Former WVU star, ‘consummate pro’ Wendell Smallwood an add to Steelers’ RB room
Five years ago, he was in a starring role a couple hours from Pittsburgh down I-79. In 2017, he contributed to a Super Bowl-winning team based a few hours east on I-76. After spending last year about four hours southeast on I-70, Wendell Smallwood is plying his trade in Pittsburgh....
West Virginia releases updated 2020 football schedule
On the heels of the Big 12 board of directors’ announcement to proceed with the fall sports seasons, West Virginia on Wednesday morning announced its updated 2020 football schedule. “When the Big 12 announced a revised 10-game season, we knew that the schedule would change and there would be some...
Big 12 Conference moving forward with plans for fall sports
Although the Big Ten and Pac-12 shut down fall sports, the Big 12 Board of Directors decided to join the ACC and SEC among Power 5 conferences with plans to proceed with the fall sports seasons. That means football at West Virginia, for now. The first of nine conference football...
WVU’s Neal Brown sees ‘demeanor’ change as Mountaineers open football drills
Neil Brown was in a familiar place Monday. Surrounded by his team, beard stubble around his chin. (Who has time to shave?) Instructing groups of (socially distanced) players. It was the first day of football practice at West Virginia. For now, all was right in his world. “You see guys,...
Big 12 football teams can play 1 nonconference gameVideo
Big 12 schools agreed Monday night to play one nonconference football game this season to go along with their nine league contests as plans for the pandemic-altered season continued to fall into place. The Big 12’s university presidents signed off on a 10-game schedule, adjusted to deal with potential disruptions...
First Call: Notre Dame-ACC football deal not as bad as some conference fans believe
For Friday’s “First Call,” we take a closer look at ACC football’s sudden addition of Notre Dame this year. And we try to dispel some of the knee-jerk, negative reaction to it. Although it’s totally understandable. I mean, c’mon. It’s Notre Dame. Ugh. On Wednesday, a torrent of anti-Notre Dame...
WVU’s Neal Brown will replace defensive coordinator Vic Koenning with a committee
In the wake of former defensive coordinator Vic Koenning’s departure from the staff, West Virginia coach Neal Brown will split duties on that side of the ball among five assistants. Brown said the ongoing pandemic also played a part in his decision not to name a specific replacement for Koenning....
Pitt, Penn State, WVU players recognized for community service
The Wuerffel Trophy is known as “College Football’s Premier Award for Community Service.” Apparently, several area players have made their mark on their communities. Players from Pitt, Penn State and West Virginia were named to the Wuerffel Award watch list Thursday. Pitt senior defensive end Patrick Jones II, and Penn...
WVU, defensive coordinator Vic Koenning ‘agree to separate’
West Virginia University and defensive coordinator Vic Koenning cut ties Wednesday after an investigation into allegations he mistreated players and made inappropriate comments in their presence. Sophomore safety Kerry Martin Jr. initially made the charges last month on Twitter. Here's what Kerry Martin posted today. AD Shane Lyons thanked him...
8 players from Penn State, Pitt, WVU named to Nagurski, Outland watch lists
Eight players from Pitt, Penn State and West Virginia were named Tuesday to watch lists for the Nagurski Trophy and Outland Trophy, which are given to college football’s best defender and interior lineman. In addition, Pitt, PSU and WVU are three of 15 schools with multiple players on the watch...
West Virginia’s Darius Stills selected Big 12 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
West Virginia senior defensive lineman Darius Stills has garnered a great deal of preseason attention. Just a few days after being named to the watch list for the Bednarik Award, which each year honors the top defensive player in college football, Stills was selected by the media the Big 12...
Eight percent of 518 covid tests come back positive at WVU
The West Virginia University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics administered 518 covid-19 tests since June, with 41 (almost 8%) coming back positive, school officials said Saturday in a news release. The breakdown per sport shows 28 positive tests in football, five in men’s basketball, six in women’s basketball, one in women’s...
3 Pitt players named to Bednarik watch list
Only three Division I college football programs have three players on the 2020 Bednarik Award Watch List released Monday. Pitt is one of them, joining defending national champion LSU and USC. Selected to the list from the Panthers are safety Paris Ford, defensive end Patrick Jones II and defensive tackle...
First Call: How the Big Ten’s decision may impact Pitt, Notre Dame, West Virginia and others
Sometimes this job requires you to act like you have all the answers. All the time. Immediately. Even if you don’t. Saying “I don’t know” feels like a cop-out. But when it comes to asking what the football ripple effects will be from Thursday’s decision by the Big Ten to...
WVU delays start of women’s basketball workouts after 6 positive coronavirus tests
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia women’s basketball program has pushed back the start of its summer workouts by two weeks after six players tested positive for the coronavirus, the school said Thursday. The players who tested positive will enter a 14-day quarantine period along with others who were identified...
5 West Virginia men’s basketball players test positive for covid-19
West Virginia postponed the start of the men’s basketball team’s offseason workouts for two weeks after five players and a staff member tested positive for covid-19. The Mountaineers were scheduled to begin workouts Monday. Those who tested negative can start workouts July 20. The players and staff member who tested...
WVU men’s basketball player tests positive for covid-19
A member of the West Virginia men’s basketball team has tested positive for covid-19 and will be quarantined for 14 days, the West Virginia University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced. The player was not unidentified. Voluntary workouts for the team’s student-athletes who have tested negative for the virus will begin...
Suspended WVU assistant football coach Koenning apologizes for commentsVideo
Suspended West Virginia defensive coordinator Vic Koenning apologized Wednesday after a player alleged he made a series of insensitive remarks, including against Hispanics. Koenning was placed on administrative leave Tuesday after safety Kerry Martin posted the allegations on his Twitter account about Koenning. “I never intended anything I said or...
WVU football coach Neal Brown faces tough times head-on
These are complicated times for West Virginia coach Neal Brown, but he appears unafraid to confront them. First, two of his players — both asymptomatic — tested positive for the coronavirus, but neither had an opportunity to participate in the voluntary workouts that began earlier this month. Also, people who...
WVU puts defensive coordinator Vic Koenning on leave over claims of inappropriate comments
West Virginia defensive coordinator Vic Koenning was placed on administrative leave Tuesday after sophomore safety Kerry Martin Jr. alleged he mistreated players and made inappropriate comments in their presence. I’ve been contemplating about posting but we need a change in our program. pic.twitter.com/40hZYXjxib— Kerry “KJ” Martin Jr.? (@KMartinJr11) June 23,...
2nd WVU football player tests positive for covid-19
A second West Virginia football player has tested positive for the covid-19 and will enter self-isolation for the next 14 days, the university’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced Saturday. The player was not identified. As part of WVU’s health and safety protocol, contact tracing began and identified additional WVU players...
Pitt, West Virginia ink deal to extend basketball ‘Backyard Brawl’ for 2 more seasons
West Virginia coach and alumnus Bob Huggins called Pitt “our biggest rival.” Pitt coach Jeff Capel said Panthers-Mountaineers is “one of the best (rivalries) in the country.” When hired as WVU athletic director, Shane Lyons reiterated a primary objective was to get Pitt and West Virginia playing again. Soon, despite...
Penn State, West Virginia scheduled to play in December hoops event in Brooklyn
Penn State and West Virginia are among the teams scheduled to play as part of a quadrupleheader basketball event Dec. 13 in Brooklyn. The Nittany Lions are to face Florida, and the Mountaineers are to play Purdue as part of the second annual Basketball Hall of Fame Invitational at Barclays...
Craig Heyward, Steve Wisniewski among those on 2021 College Football Hall of Fame ballot
Craig Heyward, Steve Wisniewski and Matt Cavanaugh are among those with local ties who were listed on the ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2021 that was announced Tuesday. Heyward was a 1987 consensus All-American after leading the nation in rushing yards for Pitt. The late...
West Virginia football player tests positive for covid-19
A West Virginia University football player has tested positive for covid-19. On Monday, the WVU athletic department announced a Mountaineer football player contracted the virus that has kept many athletic teams separated for the past three months. The player will enter a self-isolation period for the next 14 days. Voluntary...
