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West Virginia Men’s Soccer, who is ranked 5th in the nation, took down 1st-ranked Marshall on Thursday night in Morgantown. Morgantown, WV - Moments ago, the West Virginia Men’s Soccer team took down the nation’s top team in Marshall by a final score of 5-2. Marcus Caldeira had a hat trick, scoring 3 goals for the Mountaineers. That was the first hat trick for West Virginia since 2014. With the win, the Mountaineers have improved to 10-0-4 on the season. https://twitter.com/wvumenssoccer/status/1714791545595998638?s=46&t=USDKe35TLtcCPitgUlQ1PA (Photo by WVU Athletics) 

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia -- Earlier in the week, it was revealed that West Virginia native and Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton was "fighting for her life" in the ICU with a very rare form of pneumonia. Her daughters reached out online for help after it was discovered that Retton did not have health insurance. The goal was to raise $50,000 and they have now already raised over $500,000. Today, her daughter gave a very uplighting update on the status of her mother: "UPDATE! We're thrilled to share some uplifting news. Mom's progress is truly remarkable. Prayers have been felt and are being answered. Although she remains in ICU, her path to recovery is steadily progressing. Her fighting spirit is turly shining! Her breathing is becoming stronger, and her reliance on machines is diminishing. Though it's a lenghty journey, witnessing these improvements in incredibly heartening! She's beginning to respond to treatments. Once more, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for your overwhelming love and support." Retton, 55, was born and raised in Fairmont, West Virginia, and won the Gold Medal in the All-Around in 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, California when she received two perfect 10 scores in the floor and vault categories just weeks after receiving an operation on her knee. According to her Wikipedia page, "Retton's hometown, Fairmont, West Virginia, named a road and a park in the town after her. Having retired from gymnastics after winning an unprecedented third American Cup title in 1985, she later had cameo appearances as herself in Scrooged and Naked Gun 33+1/3: The Final Insult. In 1985, she received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement presented by Awards Council member General Chuck Yeager. Retton was elected to the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in 1992. In 1993, the Associated Press released results of a sports study in which Retton was statistically tied for first place with fellow Olympian Dorothy Hamill as the most popular athlete in America. In 1997, Retton was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame. In January 2020, Retton was the first woman inducted into the Houston Sports Hall of Fame." Please say a prayer for Mary Lou, one of the most beloved West Virginians and Olympic athletes of all time, and stay tuned to The Voice of Morgantown for more updates as they become available. https://twitter.com/voicemorgantown/status/1713267052394279010?s=20

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia -- Yesterday, it was anounced that Mary Lou Retton is suffering from a rare form of pneumonia and is fighting for her life. Moments ago, her daughter, McKenna Kelley, provided an update on social media, saying, "My sisters Skyla, Shayla, Emma and I would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of love and support for our Mom. Mom is in ICU and continues to fight. She is getting incredible medical care! Thanks to all doctors and nurses! We ask for continued prayers and positive thoughts for our Mom." Retton's family started a SpotFund account to help pay for medical expenses after it was revealed that she does not have health insurance. The goal was to raise $50,000 and over $250,000 has already been donated at the time of this article being published. Retton, 55, was born and raised in Fairmont, West Virginia, and won the Gold Medal in the All-Around in 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, California when she received two perfect 10 scores in the floor and vault categories just weeks after receiving an operation on her knee. According to her Wikipedia page, "Retton's hometown, Fairmont, West Virginia, named a road and a park in the town after her. Having retired from gymnastics after winning an unprecedented third American Cup title in 1985, she later had cameo appearances as herself in Scrooged and Naked Gun 33+1/3: The Final Insult. In 1985, she received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement presented by Awards Council member General Chuck Yeager. Retton was elected to the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in 1992. In 1993, the Associated Press released results of a sports study in which Retton was statistically tied for first place with fellow Olympian Dorothy Hamill as the most popular athlete in America. In 1997, Retton was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame. In January 2020, Retton was the first woman inducted into the Houston Sports Hall of Fame." Please say a prayer for Mary Lou, one of the most beloved West Virginians and Olympic athletes of all time, and stay tuned to The Voice of Morgantown for more updates as they become available. https://twitter.com/voicemorgantown/status/1712143254567673994?s=20

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia -- According to a report by USA Today writer Christine Brennan, West Virginia native Mary Lou Retton is in need of prayers. Brennan said the following on social media today: "Mary Lou Retton, one of the greatest names in U.S. Olympic history, has a very rare form of pneumonia and is fighting for her life. She is not able to breathe on her own and she's been in the ICU for over a week now." Retton's 26 year old daughter, McKenna Kelley, posted the following message on Instagram: "My amazing mom, Mary Lou, has a very rare form of pneumonia and is fighting for her life. Out of respect for her and her privacy, I will not discolose all details. However, I will disclose that she is not insured. We ask that if could help in any way, that you 1.) PRAY! and 2.) if you could help us with finances for the hospital bill. ANTYHING, absolutely ANYTHING, would be so helpful for my family and my mom. Thank y'all so very much!" Retton, 55, was born and raised in Fairmont, West Virginia, and won the Gold Medal in the All-Around in 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, California when she received two perfect 10 scores in the floor and vault categories just weeks after receiving an operation on her knee. According to her Wikipedia page, "Retton's hometown, Fairmont, West Virginia, named a road and a park in the town after her. Having retired from gymnastics after winning an unprecedented third American Cup title in 1985, she later had cameo appearances as herself in Scrooged and Naked Gun 33+1/3: The Final Insult. In 1985, she received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement presented by Awards Council member General Chuck Yeager. Retton was elected to the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in 1992. In 1993, the Associated Press released results of a sports study in which Retton was statistically tied for first place with fellow Olympian Dorothy Hamill as the most popular athlete in America. In 1997, Retton was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame. In January 2020, Retton was the first woman inducted into the Houston Sports Hall of Fame." Please say a prayer for Mary Lou, one of the most beloved West Virginians and Olympic athletes of all time, and stay tuned to The Voice of Morgantown for more updates as they become available. https://twitter.com/cbrennansports/status/1711809212622176663?s=20

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia -- Garrett Greene said it all following the Mountaineers' huge conference road 24-21 win at TCU: "The world is our oyster! We have a week off and then we go to Houston and we are going to make some noise this season!" Greene, who finished 10/21 for 142 yards, 0 touchdowns and 0 interceptions through the air, also led the team on the ground, rushing 12 times for 80 yards and 2 touchdowns. For his gritty, tough performance return after 2 games out with an ankle injry, Garrett Greene is The Voice of Morgantown's Player of the Game!   Check out his highlights below: https://twitter.com/WVUfootball/status/1708276838781612528?s=20

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia -- The Big 12 Conference is really, really bad this season. From top to bottom, the conference just doesn't have the depth that it typically does and this could potentially save Neal Brown's job at West Virginia University. West Virginia was gifted what has turned out to be one of the most ridiculously easy conference schedules in the Big 12; the Mountaineers do not have to play Texas, Kansas and Kansas State, which are three of the top teams in the conference right now, and the teams that they are playing - Baylor, Oklahoma State, Houston, Texas Tech, etc. - are having down years. Beating the likes of TCU, UCF and Oklahoma on the road won't be easy but it wouldn't be shocking if they won at least a couple of those. In a challenging conference like the Big 12, this is as simple as it gets and Neal Brown and the Mountaineers are ready to pounce on this incredible opportunity. If West Virginia beats who they should beat - Houston, Oklahoma State, BYU and Cincinnati - they will have a minimum of 7 wins without winning of the games on the road at TCU, UCF and Oklahoma. Although a 7-5 record isn't ideal, this is Neal Brown we're talking about, it's growth from previous seasons and it greatlly exceeds expectations. Remember, this team was predicted to finish 14th out of 14 teams in the Big 12 Conference and many experts believed they wouldn't win more than a few games. In fact, the Mountaineers were only favored to win one game this season and that was against Duquesne at home. If West Virginia goes 7-5 or 8-4 with a bowl win this year, that would be reason for a parade in Morgantown. If West Virginia can manage to win games they are supposed to win and upset a couple of opponents on the way, Neal Brown could easily go from the hot seat to earning another contract extension.

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia -- The West Virginia Mountaineers (3-1) won their 3rd consecutive game for the first time under Neal Brown by hanging on to beat the Texas Texas Tech Red Raiders (1-3), 20-13. West Virginia was led by redshirt freshman quarterback Nicco Marchiol, who was fiilling in for usual starter Garrett Greene. Marchiol put up a gutsy performance, going 12/21 for 78 yards, 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions through the air while leading the team with 72 yards on 15 carries on the ground. CJ Donaldson had 15 carries for 48 yards and 1 touchdown and tight end Kole Taylor added 3 receptions for 39 yards and 1 touchdown. https://twitter.com/WVUfootball/status/1705711987341103113?s=20 The Mountaineers are back in action next Saturday, September 30 at 8:00PM eastern at TCU. The Horned Frogs beat SMU 34-17 at home to move to 3-1 on the season.

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia -- Tomorrow, six outstanding former West Virginia contributors will be inducted into the 33rd class of honorees in the WVU Sports Hall of Fame. According to a press release from the university, the 2023 class includes Trevor Gathman (rifle), Bruce Irvin (football), TeShawne Jackson (gymnastics), Jay Jacobs (broadcaster), Buddy Quertinmont (men's basketball) and Renee Riccio (women's swimming & diving). This class brings the total number of inductees to 229. While these inductees are all very deserving of the honor, one person is clearly missing from the list. This may not be a popular opinion, but there just aren’t many people out there more deserving of a spot in the West Virginia University Sports Hall of Fame than former Head Coach Rich Rodriguez.  His 60-26 record during his 7 seasons in Morgantown were sensational and the final three years (2005-2007) the Mountaineers were one of the most successful football programs in the entire country. According to the official WVU Sports Hall of Fame website, “the Athletic Hall of Fame was instituted in 1991 to recognize those athletes and coaches that have helped pioneer WVU athletics into one of the most respected programs in the nation.” While Rodriguez left under less than desirable conditions, he certainly helped pioneer the Mountaineers into what they are today. To deny Rodriguez admission into the Hall of Fame would simply be spiteful and West Virginians are better than that.  There is no other reason to keep him out of the Hall of Fame other than to punish him for leaving the university and taking a better opportunity with better pay at Michigan. I did the very same thing when I left Mountaineer Sports to start "The Voice of Morgantown." Better pay, better opportunity, total no-brainer. Back in 2019, I did a candid interview with Rich Rodriguez.  Rodriguez was open, honest and still had very raw emotions about his time at West Virginia University.  It’s still difficult for him to talk about or think about his final game in Morgantown, a 13-9 loss to Pitt in 2007.  This, of course, was one of the worst losses in WVU football’s long history and Rich Rodriguez still, so many years later, feels the pain and sting associated with it. Rich Rodriguez:  A Prelude to the Interview: https://mountaineersports.com/rich-rodriguez-a-prelude-to-the-interview/ The Rich Rodriguez Interview:  https://mountaineersports.com/the-rich-rodriguez-interview/ There is a large portion of West Virginia fans that will never forgive Rich Rodriguez.  In their minds, he is a snake, a coward, someone that sold out the whole state of West Virginia for greed, for money and power and a better chance at a National Championship.  This group of people are loaded with ridiculous conspiracy theories about him somehow throwing the Pitt game, the most important game in his career, so that he could move on to Michigan.  Regardless of how absurd that is, it is ingrained in the collective mindset of some Mountaineer fans, so firmly fixed in their brains as an absolute truth.  This article isn’t for you. Tony Caridi, host of the Three Guys Before the Game podcast, interviewed Rodriguez and it reminded me what a really great guy Rich Rodriguez is and what an outstanding experience I had when I spoke with him.  He’s a West Virginian, through and through.  If he’s acting like he still cares about West Virginia and how he still feels the pain of the way he left Morgantown, he deserves an Oscar.  Unless he’s the best actor in the world, he’s about as genuine a person as they come in this business. Again, there is a large portion of West Virginia fans that won’t ever forgive him, but if you’re on the fence please listen to the Mountaineer Sports interview from March and Tony Caridi’s recent podcast, and give him a real shot.  Listen to the pain in his voice when the Pitt loss comes up.  Listen to him sincerely express real remorse about how his time at WVU ended.  He acknowledges his mistakes and he truly wishes he could do it all over. It’s been 14 years since he left and it’s time to forgive and forget.  Rich Rodriguez, now 60 years old, has made mistakes and has grown from them.   The mistakes he’s made just so happened to be on a very grand scale in front of an entire state of people that live and die with the football program that he led.  He did so much for our state, for the old Gold and Blue, and it’s time to remember that, to appreciate that, and to move on from any hard feelings about the way he left home. It's time to put him in the West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, honor his achievements and move on from the bitterness and hatred stemming from a choice he made almost 15 years ago.

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia -- The West Virginia Mountaineers welcomed the Pitt Panthers to Morgantown this past weekend for the Backyard Brawl and of course West Virginia beat Pitt 17-6. A video has surfaced from before the game in which a Pitt fan filmed his experience in Morgantown. Although this certainly isn't representative of every Pitt fans' time during The Brawl, it was startling to see how this particular Pittsburgh native was treated by West Virginia fans. The Pitt fan said things like, "Good luck today, you are going to need it." West Virginia fans responded by spewing obscentities, saying "Eat **** Pitt", getting up in his face and flipping him off, and even pushing him. Check out the full video below: https://twitter.com/voicemorgantown/status/1704289460228071626?s=20

The Pride of West Virginia received some exciting news before the Backyard Brawl. Morgantown, WV - Prior to the Backyard Brawl last night, The Pride of West Virginia received incredible news for 2024. Macy’s announced that the Mountaineer Marching Band has been selected to perform in the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. https://twitter.com/westvirginiau/status/1703218785543438462?s=46&t=cXIQ4JQG-pp-P6qrRwLwjw For a university that has been through a plethora of turmoil lately, this is certainly an encouragement achievement for the program! (Photo via West Virginia University)

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia -- Despite losing starting quarterback Garrett Greene early in the first quarter, the West Virginia Mountaineers (2-1) defeated the Pitt Panthers (1-2) in the 106th edition of the Backyard Brawl, 17-6. West Virginia was led by sensational sophomore running back CJ Donaldson, who rushed 18 times for 102 yards and 1 touchdown. Jaylen Anderson added 62 yards on 19 carries. Redshirt freshman quarterback Nicco Marchiol, who replaced Garrett Greene in the 1st quarter, finished 6/9 for 60 yards and 1 touchdown. https://twitter.com/WVUfootball/status/1703212609627975964?s=20 The Mountaineers will be back in action at home next Saturday, September 23 against the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Texas Tech is 1-2 this season with losses against Wyoming and Oregon, and a 41-3 win today against Tarleton State.

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia -- Former West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins has kept a low profile since his DUI arrest and resignation from WVU, but today, he was photographed with Ryan and Rush of The Ryan & Rush Show.  Huggins, 69, who was wearing a Cincinnati jacket, West Virginia sweatpants and a Ryan & Rush cap, had the following message to share with fans of the Mountaineers today: "Beat Pitt." West Virginia plays Pitt tonight in The Backyard Brawl at 7:30PM eastern time and will be televised live on ABC. Check out the picture of Huggins below: https://twitter.com/ryanandrushshow/status/1703068446387216872?s=20

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia -- We're mere hours from the 106th edition of the Backyard Brawl featuring the West Virginia Mountaineers and the Pitt Panthers. Fans, however, have been filtering into Morgantown in droves today and it appears that it could be one of the largest tailgating events ever at West Virginia University. The Voice of Morgantown has boots on the ground, covering the event. Check out the videos of the current tailgating scene in Morgantown as of 4:30PM today. Let's Go Mountaineers! https://twitter.com/voicemorgantown/status/1703144834817470529?s=20 https://twitter.com/voicemorgantown/status/1703142202799489299?s=20

Senator Joe Manchin could be in line to be WVU’s next president.  Morgantown, WV - To say things are weird in Morgantown right now would be an understatement. With so much turmoil surrounding West Virginia University, many are wondering where the flagship university of the state will go next. Well, the latest news surrounding the potential university president opening just got interesting. According to John L. Dorman of Insider, allies of Senator Joe Manchin have told The New York Times that a retirement from politics and a chance at being president of West Virginia University, Manchin’s alma mater, could be in the cards. https://twitter.com/ByPiperHutch/status/1700685960504074601?s=20 Manchin, who has yet to announce his decision on a reelection campaign, would have to wait and learn the fate of current WVU President E. Gordon Gee. With the university in millions of dollars in debt, and facing many layoffs and program cuts, a change could be made sooner rather than later. This will definitely be something for Mountaineer fans to keep an eye on moving forward. Stay tuned to The Voice of Motown for updates. (Photo by WVU Athletics

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia -- Draft Kings' Chinmay Vaidya released his "Hot Seat Week 2" list yesterday and unsurprisingly West Virginia head coach Neal Brown was front and center on the list. According to Vaidya, "Neal Brown has a permanent position in this column until he is gone." Brown, who is currently 23-26 overall and 14-21 in the Big 12 Conference in his 5th season with the Mountaineers, was on the hot seat all last season and remained there to begin this season. "Barring a scenario where West Virginia wins the Big 12, he is effectively gone at the end of the year," Vaidya said of Brown. "The Backyard Brawl is a chance to provide some relief but Brown is going to be looking for a new job in 2024." West Virginia plays Pitt this Saturday, September 16, and will play Texas Tech the following Saturday at home. These two games have been circled on the calendar as the two games that could potentially decide Neal Brown's future. If the Mountaineers lose one or both of the games, Brown could be in major trouble. If they win, he could buy himself more time on the West Virginia sideline.