU or
they very very well could lose this game. And I'm
(17:39):
sure the Mountaineer coaching staff knows that.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
Mike go OSTI brought up the most important subplot of
this game. It's what's gonna happen in my house if
Ohio beats West Virginia.
Speaker 4 (17:49):
It's is she rooting for Ohio?
Speaker 3 (17:51):
Ah?
Speaker 2 (17:51):
Yeah, I mean I I there's still real way to
shugar Can we confirm there's no real way to there's
no real way to sugarcoated? She's definitely rooting for Ohio,
even if she's not, like she may not do it
actively in my face. And that's in part because I
actually have two broadcasts tomorrow, so I will probably wind
up missing most of this game anyway. I have one
(18:12):
broadcast that'll probably end just as the game is starting
in another broadcast that'll probably start sometime during the second quarter.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
So I'm not going to.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
See much of this wu OU game, but at least
not live. I'll watch it after the fact. But oh man,
I think I think I know, especially with me not
being there, I think I know who she's going to
be rooting for.
Speaker 4 (18:30):
I'll say this for for any of the listeners here.
Of course West Virginia based listeners. There are multiple and
I won't call them out here on the air, but
there are multiple members of West Virginia media that are
also going to be rooting for Ohio because they're Ohio alone.
Oh no, multiple multiple, They are multiple because they're in
West Virginia media. They're both TV people and I'll tell
(18:53):
you off the owl text you, I'm sure they're going
to be rooting for Ohio. I even have one confirmed,
and the other one is a wife of one of
my colleagues at Pittsburgh who I also can confirm.
Speaker 3 (19:02):
This is this.
Speaker 4 (19:04):
Yes, so it's inside information that Mike referring to. Just
don't give them hate tweets there. They're Ohio a lums.
It makes sense to roots for for for a while
here and especially their business if you're West Virginia and
you'll be fine, but no result. Honestly, yeah, it sounds
crazy to say. I want to you know, I think
West Virginia, if I had to predict, is going to win.
(19:26):
I think it will be closed. Wouldn't be shocked if
it's one point off a game winning field goal. And
I also think Alex and I said this on Mountaineer Report,
my podcast that covers West Virginia here for WVSN, that
this is an opportunity for West Virginia to send a
message the the sluggish start against an FCS and then
pulling away. You know what that reminded me of. And
(19:48):
I know it's a different group, a different vibe, different coach.
That reminded me of the Neil Brown era. Prior to
Neil Brown under Holgerson, rich Rod, et cetera, they would
mop the floor with those opponents all day long. Neil
Brown would win, but it would be sluggish early on
in fans would say, this just isn't the same, even
though we're getting a twenty point victory. That was what
it was like with rich Rot even though they beat
(20:08):
rm U by forty plus, it was like that.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
In the first half.
Speaker 4 (20:11):
If they go to Ohio, a conference champ out of
the mac who this is a big game for them.
A lot is on the line. You mentioned their schedule,
They got Ohio State coming. They lose this their rower
and three, despite it not mattering, be goods out of
conference play. But if they go to Ohio and win
against the defending conference champ that could still win the
back again no matter what they do, and out of
(20:31):
conference play and they win, and they win conventionally and
Jahem White gets that one hundred yard performance and gets unleashed.
That opens up eyeballs to him as legitimizing being on
the Doak Walker watch list, which he's on and some
said he didn't deserve. That shows there's a different vibe
in culture here and you have a Hall of Fame
coach and not a guy who was ascending, who was young.
These players are ready to do this now. And it's
(20:53):
not conference schedule. We've always talked about that what matters
the most these days, But that would send a message
to pit that were not the same. We're not gonna
blow a lead late in the game. We have a
mental fortitude that maybe Neo Brown's teams did not have.
We're gonna go into their place and we're gonna show
them we're better even though you're good, and we're better
than Rutgers, who I think is an average program in
(21:14):
the Big ten. West Virginia got to show if you
want to be a Big twelve contender, you certainly can't
do the same thing that the eighth best team in
another Power four potentially did, So that is on the line.
You just get the win and that's all. It don't matter.
If they get the win, they'll be fine. But if
they can get a win convincingly, that unlocks likely. I've
heard these rumors too that if the West Virginia wins
(21:36):
and pit wins, the game day is likely coming. So
that's on the line. But it also would send a
message nationally that the Mountaineers are here and it's a
different era. Regardless of maybe whether they win the Big
Twelve this year or not, that would send a message
to the country this is different under rich Rod. But
if they lose, it's gonna be a whole week of
It's been a while since he had power for success.
(21:58):
Roster turnovers really really hard. Are they ready? They might
get blown out by pitt. This could be a national disaster.
Do they even deserve game day? Big Twelve play is
gonna be rough? That'll be the dialogue if they lose
to Ohio, fair or not.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
By the way, Rutgers middling in the Big Ten. Pretty
good this day and age, it's good. It's good to
be a middle big ten.
Speaker 4 (22:19):
Yeah, that's fair. But I think most West Virginia fans,
and certainly if you look at the histories of these
programs lots of hundred years, would want to be on
a different level above Rutgers.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
Of course.
Speaker 4 (22:28):
Yeah, And to be fair, Rutgers did have the game
at home against Ohio. If they were on the road,
who knows, but yeah, I mean Rutgers is a hard
place to win a great Giano.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
My point more was that Ohio, Ohio played well against
It was not like some weak power four. Oh if
you talk about solid power four program this season, yeah, probably.
Speaker 4 (22:47):
If you want to talk about scheduling, and if I
was covering Ohio, I would say that I get you
want to show you're you're against the big boys, and
your group of five schedules not going to get you
on a national level, just running through that table. But
if you look at Cincinnati when they go in the
playoff for these other group of fives, if you get
one or two Power four on the schedule and you
win one of them, they can get you in even
(23:08):
if you just if you dominate the group of five schedule,
three straight power fours to open up a year and
multiple historic programs. They're all good, and one's the defending
national champ. Rich Rod's back, like Greg Giano, they're great
coaches all the way through. It's almost stacking it a
bit too much. Whereas if they would if they win
this West Virginia game, and if they would have beat
(23:28):
Rutgers and then they go through the max schedule, they'd
be knocking at the door the CFP saying we're just
losing to OSU, you gotta put us in. So this
is rough for them, but yes, it doesn't really matter
until they get into MacPlay. But they are a very
very good team. And again, this is not going to
be easy. I already had pushback comments on our preview
(23:51):
podcast or somebody. I don't know what you guys are
talking about. We're gonna mop the floor with this team.
West Virginia got to where we got some problems. I
don't think that's even fair. I think West Virginia goes
there and wins by one, wins by three. I don't
think anybody should be sitting there saying this means the
tenures you know, going to be horrible, an indictment of that.
Just get out of there with a win. Will be
acceptable with the opponent you're facing, in the environment that
(24:13):
you're likely going to be dealing with.
Speaker 2 (24:15):
Yeah, I really do think there are instances where again
this is sort of the fans sentiment is kind of
all over the place, But there I think there are
folks whose expectations are just a little too high compared
to where things would be traditionally. But but I will
say I am someone who thinks the WU is going
to win this game by more than one possession. I
will also say the reason why I'm particularly sold on
(24:37):
that is I think that what the defense did last
week is going to be very translatable this week. Now,
again it's still very early, but ten tackles for loss for.
Speaker 3 (24:48):
Sacks, I wrote, I.
Speaker 2 (24:49):
Just thought they were and it was the thing that
I was most impressed by. And again, I'm gonna want
to see a larger sample size because you know me
and you know this sport very well. That small sample
size is have ruined many a prediction in the past.
Speaker 3 (25:02):
But if you can extrapolay what we saw last week, I.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
Thought that the really key thing against RMU was you
didn't see this WVU defense, which you absolutely would have seen.
I think a year ago. They were not giving up
bad plays. They were not giving up easy yardage that
comes on the types of plays that bad defenses usually allow.
They're not allowing little tunnel screens. They're like they were
(25:24):
to the ball. They were playing well at the line
of scrimmage, dominating the point of attack, and they didn't
seem to ever get down after the offense let them
down through multiple parts of that second quarter.
Speaker 3 (25:37):
They just came back out and did their job. They
just came back out and did their job.
Speaker 4 (25:40):
Yeah, And Zach Ally and rich Rod both talked about
the defense this week, and they both said that it's
as you mentioned, it's very very tough to They were
trying to be nice, but it's very very tough to
evaluate against a lower level opponent, as they called them,
an FCS school. It's very tough to evaluate because, as
Isa said, and as anyone who watched the game could see, RMU,
he simply did not have the ability. This is true
(26:02):
and not even an insult. They didn't have the ability
to take advantage. Any other team who had five fumbles,
three in a matter of four plays would have absolutely
taken advantage at least made it a game, if not
beat West Virginia if they played like that in the
first half, certainly Ohio would. But RMU isn't capable of
doing that, and that was evident. But the Mountaineers, I
(26:23):
think they brought a different energy. Alex even with the
players that were there under Neil Brown, the Hammond Russell's
He's become a national name where he wasn't the whole
year under Brown, several years actually under Brown. Reid Kariko
who get ready for Eekarraco Alex read Karroco's an Ohio
High school product, an Ohio High school legend. He was
(26:45):
at Ohio State. He left before the national title year
because he couldn't get enough playing time despite being a
four star recruit. He came to West Virginia. He played,
but they had a down year and coach got fired.
He stayed, He's going to Ohio. Everyone knows him there.
I think Reid Kericho is really getting up for this game.
We didn't get to talk to him, but I wish
we could have. But those players and all the new players,
(27:08):
the Fred Perry's, etc. Michael Coach junior, it looked like
a different energy. Tell me if you agree here. It
looked like a group that was more physical. They literally
were hard edge. As the coaches always say. Yeah, maybe
the score would have been the same because they're playing
RMU and they would have done the same thing stat wise,
But just the eye test of the RMU game, West
(27:29):
Virginia's defense looked different than a year ago and that
could translate. However, if they're on the field as much
as they had to be, because the offense is there
for three plays and then coughs it up, that'll be very,
very difficult on the road. The offense has to help
them out more. But yeah, they were mostly in the
right place. They were mostly playing to the whistle. Very
(27:51):
few were loafing at times. Now Alex a coach would
criticize more than us. Rich Rod said that, yeah, he
agrees they were mostly okay, but there were some loafs.
As he mentioned on film, he did see some loafs.
He did say that there were some guys who were
out of position. Ali did say there were some out
of position that he doesn't think anyone would have noticed
(28:12):
because they were had such a big lead, and they
weren't They were not allowing yards against them, but there
were players out of position that could be evident. Against Ohio.
So it was not perfect score the score that show
that it was one of the better defensive efforts in
West Virginia history. That's not really what it was.
Speaker 2 (28:29):
They're so funny. They're so funny about stuff, Okay.
Speaker 4 (28:32):
And Zach Ally is like that, the younger rich Row.
He gives you the same verbiage of nothing ever perfect.
And by the way, he could translate that for sure, we're.
Speaker 3 (28:41):
We're super low on time.
Speaker 2 (28:42):
So real quick, I just wanted to say, I thought
you were spot on about read Karaco. I just thought
he had a tremendous mean from the eye test alone.
And I didn't rewind up rewatching this one, which I
usually do. I'll have to go back.
Speaker 3 (28:52):
And rewatch it. Man. I just thought he was everywhere.
Speaker 4 (28:54):
I think he can explode against the Bobcats. I think
he wants to show his people I'm the best player
on this field. He might be the most talented defensive
player on that field.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
Yeah, one other thing before I let you go, I
just realized, I don't know if you were aware of this,
you probably were. I was today years old when I
realized that Cam tor Boor is the son of longtime
nfler Reggie Torbour, who was a terrific sort of like
rotational linebacker in his day, and that did not make
(29:23):
that connection. The reason that I brought that up is
I started looking at connections because I realized I'm getting old.
Another reserve player in this game will be the son
of former Michigan linebacker Sean Crable. His son, Jay Crable,
plays reserve defensive role for Ohio Universities. So just thought
i'd throw that. Throw that out there.
Speaker 4 (29:42):
Ohio's rosters interest just not only they got players all
over the country, all over the world. They got multiple
international players. We has one. They're an interesting group. They
built their roster in a certain way to be this
elite at a group of five levels. So again, they
could do it. I think we will win. Don't know,
I'm as bullish as you, but they could send that
they do what you're saying on offense and defense. They
(30:04):
send a message nationally, and then if they win the brawl,
they're on the board for getting ranked here pretty soon.
But if they lose, it's all off the board.
Speaker 3 (30:10):
Of course, folks.
Speaker 2 (30:11):
His work is at WV sportsnow dot com. You can
check it out. They're gonna have lots of stuff up
at the website there is. They're gonna be live on scene, Mike,
much appreciated. Man, no surprise. We talked our way to
the top of the hour. I will talk with you
next week, all right.
Speaker 4 (30:24):
Yeah, no problem, man, Yeah, you just I figured we
were gonna call it a minute or so ago, but
then you ask me another question.
Speaker 2 (30:29):
I can't help my I just can't help myself. We
we really need a two hour show. I'll do maybe
we will get exactly. I'll talk with you next week,
all right, yeah later. All right, guys, we gotta go.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
We are about to uh, we're about to hit it.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
Have a great weekend, stay dry, enjoy the football, and
we'll talk to you Monday morning.
Speaker 1 (31:01):
Clarksburg's news, talk, and sports authority one O three three
WKMZ Clarksburg Bridgeport, a WVRC media station. We are proud
to live here too.
Listen to a recorded version of the Morning Spiel online
at w kmcnews dot com, brought to you by Royal Water.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
It's been it's been a struggle for the last couple
of segments for me tech wise. We'll get it, We'll
get it together. It's just it's been one of those weeks.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Guys.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
It's been. It's been a long week, a lot going on.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
And uh, you know, I'm I'm I as excited as
I am for high school football tonight. I am dreading
the weather possibilities because the lightning delay. I said this
last night. I was watching the the Dallas Philly game
and I didn't stay up after the delay because I
had to get get to bed somewhat early. And uh,
(00:44):
as I'm watching the game, Chris Collinsworth made a comment
and he's like, players hate this, and I'm like, I
I I actually said in a in a group chat,
I'm in I actually said no. And you know, that's
that's a great analysis, Chris, because I personally love it.
I'm always in favor of a lightning delay. I would
like more lightning.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Delays, please.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
That's That's exactly what I'm looking for, especially when if
your most broadcasters aren't getting paid by the hour, so
that's what we want. We want we want to have
nothing to talk about for however long it is. I
don't need to rag on Chris Collinsworth. He does generally
a pretty good job. But I was a little annoyed
by that comment. I was like, well, who wants the
lightning delay? Who doesn't hate the lightning delay? Right, Mike
(01:26):
Costi's here with Mike. You hate the lightning delay? I
mean who doesn't?
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Who likes the delay?
Speaker 4 (01:30):
Well, as I said last night watching the game, that
if you want somebody who is experienced covering lightning delay games,
you're talking to him. Because covering West Virginia football, they
had three of them in the last two years combined.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Yah.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
One of them was a night game against an FCS
and Ducaine that was a close game at the time,
and I'll never forget having Mike Montoro come over to
me in the press box just to inform us that
Ducaine is unwilling to ever forfeit the game because the
school was so close, even though it's an fcspay game,
and they're willing to come back tomorrow. And I wanted
to tell him, well, send the message to Ducaine that we.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
Are all.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
I guess I can't say here on the air, but it's.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Something probably not willing to come back tomorrow.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
Yeah, or we are not willing to come back tomorrow.
We are not willing to have this go any longer
than it already is. And yeah, right back at you, Ducaine. Obviously,
West Virginia ended up winning that big. The Penn State
game had a weather delay. I've definitely experienced weather delays
covering the Pirates and baseball, of course, weather delays and
end up being there for eight plus hours on end,
(02:39):
and you just never know and the whole thing. I
was surprised the NFL game actually started as soon as
it did, because I'm well aware of the rules that
if you have lightning within six miles it's either six
or eight miles from the stadium, then it's another half
hour that's added on. So they were lucky they didn't
have another one. But I've been at games where we
were delayed. We thought we were going to start again,
(03:01):
players were coming on the field, and then there was
lightning again, and then it's thirty more minutes on the clock.
So I'm well aware of the situation of whether delay
is covering games, and you know, I'm skilled of being
able to fill some time talking, so maybe I could
get through it as a broadcast. But when you're just
covering in the press box or when you're playing, I
know some coaches that took some naps, and I probably
(03:23):
would recommend that in the future if anyone's experiencing it,
because there's no other chance to sleep.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
I remember the this would have been a few years before.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
It would have been I think right after you graduated,
but a few years before you were covering.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
You were on the beat.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
The WVU Marshall delay is still probably one of the
most intent. Of course, they didn't even finish that game.
That was one of the most intense delays that I
can ever remember. And I was like, I was going
racking my brains last night and I was remembering that
that delay was so long that I went out.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
I didn't go to the game.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
I'm not a big I typically if I'm going to
work the game, I'll go to the game. But I typically,
especially football that's a sport, I much prefer watching on television.
If I'm not in the press box, I want to
watch it on TV. I just think you lose too
much from the atmosphere, Uh, to actually enjoy the watching
of the football and enjoy the chess match and enjoy
the football, and then it really becomes more about the experience.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
I know, this is a very nerdy way of saying
I prefer.
Speaker 4 (04:20):
I actually agree. There's a few sports that if I'm
going to go as a fan that actually, I mean,
I'll do it, but that actually enjoy the watch. Maybe
hockey because yes, so much of the actual fun of
it and almost it's almost arguably sometimes easier to follow
the act.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
You see a lot more when you're there that you
do not see. But football, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:40):
If you're in the press box and you have the
the aerial vantage point, then it's great no matter what sport.
If you're in the press box, you can definitely see everything.
But yeah, if you're in the stands and you're you know,
behind some some pillar, or you're behind some taller person,
or you're way far from the action when it's happening
on the other side of the field, then it actually
is better to watch it home, certainly if you're going
(05:00):
to look at replay or anything like that.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
And as Mike as Mike as Mike knows, I'm always
behind some taller person.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Usually I don't have I don't have that problem.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
As much as I'm very often behind some taller person
as a as a five foot five person, but uh none. Nonetheless,
what I was remembering, though, was that it had occurred
to me that, uh, that delay was so long that I, like,
I went out and got lunch, Like, I left, I
left my I was living at Western Apartments, and I
I like, I went out. I was like, this doesn't
seem like it's going to end anytime soon. And what
(05:32):
was even crazier is it wasn't really that bad by me.
It was horrible on the other side of town. It
was like it was like it just it just hung
over that part of Morgantown.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
Yeah, uh and uh.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
And weather it's interestingly, yeah, interesting because it'll just sit sometimes.
And that that is uh yeah, that was That was
a long like I said, did not finish the game.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
And that's one of the few times.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
I can remember that occurring in uh, in my life.
Of course, that game was at a hand in the
fourth quarter as it was. I don't think Marshall wanted
to do that, though from what I remember correctly.
Speaker 4 (06:01):
I'm sure they wouldn't be willing to forfeit either, and
they would be willing to come back the next day.
And of course, the West Virginia Marshall and the Gridirons
not something we have to worry about for a while
because they are not on each other's schedule in the
coming year. Despite what Tony Gibson was trying to allude
to with his cryptic emojis on tweets when every time
West Virginia would would change a game on their schedule,
but don't, I don't his source was incorrect.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Tony is Tony tweeting the the what is it? The
eyes just just the little eyes was every.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
Time West Virginia would change games that we've talked about
on the past on this show, because we knew they
were tinkering games, and I was kind of alluding to
they're eventually likely going to get out of the Alabama game.
The SEC changed the format they do, and Tony Gibson
would throw up eyes the I emojis on many of
those tweets, either from West Virginia's Marshalls even media members,
(06:51):
and I was always sitting there saying, Tony, I mean,
it's possible you have better sources than me. You're a
head coach of a you know, a powerful program. You
certainly know the people at West Virginia. I think my
sources are good, and I'm not hearing this happening, and
it didn't happen, and I don't I don't know. Maybe
he was just having some fun on social media, which
I also support. But in closing, before we fully get
(07:11):
into the the game preview here, I just hope that
there's no weather delay in Athens for the Mountaineers and
Ohio because I am going going to the game to
cover it and I would like to get home. It's
an evening four pm kickoffs, so not a full night kickoff.
I'd like to get home sometime within that same day,
not having linger into the next morning, and a weather
(07:32):
delay I think would ruin those plans.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
So yeah, let's let's talk about that other team in
green that is Ohio University, the Bobcats. I fell in
the first game, but to their credit, you know, we
talked about this new coach lost lost Tim Albin, who
obviously took a bit of a bigger job after the
great run Ohio went on last year.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
But Brian Smith, new head coach.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
It was an internal promotion helped them win the Bowl game,
win the Cure Bowl Game. They have won three straight seasons.
They have had ten win years, all of which were
under Tim Alban in his four year tenure there. They
come out in Week one and play pretty well in
a game that otherwise you know, they probably were not
(08:16):
expected to win for starters, but they struggled a bit early.
Rutgers got some big plays, but then they kind of
took it to them in the second half, came from behind.
Strong Ish passing game, strong ish running game. Again, It's
always it's kind of hard to tell with at this
point in the year what is good and what It's
(08:37):
just early, but you could tell they've got some weapons.
Between Sia Bengora and Chase Hendricks, there are some weapons
on this Ohio team.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
This is not going to be a cakewalk by any means.
This is one of the better group of five programs
in the country, certainly off the last several years. And
you mentioned, yeah, their coach did move on, But when
you're a group of five program and your coach moves
on after ten win years, that's a compliment to your program.
He had to take a better job. But they promote internally,
(09:08):
and Rich Rodz brought this up. It's not like what
West Virginia's doing with a full new staff, a full
new culture, a whole roster overhaul. They promoted a coordinator
who coached the bowl game. Many of the other coaches
are still there and the quarterbacks still around with many
of his weapons that are still around. It's not the
exact team from a year ago. Different parts are different,
but their core pieces are there. Not the case for
(09:30):
West Virginia, but that's what happens when you're that successful
of a group of five program. And this is not
going to be a cakewalk because they just showed they
can hang with a power four. Rutgers only scored three
points in that second half. They almost blew the game.
And dare I say if that game was in Athens,
like this game is going to be against WU, maybe
(09:50):
Rutgers would have lost that game. Maybe this is why
you don't want to necessarily go on the road and
play this Ohio team at their place. And it's a
two for one. So Ohio's going to come to mo
Oregon Town and the pit games at home. So this
would have had West Virginia have all the out of
conference games at home and that probably be frowned upon.
So I get why it's at Ohio this year, but
it's a risk, it's a gamble. It won't be a cakewalk.
(10:12):
This is an Ohio team that can score with the
best of them against anyone. And Barkinavara puts up numbers.
Look at all their games in recent memory. It doesn't
matter who he's playing. He puts up numbers. Even if
they lose, he puts up numbers. You're not going to
stop him. You have to hope to contain him. That
adage is very true in this game. And they also
(10:32):
are very similar to West Virginia that they like methodical drives,
they like to churn the clock, but they also can
score in a hurry, so they're never going to be
out of a game. If they get up, you're gonna
have to score quickly or else they're going to bury you.
And even if you're up by two scorers at halftime,
which didn't happen against RMU but maybe could happen in
this game, there's still a talent differential that favors the Mountaineers.
(10:54):
Of course, in the Big Twelve, they could certainly come back.
Rutgers I'm sure sat back and thought, Okay, we got this.
They're a good team, but we got the win. And
they said, no, no, no, you just cannot make mistakes
against them or they will kill you. And again, unlike
the Rutgers matchup alex they are at home. This is
a sold out atmosphere, and you could absolutely make an argument.
(11:14):
I know they played Iowa State recently and they did
beat them. I know they played Pitt twenty years to
go in a bad pit season. You know, aside from
claiming things, we can argue the histories of West Virginia
and Pitt if you go way back one hundred years.
But West Virginia certainly has the argument of the most
historic program Ohio has ever faced in program history, and
certainly the most historic program to go to Athens. So
(11:38):
they're up for this. They win this game, there's a
mural on the wall. Probably maybe not to the level
of what Marshall would celebrate, of course, in the state,
which is you know, part of why fans don't want
to deal with it, but Ohio would certainly brag. And
maybe the only saving grace is there could be maybe
a contingent, maybe an advantage contingent of West Virginia fans
at that game because of the close proximity, and a
(11:59):
lot of people are Virginia fans all over the country
in the world that maybe Ohio doesn't have. If you
don't go to Ohio, you're probably not an Ohio Bobcats fan.
You're probably an Ohio State fan. If you're in the
state and say, didn't go to college West Virginia, you
don't got to go to college to be a West
Virginia fan. You live in West Virginia, you're from West Virginia,
you're a Mountaineer fan, and sometimes you're just a Bandwagon
fan because of the history of the program. So they're
(12:21):
going to be that there's going to be a West
Virginia contingent. But what Ohio does because they were at home,
maybe could make this game a little different than what
the Rutgers experience was for the Bobcats.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
You know.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
The one thing though, that I will say, I feel
like there is a cumulative effect and this is where
I think I think it's going to be kind of
the inverse.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
I think WVU, this is.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
Kind of where I'm at right now, and you I'm
curious to get your take on this. I think for WVU,
I think the game script is going to look pretty
similar to what last week looked like for the Mountaineers.
But for Ohio, I think the game script is going
to look the inverse. I think Ohio is going to
come out early playing well. Where I think they're gonna
(13:00):
get worn down is I think playing two Power five
opponents in back to back weeks seems like that's gonna
and as much as effort as they had to put
into the second half last week, I think what's probably
gonna happen is they're probably gonna run out of gas
late in this game.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
I'm not guaranteeing that, of course, but if.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
I was gonna if I was, if I was gonna
put on my Crystal Ball or I'm sorry, I put
on my my Prognosticator hat and look at my crystal Ball,
that's sort of where the game script is going.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
In my mind that Ohio.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
That was a hard fought matchup for them last week
against a Power five opponent, and I feel like it's
gonna be really tough to sustain that in back to
back weeks for another four quarters.
Speaker 4 (13:39):
Yeah, and it very well could be the case. I'm
gonna be honest here, pretty much any result would not
surprise me. For this game. If Ohio starts out hot,
and certainly if they get a mistake or get a
turnover in their favor, like West Virginia gave to Robert Morris.
But Robert Morris could not take take advantage because they
had a new quarter back, a new cast of characters,
(14:02):
they had a roster overhaul from the season earlier. They
were a winning program of the year earlier that contended
in the NEC. But my colleague in Pittsburgh, who was
covering the game on the RMU side, said, if this
was last year's Colonial team, I think they would at
least scored a touchdown or so, like Dukane did a
couple of years ago. But they had a quarterback battle,
they had a whole new roster, they had chemistry issues,
So that was kind of an advantage for West Virginia.
(14:23):
They could endure all their mistakes. If that happens again,
then what you're saying certainly could occur, or maybe even
in general, maybe they get up from the crowd and
Ohio starts out strong, maybe they get a lead, maybe
they score on that first that first drive of the game,
and then maybe West Virginia fans get concerned and then
they pull away because they're the more talented bunch. Maybe
you can't see all the backups like week one, but
(14:44):
you do have to see the starters, and then you
pull away at the end because again you're the better team.
Or maybe it's like the Rutgers game where you have
your issues, maybe even late, but you hang on because
you do enough early because maybe you do have a
lot of fans support, and maybe you play stronger and
you played better and cleaner and more disciplined in the
first half. That certainly the coaches have been preaching to
(15:07):
the West Virginia players all week. If they start out
and fumbled in the first two plays again on offense
like week one, I think rich Rod, we may see
the very first time where rich Rod has a public
outburst because he's been keeping it in. And I can
tell you and I know you were wondering this with
even some mutual friends. He was pretty calm despite saying
he was disappointed and they got to be better in
(15:28):
the postgame presser after Urmu. But I did hear from
some birdies that that energy he gave us to the
media of the Kong Kum collected, I know we can
be better. No big deal. It's, you know, kind of
a Week one fcs, kind of like a preseason. Was
not what he gave them at.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
Halftime, and it was old school rich Rod.
Speaker 4 (15:45):
I'm very mad. There were even rumors that he turned
off the ice cream machine this week. I can't confirm
that because we aren't allowed back there, at least not
all the time as media. But I did hear that
he wasn't willing to give them the ice cream and
sprinkles due to the mistakes in Week one this week,
so to get the ice cream machine back, they can't
have fumbles again even if they win. But I also
wouldn't be surprised if West Virginia just dominates. We talked
(16:08):
about this possibility too throughout the week. Would not be
surprised if West Virginia just dominates and says, okay, Ohio,
you're good, but we kind of shook off our rust
in Week one. Jaheim White is the best player on
this field, probably in terms of a prospect. He's gonna
have one hundred and fifty yards an average of six carries,
three touchdowns, and he's gonna gash you and you can't
stop him. Our lines bigger, we have some sec transfers
(16:31):
on the line. We do and we're better at the trenches.
We're gonna with knite jeem white and you're gonna lose
by twenty points despite being a good program. That could
be the result, and Alex. The other result is that
would not have me fall off a chair, but it
would be disappointing for West Virginia fans. Is they make mistakes,
Ohio takes advantage, and Ohio's a really, really good group
(16:52):
of five team and they win the game, and they
have an historic upset, and they get the upset that's
talked about nationally, and they put it on a wall
somewhere and they're celebrating, and and they're on the streets,
and uh, I don't know, maybe your girlfriend will drive
down there and join them. I know she went to Ohio,
but that could happen. That this is not like RMU,
(17:14):
where even if you make mistakes, they're just not going
to win. Because they are MU. Ohio can win the game.
This is on the board. There's a reason why this
spread is only three and a half. Last I checked
in favor of the Mountaineers. If they were at home,
maybe it would be bigger, but this is at Ohio.
They just cannot do what they did against RMU or
they very very well could lose this game. And I'm
(17:39):
sure the Mountaineer coaching staff knows that.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
Mike go OSTI brought up the most important subplot of
this game. It's what's gonna happen in my house if
Ohio beats West Virginia.
Speaker 4 (17:49):
It's is she rooting for Ohio?
Speaker 3 (17:51):
Ah?
Speaker 2 (17:51):
Yeah, I mean I I there's still real way to
shugar Can we confirm there's no real way to there's
no real way to sugarcoated? She's definitely rooting for Ohio,
even if she's not, like she may not do it
actively in my face. And that's in part because I
actually have two broadcasts tomorrow, so I will probably wind
up missing most of this game anyway. I have one
(18:12):
broadcast that'll probably end just as the game is starting
in another broadcast that'll probably start sometime during the second quarter.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
So I'm not going to.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
See much of this wu OU game, but at least
not live. I'll watch it after the fact. But oh man,
I think I think I know, especially with me not
being there, I think I know who she's going to
be rooting for.
Speaker 4 (18:30):
I'll say this for for any of the listeners here.
Of course West Virginia based listeners. There are multiple and
I won't call them out here on the air, but
there are multiple members of West Virginia media that are
also going to be rooting for Ohio because they're Ohio alone.
Oh no, multiple multiple, They are multiple because they're in
West Virginia media. They're both TV people and I'll tell
(18:53):
you off the owl text you, I'm sure they're going
to be rooting for Ohio. I even have one confirmed,
and the other one is a wife of one of
my colleagues at Pittsburgh who I also can confirm.
Speaker 3 (19:02):
This is this.
Speaker 4 (19:04):
Yes, so it's inside information that Mike referring to. Just
don't give them hate tweets there. They're Ohio a lums.
It makes sense to roots for for for a while
here and especially their business if you're West Virginia and
you'll be fine, but no result. Honestly, yeah, it sounds
crazy to say. I want to you know, I think
West Virginia, if I had to predict, is going to win.
(19:26):
I think it will be closed. Wouldn't be shocked if
it's one point off a game winning field goal. And
I also think Alex and I said this on Mountaineer Report,
my podcast that covers West Virginia here for WVSN, that
this is an opportunity for West Virginia to send a
message the the sluggish start against an FCS and then
pulling away. You know what that reminded me of. And
(19:48):
I know it's a different group, a different vibe, different coach.
That reminded me of the Neil Brown era. Prior to
Neil Brown under Holgerson, rich Rod, et cetera, they would
mop the floor with those opponents all day long. Neil
Brown would win, but it would be sluggish early on
in fans would say, this just isn't the same, even
though we're getting a twenty point victory. That was what
it was like with rich Rot even though they beat
(20:08):
rm U by forty plus, it was like that.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
In the first half.
Speaker 4 (20:11):
If they go to Ohio, a conference champ out of
the mac who this is a big game for them.
A lot is on the line. You mentioned their schedule,
They got Ohio State coming. They lose this their rower
and three, despite it not mattering, be goods out of
conference play. But if they go to Ohio and win
against the defending conference champ that could still win the
back again no matter what they do, and out of
(20:31):
conference play and they win, and they win conventionally and
Jahem White gets that one hundred yard performance and gets unleashed.
That opens up eyeballs to him as legitimizing being on
the Doak Walker watch list, which he's on and some
said he didn't deserve. That shows there's a different vibe
in culture here and you have a Hall of Fame
coach and not a guy who was ascending, who was young.
These players are ready to do this now. And it's
(20:53):
not conference schedule. We've always talked about that what matters
the most these days, But that would send a message
to pit that were not the same. We're not gonna
blow a lead late in the game. We have a
mental fortitude that maybe Neo Brown's teams did not have.
We're gonna go into their place and we're gonna show
them we're better even though you're good, and we're better
than Rutgers, who I think is an average program in
(21:14):
the Big ten. West Virginia got to show if you
want to be a Big twelve contender, you certainly can't
do the same thing that the eighth best team in
another Power four potentially did, So that is on the line.
You just get the win and that's all. It don't matter.
If they get the win, they'll be fine. But if
they can get a win convincingly, that unlocks likely. I've
heard these rumors too that if the West Virginia wins
(21:36):
and pit wins, the game day is likely coming. So
that's on the line. But it also would send a
message nationally that the Mountaineers are here and it's a
different era. Regardless of maybe whether they win the Big
Twelve this year or not, that would send a message
to the country this is different under rich Rod. But
if they lose, it's gonna be a whole week of
It's been a while since he had power for success.
(21:58):
Roster turnovers really really hard. Are they ready? They might
get blown out by pitt. This could be a national disaster.
Do they even deserve game day? Big Twelve play is
gonna be rough? That'll be the dialogue if they lose
to Ohio, fair or not.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
By the way, Rutgers middling in the Big Ten. Pretty
good this day and age, it's good. It's good to
be a middle big ten.
Speaker 4 (22:19):
Yeah, that's fair. But I think most West Virginia fans,
and certainly if you look at the histories of these
programs lots of hundred years, would want to be on
a different level above Rutgers.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
Of course.
Speaker 4 (22:28):
Yeah, And to be fair, Rutgers did have the game
at home against Ohio. If they were on the road,
who knows, but yeah, I mean Rutgers is a hard
place to win a great Giano.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
My point more was that Ohio, Ohio played well against
It was not like some weak power four. Oh if
you talk about solid power four program this season, yeah, probably.
Speaker 4 (22:47):
If you want to talk about scheduling, and if I
was covering Ohio, I would say that I get you
want to show you're you're against the big boys, and
your group of five schedules not going to get you
on a national level, just running through that table. But
if you look at Cincinnati when they go in the
playoff for these other group of fives, if you get
one or two Power four on the schedule and you
win one of them, they can get you in even
(23:08):
if you just if you dominate the group of five schedule,
three straight power fours to open up a year and
multiple historic programs. They're all good, and one's the defending
national champ. Rich Rod's back, like Greg Giano, they're great
coaches all the way through. It's almost stacking it a
bit too much. Whereas if they would if they win
this West Virginia game, and if they would have beat
(23:28):
Rutgers and then they go through the max schedule, they'd
be knocking at the door the CFP saying we're just
losing to OSU, you gotta put us in. So this
is rough for them, but yes, it doesn't really matter
until they get into MacPlay. But they are a very
very good team. And again, this is not going to
be easy. I already had pushback comments on our preview
(23:51):
podcast or somebody. I don't know what you guys are
talking about. We're gonna mop the floor with this team.
West Virginia got to where we got some problems. I
don't think that's even fair. I think West Virginia goes
there and wins by one, wins by three. I don't
think anybody should be sitting there saying this means the
tenures you know, going to be horrible, an indictment of that.
Just get out of there with a win. Will be
acceptable with the opponent you're facing, in the environment that
(24:13):
you're likely going to be dealing with.
Speaker 2 (24:15):
Yeah, I really do think there are instances where again
this is sort of the fans sentiment is kind of
all over the place, But there I think there are
folks whose expectations are just a little too high compared
to where things would be traditionally. But but I will
say I am someone who thinks the WU is going
to win this game by more than one possession. I
will also say the reason why I'm particularly sold on
(24:37):
that is I think that what the defense did last
week is going to be very translatable this week. Now,
again it's still very early, but ten tackles for loss for.
Speaker 3 (24:48):
Sacks, I wrote, I.
Speaker 2 (24:49):
Just thought they were and it was the thing that
I was most impressed by. And again, I'm gonna want
to see a larger sample size because you know me
and you know this sport very well. That small sample
size is have ruined many a prediction in the past.
Speaker 3 (25:02):
But if you can extrapolay what we saw last week, I.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
Thought that the really key thing against RMU was you
didn't see this WVU defense, which you absolutely would have seen.
I think a year ago. They were not giving up
bad plays. They were not giving up easy yardage that
comes on the types of plays that bad defenses usually allow.
They're not allowing little tunnel screens. They're like they were
(25:24):
to the ball. They were playing well at the line
of scrimmage, dominating the point of attack, and they didn't
seem to ever get down after the offense let them
down through multiple parts of that second quarter.
Speaker 3 (25:37):
They just came back out and did their job. They
just came back out and did their job.
Speaker 4 (25:40):
Yeah, And Zach Ally and rich Rod both talked about
the defense this week, and they both said that it's
as you mentioned, it's very very tough to They were
trying to be nice, but it's very very tough to
evaluate against a lower level opponent, as they called them,
an FCS school. It's very tough to evaluate because, as
Isa said, and as anyone who watched the game could see, RMU,
he simply did not have the ability. This is true
(26:02):
and not even an insult. They didn't have the ability
to take advantage. Any other team who had five fumbles,
three in a matter of four plays would have absolutely
taken advantage at least made it a game, if not
beat West Virginia if they played like that in the
first half, certainly Ohio would. But RMU isn't capable of
doing that, and that was evident. But the Mountaineers, I
(26:23):
think they brought a different energy. Alex even with the
players that were there under Neil Brown, the Hammond Russell's
He's become a national name where he wasn't the whole
year under Brown, several years actually under Brown. Reid Kariko
who get ready for Eekarraco Alex read Karroco's an Ohio
High school product, an Ohio High school legend. He was
(26:45):
at Ohio State. He left before the national title year
because he couldn't get enough playing time despite being a
four star recruit. He came to West Virginia. He played,
but they had a down year and coach got fired.
He stayed, He's going to Ohio. Everyone knows him there.
I think Reid Kericho is really getting up for this game.
We didn't get to talk to him, but I wish
we could have. But those players and all the new players,
(27:08):
the Fred Perry's, etc. Michael Coach junior, it looked like
a different energy. Tell me if you agree here. It
looked like a group that was more physical. They literally
were hard edge. As the coaches always say. Yeah, maybe
the score would have been the same because they're playing
RMU and they would have done the same thing stat wise,
But just the eye test of the RMU game, West
(27:29):
Virginia's defense looked different than a year ago and that
could translate. However, if they're on the field as much
as they had to be, because the offense is there
for three plays and then coughs it up, that'll be very,
very difficult on the road. The offense has to help
them out more. But yeah, they were mostly in the
right place. They were mostly playing to the whistle. Very
(27:51):
few were loafing at times. Now Alex a coach would
criticize more than us. Rich Rod said that, yeah, he
agrees they were mostly okay, but there were some loafs.
As he mentioned on film, he did see some loafs.
He did say that there were some guys who were
out of position. Ali did say there were some out
of position that he doesn't think anyone would have noticed
(28:12):
because they were had such a big lead, and they
weren't They were not allowing yards against them, but there
were players out of position that could be evident. Against Ohio.
So it was not perfect score the score that show
that it was one of the better defensive efforts in
West Virginia history. That's not really what it was.
Speaker 2 (28:29):
They're so funny. They're so funny about stuff, Okay.
Speaker 4 (28:32):
And Zach Ally is like that, the younger rich Row.
He gives you the same verbiage of nothing ever perfect.
And by the way, he could translate that for sure, we're.
Speaker 3 (28:41):
We're super low on time.
Speaker 2 (28:42):
So real quick, I just wanted to say, I thought
you were spot on about read Karaco. I just thought
he had a tremendous mean from the eye test alone.
And I didn't rewind up rewatching this one, which I
usually do. I'll have to go back.
Speaker 3 (28:52):
And rewatch it. Man. I just thought he was everywhere.
Speaker 4 (28:54):
I think he can explode against the Bobcats. I think
he wants to show his people I'm the best player
on this field. He might be the most talented defensive
player on that field.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
Yeah, one other thing before I let you go, I
just realized, I don't know if you were aware of this,
you probably were. I was today years old when I
realized that Cam tor Boor is the son of longtime
nfler Reggie Torbour, who was a terrific sort of like
rotational linebacker in his day, and that did not make
(29:23):
that connection. The reason that I brought that up is
I started looking at connections because I realized I'm getting old.
Another reserve player in this game will be the son
of former Michigan linebacker Sean Crable. His son, Jay Crable,
plays reserve defensive role for Ohio Universities. So just thought
i'd throw that. Throw that out there.
Speaker 4 (29:42):
Ohio's rosters interest just not only they got players all
over the country, all over the world. They got multiple
international players. We has one. They're an interesting group. They
built their roster in a certain way to be this
elite at a group of five levels. So again, they
could do it. I think we will win. Don't know,
I'm as bullish as you, but they could send that
they do what you're saying on offense and defense. They
(30:04):
send a message nationally, and then if they win the brawl,
they're on the board for getting ranked here pretty soon.
But if they lose, it's all off the board.
Speaker 3 (30:10):
Of course, folks.
Speaker 2 (30:11):
His work is at WV sportsnow dot com. You can
check it out. They're gonna have lots of stuff up
at the website there is. They're gonna be live on scene, Mike,
much appreciated. Man, no surprise. We talked our way to
the top of the hour. I will talk with you
next week, all right.
Speaker 4 (30:24):
Yeah, no problem, man, Yeah, you just I figured we
were gonna call it a minute or so ago, but
then you ask me another question.
Speaker 2 (30:29):
I can't help my I just can't help myself. We
we really need a two hour show. I'll do maybe
we will get exactly. I'll talk with you next week,
all right, yeah later. All right, guys, we gotta go.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
We are about to uh, we're about to hit it.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
Have a great weekend, stay dry, enjoy the football, and
we'll talk to you Monday morning.
Speaker 1 (31:01):
Clarksburg's news, talk, and sports authority one O three three
WKMZ Clarksburg Bridgeport, a WVRC media station. We are proud
to live here too.
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