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Post by elp525 on Jul 16, 2011 6:45:14 GMT -5
July 15, 2011
West Virginia University quarterback Geno Smith was among 38 of the nation's top quarterbacks listed on the 2011 Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award Watch List, the O'Brien Foundation announced on Friday.
Smith threw for 2,748 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2010, with only seven interceptions.
Other Big East quarterbacks on the list at Zach Collaros of Cincinnati and Tino Sunseri of Pittsburgh. Two Conference USA quarterbacks are listed, Case Keenum of Houston and GJ Kinne of Tulsa.
The award is presented to the nation's best quarterback and the foundation bills it as the oldest and most prestigious quarterback award.
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Post by elp525 on Jul 15, 2011 21:41:20 GMT -5
It really makes one wonder what was going through his mind to do something so stupid.....twice. He had a great opprotunity that many would love to get a shot to do.
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Post by elp525 on Jul 15, 2011 21:34:58 GMT -5
07/15/2011 Andrew Jerome MetroNews Recruiting
In his third trip in as many years to Morgantown, five-star recruit Amile Jefferson showcased his talents for college recruiters in the annual West Virginia Hoop Group Jam Fest.
The 6’7” power forward is ranked 3rd in the country at his position. His length and quickness, combined with his continually growing frame, have helped propel him to a level few high school players in the nation have been able to reach.
At this point, Jefferson says he is not sure yet where he will play collegiate basketball. He has five scholarship offers, according to BlueGoldNews.com, including West Virginia. He is also getting interest from a lot of Big East and ACC schools.
“I think I’m still pretty much wide open; I talk to different coaches every day. I have to get some visits in to see where I am most comfortable and to find what fits me best,” said Jefferson.
Among the long list of schools he has offers from NC State, Villanova, Maryland, Ohio State, and West Virginia.
“I was looking at West Virginia,” says Jefferson. “They have contacted me before. I’m still wide open, so we’re just trying to see how that recruitment goes. I know a little about the school, playing in the Big East. Definitely a very good athletic and academic school, and a big college town. That’s definitely great.”
Should Jefferson choose to pursue playing with the Mountaineers, he would join an already young and talented group of recruits. His length and athleticism make him capable of playing in the Big East, but he would need to improve his size and mid-range jump to fill a power forward slot in Huggins’ system.
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Post by elp525 on Jul 15, 2011 21:33:15 GMT -5
Friday July 15, 2011
by Mike Casazza Charleston Daily Mail
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Before he was dismissed from the team Tuesday after his first of two arrests this week, linebacker Branko Busick had played all of 40 snaps in the first two games of West Virginia's 2010 football season.
Busick then suffered a hand injury that kept him off the field the rest of his redshirt freshman season.
Such is life among the linebackers now that sophomore Doug Rigg said Busick's departure "does help destroy" the team's depth. Busick had barely played for WVU, yet he'd been around and knew the system and was going to be looked upon as an important part of what would take shape in 2011.
The 6-foot, 230-pound Busick was listed as the backup middle linebacker behind senior Najee Goode on the depth chart released after spring practice.
"Busick had a fire," said junior college transfer Josh Francis, the listed starter at weak side linebacker. "Branko was a great person who got into some things that caused him to be less fortunate. For him to be leaving us is going to hurt us."
Busick is accused of entering an apartment Monday while wearing a mask and using a gun to demand money from three people. One victim said when he told Busick he had no money, Busick hit the man with the gun and forced him out of the apartment building.
Busick was charged with armed robbery, a felony.
Busick was arrested Wednesday again for armed robbery, but in an unrelated incident.
A victim said he was walking home from work June 23 when Busick knocked him down, hit him in the face and took his iPhone and wallet, which had about $70. Busick was again in North Central Regional Jail on Thursday, on a $250,000 bond.
Busick's exit thins WVU's group of linebackers, which lost two starters from last year's team. Goode is clearly the most veteran player. He's played all 39 games the past three years and started 13, including 11 last season.
After him, none of the seven other players listed on the depth chart at middle, strong side or weak side linebacker have started a game. A few have never even played.
Only Casey Vance, a former walk-on from Petersburg High who just earned his scholarship, has played more than 75 snaps in his entire career. Rigg, first team on the strong side, played about 50 last season. Francis, who is ahead of Vance on the depth chart, has never played at WVU.
Behind Rigg is Tyler Anderson, who will be a redshirt freshman, and Donovan Miles, who has barely played the past two seasons. Goode is now ahead of Steve Paskorz, who was at Notre Dame the previous four years and didn't play last season because of a knee inury, but also didn't play a whole lot before that, and Jewone Snow, who is a redshirt freshman.
All in all, it leads to uncertain moments and curious conversations, like the one Rigg had with the team's strength and conditioning coach, Mike Joseph.
"He said something that really stood out in my mind one time," Rigg said. "He said, 'You're the next leader behind Najee experience-wise.' I'd never really thought about that, being a true sophomore, but it's true. I have to step my game up so people can look up to me now."
The Mountaineers recruited four linebackers for 2011. Francis enrolled in January and Isaiah Bruce and Jared Barber have been on campus for summer classes and workouts for a few weeks now. Shaq Petteway has not yet enrolled.
"We do have some good freshmen coming in and they're willing to learn," Francis said. "A lot of freshmen come in and don't want to learn. These freshmen want to learn the defense and want to play."
Where they play, or where anyone plays, is yet unknown. Goode, for example, is the tentative starter at middle linebacker. He's been an outside linebacker for most of his time at WVU, and Francis said, "We're not real sure (Goode is) going to be" the middle linebacker.
Goode is also fast and strong enough to play pass rush situations, which have in the past moved him outside.
Of course, nothing is settled right now. Defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Jeff Casteel told his players he doesn't know who the three starters are. He will experiment with that in preseason practice, which begins Aug. 5.
Things could change a whole lot before the season begins at home Sept. 4 against Marshall - Francis and Rigg, for example, said they can play the middle - but one thing will remain true:
The middle linebacker is the most important position on the defense and its difficulty requires a certain type of player.
"The inside is much harder to play because you're running into all the big guys down there," Rigg said. "You can't see over them. On the outside, you have a better view. The passing game is easier on the inside, but that's basically it.
"The assignments are much different outside. You could do something wrong, but it's the middle guy's responsibility to cover it up. In the middle, you have to see everything and be perfect."
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7/13/11
Jul 14, 2011 22:27:11 GMT -5
Post by elp525 on Jul 14, 2011 22:27:11 GMT -5
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Post by elp525 on Jul 14, 2011 22:23:00 GMT -5
07/14/2011 Garrett Cullen Morgantown
There’s no doubt expectations have increased significantly for the Mountaineer offense heading into 2011.
And rightfully so.
Eight starters return, including Geno Smith and Tavon Austin – a combination that could to be deadly at times to opponents.
It’s the potential of the Mountaineer offense under Dana Holgorsen that has a lot of prognosticators picking West Virginia as the favorite in the Big East.
But will it live up to those expectations? Are the expectations too high? Maybe. Maybe not.
But one thing is certain, the players are ready for the challenge of getting things turned around from what was an offensive struggle for the most part last year.
For receiver Tavon Austin, it’s not just about proving everyone else right.
“It’s about proving it to ourselves,” Austin said. “We’ve got a good chance right now -- we’ve got a good offensive coordinator and a good team coming back…If everybody goes out there and does their part, we should come out on top.”
Last year, the Mountaineers finished 78th in the country in scoring with just 25.15 points per game. Total offense wasn’t much better at just 67th in the country with 372.69 yards per contest.
And for those numbers to turn around this year for West Virginia, a lot of that will rest on Austin – something he’s ready to take on headfirst.
“When I came in, I wanted to be the man,” he said. “But you’ve got to wait and pay your dues. I think I did, so hopefully this is definitely my year.”
After 946 total offensive yards (receiving and rushing) and nine touchdowns a year ago, Austin has seen his fair share of recognition on the national scale. He was recently named a member of the Biletnikoff Award watch list for this year, which is given each season to the nation’s top receiver.
“Somebody posted it on Twitter, saying congratulations for the award I’m up for,” Austin noted. “That was the first time I had heard about it because I don’t really check stuff like that. But I’m thankful my name’s in there and hopefully I’m going to work for it and come out on top.”
And Coach Holgorsen’s offense seems to be a near-perfect fit for him to exemplify those skills this year. It’s the simplicity that makes the difference for him.
“I definitely feel more comfortable because under Coach Mullen, we had to learn about four positions on the field,” Austin said. “But Coach Holgorsen has me at one position – that’s the h-position and I think I’ve got it down pat now. If you do what (Coach Holgorsen) says to do, you’re going to get a lot of yards and hopefully my athletic ability will take it to another stage.”
Something else that is being taken to another stage this year is his leadership role with the team. Now heading into his junior season, he’ll have a bigger responsibility with helping the younger players grasp the offense and make the college transition themselves.
“It definitely does change a lot,” Austin said of that increased role. “I’ve never been a vocal person – I’m more the type of person that tries to lead by example, go out there and do my part, practice hard and play hard. So, I was never really a (vocal) leader like that. But hopefully I can go out and lead by example and people will follow.”
And if he does, there’s a good chance those lofty offensive expectations will be well in reach for the Mountaineers in 2011.
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Post by elp525 on Jul 14, 2011 22:19:38 GMT -5
07/13/2011 MetroNews Recruiting
The Mountaineer football team receives its 13th verbal commitment in the 2012 recruiting class in Village Academy wide receiver Devonte Robinson, according to BlueGoldNews.com. The 6-foot-2 receiver is from Delray Beach, Florida and is rated as a 2-star prospect by Scout.com.
He becomes the second wide receiver to verbal to the 2012 recruiting class and he is the fourth player from the state of Florida. Continue to check MetroNews for more information on this new commitment.
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Post by elp525 on Jul 14, 2011 22:15:28 GMT -5
Tuesday July 12, 2011
by Mike Casazza Charleston Daily Mail
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - That first trip Daron Roberts made on the road in May to represent and recruit for West Virginia football was the first trip Roberts had made in that capacity in his entire life.
When the receivers coach was done some weeks later, he'd pulled in promises from three well-liked high school seniors to play for the Mountaineers.
Landing a four-star receiver, a three-star running back, a three-star cornerback and getting his hooks into who knows how many others in Dallas, East Texas, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia would be five-star work on a WVU staff still getting acclimated to its surroundings.
That it came from Roberts, an almost unrecruited player when he was in high school, was earth shaking. This was some beginning from Roberts, but in truth it was the end to a process he'd started long before.
For those who wondered how, or if, Roberts would work with his background bereft of experience skeptics deemed necessary for his position, this was the first sign he could apply his academics to athletics.
Roberts can't comment on the players who committed to WVU, but Baltimore receiver Deontay McManus, Washington, D.C., running back Albert Reid and Baltimore cornerback Da'Quan Davis all committed late in June and said Roberts recruited them.
"I did as much research as I could on kids in my area that I thought were going to be good players and then I set up a schedule to visit seven or eight schools a day," Roberts said. "The goal was two-fold.
"One, I really wanted to start building relationships with high school coaches and counselors and, two, I wanted to be able to see the kids I thought would be an asset to West Virginia. I wanted to be able to watch them practice and get a look at those kids. It was a little hectic, but it worked out."
It did because he used what was familiar to help him with what was foreign. Roberts found recruiting wasn't much different than running for student body president or writing a paper or studying law or putting together a special teams scouting report.
Preparation is the key and Roberts was preparing to recruit key areas for WVU.
"My approach has always been that you can't have too much information," he said. "I looked at all the rankings online, but what was more valuable to me was newspaper articles."
Roberts scanned the online archives of the newspapers in his recruiting areas. He started with a broad base and narrowed it down, reading features and game summaries and keeping track of teams and names.
"Once you start to see a name that keeps popping up, you say, 'OK, that's a kid I need to look out for,'" Roberts said.
He took those names and then did more research on the player. He kept reading and started calling the schools to get videotape. He took all of his information, filtered it through the system in place at WVU and then figured out whom the Mountaineers would recruit.
"We limited the number of targets," he said. "Instead of casting a wide net, we isolated a small number of young men who we thought would really contribute to us. Once we had that, we put together a full-out assault on them."
Before he could do that, he had to come up with his own ammunition.
Roberts, 32, only came to WVU in April and this is his first college job. College football is an entirely different business than professional football, where Roberts had spent the previous four years. On top of that, WVU offers a different experience and environment than many other schools it competes against in the Big East Conference, region and country.
Roberts knew that because he'd been told it so many times in his whirlwind introduction to the campus, the town and the state. He was hired just a few days before the start of spring practice and had to hustle to get caught up and then get ahead.
Once he had time to exhale, he took in everything he could about his new home because he knew he needed to know it if he was going to sell it.
"I put together a notebook of about eight pages that outlined what West Virginia University offers that is not football-related," Roberts said. "I got graduation rates across the athletic department, I got football graduation rates, the average salary of a West Virginia graduate. Then I went to the football side and the revenue that's generated, the average attendance history.
"In the end, I'd put together a personal package I could show them so they understood what I was selling and I took that to the kids who we think can contribute."
Roberts, who on top of his NFL experience has academic credentials to flaunt with an undergraduate degree from Texas and a master's and law degree from Harvard, assured parents their sons would get a valuable education at WVU. If the academics didn't open doors, the associations could.
"I've been in Morgantown three months and I've visited Charleston and Parkersburg and alumni events in other places and what I saw was there's such a network of alumni who care about the university and care about the kids who graduate from the university," Roberts said. "That's something I explained every time. I wanted the parents to know their kids were going to be graduating into a family and that family would try to take care of them."
Once Roberts planted that seed, he poured it on with football promises. He told his recruits WVU's membership in the Big East would get them on television and through the years they'd play games near home against TCU or Maryland. And Roberts vowed the Mountaineers were going to compete for national championships.
By the end of his pitch, Roberts had them ready to believe it, but only because he'd become convinced first.
"What I found is WVU is not a hard product to sell," he said. "From all the visits with all the coaches and players, I saw there is a lot of excitement across the country and a lot of excitement for what's going to happen the next four or five years and what West Virginia will look like. A lot of people want to be a part of what we're putting together in Morgantown."
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Post by elp525 on Jul 14, 2011 22:09:37 GMT -5
Thursday July 14, 2011 by The Associated Press
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- A West Virginia University linebacker cut from the team after an armed robbery arrest earlier this week is back behind bars, charged with a second, similar crime.
Branko Busick was in the Northern Central Regional Jail on a $250,000 bond Thursday.
Mountaineers head coach Dana Holgorsen dismissed the 20-year-old redshirt sophomore from Steubenville, Ohio, on Tuesday, less than 24 hours after he was charged with an armed robbery at a Morgantown apartment building.
Busick was arrested in another, unrelated armed robbery on Wednesday, said Morgantown Police Sgt. Robert Gilmore.
The victim in the second case told police he was hit in the face and knocked down as he walked home from work June 23. This week, he identified Busick as the man who stole his iPhone and a wallet containing about $70.
Gilmore said that victim was treated for his injuries at Ruby Memorial Hospital.
Busick was first arrested Monday after another victim told police a man had pointed a gun at him and two others, demanding money. When the victim said he had none, the man began hitting him with the weapon.
Busick, who turns 21 on Friday, was initially freed after his father posted a $25,000 property bond. Nick Busick is the former WWF wrestler Big Bully Busick.
Gilmore said the first arrest led to information that helped police charge Busick with the second robbery, but he wouldn't elaborate.
Busick could get up to 10 years in prison on each count if convicted.
Busick, who played in only two games last season, was an Associated Press Ohio Division IV Defensive Co-Player of the Year and AP Division IV-VI first-team All-Ohio.
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Post by elp525 on Jul 14, 2011 22:07:05 GMT -5
July 13, 2011
West Virginia redshirt junior center Joe Madsen was named to the Rimington Trophy fall watch list on Wednesday.
The award is presented annually to the most outstanding center in Division I-A football.
The winner will be announced at the Rimington Trophy presentation banquet on Jan. 14 in Lincoln, Neb.
Madsen, 6-foot-4, 300 pounds, was one 43 players named to the list.
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Post by elp525 on Jul 14, 2011 22:06:03 GMT -5
July 13, 2011
EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a series of previews on West Virginia football opponents.
Date with West Virginia: Saturday, Nov. 5, TBA
Site: Mountaineer Field (60,000, FieldTurf), Morgantown
Coach: Charlie Strong (2nd season, 7-7)
Checking them out
After the Cardinals fell from 12-1 in 2006 to 4-8 in 2009 under Steve Kragthorpe, Charlie Strong was summoned from Florida to reverse the trend. So far, so good after a 7-6 campaign and a bowl win over Southern Mississippi. Perhaps the big problem: The Cards must replace a lot of starters on an offense that gained just 171 total yards against WVU.
A true freshman, Teddy Bridgewater, came in for spring practice and could overtake junior Will Stein at an inexperienced quarterback spot. Behind them, running back Victor Anderson was second-team All-Big East as a redshirt freshman way back in 2008. Josh Bellamy (29 receptions, 409 yards, five TDs) is the top threat at receiver.
The front has a former freshman All-American in center Mario Benavides and a star tight end in Josh Chichester, but has zero career starts otherwise.
The defense was the most effective in several years, and seven starters return. One big question is how 6-foot-4, 280-pound defensive end Greg Scruggs will recover from groin surgery that kept him out of spring. With Scruggs and linebackers Daniel Brown and Dexter Heyman, the Cards went from 18 sacks in 2009 to 39 last year. The safety tandem of Hakeem Smith and Shenard Holton combined for 162 tackles, seven for loss.
All-conference candidates
Offense: TE Josh Chichester, C Mario Benavides, RB Vic Anderson, WR Josh Bellamy
Defense: DE Greg Scruggs, S Hakeem Smith, LB Daniel Brown
Special teams: KR Jeremy Wright, K/P Chris Philpott
Notes
The Cardinals were penalized three initial scholarships for falling behind Academic Progress Rate guidelines. In anticipation, coach Strong's staff signed 21 players . . . Strong also coached Florida in its 2004 bowl game, a 27-10 loss to Miami in the Peach Bowl. He was defensive coordinator under both Ron Zook and Urban Meyer . . . Kragthorpe landed on his feet, becoming offensive coordinator at LSU. He kick-started Tulsa's program before coming to Louisville, winning the 2005 Conference USA title . . . The Cards averaged 50,648 fans per home game, a major bump from 32,450 in 2009.
2011 schedule
Date Opponent 2010
Sept. 1 (Th) Murray State DNP
Sept. 10 Florida International DNP
Sept. 17 at Kentucky L, 16-23
Oct. 1 Marshall DNP
Oct. 8 at North Carolina DNP
Oct. 15 at Cincinnati* L, 27-35
Oct. 21 (Fri) Rutgers W, 40-13
Oct. 29 Syracuse W, 28-20
Nov. 5 at West Virginia* L, 10-17
Nov. 12 Pittsburgh* L, 3-20
Nov. 19 at Connecticut* W, 26-0
Nov. 25 (Fri) at So. Florida* L, 21-24 (OT)
*Big East Conference games
2010 record: 7-6, 3-4 Big East (won 31-28 over Southern Mississippi in St. Petersburg Bowl)
Dropped: Eastern Kentucky (W, 23-13), Oregon State (L, 28-35), Arkansas State (W, 34-24), Memphis (W, 56-0).
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Post by elp525 on Jul 14, 2011 22:02:09 GMT -5
July 13, 2011
Busick’s dismissal a blow to linebacking corps’ depth
By Mitch Vingle The Charleston Gazette
MORGANTOWN - As West Virginia football insiders feared, former offensive line starter and Parkersburg native Josh Jenkins will miss the upcoming season.
It was announced on Wednesday that Jenkins underwent surgery on Tuesday.
"After waiting and rehabbing Jenkins' left knee injury from the spring game, April 29, it became apparent that the patellar stability - kneecap - was not enough to play football at his level of ability effectively," read a WVU release attributed to trainer Dave Kerns.
"The MCL - medial collateral ligament - injury healed nicely, but there still remained concern. Therefore, Jenkins underwent successful surgery, Tuesday, July 5, by Dr. Bal at Ruby Hospital, to tighten the medial patellar retinaculum to help better track the patella for its normal function. Jenkins remains in a leg brace for six weeks, then will regain strength and slowly regain any residual lost motion due to the immobilization period.
"At the appropriate time, he will begin the back-to-run/play-progression, which all totaled will be six months from surgery until fully healed and strong enough to play football. He should be fully participatory for winter training and then spring football. He is entitled to medical hardship the 2011 season and return for senior year 2012."
nn
Linebackers were the talk of a media gathering with West Virginia football players on Wednesday.
A specific hot topic was how the loss of redshirt sophomore Branko Busick will affect a Mountaineer defense already suffering from graduation losses.
On Tuesday, WVU coach Dana Holgorsen dismissed Busick for a violation of team rules. The player was charged with armed robbery by Morgantown police after an incident at an apartment building.
Busick wasn't listed as a starter on the most recent WVU depth chart, but he was expected to be a key contributor at middle linebacker. Busick was listed No. 2 at the position behind Najee Goode. A couple of his former teammates said Wednesday the loss of Busick's services will definitely hurt.
"Busick had a fire, you know what I'm saying?" said weak-side linebacker Josh Francis. "Branko is a great person who got into some things that were unfortunate.
"Him leaving is going to hurt us at times at the Mike spot. But we do have a lot of freshmen that can step up and we have a lot of freshmen that want to learn. These freshmen coming in want to learn."
"I love Branko to death," added strong-side linebacker Doug Rigg. "He was real cool with us in the locker room. It's a real sad blow. Plus, it does destroy our depth because we don't have that many people that have experience. He's a guy who was around for going on three years. Losing Branko is a loss, but we'll have to move on and see who can fill in the spot."
Rigg expanded on the subject.
"We have other middle linebackers, like Jewone [Snow] and that new kid Steve [Paskorz] that came from Notre Dame," he said. "But Steve is completely new to this defense. He's going to have to pick it up in one summer, basically - which is very tough. And Jewone didn't play last year either. He was a redshirt [freshman] so he doesn't have that much experience."
Rigg might be able to help out in a pinch at Mike with Donovan Miles and Tyler Anderson behind him at Will.
"If [defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel] needs me to play middle linebacker, I can play," Rigg said. "But I think I'm better outside. He thinks I can play inside, so we'll see."
The differences?
"Inside is much harder when you play the run," Rigg said. "You have the big guys in there and you have to see over them. Outside, you have a better view. Against the pass, inside is easier. You basically have a run and pass difference
nn
There's been a buzz about Francis since spring drills. Most of the buzz is because of his speed at the weak-side position. The problem is, the junior college transfer has had trouble picking up Casteel's odd stack defense.
"In the spring, you get put right into the situation," Francis said. "You have to learn the defense. And there are high expectations because I'm a junior. But this defense, this 3-3-5, is so complex.
"The linebackers are the core of the defense. Everything is run off us. So when you come in, it can be pretty frustrating. But now, in the summer time, it's a lot easier for me. It's coming faster to me."
"He's grown tremendously," Rigg said of Francis. "He has the raw tools to be a great player. He's very fast. He's athletic. He has things you can't teach. Even Coach Casteel said, 'I can't teach that.' He just has it. When he picks up everything, it's going to be really scary what he can do with this defense.
"Athletically, I've never seen a linebacker like him. It's great to have him on our defense."
Rigg smiled.
"I kind of wish I had his freakish natural ability."
Francis has not only had to learn WVU's defense, but adapt to the rigors of summer workouts in Morgantown rather than those of a junior college.
"It's a lot different," Francis said. "Everything is at a faster pace. As far as lifting goes, it's every day. It was every other day at junior college."
The player said he's received a ton of help.
"I feel a lot more confident," Francis said. "My first step, my run reads ... I have safeties behind me, encouraging to keep watching film. They let me know where to go. Terence [Garvin] does a good job with that. [Linebacker] Najee [Goode] helps me out a lot; so does [cornerback] Keith Tandy."
Francis said the help will pay off.
"Spring ball was like the primer on a car," he said. "I feel like coming out of summer, when Coach Casteel gets back, he'll provide the finishing coat, smooth everything out. I should hit everything running from there."
nn
WVU has a fine tradition at linebacker, but this season at least two of the three spots will be filled with first-time starters.
Rigg isn't concerned.
"Coach Casteel is a great coach," he said. "Even though we have little experience, we can get it done. We have the size; we have the talent. It makes it easier that we have a great defensive line with Bruce [Irvin] and them. We're just trying to do our part and be effective."
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Post by elp525 on Jul 14, 2011 21:59:11 GMT -5
July 14, 2011 By Mitch Vingle The Charleston Gazette
MORGANTOWN - For what normally are the dog days of summer, there's a lot of dog-eat-dog competition going on in Touchdown City.
For instance, the Triple S Harley Davidson Jam Fest basketball tournament is going on there through Saturday. It features 228 teams and some of the nation's best talent on squads like the New York Gauchos, Philly's Finest and Team 94 from California.
On the football side, WVU summer workouts are going on and, although real competition won't resume until preseason camp, position battles are certainly heating up.
One of the most interesting battles is at the 'A' or tailback position. Currently, true freshman Vernard Roberts is listed No. 1 at the spot. Other true freshmen like Dustin Garrison and Andrew Buie are expected to add to the battle in the coming days.
Sophomore Trey Johnson, though, is also in the mix, currently No. 2 on the depth chart. And he has a healthy take on the competition.
"To me, it's not really a competition," he said. "It's just getting close to a lot of brothers. In the past, we didn't really have any backup running backs. We didn't have second-string, third-string ... I feel like this year we're going to have multiple backs in the backs in the backfield. We'll have a power back, a scat back ... we'll have a big family in the backfield."
Also, some within that "family" are big, like 'B' or fullback position candidates Matt Lindamood, Ricky Kovatch and Ryan Clarke, listed on the depth chart in that order. More competition.
Anyway, one would think a player like Johnson would have trouble as a niche player after being The Man in high school. But that doesn't seem to be the case.
"In high school, I was the guy, so when I came on at West Virginia, I wanted to be the guy," Johnson said. "Noel [Devine] was here, but ... then not being the guy last year kind of put me in a role. I was sharing. I'm sharing with my brothers now. I'm part of a family."
At the weak-side linebacker spot, speedy junior college transfer Josh Francis and intelligent Casey Vance are both listed No. 1 on the depth chart. Most within the Mountaineer circle expect Francis to grab the starting spot, but no other position has two listed at No. 1.
Francis, like Johnson, also has a healthy attitude about the healthy competition.
"Casey is a great person, athlete, role model," Francis said. "Even though he's my competition, he's a good friend of mine, too. If I go out and Casey goes in, that's cool. If Casey comes out and I go in, that's cool, too. But I'm definitely looking forward to competing this fall."
Francis broke down the players' games.
"I'm a lot more agile, faster and quicker with my first step than Casey," said the junior linebacker. "But he's very smart, a very smart player. We kind of balance each other out, and that's a great thing. He'll always be in the right place."
Meanwhile, at the strong-side linebacker position, Doug Rigg seems to be the clear leader over Tyler Anderson and Donovan Miles. But Rigg isn't taking that for granted.
"Right now it's me, Donovan and ... I can't even say because we have a lot rotating in," Rigg said of the Sam position. "The competition is really neck-and-neck this year. I hope I can just step up, play hard and have the spot."
He is, however, confident.
"I think I'm there because I've seen a lot of things," Rigg said. "I've traveled to every game. I saw how big the guys are. I've been yelled at. I know what really goes into being a linebacker that can play. I've got snaps. So I'm confident I can keep this spot if I work hard."
nn
More bad news surfaced in regard to ex-WVU linebacker Branko Busick, who was dismissed from the team on Tuesday following a Monday-evening arrest on a first-degree robbery charge.
Busick was arrested again Wednesday night for his alleged role in an unrelated June robbery. A police report said Ryan Sellers was walking home from work June 23 when he was hit in the face and knocked down by a man identified as Busick. Bond was set at $250,000.
How far will this story go?
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And finally ...
I mentioned the Jam Fest currently going on in Morgantown. On Thursday, I ventured to a steamy Morgantown High gym to check out some of the action.
It was neat because in two games I was able to watch five mid-major prospects in 6-foot-7 Jameel Warny of the New Jersey Hot Shots, 6-9 Mike Zangari and 6-7 Devin Thomas of the Mid-Penn Motion, and 6-5 Jonte Rutty and point guard Kendrick Ray of the Burke Catholic (N.Y.) Eagles club. College coaches were lined up along the entrance of the gym and all along the far sideline to observe.
Unfortunately, though, for WVU basketball coach Bob Huggins - and the players in town to participate - teams aren't playing at the Coliseum or the beautiful rec center on the school's campus. The reason is a new NCAA rule that prohibits AAU tournaments from being played on the campuses of Division I schools. So two of the top venues are ... Morgantown and University high schools.
It's a silly rule because the players can still stay at the Towers, one of WVU's dorms, tour the campus and check out the Coliseum and rec center - yet they can't play at the premier venues. I understand the NCAA is trying to keep recruiting opportunities level, but ...
Oh, and in case you're wondering, some of the players the Mountaineers are checking out in the event are 7-foot Blaise Mbargorba and 6-8 forward Tyler Roberson of the New Jersey Roadrunners, and 6-8 forward Devin Williams from Cincinnati and 6-7 forward Amile Jefferson from the Philly team.
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Post by elp525 on Jul 13, 2011 7:23:55 GMT -5
07/13/2011 MetroNews Sports Morgantown
Quincy Wilson and Grant Wiley finished off the first annual WV Legends Classic with Tuesday night’s Chris Henry Charity Basketball Game.
Former West Virginia football stars packed the Morgantown High School gymnasium to raise money and commemorate former teammate and Mountaineer standout Chris Henry. Henry’s mother, Carolyn Henry-Glaspy was in attendance as well as singer Olivia Dawnetta, who performed at halftime in Henry’s memory.
“I’ve been many places since Chris passed,” said Henry-Glaspy, “I’ve met so many new people, and coming here is just another beginning. It is so wonderful.”
Joining in the event were Mountaineer greats such as Rasheed Marshall, Selvish Capers, Anthony Leonard, and Pat McAfee, who served as an announcer for the event. Also in attendance was Owen Schmitt, who helped out at the football camp Tuesday morning.
“It’s awesome,” said Schmitt. “This is a great cause. It’s cool to maybe look at it more like a celebration of Chris’s life and his accomplishments. The support we got this year, it’s a big deal.”
The game consisted of four ten-minute quarters with a running clock. It remained evenly matched until the final three minutes, with the blue team finishing atop the gold team by a score of 75-67. Mountaineer great Major Harris came to the free throw line to knock down two free throws, sealing the deal late for the blue Legends team.
The Blue team’s scoring was carried mainly by Angel Estrada, 32 points, and Wes Lyons, 24 points. Captain Grant Wiley added 4 points and 8 assists.
Wilson’s gold team remained within 6 until late in the game. Rasheed Marshall led the team in scoring with 14 points, with much help coming from Mortty Ivy and Selvish Capers.
The game displayed the great athleticism that the Mountaineer legends have maintained. Though Da’Sean Butler and Mike Gansey were clearly not on the court, the display the former football greats put on for their audience was entertaining.
Quincy Wilson concluded the event, thanking the audience for their participation in the charity event and promising more WV Legends Classics to come in the future.
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Post by elp525 on Jul 13, 2011 7:21:27 GMT -5
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
By Michael Sanserino Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
West Virginia sophomore linebacker Branko Busick was kicked off the team Tuesday, one day after he was arrested at a Morgantown apartment complex and charged with armed robbery.
"West Virginia University football coach Dana Holgorsen has announced that redshirt sophomore Branko Busick has been dismissed from the Mountaineer football program for violation of team rules," the university announced in a statement Tuesday afternoon. "No further comment will be made."
Busick, 20, of Steubenville, Ohio, was arraigned Tuesday in a video conference at the North Central Regional Jail. He was freed on $25,000 bond posted later Tuesday. His father, Nick Busick, the former WWF wrestler Big Bully Busick, posted a property bond.
Branko Busick has a preliminary hearing set for Aug. 1.
Police were dispatched to the apartment complex Monday night after a man called police and said a man pointed a gun at him and two others, demanding money.
When the man said he had none, the alleged assailant began hitting him with the weapon.
The man says he was struck repeatedly before being forced out of the apartment and into the street.
Police found four people in the apartment but arrested only Busick.
Busick played in two games last season before an injury sidelined him. He was expected to compete for a starting spot this fall.
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