December 29, 2012; Bronx, NY, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers head coach Dana Holgorsen reacts to an official

According to a report from WVMetroNews.com, West Virginia Mountaineers freshman quarterback Chavas Rawlins has decided to transfer to another school before playing a single down.

Rawlins, a Monesson, PA native, was West Virginia’s lone quarterback prospect in the 2013 recruiting class. He was also one of the most intriguing prospects due to his strong arm and blazing speed. He elected to enroll early, coming to campus in January for the spring semester.

Rawlins got in early to compete for playing time at quarterback with incumbents Paul Millard and Ford Childress, but failed to overtake either player, not seeing any time in the Gold Blue Game.

With Rawlins unable to pull ahead of Paul Millard and Ford Childress on the depth chart, he was doomed to redshirt this season. Add in the fact that WVU accepted the transfer of former Florida State quarterback Clint Trickett and the current verbal commitment of highly rated dual threat quarterback William Crest (Dunbar High School Baltimore, MD), it looked like Rawlins might become lost in the quarterback depth chart. It would have also been possible that he could have been asked to play some wide receiver to get him on the field.

According to Rawlins high school coach, Andy Pacak, Rawlins decision may be tied to the departure of quarterback coach Jake Spatival.

“All of a sudden Jake wasn’t going to be there, and I think that had an impact,” said Pacak.

Spatival left the Mountaineers program this spring to join Texas A&M and Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel.

With Rawlins position coach now departed, he will reconsider his options for his four years of eligibility. The loss of Rawlins leaves the Mountaineers with three scholarship quarterbacks on the roster.

October 8, 2011; Morgantown,WV, USA: West Virginia Mountaineers receiver Ivan McCartney (5) runs after a pass reception against Connecticut Huskies safety Byron Jones (16) during the fourth quarter at Milan Puskar Stadium. WVU won 43-16. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USPRESSWIRE

Head coach Dana Holgorsen got some pleasant news this afternoon, learning that former West Virginia Mountaineers receiver Ivan McCartney has decided to return to Morgantown. The move was announced by his high school’s twitter, Miramar High School (home of other Mountaineers greats Geno Smith and Stedman Bailey):

Also of note, Miramar Alum WR Ivan McCartney has found a home for next year. He will be heading back to #WVU for his senior season.

— Miramar Sports (@MiramarSports) May 17, 2013

McCartney appears to be excited about the opportunity to play his senior season for the Mountaineers>

Once a Mountaineer….. Always a Mountaineer!!

— Ivan McCartney (@IMcCartney5) May 17, 2013

McCartney left the Mountaineers team this past season after appearing in five games. In his two plus years on campus, McCartney has started 11 games for WVU, appearing in 32 games. He has 59 receptions for 701 yards and 3 touchdowns.

He will likely be eligible to play this coming season since he did not in-fact transfer from the West Virginia program. If he is eligible to play during the 2013 season, he will bring experience to a rather in-experienced receiving corps.

With his knowledge of the offense executed by Dana Holgorsen, it stands to reason that he will see a decent bit of playing time this coming season, even if he is not a starter.

Aug 30, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks defensive end Bruce Irvin (51) reacts during the game against the Oakland Raiders at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks defeated the Raiders 21-3. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

The Seattle Seahawks are one of the NFL hottest teams. After a strong showing in the NFC playoffs last season, finishing just short of an NFC Championship game appearance, and the off-season acquisition of receiver Percy Harvin from the Minnesota Vikings, many had the Seahawks tabbed as an NFC contender this year.

Now it looks as though the Seahawks will have to find a way to survive the first four games of their 2013 schedule without star second year defensive end Bruce Irvin. As reported by multiple outlets, Irvin has failed a league drug test for performance enhancing drugs (PEDs).

Irvin had this to say about his suspension:

“I want to apologize to my teammates, coaches and Seahawks fans for making a mistake when I took a substance that is prohibited in the NFL without a medical exemption,” Irvin said in a statement. “I am extremely disappointed in the poor judgment I showed and take full responsibility for my actions. I will not appeal the discipline and instead will focus my energy on preparing for the season so I can begin earning your trust and respect again. I look forward to contributing to the team the moment I return.” (per ESPN)

The Irvin suspension comes on the heels of the suspensions for guard John Moffitt, Brandon Browner, and the overturned suspension for outspoken cornerback Richard Sherman.

Irvin’s statement suggests that he took a banned substance that is not a steroid, but more likely a misused prescription such as Adderall (not confirmed), the same substance that allegedly landed suspensions for guard John Moffitt and the overturned suspension of  cornerback Richard Sherman.

Seattle will start the season at the Carolina Panthers on September 8 before coming home for back to back home games against the San Francisco 49ers and the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Seahawks are then back on the road in week 4 at the Houston Texans.

With Irvin, the team’s second leading sack master (and expected to have a larger role in the defense this season), facing suspension at the start of the season, the Seahawks will be lucky to emerge from the first four games with 2-2 record, especially with match-ups with Super Bowl favorites San Francisco and Houston.

As ESPN’s John Clayton points out:

Bruce Irvin’s four-game suspension makes the signings of Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett important at DE

— John Clayton (@ClaytonESPN) May 17, 2013

For Seattle, these moves will go a long way to keeping the Seahawks pass rush in decent shape as they await the return of Bruce Irvin. If nothing else, the break will give former Mountaineer star Bruce Irvin a chance to regrow his iconic dreadlocks.

Loving my haircut! twitter.com/BIrvin_WVU11/s…

— Bruce Irvin (@BIrvin_WVU11) May 16, 2013

Irvin is not known to be a dirty player or a player who takes short cuts. His apology appear to be sincere and you can bet that he will make the most of his second chance with the Seahawks starting in week 5 when the Seahawks travel to face the Indianapolis Colts.

May 10, 2013; Florham Park, NJ, USA; New York Jets rookie quarterback Geno Smith (7) during New York Jets rookie minicamp at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Geno Smith got 99 problems, but an agent ain’t one. At least for the time being that is.

In the past few days, the rumor mill has picked up steam with talk that Geno Smith is seriously considering hiring Jay-Z and his newly founded talent agency Roc Nation as his marketing agency. Roc Nation cannot negotiate the football contract between Geno Smith and the New York Jets due to not being certified by the NFLPA.

The story is really gaining momentum, especially with Geno uploading photos to instagram of the Jets quarterback and the music mogul.

FWIW, here’s the instagram Geno Smith posted of him and Jay-Z. 828 likes? Not bad. twitter.com/SethWalderNYDN…

— Seth Walder (@SethWalderNYDN) May 15, 2013

There are pro and cons to hiring Jay-Z to represent Smith in all things not football. Chief among them are that Jay-Z brings a major personality to marketing. Everybody in the key marketing demographic of 18-35 knows who Jay-Z is. He has his hands in music, television, apparel, and even the NBA with the Brooklyn Nets.

If nothing else, the involvement of Jay-Z in Geno Smith’s endorsement deals will create a lot of positive media buzz, especially with younger people that are your cash cows for merchandising.

December 1, 2012; Morgantown, WV, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers marching band performs before the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Milan Puskar Stadium. The West Virginia Mountaineers won 59-10. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

When you think of fierce college football rivalries, you always think of the West Virginia vs Pitt rivalry, affectionately referred to as the “Backyard Brawl.” The series matching two of the Appalachian region’s greatest teams annually, was played annually every year between 1943 and 2011. The two schools matched up 104 times with the Pitt Panthers holding a 61-40-3 lead in the series.

Both Pitt and West Virginia also enjoyed a healthy hatred and rivalry with the other Appalachian powerhouse, Penn State. And as current Pitt athletic director Steve Pederson has made clear this week at the ACC meetings, the restoration of the rivalry with Penn State takes priority over the Backyard Brawl.

“I would sign a 30-year deal, if I could,” Pederson said. “It shouldn’t matter who the (university) president or the head coach is, these institutions should always play. It’s a great game. It’s got history to it, we’re three hours apart and in the same state. Those games ought to be played.” – Pederson on Pitt vs Penn State scheduling.

To Pedersen, it is more important to restore a rivalry with the team that they have not played since 2000 and not played annually since 1992. The rival that is three hours away. The rival that is down and out for the next decade thanks to NCAA sanctions.

It makes perfect sense to add Penn State to the schedule rather than renew your annual rivalry with the team 75 miles to the South. The team that is clearly the fiercest rival in your program’s history.

To be fair to Pedersen, it sounds like both schools are having a tough time finding room for the Backyard Brawl:

“We’re both trying to figure out when we can do it,” Pederson said. “We’re both in favor if it’s in the best interest of both schools.”

For the Mountaineers, it is a tough sell to get the Panthers back on the schedule with 9 Big XII conference games. Like so many top tier college football programs, the Mountaineers favor 7 home games a season, allowing for an infusion of ticket sales proceeds into their athletic budget.

Right now, the Mountaineers have an on-going series with the Maryland Terrapins annually. WVU also usually rents a FCS-level victim such as William & Mary.

For West Virginia to reignite a rivalry with Pitt would at the very least require that the series allow for home games for the Mountaineers in the years they had to travel to Maryland. More likely, Oliver Luck would not sign up for the Backyard Brawl as long as the Mountaineers are involved in a 9-game Big XII schedule and a long-term contract with the Maryland Terrapins.

While the rivalry with Maryland is a good one, it is not the same as the Backyard Brawl. It is more like the Pitt vs Penn State rivalry: solid, but not the #1 rivalry.

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May 13 2012; Eugene, OR, USA; Laura Roesler of Oregon wins the womens 800m in 2:05.13 as part of a Ducks sweep of the top three places with Becca Friday (2:05.34) and Claudia Francis (2:05.42) in the 2012 Pac-12 Championships at Hayward Field. From left: Francis and Roesler and Friday and Justine Fredonic of Stanford and Shelby Houlihan of Arizona State. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

Rowing:

Two Mountaineers rowers earned All-Academic Conference USA nominations this week. Congratulations to senior Rachelle Purych on her 3.97 GPA in Advertising and to junior Courtney Schrand for her 3.97 GPA Elementary Education. Looks like both ladies have bright futures off the pond.

Meanwhile, in Big XII news, freshman Elizabeth Kantak was named Big XII Newcomer of the Year. Kantak was a member of the Mountaineers varsity 8+ crew that took home third place in the Big XII Championships last week.

WVU will finish their 2013 season with competition in the Conference USA Championships this weekend at Melton Hill Lake in Oak Ridge, TN.

Track:

The Mountaineers sent four athletes to compete in the Virginia Challenge in Charlottesville, VA this past weekend. The WVU quartet competed in six events, each notching top five finishes.

Heather Adams took home first in the discus throw (47.23 m) and hammer throw (52.73 m) for West Virginia’s two of WVU’s three victories at the competition. Stormy Nesbit claimed the other first place finish for WVU, taking home first in the long jump with a mark of 5.86 m. Nesbit also finished fifth in the triple jump with 11.98 m.

Sydney Cummings took second place in the high jump with a mark of 1.75 m while Chene Townsend registered a second place finish in the 100-m hurdles with a time of 13.66.

The track team will be back in action May 23-25 for the NCAA East Preliminary Round of the NCAA Championships. Competition will take place in Greensboro, NC.

Feb 9, 2012; Fort Worth, TX, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers guard Eron Harris (10) during the game against TCU Horned Frogs at the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports

Coach Bob Huggins filled out his roster this week with the transfer additions of forwards Jonathan Holton and Remi Dibo. Both forwards will enter Morgantown as juniors, with two years of eligibility remaining. The two JUCO forwards combine with the Mountaineers four high school forward/center recruits to bring the Mountaineers back to a 15 man roster.

For those who have not kept up with the roster changes, here is a recap:

Additions: F Devin Williams (FR), C Brandon Watkins (FR), F Elijah Macon (FR), F Nathan Adrian (FR), F Jonathan Holton (r-JR), and F Remi Dibo (r-JR)

Losses: F Dominique Rutledge (Graduation), F Deniz Kilicli (Graduation), G Matt Humphrey (Graduation), G Aaron Brown (Transfer), G Jabarie Hinds (Transfer), and F Volodomyr Gerun (Transfer)

Just at a glance, it is clear that Huggins and the coaching staff were out to add a ton of length to the roster. The length and athleticism of the Mountaineers forwards this past season was one of the major weak points that the Mountaineers needed to address heading into the 2013-14 season.

Now the Mountaineers have added some versatile big men in Holton and Dibo while also bringing in a crop of young big men to develop for that strong interior presence that Huggins’ teams put an emphasis on. Guys like Devin Williams and Brandon Watkins will probably get early looks this season in relief of paint dominator Aaric Murray.

C: Aaric Murray, 6’10″ 245 lbs, SR; Brandon Watkins, 6’9″ 225 lbs, FR; Devin Williams, 6’8″ 220 lbs, FR

PF: Kevin Noreen, 6’10″ 250 lbs, JR; Jonathan Holton, 6’9″ 215 lbs, r-JR; Elijah Macon, 6’8″ 210 lbs, FR

SF: Keaton Miles, 6’7″ 210 lbs, JR; Remi Dibo, 6’9″ 225 lbs, r-JR; Nathan Adrian, 6’7″ 200 lbs, FR

SG: Eron Harris, 6’2″ 190 lbs, SO; Terry Henderson, 6’3″ 190 lbs, SO; Aric Dickerson, 6’5″ 200 lbs, r-SO

PG: Juwan Staten, 6’1″ 190 lbs, JR; Gary Browne, 6’1″ 190 lbs, JR; Richard Romeo, 5’11″ 180 lbs, SO

We don’t have any of the new additions as starters in our first depth chart, but would not at all be surprised to see players like Holton and Dibo find their way into the starting line-up at some point during the season. For now, we like Keaton Miles to rise to the occasion and claim a starting spot, even though he has failed to do just that for his entire Mountaineer career.

Also, Kevin Noreen is talented, but failed to be a consistent starter through out this past season and could lose out to Holton or one of the talented freshman.

We shifted Devin Williams from his natural 4 spot to the 5 for the purpose of depth given the good size he has and the fact that Noreen and Holton would have him boxed out for playing time at 4. It would not at all be a surprise to see guys like Williams, Macon, Adrian, and/or Watkins receive redshirts this season with the perceived big man depth with the upper-classmen.

Just as all last season, this coming season promises to showcase a Mountaineers roster in flux as coach Huggins tries to determine which players are going to take the reins of the team and step up as leaders. Let’s all just hope that Huggins can identify a starting five before Big XII play this season.

CREDIT: wvusports.com

When people think of West Virginia University athletics, they almost always think of the Mountaineers football program or perhaps our dominant rifle squad. Even more think to the West Virginia men’s basketball program and the great Jerry West. In the not-so-distant future, fans might come to think of West Virginia as a college baseball powerhouse.

New Mountaineers head coach Randy Mazey and WVU athletic director Oliver Luck have made huge commitments to bringing the Mountaineers baseball program to new heights. With West Virginia now a member of the Big XII, a premier college baseball conference, Mazey and Luck have made a huge commitment to rejuvenating the program, starting with a new stadium.

Luck has worked aggressively to secure funding for a brand new baseball stadium along I-79 that will be a major upgrade from the Mountaineers current stadium. The new stadium will bring the Mountaineers facility on par with the best schools in the Big XII Conference.

Coach Mazey has molded the WVU baseball squad into a Big XII competitor and a team deserving of the large investment by WVU and the state of West Virginia. In just his first season on the job, Mazey has managed the Mountaineers to a 29-20 record and a three-way tie for first place in the Big XII.

The rise of the Mountaineers baseball program is creating a huge buzz around a program that few Mountaineers fans ever paid attention to before. With only a couple weeks left in the season, West Virginia will be in the midst of baseball fever.

Mar 14, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers head coach Bob Huggins speaks at a press conference during practice for the second round of the 2012 NCAA men

According to research published by the Auburn University athletic department, the West Virginia University Mountaineers rank in the Top 25 of two out of three social media indexes.

The study, conducted by College Athletics Internet Digital Association (CAIDA), analyzes the social media activity of Division I FBS programs. The three leading social media sites analyzed in the study were Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube.

As the report shows, the Mountaineers made the Top 25 in both Twitter (#22) and Youtube (#18). The Mountaineers presence in Twitter is good enough for 4th in the Big XII conference with 30,720 followers. WVU trails Big XII Twitter champion Kansas, #5 overall with 61,855 followers. The Jayhawks strong presence on Twitter is clearly driven by their men’s basketball program and not their football program.

The Mountaineers are also looking up at Big XII foes Oklahoma at #7 with 57,045 followers and #20 Kansas State with 32,215 followers.

On the Youtube front, West Virginia fairs much better with 4,053 subscribers for #18 nationally. The Mountaineers subscription base is good enough for third in the Big XII conference. WVU trails #12 Oklahoma’s 5,543 subscribers and #17 Oklahoma State’s 4,511 subscribers.

It is somewhat surprising that the Mountaineers Youtube subscriptions are so low, given the massive amount of WVU videos on Youtube. The study must only be considering the WestVirginiaU official account and not the fan accounts like dougitydog (which puts out some amazing content).

The one social media where WVU is severely lacking is Facebook. The Mountaineers did not qualify for the Top 25 of the rating in terms of likes. According to Facebook, the West Virginia Mountaineers fan page claims 205,985 likes which would be good enough for #25 on the list ahead of Miami. Not sure whether the study used this page or not.

As it stands, the reigning champions of each social media are Ohio State on Facebook, Nebraska on Twitter, and Oregon on Youtube. To help the Mountaineers raise up the standings, like the Facebook fan page, follow @WestVirginiaU on Twitter, and subscribe to the WestVirginiaU channel on Youtube.