Athletics not affected by WVUs fiscal restraints

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:32:57 -0400

MORGANTOWN - If ever there was an appropriate time to revisit the relationship between college athletics and college itself, now is that time.In brief. There is none.OK, so maybe thats not entirely true. In fact, the two are linked inexorably. Without the ...

Morgantown lineman commits to WVU

( ) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:34:05 -0400

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- West Virginia got the third verbal commitment to its football recruiting class Monday and only the second from a state player in the past three classes. Amanii Brown is a 6-foot-5, 264-pound offensive lineman from Morgantown High Schoo...

WVU tennis coach leaving for Wisconsin job

( ) — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 21:48:35 -0400

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - West Virginia officials are apparently in the market for a new womens tennis coach. Sources within the athletic department Saturday confirmed that Tina Samara has accepted the head coaching position at Wisconsin.Samara has been at WVU f...

An idea from Huggins and some hoops scoops

sports@wvgazette.com (Mitch Vingle) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 22:46:20 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- No ice cream, but scoops aplenty as we near summer (yes, its still a week away) in the Mountain State:

The other day I was interviewing WVU basketball coach Bob Huggins when the conversation turned to the Coliseum in Morgantown.

WVU takes step to add golf as varsity sport

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 22:49:13 -0400

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- West Virginia officials have apparently struck the first shot toward adding golf as a varsity sport.The schools University Planning Committee has forwarded a recommendation to school president James Clements that the sport be added, ac...

WVU, Marshall stay above APR levels

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 00:03:12 -0400

MORGANTOWN — West Virginia and Marshall have once again cleared the NCAAs yearly academic hurdle.
The organization on Tuesday released its annual Academic Progress Rates data and no teams from either of the states Division I universities face sa...

Yeager Airport dancing Texas 2-step

(Megan Workman) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 20:45:41 -0400

DALLAS -- American Airlines passengers, a few wearing cowboy boots and several with West Virginia roots, filled the first direct flight from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport to Yeager Airport Wednesday afternoon. The airline announced in March that...

WVU to host Georgia Southern, Presbyterian in Cancun Challenge

( ) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 23:44:51 -0400

West Virginia University will host Georgia Southern on Nov. 21 and Presbyterian on Nov. 23 in the Cancun Challenge mens basketball tournament. The Mountaineers will then travel to Mexico to face Old Dominion in the Riviera Division on Nov. 26. The tourname...

Odds are, WVU below the radar

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 22:13:19 -0400

MORGANTOWN — There are, I suppose, advantages to low expectations.
But just how low the expectations are for West Virginias football team this season are, well, rather shocking.
Just ask Las Vegas.
First, some perspective.

Huggins fantasy camp connects eras

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 21:08:39 -0400

MORGANTOWN - When Phil Collins finally had a chance to spend some quality time in West Virginias new basketball practice facility this weekend, his first thought was predictable."Jealous, the former Mountaineer center from the 1980s said. "Ive be...

Running back mulling transfer to WVU

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 21:01:05 -0400

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Already bolstered by a transfer competing at quarterback, West Virginia football coach Dana Holgorsen just might be in line to get some immediate help at running back, too.Charles Sims, the leading career rusher at Houston and potential...

WVU Classic: Still adjusting to the Big 12

For the Gazette (Ryan Pritt) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 21:05:33 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A year ago at the WVU Classic, put on annually by the Mountaineer Athletic Club at Berry Hills Country Club, coaches were preparing to adapt to life in the Big 12. Fast-forward to this year and its apparent that the adaptation is still...

WVU board approves land buy for baseball stadium

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 12:53:43 -0400

MORGANTOWN (AP) -- The West Virginia University Board of Governors has given its blessing to a $2.3 million real estate deal that will help create a new baseball stadium near Morgantown.

At...

One-day camps big for WVU recruiting

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 21:51:48 -0400

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Saturday and Sunday are two of the most important days of the year for West Virginias football recruiting efforts. A week from Sunday, too. And then again on July 27.Those arent random dates. They are the days WVU hosts its four one-day...

WVU Classic today, Friday in Charleston

( ) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 21:56:12 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia Universitys largest athletic fundraiser of the summer is today and Friday in Charleston. The WVU Classic includes golf and tennis events at Berry Hills Country Club and a fashion show at the Civic Center. The fashion show...

WVU governors to consider buying land for ballpark

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 09:12:16 -0400

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- West Virginia University Athletic Director Oliver Luck is proposing a $2.3 million land purchase for a new baseball stadium near Morgantown, and the Board of Governors will consider it Thursday. The Dominion Post said Luck is eyeing...

Big 12 sets three WVU football game times

( ) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 21:02:29 -0400

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- The game times for West Virginia Universitys first three football games were announced by the Big 12 Conference on Tuesday. The Mountaineers home season opener against William & Mary will kick off at noon Aug. 31 and will be televi...

Basketball recruits commitment to WVU comes with a catch

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 19:40:50 -0400

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - It seems that Bob Huggins might be ready to fill out his West Virginia basketball recruiting class, but there is still a significant loose end to tie up.Daxter Miles, the 6-foot-2 high school point guard from Baltimore who is being recr...

Holgorsen dislikes summer disconnect

sports@wvgazette.com (Mitch Vingle) — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 19:42:12 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia University football coach Dana Holgorsen burned some vacation time last week. He was able to get away and spend time with his kids.Meanwhile, his assistants were working on recruiting and many of his players have been bac...

Big 12 payout: $198M to 10 teams

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Fri, 31 May 2013 21:19:49 -0400

IRVING, Texas - The Big 12 Conference has gone from the brink of collapse only a few short years ago to record revenue. Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said Friday that the leagues 10 schools will share a record $198 million for the 2012-13 school year, an...

WVUs Musgrave named 2nd-team All-American

( ) — Thu, 30 May 2013 20:53:14 -0400

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- West Virginia University sophomore left-hander Harrison Musgrave added to his already impressive collection of accolades Thursday, being named a Louisville Slugger second-team All-American. Musgrave, who was named the Big 12 Conference...

Curtis Price remembered as versatile leader

sports@wvgazette.com (Mitch Vingle) — Thu, 30 May 2013 11:39:06 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- "King" Curtis Price was a lot of things to a lot of people.He was a civic leader.He was a multi-talented musician.He was one of Kanawha Countys most celebrated athletes.Today, after losing a battle to cancer on Thursday in Ch...

Jets Smith says Jay-Z didnt recruit me

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Thu, 30 May 2013 20:52:16 -0400

NEW YORK -- New York Jets rookie quarterback Geno Smith has no concerns about questions surrounding the process in which he picked an agent, saying "Jay-Z didnt recruit me. Smith fired his former agency, Priority Sports, shortly after the NFL draft la...

Is WVUs Cody Clay molding into an NFL commodity.

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Wed, 29 May 2013 22:38:19 -0400

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Cody Clay no doubt paid some attention to the NFL draft last month. And why not, given that he spent so much time last season working in the same offense with Geno Smith, Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey. Clay might also have been thinki...

Legal issue settled, but WVU basketball recruits fate isnt

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Wed, 29 May 2013 22:39:15 -0400

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Jonathan Holton dispensed with his legal proceedings Wednesday and, after a cursory study of the plea agreement, West Virginia University officials believe there is no reason Holton cant enroll and play basketball for the Mountaineers n...

Gaffes of my (very) recent past

sports@wvgazette.com (Mitch Vingle) — Tue, 28 May 2013 22:27:06 -0400

THIS PAST Sunday, I wrote of West Virginia Universitys most important football games of all times. It was supposed to be a fun piece, meant to stir debate.But I made mistakes. I heard from many of you. (Thought after all these years as a sports writer ...

Seven to be added to WVU Sports Hall of Fame

( ) — Sun, 26 May 2013 00:15:00 -0400

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Seven outstanding contributors to Mountaineer athletics make up the 23rd class of honorees in the West Virginia University Sports Hall of Fame, announced today by Director of Athletics Oliver Luck. The 2013 class includes mens basketbal...

WVU rallies past OSU, but titles hopes dashed

( ) — Sat, 25 May 2013 21:30:03 -0400

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- West Virginias improbable baseball season continued Saturday night, but only for a few hours.The Mountaineers rallied from a 5-0 deficit to beat Oklahoma State, 6-5 in 10 innings, Saturday on the final day of pool play in the Big 12...

Tackles, wideouts top WVUs football recruiting needs

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Sat, 25 May 2013 23:35:08 -0400

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Taking just a cursory look at West Virginias football roster and its last two recruiting classes, there dont seem to be many glaring holes that need to be addressed in recruiting.Thats just from a numbers standpoint, of course.For insta...

WVU cashes in on TCU errors

( ) — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:49:55 -0400

OKLAHOMA CITY - West Virginia kept its Big 12 tournament championship hopes alive Friday night and it didnt even require another otherworldly performance by Harrison Musgrave. Yes, Musgrave pitched well, throwing seven innings of five-hit ball with five st...

Insiders say Big 12 bowl lineup is strong

sports@wvgazette.com (Mitch Vingle) — Thu, 23 May 2013 22:07:21 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- In the next couple of weeks the complete conference bowl lineups for the 2014-19 cycle will come tumbling out. You probably know about the new playoff system. Six bowls (Rose, Sugar, Orange, Fiesta, Cotton and Chick-fil-A) have been se...

Kansas tops WVU 7-2 in Big 12 baseball tournament

( ) — Thu, 23 May 2013 23:11:38 -0400

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -West Virginia was let down by just about every facet of its game Thursday night and lost its opener in the Big 12 baseball tournament to sixth-seeded Kansas 7-2.Mountaineer pitchers gave up 12 hits, the hitters managed just seven and ...

A remarkable act in the midst of a remarkable season

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Wed, 22 May 2013 23:45:00 -0400

MORGANTOWN - Late this afternoon, at what is certainly one of the few perfectly-manicured patches of land still remaining in the Oklahoma City, Okla. area, West Virginias baseball team will get back to the business at hand.The Mountaineers will continu...

Jets QB Smith signs with Jay Zs Roc Nation Sports

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Wed, 22 May 2013 23:45:00 -0400

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Geno Smith has joined Jay-Z for one big sports and hip-hop collaboration.The New York Jets rookie quarterback has chosen the rap artists new Roc Nation Sports to represent him. Smith, who slipped out of the first round last month and f...

WVU pitches in on Oklahoma relief efforts

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:10:43 -0400

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- In the wake of Mondays deadly tornadoes that struck the Oklahoma City area, the Big 12 has both delayed the start and changed the format of this weeks conference baseball tournament.Randy Mazey couldnt care less. He and his West Virgin...

More WVU hoops scoops and a call for some common sense

sports@wvgazette.com (Mitch Vingle) — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:29:23 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Ye olde notebook:

If you read this space regularly, you know theres been intrigue surrounding next seasons WVU mens basketball roster.

But on Tuesday some of that intrigue was erased as the cleansing from last season continue...

McCartneys return could be a plus for Mountaineers

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:29:34 -0400

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Cleaning out a crowded notebook and a cluttered mind while trying to imagine Clint Trickett throwing passes to Ivan McCartney:

A month ago, whodathunkit.

Thats not to say that it will happen, of course, save for West Virginia pr...

WVU earns No. 3 seed for Big 12 baseball tournament

( ) — Sun, 19 May 2013 22:55:08 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia will make its debut in the Big 12 Conference baseball tournament Wednesday against No. 6 seed Kansas. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m. at Chicksaw Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City, Okla.The Mountaineers earned the ...

WVUs Musgrave is pitcher of year finalist

( ) — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:28:50 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia Universitys Harrison Musgrave was named a finalist Thursday for the College Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher of the year award. The sophomore, who was a standout at Bridgeport High School, is one of 22 players on the list fr...

Filling an SC legacy; WVU hoops recruiting

sports@wvgazette.com (Mitch Vingle) — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:27:55 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Ye olde notebook:

South Charleston High students and graduates know all about the plight of school product Aaron Dobson, recently drafted by the NFLs New England Patriots.

They probably know of Robert Alexander, another school p...

Freshman QB leaves WVU football team

( ) — Thu, 16 May 2013 22:59:02 -0400

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- A couple of weeks after West Virginia added a piece to its quarterback puzzle, the Mountaineers have lost another one. Chavas Rawlins, a freshman who completed his high school requirements early and enrolled in January, has now decided...

Mountaineers might keep ace in hole

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Wed, 15 May 2013 22:38:53 -0400

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - West Virginia might well go into its final series of the Big 12 regular season without its pitching ace.By choice.Harrison Musgrave, certainly one of the front-runners for the leagues pitcher of the year award, wont start WVUs first gam...

Not all are in favor of WVU call to add golf

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Wed, 15 May 2013 22:41:07 -0400

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Oliver Luck has been accused of being a lot of things. Some of them arent very complimentary, either.Nearly three years into his tenure as West Virginias athletic director, Luck has attempted to turn what was once a largely mom-and-pop ...

Mountaineers get Missouri in Big 12/SEC Challenge

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Tue, 14 May 2013 20:33:11 -0400

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - It seems that no matter what happens with conference realignment, West Virginias basketball team cant get away from challenging the SEC.The Big 12 and the SEC announced Tuesday the formation of the Big 12/SEC Challenge in basketball beg...

WVUs athletic debt not as bad as expected

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Tue, 14 May 2013 20:02:52 -0400

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Oliver Luck is a firm believer that the financial ramifications of West Virginias entrance into the Big 12 shouldnt be viewed through the narrow prism of a one-year balance sheet. No surprise there, right. I mean, really, just the run-u...

WVUs Musgrave earns second national honor

( ) — Tue, 14 May 2013 20:34:11 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia Universitys Harrison Musgrave was selected for the second time this season as the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association pitcher of the week Tuesday. Musgrave, a former standout at Bridgeport High School, fired ...

Herd rallies past WVU 6-5

( ) — Tue, 14 May 2013 23:07:07 -0400

BECKLEY, W.Va. - Alfredo Brito hit a two-run double off the right-field wall in the bottom of the seventh, rallying Marshall to a 6-5 win over West Virginia Tuesday night in front of a crowd of 2,103 at Linda K. Epling Stadium. The win gives the Thundering...

Deadline set for bids on WVU sports broadcasting

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:12:35 -0400

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Bidders for multimedia rights to certain West Virginia University athletic events will have until June 18 to respond to a newly issued request for proposals, the school announced Tuesday.WVU said last month it would rebid the contract ...

Austins new popularity, WVU-Herd travels

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Mon, 13 May 2013 23:05:59 -0400

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Cleaning out a crowded notebook and a cluttered mind while wondering just how the IRS feels now about being audited itself: And then theres Tavon Austin, who also finds himself these days with the tables turned dramatically.Austin, of c...

WVU's Musgrave gets record 4th Big 12 honor

( ) — Mon, 13 May 2013 23:09:21 -0400

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- West Virginia University sophomore pitcher Harrison Musgrave was named Big 12 Pitcher of the Week after his shutout victory against TCU Sunday, when he posted a career-high 14 strikeouts. Musgrave joins Ryan Rupe (Texas A&M, 1998) ...

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