West Virginia defeats Ben DiNucci-led James Madison in opener
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Austin Kendall threw two second-half touchdown passes in his debut at West Virginia, and the Mountaineers overcame some struggles to hold off James Madison, 20-13, on Saturday. Kendall couldn’t generate a ton of offense under constant pressure, but the Oklahoma graduate transfer did just enough to give...
New-look West Virginia set for opener vs. FCS power James Madison
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Austin Kendall didn’t presume the vacant starting quarterback job was his upon arriving at West Virginia. “I always knew there was competition,” Kendall said. “You have to work for it.” Kendall was a career backup to Heisman Trophy winners Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray at Oklahoma. Finally,...
Freeport graduate Logan Thimons ready for increased role at WVU
When new West Virginia football coach Neal Brown and his staff came to Morgantown from Troy in January, Logan Thimons was quick to do his research. The Freeport graduate and Mountaineers redshirt junior fullback wanted to know how he would fit into the new offense and how fullbacks were used...
WVU coach Neal Brown humbled by visit to coal mine
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — One of Neal Brown’s priorities during his first fall camp at West Virginia was to learn more about the Mountaineers’ fanbase, so the coach took his team to a working coal mine. Brown took three busloads of players and coaches earlier this month to Arch Coal’s Leer...
New coach Neal Brown’s task is to keep West Virginia rollingVideo
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — New coach Neal Brown has a tall task as he tries to prevent West Virginia’s perennially prolific offense from turning pathetic. Brown was hired from Troy in January to take over for the departed Dana Holgorsen and inherited a roster lacking proven stars. Gone is record-setting quarterback...
Arkansas basketball transfer Gabe Osabuohien to play at WVU
West Virginia announced Wednesday that Arkansas transfer Gabe Osabuohien has joined the men’s basketball team. The 6-foot-7, 230-pound forward attended Arkansas the last two seasons, where he played in 54 games. He has two years of eligibility remaining. WVU Associate Athletics Director/Communications Bryan Messerly said in an email that “we...
WVU names Oklahoma grad transfer Austin Kendall as starting QB
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Oklahoma graduate transfer Austin Kendall was named West Virginia’s starting quarterback for the Aug. 31 season opener against FCS James Madison. West Virginia coach Neal Brown on Tuesday announced the choice of Kendall, who beat out three others. At Oklahoma, Kendall backed up Baker Mayfield in 2016...
Oklahoma, Texas still tops in new-look big 12
Red River rivals Oklahoma and Texas met twice last season for the first time in 115 years, when the Sooners won their fourth consecutive Big 12 championship by avenging their only regular-season loss. Oklahoma has another transfer quarterback — former national championship winner Jalen Hurts — after their transfer QBs...
First-year WVU coach, surging Texas big parts of new-look Big 12
ARLINGTON, Texas — Tom Herman knows Texas is probably a bit ahead of schedule after 10 wins in his second season that included making the Big 12 championship game and a Sugar Bowl victory. That doesn’t necessarily mean the Longhorns are back just yet. “We weren’t here to just have...
Wanna bet? It’s the season for college football over/unders
Nothing says the end of summer — even if it’s just begun — more than college football over/unders. We’re not halfway through July and baseball’s regular season still has 11 more weeks to run, but football is approaching. The Pittsburgh Steelers report to camp July 25, Pitt a week later....
West Virginia picked 8th in Big 12 preseason football poll; Oklahoma favorite
IRVING, Texas — Oklahoma is the favorite to win another Big 12 football title, according to the conference’s preseason media poll released Wednesday. West Virginia, under new coach Neal Brown, was picked eighth, ahead of only Kansas State and Kansas. The Sooners have won the league the last four years...
WVU’s Marcus Simms not selected in NFL supplemental draft
Former West Virginia wide receiver Marcus Simms was considered one of the few prospects available to NFL teams in the supplemental draft that was held Tuesday afternoon. After the draft concluded, Simms remains a free agent. Washington State defensive back Jalen Thompson was the only player chosen Tuesday, going to...
WVU lands transfer QB Jarret Doege from Bowling Green
Bowling Green quarterback Jarret Doege transferred to West Virginia on Wednesday. Mountaineers coach Neal Brown announced Doege has enrolled in classes. Doege must sit out the 2019 season and will be eligible to play two more seasons. Doege started all 12 games for the Falcons as a sophomore in 2018....
West Virginia’s All-Big 12 safety Robinson etners NCAA transfer portal
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — All-Big 12 safety Kenny Robinson is looking to transfer from West Virginia less than three months before the start of the season. West Virginia football spokesman Mike Montoro confirmed Tuesday that Robinson has put his name into the NCAA’s transfer database. Robinson started 20 games in two...
WVU pitcher Alek Manoah picked No. 11 overall by Blue Jays
Right-handed pitcher Alek Manoah, the fourth West Virginia player to earn All-America honors and first named first team since 2010, was drafted in the first round of the MLB Draft on Monday night, going to the Toronto Blue Jays with the 11th overall choice. He stands 6-foot-6, 260 pounds, but...
West Virginia selected to host NCAA baseball regional for 1st time
OMAHA, Neb. — LSU will host a regional in the NCAA baseball tournament for the 26th time, and West Virginia was selected as a first-time host Sunday. The 16 teams announced as hosts have locked up spots in the national tournament, and the rest of the 64-team field will be...
West Virginia’s Randy Mazey beating drum for summertime baseball
To Randy Mazey, it only makes sense: Baseball was meant to played in the summertime. Or, at least, college baseball, which is the sport that matters most to West Virginia’s coach. Four years ago, Mazey was advocating moving the college season from its late winter/spring season to later spring/summer. Baseball...
West Virginia’s victory at PNC Park suggests Mountaineers well-armed for Big 12 Tournament
Randy Mazey doesn’t have trouble remembering what was said about his program when West Virginia joined the Big 12 from the Big East seven years ago. The words come back to him all too easily. “The common theme was, `Football’s going to be fine. Basketball’s going to be fine. Poor...
Pitt coach Mike Bell finds hope in 9-4 loss to West Virginia at PNC ParkVideo
Pitt’s game with West Virginia on Tuesday night had been all but officially decided by the eighth inning when catcher Cole MacLaren came to the plate. The Panthers were on their way to a 9-4 loss to the Mountaineers in the baseball version of the Backyard Brawl, but the significance...
Back from ‘dark place,’ WVU product Will Grier lives out dream
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Will Grier’s first practice Friday morning as a Carolina Panther was rainy and unremarkable. What was remarkable, however, is that Grier was there at all. It wasn’t that many years ago that Grier was sitting alongside his dad and his other relatives in Section 229 at Bank...
Ex-West Virginia QB Will Grier’s education begins with Panthers
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Rookie quarterback Will Grier got in his first work with the Carolina Panthers this weekend, and Cam Newton continued to be limited — even on the kickball field. Grier, the team’s rookie third-round draft pick out of West Virginia, threw for the first time with his new...
Summer bonding: Pitt, Duquesne, WVU basketball plan overseas trips
College basketball season will start early for Pitt, Duquesne and West Virginia. The three teams will take advantage of an NCAA rule that permits teams to travel outside the U.S. where they can hold 10 practices and play exhibition games against international opponents. Comprehensive 2019 Foreign Tour List. There will...
Penn State, West Virginia, Pitt teams recognized for academic progress
A total of 11 teams at Penn State, Pitt and West Virginia earned NCAA Public Recognition Awards for outstanding academic progress based on scores from the 2014-15 through 2017-18 school years. The awards are presented annually to teams finishing among the top 10 percent of their respective sport. Among the...
West Virginia WR Marcus Simms expected to transfer
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia wide receiver Marcus Simms is looking to transfer. The school confirmed Monday that Simms has put his name into the NCAA’s transfer portal. Rather than play for new coach Neal Brown after Dana Holgorsen left for Houston, Simms wrote Sunday on Twitter, “On to another...
WVU players go back to back again
West Virginia players went back to back for the second consecutive round Saturday when the Seattle Seahawks took wide receiver Gary Jennings, and the New York Jets selected tight end Trevon Wesco in the fourth round (picks 120 and 121). Jennings, 6-foot-1, 214, enjoyed an outstanding junior season, rising to...