Addressing WVU concern, checking prospects and welcoming golfers
When word leaked that West Virginia landed a commitment from quarterback Brian Athey of Eden Prairie, Minn., there were more than a few eyebrows raised.
When word leaked that West Virginia landed a commitment from quarterback Brian Athey of Eden Prairie, Minn., there were more than a few eyebrows raised.
Another quarterback? With Geno Smith, Barry Brunetti, Jeremy Johnson, Coley White and Josh DePasquale on the Mountaineer roster for this coming season, as well as next?
If you check the recruiting services, you'll see Scout.com gives Athey two of five stars and says he has no other offers. There's not much about him at the Rivals.com site. In fact, there's no rating at all. Ditto MaxPreps.
If you Google the name, you'll find a resume of an impressive Brian Athey at the University of Michigan Medical School.
So what's the deal? Are WVU's coaches taking Athey because his grandpap is Mountaineer Sports Network announcer Dwight Wallace?
The answer is no. The Mountaineer coaches like Athey. As in a lot. They believe he can become another Oliver Luck or Jeff Hostetler. They believe he can add 20 pounds to his 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame. And they believe he's a steal. The word is, Wisconsin coaches really like the kid as well, and there were whispers that Ohio State was watching.
Ex-Mountaineer baseball standout Jedd Gyorko is off to a heck of a start within the San Diego Padres' Class A short-season system in the Northwest League.
Playing for the Eugene Emeralds, Gyorko was leading his team in batting with a .353 average with five homers, six doubles and 17 RBIs in 20 games and 85 at-bats going into Tuesday's game.
Nitro High product J.R. Bradley, meanwhile, is struggling mightily early in his pro career. Playing for Arizona's Missoula Osprey team in the Rookie Pioneer League, Bradley owned an 0-2 record and 9.35 earned run average in three games started with just two strikeouts in 82/3 innings pitched before Tuesday.
Bradley, by the way, is the highest signed Arizona draft pick now active. The Diamondbacks' first pick, Texas A&M pitcher Barret Loux, failed his physical exam. He was the sixth overall selection.
Article Preview
This article is available only to our premium digital content subscribers.
Addressing WVU concern, checking prospects and welcoming golfers
YE OLDE notebook:
When word leaked that West Virginia landed a commitment from quarterback Brian Athey of Eden Prairie, Minn., there were more than a few eyebrows raised.
Another quarterback? With Geno Smith, Barry Brunetti, Jeremy Johnson, Coley White and Josh DePasquale on the Mountaineer roster for this coming season, as well as next?
If you check the recruiting services, you'll see Scout.com gives Athey two of five stars and says he has no other offers. There's not much about him at the Rivals.com site. In fact, there's no rating at all. Ditto MaxPreps.
If you Google the name, you'll find a resume of an impressive Brian Athey at the University of Michigan Medical School.
So what's the deal? Are WVU's coaches taking Athey because his grandpap is Mountaineer Sports Network announcer Dwight Wallace?
The answer is no. The Mountaineer coaches like Athey. As in a lot. They believe he can become another Oliver Luck or Jeff Hostetler. They believe he can add 20 pounds to his 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame. And they believe he's a steal. The word is, Wisconsin coaches really like the kid as well, and there were whispers that Ohio State was watching.
Ex-Mountaineer baseball standout Jedd Gyorko is off to a heck of a start within the San Diego Padres' Class A short-season system in the Northwest League.
Playing for the Eugene Emeralds, Gyorko was leading his team in batting with a .353 average with five homers, six doubles and 17 RBIs in 20 games and 85 at-bats going into Tuesday's game.
Nitro High product J.R. Bradley, meanwhile, is struggling mightily early in his pro career. Playing for Arizona's Missoula Osprey team in the Rookie Pioneer League, Bradley owned an 0-2 record and 9.35 earned run average in three games started with just two strikeouts in 82/3 innings pitched before Tuesday.
Bradley, by the way, is the highest signed Arizona draft pick now active. The Diamondbacks' first pick, Texas A&M pitcher Barret Loux, failed his physical exam. He was the sixth overall selection.
Click here to sign up for a one month subscription.
1 Month Online + Print Delivery
$31.99
Click here to sign up for our Premium subscription package.
YE OLDE notebook:
When word leaked that West Virginia landed a commitment from quarterback Brian Athey of Eden Prairie, Minn., there were more than a few eyebrows raised.
Another quarterback? With Geno Smith, Barry Brunetti, Jeremy Johnson, Coley White and Josh DePasquale on the Mountaineer roster for this coming season, as well as next?
If you check the recruiting services, you'll see Scout.com gives Athey two of five stars and says he has no other offers. There's not much about him at the Rivals.com site. In fact, there's no rating at all. Ditto MaxPreps.
If you Google the name, you'll find a resume of an impressive Brian Athey at the University of Michigan Medical School.
So what's the deal? Are WVU's coaches taking Athey because his grandpap is Mountaineer Sports Network announcer Dwight Wallace?
The answer is no. The Mountaineer coaches like Athey. As in a lot. They believe he can become another Oliver Luck or Jeff Hostetler. They believe he can add 20 pounds to his 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame. And they believe he's a steal. The word is, Wisconsin coaches really like the kid as well, and there were whispers that Ohio State was watching.
Ex-Mountaineer baseball standout Jedd Gyorko is off to a heck of a start within the San Diego Padres' Class A short-season system in the Northwest League.
Playing for the Eugene Emeralds, Gyorko was leading his team in batting with a .353 average with five homers, six doubles and 17 RBIs in 20 games and 85 at-bats going into Tuesday's game.
Nitro High product J.R. Bradley, meanwhile, is struggling mightily early in his pro career. Playing for Arizona's Missoula Osprey team in the Rookie Pioneer League, Bradley owned an 0-2 record and 9.35 earned run average in three games started with just two strikeouts in 82/3 innings pitched before Tuesday.
Bradley, by the way, is the highest signed Arizona draft pick now active. The Diamondbacks' first pick, Texas A&M pitcher Barret Loux, failed his physical exam. He was the sixth overall selection.
On Monday, I spoke to ex-WVU coach Don Nehlen about his part in bringing the former Times Square screen to West Virginia high school football fields.
The effort is being worked through the Don Nehlen Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, Inc. The former coach pointed to the last part of the organization's name.
"We need more high school and college coaches to join the chapter,'' Nehlen said. "If you're a member, you vote on membership into the College Football Hall of Fame.
"We've got guys like Darryl Talley, Mike Compton and, later, Pat White that will be on the ballots.''
And finally . . .
Welcome and good luck to those in Hurricane this week for the West Virginia Open golf tournament at Sleepy Hollow.
I could never understand why the state's amateur event overshadowed the Open, but that trend seems to be reversing.
Even with the PGA Greenbrier Classic looming, the Open seems healthy, according to West Virginia Golf Association executive director Ken Tackett. Entry numbers were up.
Let's hope the weather cooperates and the fans turn out - because if you're a golf fan, our hills will definitely be alive over the next few weeks.
This article is available only to our premium digital content subscribers.
Addressing WVU concern, checking prospects and welcoming golfers
YE OLDE notebook:
When word leaked that West Virginia landed a commitment from quarterback Brian Athey of Eden Prairie, Minn., there were more than a few eyebrows raised.
Another quarterback? With Geno Smith, Barry Brunetti, Jeremy Johnson, Coley White and Josh DePasquale on the Mountaineer roster for this coming season, as well as next?
If you check the recruiting services, you'll see Scout.com gives Athey two of five stars and says he has no other offers. There's not much about him at the Rivals.com site. In fact, there's no rating at all. Ditto MaxPreps.
If you Google the name, you'll find a resume of an impressive Brian Athey at the University of Michigan Medical School.
So what's the deal? Are WVU's coaches taking Athey because his grandpap is Mountaineer Sports Network announcer Dwight Wallace?
The answer is no. The Mountaineer coaches like Athey. As in a lot. They believe he can become another Oliver Luck or Jeff Hostetler. They believe he can add 20 pounds to his 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame. And they believe he's a steal. The word is, Wisconsin coaches really like the kid as well, and there were whispers that Ohio State was watching.
Ex-Mountaineer baseball standout Jedd Gyorko is off to a heck of a start within the San Diego Padres' Class A short-season system in the Northwest League.
Playing for the Eugene Emeralds, Gyorko was leading his team in batting with a .353 average with five homers, six doubles and 17 RBIs in 20 games and 85 at-bats going into Tuesday's game.
Nitro High product J.R. Bradley, meanwhile, is struggling mightily early in his pro career. Playing for Arizona's Missoula Osprey team in the Rookie Pioneer League, Bradley owned an 0-2 record and 9.35 earned run average in three games started with just two strikeouts in 82/3 innings pitched before Tuesday.
Bradley, by the way, is the highest signed Arizona draft pick now active. The Diamondbacks' first pick, Texas A&M pitcher Barret Loux, failed his physical exam. He was the sixth overall selection.
