http://espn.go.com/blog/big12/post/...rived-and-west-virginia-has-not-in-the-big-12
This story about W.VA could have been the CARDS story if they went Big 12.
This story about W.VA could have been the CARDS story if they went Big 12.
TCU Thrived W.VA. has not in Big 12
- Thread starter Hedgerunner
- Start date
I felt like I had been punched in the gut when WVU got the Big XII invite over us. Their fans were flooding our board rubbing it in too. But then the ACC happened and it worked out far better for us.
I agree, I felt the same way. And I believe the ACC is a far better cultural fit for the Ville.
WVU lost all their natural rivals and has to do a ridiculous amount of travel in the B12. They are a poor fit. We were incredibly lucky with the ACC. That was TJs greatest move ever. I still sometimes lament the demise of the BE and what it could have been if it had been better lead. I'm sure in their heart of hearts, WVU fans do, too.
I think the geography has hindered them for sure, but their biggest issue has been their coaching hires. Rich Rodriguez was the perfect guy for that job and the administration bungled any attempts to keep him from going to Michigan. From RR: "
I still wasn't going to take the job if I thought the administration at the time at West Virginia had the same vision I did as far as growing the program. "The program had gotten to a pretty good place, and I wanted to keep growing it. The administration at the time — not the one now, but the administration at the time — I wasn't convinced with my talks with them that they wanted to keep doing that."
And then after Rich Rod left, they made a poor hiring decision. I understand why they did, but hiring Stewart was foolish. He didn't have the "it" factor that they needed. And then how they transitioned from Stewart to Holgorsen only further showed that the administration at WVU was inept.
I still wasn't going to take the job if I thought the administration at the time at West Virginia had the same vision I did as far as growing the program. "The program had gotten to a pretty good place, and I wanted to keep growing it. The administration at the time — not the one now, but the administration at the time — I wasn't convinced with my talks with them that they wanted to keep doing that."
And then after Rich Rod left, they made a poor hiring decision. I understand why they did, but hiring Stewart was foolish. He didn't have the "it" factor that they needed. And then how they transitioned from Stewart to Holgorsen only further showed that the administration at WVU was inept.
I think the geography has hindered them for sure, but their biggest issue has been their coaching hires. Rich Rodriguez was the perfect guy for that job and the administration bungled any attempts to keep him from going to Michigan. From RR: "
I still wasn't going to take the job if I thought the administration at the time at West Virginia had the same vision I did as far as growing the program. "The program had gotten to a pretty good place, and I wanted to keep growing it. The administration at the time — not the one now, but the administration at the time — I wasn't convinced with my talks with them that they wanted to keep doing that."
And then after Rich Rod left, they made a poor hiring decision. I understand why they did, but hiring Stewart was foolish. He didn't have the "it" factor that they needed. And then how they transitioned from Stewart to Holgorsen only further showed that the administration at WVU was inept.
I still wasn't going to take the job if I thought the administration at the time at West Virginia had the same vision I did as far as growing the program. "The program had gotten to a pretty good place, and I wanted to keep growing it. The administration at the time — not the one now, but the administration at the time — I wasn't convinced with my talks with them that they wanted to keep doing that."
And then after Rich Rod left, they made a poor hiring decision. I understand why they did, but hiring Stewart was foolish. He didn't have the "it" factor that they needed. And then how they transitioned from Stewart to Holgorsen only further showed that the administration at WVU was inept.
W. VA is just in a horrible situation at the present time. The SEC/ACC are better fits but they are full. They probably can't survive as an independent so their really out of options right now.
Coaching and recruiting! Patterson is top notch with a huge recruiting base. WVU small state have to recruit regionally when so many games are away from their nature recruiting base that is tough.
When W. VA. was in the Big East they used to get a lot of players out of Florida, I do not think they are getting very many from there now.