Uncategorized

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia -- Moments ago, West Virginia's reserve quarterback, Sean Boyle announced on his social media account that he is leaving the Mountaineers' football program and entering the transfer portal. Boyle, a 6'2 redshirt freshman from Charlotte, North Carolina, said the following: "I have entered my name into the transfer portal with 4 years of eligiblity remaining. Grateful for my time at WVU. Excited for the next opportunity!" In high school, Boyle was listed as a 3 star recruit and was named the Southwestern 4A Conference Player of the Year at the conclusion of his senior season in 2022. As a senior, he led Charlotte Catholic to a 9-3 mark, as well as a 5-1 record in conference play to finish third, completing 112-of-164 passes as a senior for 1,941 yards and 21 touchdowns. https://twitter.com/SeanBoyle_12/status/1783560484651708577

Guard Seth Wilson is the inaugural West Virginia player to venture into the transfer portal this off-season. Having participated in 82 games during his tenure with West Virginia, Wilson shared the news via his Instagram account. Expressing his sentiments, he wrote, "It is with a heavy heart that I write this. I want to say that it has been a blessing to represent this great University and state. I want to thank all of my coaches, advisors, supporters, and fans over these past three years." Hailing from Ohio, Wilson maintained an average of 3.5 points and 1.7 rebounds, consistent with his career statistics of 3.4 points and 1.1 rebounds per game. Notably, he boasted a career 38-percent three-point shooting accuracy and retains one year of eligibility for his forthcoming destination.

Cover Photo: West Virginia Athletics MORGANTOWN, West Virginia -- The West Virginia Mountaineers ended a four game losing streak to move to 9-17 overall and 4-9 in the Big 12 with a 77-67 win over the UCF Knights (13-12, 4-9). West Virginia shot over 50% from the field (26/51) and from three point range (7/13), and out-rebounded UCF 48-34 in the win. The Mountaineers were led by senior guard RaeQuan Battle, who had an outstanding performance with 24 points and 5 rebounds. Center Jesse Edwards had 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Kerr Kriisa had a terrific all-around game with 7 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds. Quinn Slazinski added 12 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists. PLAY OF THE GAME: https://twitter.com/WVUhoops/status/1760115951389774209?s=20   West Virginia is back in action this Saturday on the road at the #6 ranked Iowa State Cyclones, who are 20-6 overall, 9-4 in conference play and 15-0 at home this season.

MORGANTOWN, WV - The West Virginia Mountaineers used a strong second half to take down the Cincinnati Bearcats on Wednesday night, 69-65. WVU, now 8-13 and 3-5 in Big 12 play, were led by a strong performance from Senior Jesse Edwards. The Amsterdam native finished with 25 points and 10 rebounds. After a long break from action due to injury, Edwards finally looked back to strength, and it made all the difference. Despite leading at halftime, Cincinnati simply could not hold off a Mountaineer squad that wanted it more. The Bearcats, now 14-7 and 3-5 in Big 12 plays, were solid throughout the night while dominating the glass with 42 rebounds. https://twitter.com/wvuhoops/status/1752846670314750390?s=46&t=cXIQ4JQG-pp-P6qrRwLwjw WVU returns home on Saturday night against the BYU Cougars. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN+. (Photo by WVU Athletics) 

COVER PHOTO: WVU Athletics Stillwater, Oklahoma -- The West Virginia Mountaineers were very close to getting a very big upset victory on the road today, but fell late to the Oklahoma State Cowboys, 70-66 to move to 7-13 on the season and 2-5 in Big 12. The Mountaineers were led by an impressive performance from starting point guard Kerr Kriisa, who had a career-high 21 points on 6-7 from three-point range. Quinn Slazinksi came off the bench to finish with 18 points (7-12 FG, 4-6 3PT) and 3 rebounds. Backup guard Noah Farrakhan added 9 points and 7 rebounds off the bench, and Jesse Edwards made his first appearance since December 16th after a wrist injury and had 3 points in limited minutes. https://twitter.com/WVUhoops/status/1751344247842767169?s=20 West Virginia will be back in action at home on January 31 against the Cincinnati Bearcats, who are currently 13-6 overall and 2-4 in the Big 12 Conference. The game will tip at 7:00PM.

MORGANTOWN, WV - For the first time in half a decade, the West Virginia Mountaineers have a plethora of momentum heading into an offseason. Coming off of a 9-4 campaign in 2023, Neal Brown and company have their eyes set on bigger and better things heading into 2024. According to Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports, the Mountaineers could be one of the 10 teams in College Football that are ready to make some noise next fall. Earlier today, Dodd ranked the Mountaineers as the 8th team most likely to make their presence known in 2024. Here is what he had to say about the Mountaineers: “Neal Brown hopped off the hot seat with an efficient nine-win season. Garrett Greene led an offense (434 yards per game) that was more productive than notable yard-gobblers Missouri and Oklahoma State last season. If momentum continues, the Mountaineers can dream about a CFP berth. In the wide-open Big 12, why not West Virginia?” In just a one-year span, WVU went from being considered one of the worst teams in all of College Football to a team uttered in the same sentence as the College Football Playoff. This not only puts the nation’s eyes on West Virginia, it also sets a standard that Neal Brown must reach in order for 2024 to be considered a success. Despite having a rough start to his tenure in Morgantown, Brown has the opportunity to prove that he can maintain success at the Power Five level. It is much harder to please a fanbase in the Big 12 as opposed to Troy in the Sun Belt. If he can build on what was easily one of WVU’s best seasons in the Big 12, expect Wren Baker to lock Brown down with yet another contract extension. Expectations have never been higher for Neal Brown at West Virginia University. (Photo by WVU Athletics)   

COVER PHOTO: WVU Athletics MORGANTOWN, West Virginia -- Without starting center Jesse Edwards, the West Virginia Mountaineers had some Mountaineer Magic tonight and upset one of the very best teams in the nation, the #3 ranked Kansas Jayhawks, 91-85! West Virginia was led by senior guard RaeQuan Battle, who finished finished the game with 23 points and 9 rebounds. Pat Suemnick had a career high 20 points and 6 rebounds, and Kerr Kriisa added 13 points and 3 assists. Seth Wilson hit three huge three pointers to finish with 9 points. https://twitter.com/WVUhoops/status/1748822180412956902?s=20 The Mountaineers are now 7-11 overall and 2-3 in the Big 12 Conference, and are back in action Tuesday, January 23 against the UCF Knights in Orlando, Florida.

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia -- The West Virginia Mountaineers were projected to finish 14th out of 14 teams in the Big 12 Conference (dead last) and used the mantra "14" as a motivational tool to prove the nation wrong, and they did. The Mountaineers finished 8-4 overall and 6-3 in the conference, and more than that, they represented the state of West Virginia is such a terrific way this year. West Virginia put their heads down, ignored the outside noise and defied the odds. They won and they exceeded expecations and they did it in a way that made the whole state of West Virginia proud. I don't remember a time throughout the season that a member of the West Virginia football program behaved inappropriately or disrespectfully during the 2023 season. They worked hard, they never gave up and they silenced the critics. If that isn't quintessential West Virginia, I don't know what is. Players like Zach Frazier, Sean Martin, Wyatt Milum, Doug Nester and Nick Malone, among other West Virginia natives on the team, were such class, fine examples of what young men from the state can accomplish at the highest level of college football. Zach Frazier, who was playing in what is likely his final game with the Mountaineers, broke his ankle late in the 4th quarter against Baylor. Frazier recognized the 10-second run off rule and selflessly hobbled off the field to save the few remaining seconds left in the game. This was truly one of the most memorable moments in West Virginia football history. Check out the play below: https://twitter.com/EerRational/status/1728845329494344063?s=20 But it's more than just native West Virginians that have made the state proud. Garrett Greene, who sat patiently on the bench and waited his turn for the past 2 years, has proven to be one of the best teammates for the Mountaineers ever. Greene recently said the following in an interview: "I never thought about leaving the program. This state means so much to me and my family. I was a little boy from Florida and they welcomed me with open arms. My dad always wanted me to stick it out, saying good things come to those who wait. I always tell everyone I was born and raised in Florida, but I grew up in West Virginia.” This is a West Virginia football team that the state can be proud of and not just because of the 8-4 record and proving everyone wrong. They exemplified the spirit of the state of West Virginia in doing so.

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia -- After Bob Huggins' DUI arrest and resignation as the head coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers, several players left the program. The very first player that left the team was Tre Mitchell, a 6'9 redshirt senior from Pittsburgh, PA, who transferred to Kentucky. Through 5 games with the Wilcats, Mitchell has been the team's most consistent player, averaging 14.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game while shooting 57.4% from the field and 41.2% from three point range. Because of Mitchell's success, Kentucky fans have flocked to social media to "thank Bob Huggins." They say that Mitchell is playing for Kentucky due to Bob Huggins' poor decision-making. All players on the West Virginia roster were given a 30 day window to transfer following Huggins' resignation and Mitchell took advantage of that. Fans have "thanked Bob Huggins" by saying things like, "If I ever meet Bob Huggins, I’m buying him a beer as a thank you for Tre Mitchell", "Hey, Bob Huggins! I’m sorry about your recent problems, but thank you very much. With love, The Big Blue Nation", and "Thank you for your graciousness Bob Huggins." Take a look at some of the other messages left for Bob Huggins on social media from Kentucky fans: https://twitter.com/KY_Sports_247_/status/1726792026170016165?s=20 https://twitter.com/FrankieMcNugget/status/1726782574947639383?s=20 https://twitter.com/chrispeak5280/status/1726782552554291495?s=20 https://twitter.com/isaac_cats/status/1726782345150107689?s=20      

The Voice of Morgantown's staff picks the winner of today's game against the West Virginia Mountaineers and BYU Cougars. MORGANTOWN, West Virginia --  The West Virginia Mountaineers (5-3, 3-2) host the BYU Cougars (5-3, 2-3) in another huge Big 12 Conference game for Neal Brown and the Mountaineers. BYU will be without starting quarterback Kedon Slovis, and the line for the game has gone all the way to -14 in favor of West Virginia in the last couple of days. Here's how our experts think the game will play out today: Wyatt Coffman, Graphic Designer, The Voice of Morgantown, 1-3 This is a huge game in the season for West Virginia with the Mountaineers only one win away from a postseason appearance. After a great win in Orlando last week, WVU is looking to keep the good times rolling and secure a bowl berth. I think WVU will run successfully against the Cougars and that Garrett Greene will continue to dominate at quarterback. In the end, I think the Mountaineer offense will be too much for Brigham Young and a BYU turnover could drastically shift the momentum of the game toward WVU in the second half.  WVU 35 BYU 24 Brayden Cline, Writer, The Voice of Morgantown, 0-0 This is just one of those games where I just have a feeling WVU dominates. I think we shut down the run early which will lead to the backup quarterback forcing things and making mistakes in front of the hostile environment he's ever played in. Meanwhile the Mountaineers will play to their strengths in the cold and run away with this one. WVU 31 BYU 13 Clark Johnson, Senior Writer, The Voice of Morgantown, 5-3 I'm going with my gut on this one. It's at home, WVU is playing well, and BYU is without some key players. Give me the Cougars to cover the spread, but the Mountaineers to pull out the win. WVU 27 BYU 20 Brad Smith, Publisher, The Voice of Morgantown, 5-3 I think this is going to be a lot closer than expected. Neal Brown doesn't win big games and BYU backup quarterback Jake Retzlaff is a better, more efficient version of starter Kedon Slovis. West Virginia has a lot to play for; a win makes them bowl eligible and that's a huge positive after two down, subpar seasons. The Mountaineers get the win, but barely, and perhaps in a wild one in overtime. WVU 42 BYU 39 West Virginia vs. BYU Game Information When: Saturday, November 4, 2023 at 7:00 PM ET Location: Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, West Virginia TV: FOX

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia -- I would be the first to admit that Saturday's preseason preconceptions of the matchup of West Virginia versus Texas Tech were wrong. I do not think that WVU got lucky or had some things go their way to give them some sort of edge in the contest. You cannot even talk about them using their backup quarterback – because we already are. I actually think that for the first time with Neal Brown, this is a really competitive team coming out of the school. Maybe everyone is playing with a chip on their shoulder because no one escapes the chatter circling the program about the coach – and by all accounts, he does really have a positive impact on the players, and they want to succeed for him. I think that is finally really showing in the results on the field. Barring the first season under Neal Brown in 2019, where we opened the conference schedule against a not-yet-established Kansas program, this is the first time we have started the conference slate with a win in recent years. Regardless of where things go, we are currently .750 on the season with some opponents that were not the worst in the Big 12 or their respective conferences. For example, Pitt may have lost to North Carolina yesterday, but three minutes before halftime, the Panthers knocked in a field goal, and the score reduced to 4 – so it might not have been quite the manhandling that the final indicated. So, despite their 1-3 current record, the Panthers will have a couple of games to set the course right and return to 3-3 on the season. But who cares about Pitt? We care about all the shade at the beginning of the season and even some negativity we let into our own lives about how this could implode. Now, you get to see celebrations like this with the coach and the team: Neal Brown Celebrates with Team After Tech Defeat With a third of the regular season behind us, here is what I know about the program moving forward: No One Gets to Say Who WVU Is (Not Even Us) Every news publication representing the Mountaineers and all of college football has spent the past few months defining the program (even us, to an extent.) You must realize that once you get past this weekend, where the competition matters for inter-conference play, the cream rises to the top or the dirt settles to the bottom of the glass, depending on your perspective. The path from here is unclear, and not an easy one despite some miscues in the conference to this point. However, I believe that with the defensive stands and the rallying I have seen in the recent games, no team ahead of us can send us back to West Virginia without a fight. It is merely a matter of keeping these players motivated that despite your successes, no one believed in you when the season started – and they are waiting for you to stumble. Keep climbing. Ranked is Possible This is starting to become a rather wild year for college football. This would undoubtedly have been an exciting year to see the college playoff expansion program begin, but unfortunately, we have to wait until next season to see the 12-team format. With so much shuffling in the Top 25, no one is safe but a handful of dynasties at the tippy top. There is much room to find the cracks and appear on the poll if the team keeps winning. Let me tell you that if Neal Brown takes this team to a bowl game, breaks his funk with Texas Tech, breaks his streak of not winning more than two games at a time, AND gets WVU in the ranked conversation in the same season – he’s your coach in 2024. In my eyes, too, that’s measurable improvement and something to actually build on. The Defense Believes I would not have predicted that I would be eating the crow I have about the secondary. After the Penn State game, it felt like certain players were out of position or missing their assignments – but now we just see that Penn State is a formidable force in the Big Ten East trying to make a run at the playoffs. The secondary and pass defense has been exceptional in all the other contests. You cannot stop everything. They are competitive, playing a tighter zone, and not scared to make plays on the ball. We have had several interceptions and multiple near-interceptions just in the first few games. This is a serious improvement from recent years. Best of all, this improvement in coverage has not become an overloading of PI penalties or personal fouls. Garrett Needs the Control By several accounts, Garrett was available to play in the Texas Tech game if an emergency dictated that. This tells me that he is pretty close to being able to return after it. I expect him to suit up and start against TCU on the road. I think that Nicco did an admirable job against the Red Raiders and the Panthers, but I also think that if you want to stretch the field and find your conference footing on the road in Dallas, you need the team’s clear leader at the helm. We Need a Couple of Dudes Kole Taylor, Devin Carter, and Hudson Clement had some retention issues with the passes they were getting this weekend. Devin Carter was targeted six times with only one reception. Granted, some of that was Nicco, and some wasn’t. We must have at least two guys that can make space, catch consistently, and force defenses to commit resources to defend them to succeed in the total offensive scheme. So, who wants to be the guy they have to worry about? We’re Climbing I am very happy to say that I don’t look at the schedule now, picking out the games we will lose so I can give myself the peace...

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia -- West Virginia starting quarterback Garrett Greene was injured and hobbled off the field in the 1st quarter of the Backyard Brawl against Pitt and will not return. Greene, a junior from Tallahassee, Florida, was 0/2 for 0 yards passing and 0 yards rushing. X-rays on Greene's ankle and lower leg showed no structural damage, but he has been ruled out for the rest of the game. He has a boot on his right leg and is in street clothes. Greene was seen in the West Virginia training center "sobbing and crying" while limping around trying to get himself ready to return. However, Greene clearly is too hurt and will not be able to return. Stay to the Voice of Morgantown for more updates on this developing situation as they become available!

Former WVU Kicker Pat McAfee had a lot to say about WVU’s 38-15 loss to Penn State.   Morgantown, WV - There aren’t many smiling faces around the Mountaineer Football program following a 38-15 loss to Penn State. While several expected WVU to lose the game, former Kicker Pat McAfee was high on the Mountaineers, going as far to say they would upset the Nittany Lions. Well, since that did not happen, McAfee had a lot to say about Neal Brown and WVU on his daily podcast today. https://twitter.com/voicemorgantown/status/1699118530380128473?s=20 McAfee spoke about how the Mountaineers should not be viewed as a doormat at this time in Neal Brown’s tenure. While he did not call for Brown’s job, he believes that something has to change in order for the Mountaineers to be successful. However, McAfee did state that if WVU loses to Duquesne, that the administration should “remove Brown’s visor” before he exits Milan Puskar Stadium. Watch what McAfee had to say about the Mountaineers in the Twitter link above. (Photo by WVU Athletics) 

As the home opener approaches this weekend, it is always nice to think of ways WVU can improve the gameday experience for its fanbase. Of course, the obvious answer is to win. I would stand at the stadium if it meant a playoff run. But there are other ways to improve morale a bit, too. College football is rife with pageantry, traditions, and roaring crowds. With some shaky attendance numbers the last couple of years with hit-and-miss successes, it might be smart to think of some ways to get people excited to be at Milan Puskar stadium every weekend the good guys are in town. Making Ticket Prices Affordable Again The very first and arguably the most important of points is to make the ticket prices reasonable again. Most fans in this state simply cannot afford to realistically take their families to the games in general, especially when it is a high-profile matchup like the Backyard Brawl, and that Gameday experience could cost hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. According to Oddspedia, WVU ranks second in the highest-costing gameday experience in the country, with tickets roughly $100 a piece on average. With only three states suffering more widespread poverty and struggle than West Virginia, real fans cannot afford to fill the seats. So, at what point do the high ticket costs and concession prices compromise attendance? While there might always be a marquee matchup that attracts a larger crowd every year, such as the record-setting attendance to Acrisure Stadium last year for the Brawl, you would think a larger crowd would ultimately generate better profits than only partially filling the stadium at a premium rate. Creating a Fan-Driven Entrance Having witnessed some of the iconic college football entrances over the years, most recently being Virginia Tech’s “Enter Sandman” this past season, couldn’t that be something we do to prepare the fans for the battle? We cannot wait to cue Country Roads when we secure that home win, but what if we started a new tradition like bringing the boys out to a certified rock classic like “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC or “War Pigs” by Black Sabbath? Actual Seats in the Stands WVU is in the minority of current Big 12 schools in their stadium design. With the new 16-team league set to act in 2024, Milan Puskar Stadium is #3 in seating capacity. However, there are very few actual standalone seats. This capacity is rated on bench seating evenly spaced with markers to indicate your ticket location. While this is pretty standard stuff, current Big 12 schools already feature modern stadium seating to offer fans a greater experience on gameday. These include: Oklahoma Texas Baylor Oklahoma State TCU Texas Tech Cincinnati BYU Revamping the Stadium You might recall an image circulating around the internet last year with the field graphics completely revamped with a mountain landscape, the state outline, and the flying WV in the center. The blue field was eye-catching and entirely unique, even vastly different than somewhere like Boise State, which has been enjoying this blue hue for years. 2016 is when the latest field turf was rolled out, so it might be time to consider a change for the fans’ sake. https://twitter.com/Rich27F/status/1575947630911184896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1575947630911184896%7Ctwgr%5E371a880a42e16ba7350100b8702447dfe986e56b%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwvsportsnow.com%2Fwvu-fan-offers-idea-for-new-look-of-field-at-milan-puskar-stadium%2F Photo by ESPN

The Mountaineers will be traveling to Penn State on Saturday in style.   Morgantown, WV - Moments ago, the WVU Football team revealed their uniform combination for Saturday via social media. The Mountaineers will be wearing their traditional blue helmets, white jerseys, and gold pants. https://x.com/wvufootball/status/1697376215659631042?s=46&t=cXIQ4JQG-pp-P6qrRwLwjw WVU and Penn State kickoff at 7:30 on NBC. (Photo by WVU Athletics)