Hot Reads: Rocky Thoughts - A Well Done Article on the Vols from WVU

#26
#26
WVMULE said:
I hope you lose too.

WVU has nothing but mad respect for Tennessee. I hope that's mutual.
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Honestly, I wish you guys were in the SEC. I know the market doesn’t add a lot but the fan base and program seem to be a good fit.
 
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#27
#27
VFL-82-JP said:
Wow, that writer -- Jed Drenning -- really does his homework.

He understands, and explains, where our program is today far better even than any of the local beat reporters in Knoxville.

That was an excellent read.

Thank you, WVMule.

WGWYFA. :)
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I quoted you because I couldn't say it any better.
 
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#28
#28
WVMULE said:
I had a discussion with Brett McMurphy (Name dropping!!!!) about WVU once. I said that there isn't a program in the country more important to its state and people than WVU. He agreed.

But its more than that... there are Mountaineer fans all over the south who are not native West Virginians. They were taught their love of the Mountaineers by the parents and grandparents.

That's why a program in a small state like WV with only 1.8 million in population (four deer for every person in WV) manages to be 3rd in the Big 12 in revenue, always in IMG's top 15 in merchandise sales, averages at least 1 million viewers for every national TV appearance and is one of the few self-supporting programs always in the black.

Its all we have. Its what binds us together. WVU football is the light at the end of the long dark tunnel for most in this state.
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This entire post, and this bolded quote, is exactly why I cannot take you seriously. I'm almost positive Brett McMurphy (if you ever actually met him) was doing nothing more than placating you by agreeing with this asinine claim. Just about every single fanbase across the country likes to assert that football in their state means more than any other program or state in the country.

You come on a Tennessee forum, post some breakdowns of the upcoming matchup, and act as if your opinion is fact and the rest of us are a bunch of redneck yahoos who should be grateful for your knowledge. West Virginia football has a decent history but nowhere near what you claim it to be. And if you seriously don't think football means just as much to fan bases like Tennessee, Alabama, Notre Dame, Georgia, etc. as it does to West Virginia then I think it is time to take off the Blue and Gold blinders and face the music.
 
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#29
#29
#30
#30
WVMULE said:
I miss the days when opposing teams feared for their lives when coming into Morgantown. But that reputation also kept us out of the ACC.

We are all cautiously optimistic we have one of the best CFB teams in the country for 2018 but we are far too smart not to understand that any advantage we may have is razor thin.

Tennessee has the resources and will and be an elite program year in and year out. WVU is your cousin who does't have as much money as you but is just as passionate and learned to do more with less.

We accept that WVU can't compete for a Big 12 title or a playoff spot every year. We hope that every four years or so we are lucky enough to have all the ingredients necessary to make a run.

In my opinion, hopefully an educated opinion, this really is the best team WVU has ever had. It's not as deep as 1988 or 2007... but it has more talent, it's bigger, stronger, faster and more experienced than any Mountaineer team previously.

That doesn't always translate into wins. We know that better than most... (see 13-9).

WVU has depth problems on defense at LB and CB. No question...

Grier has proven he has a magic cannon for an arm, but he hasn't demonstrated patience in taking what the defense is giving.

The RBs (except Leddie Brown) don't seem to understand the concept of surfing for the hole or hitting the gap hard with pads low on a power play.

This can be a special season for WVU - if nobody gets hurt.
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I thought that WVA was a basketball mecca not football...sort of like Kentucky...you know Jerry West and Rod Thorn...
 
#33
#33
WVMULE said:
I miss the days when opposing teams feared for their lives when coming into Morgantown. But that reputation also kept us out of the ACC.

We are all cautiously optimistic we have one of the best CFB teams in the country for 2018 but we are far too smart not to understand that any advantage we may have is razor thin.

Tennessee has the resources and will and be an elite program year in and year out. WVU is your cousin who does't have as much money as you but is just as passionate and learned to do more with less.

We accept that WVU can't compete for a Big 12 title or a playoff spot every year. We hope that every four years or so we are lucky enough to have all the ingredients necessary to make a run.

In my opinion, hopefully an educated opinion, this really is the best team WVU has ever had. It's not as deep as 1988 or 2007... but it has more talent, it's bigger, stronger, faster and more experienced than any Mountaineer team previously.

That doesn't always translate into wins. We know that better than most... (see 13-9).

WVU has depth problems on defense at LB and CB. No question...

Grier has proven he has a magic cannon for an arm, but he hasn't demonstrated patience in taking what the defense is giving.

The RBs (except Leddie Brown) don't seem to understand the concept of surfing for the hole or hitting the gap hard with pads low on a power play.

This can be a special season for WVU - if nobody gets hurt.
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Feared for their lives????? I’ve been watching college ball for a long time and I don’t recall Morgantown being compared to Neyland, the swamp, bryant-denny, death valley, jordan hare etc... but your the journalist so it must be true
 
#34
#34
WVMule, Tennessee has fans who aren't Tennesseans too. I've seen Vols apparel wearing and/or Rokytop singing folks in every state I've visited or lived except I think Wyoming, South Dakota, and North Dakota. You even find UT fans in Korea and Japan, the Korean ones were singing Rockytop in their language. Sounded a bit odd but... Sometimes it seems surreal being in a bowling alley, restaurant, or on the street in some town far, far, far away from Tennessee and seing Vols apparel. You yell, Go Vols and seeing them repeat the greeting, or just smile, or do the YES fist pump. They're everywhere. Now, I'm not sure he's a fan but on TV news 2 years back I saw a Chinese guy among the background crowd in Vols cap. And I at least rarely see Chinese guys wearing headgear of any kind except maybe a scooter helmet.
 
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#35
#35
WVMULE said:
Jed Drenning, aka @thesignalcaller, is a friend and sideline reporter for MSN on IMG. Jed was the QB for Rich Rod at Glenville State when he invented the read-option QB run (by accident) when his RB ran the wrong play and went in the opposite direction. The defense followed the RB leaving Jed with an open field all the way to the end zone.

Unfortunately Jed, being a prostyle QB, only made it twenty yards down field. Years later WVU would in 4 consecutive bowl games, including two BS bowls, using a version that accidental play.

This is very good look at the history of the Vols program and its claim to once and future glory. Jed says Tennessee will be very good in 2018 if...

Well, read it for yourself....

Hot Reads: Rocky Thoughts - West Virginia University

p.s. If you want to engage in some fun, well-meaning smack talk or discuss the game you can find me at @theDudeofWV on Twitter.
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This was a phenomenally well done article. Great writer. Thanks for sharing.
 
#36
#36
tell me again, what's the ratio of charlotte area wvu alum to wvu national championships? same as leprechauns to unicorns?
 
#37
#37
Elhanan said:
Honestly, I wish you guys were in the SEC. I know the market doesn’t add a lot but the fan base and program seem to be a good fit.
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Please no more conference expansion. Bad enough that we have South Carolina and Mizzou hanging around.
 
#38
#38
VolGirl1126 said:
Great read! Unlike many writers these days, this one deserves to be called a writer. It is very refreshing to see someone who obviously does research and puts a story together so well. Thanks for posting this!
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I'm impressed with the actual effort to dive in and understand history, but also understand some of the true underlying issues behind recent demise of UT. I like WVU...just not tomorrow.
 
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#39
#39
Dang that brings a tear to the eye. Bedsides the understanding of the storied history, he has a nice lyrical flow to the writing. A guy who knows his football. Good luck to WVU....after Saturday. May Grier stay healthy the rest of the season for you guys.

Otherwise, that lovely article almost makes me sorry we are going to crush you guys on Sat....almost.
 
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#43
#43
That was a very well-written, researched, respectful homage to the Vols. Thanks for sharing OP.

Why is a dude from West Virginia a better, honest writer for the Vols than those hacks in Knoxville??
 
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#44
#44
Mr Mule:
I appreciate the interaction and friendly spirit you have displayed this week. West Virginia is a beautiful state. Nice people. Hard working people. I’ve met coal miners , talked with fireman there, done business several times with good folk from your great state. Your moonshine ain’t all that bad either. But let me tell ya something........
When it comes to football there ain’t no way come tomorrow that some coal mining, fire eating biscuit making mountaineer gonna Holler louder, Hunt better, or for that matter carry a tune in a bucket better than us. Y’all can’t even say Y’all right. Now I would advise that you not get too big for ya britches. Settle down , don’t be so uppity and just accept the whoopin your team is gonna get!
 
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#47
#47
WVMULE said:
Depth... WVU's depth is fine on offense... except if Grier goes down we all jump off the New River Gorge Bridge.
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I actually did that once... Jumped off the New River Gorge Bridge.

My Knoxville Boy Scout Troop (Troop 59) went up there for a 50-mile canoe trip. The New River and the Tennessee River have something in common -- the New River flows South to North. The Tennessee River starts off going South, then it goes into Alabama and says "AWW HELL NO... I'M OUT OF HERE YOU COMMIE BAMMERS!!!" and then starts flowing South to North again to get back into Tennessee.
 
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#49
#49
Thanks for Posting! On his best day John Adams couldn't write anything that professional!
 
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