Coach Rod in Rare Form
April 02, 2003 10:05 AM | General
April 2, 2003
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Spring football practice is just three days old, but West Virginia University football coach Rich Rodriguez is already in rare form.
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| Coach Rich Rodriguez, pictured here with quarterback Rasheed Marshall, wasn't pleased with West Virginia's first full-contact practice of the spring Tuesday afternoon. (All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks) |
Displeased with his team’s performance during its first full-contact practice Tuesday, Rodriguez let loose several zingers afterward while talking to reporters.
“Did you like the intensity today, coach?”
“Well, sometimes it was okay and at other times it was like a pillow fight. Some of it is probably confusion, but they’ve got to let it loose even when they’re confused.”
“Anything you were happy about today, coach?”
“I thought the weather was perfect. You couldn’t ask for anything better than this.”
“Was there anything you liked about practice today besides the weather?”
“I liked the way the quarterbacks ran. Of course they were scrambling for their lives half the time. We didn’t catch any interceptions. It looked like we were in the right position but we’ve got hands like feet back there (in the secondary) … the backs weren’t exactly that impressive … the punting was terrible … we made a couple of field goals; Brad Cooper did a nice job … I’m searching here.”
“How was (Charles) Hales today?”
“Charles was throwing the ball all over the place today. He was throwing it to the blue shirts, the white shirts and even the officials. I think he understands what we’re doing but I think his head is spinning around faster than I can talk to him right now. I expected him to do that, though. Now if he’s still doing that 10 practices from now I’ll be concerned. Right now I’m not that concerned.”
Rodriguez says some of the rust can be expected, but he’s eager to see improvement from his team during the remainder of the week leading into the first officiated scrimmage of the spring this Saturday.
“I can’t imagine having to go to the fall without spring practice,” he said. “We’ve got a whole bunch of work to do.”
News and Notes
Porter believes he can produce 1,000 yards this season in Oakland’s high powered offense.
Two other former West Virginia players are also playing in NFL Europe in fullback Corey McIntyre and wide receiver Shawn Terry -- both with the Frankfort Galaxy.
LHP, Steve Kline, St. Louis Cardinals
1B, Scott Seabol, Indianapolis Indians, AAA
RHP, Jeremy Cummings, Memphis Redbirds, AAA
RHP, Chris Enochs, Midland Rockhounds, AA
RHP, Billy Biggs, Lancaster Jethawks, A
C, Brad Elwood, Tampa Yankees, A
LHP, Joe Van Gorder, New Jersey Cardinals, A
RHP, Vance McCracken, South Georgia Waves, A
LHP, Matt Blethen, Mahoning Valley Scrappers, A
LHP, Shane Rhodes, Augusta Greenjackets, A
LHP, David Maust, Brevard County Manatees, A
RHP, Dustin Nippert, Missoula Osprey, R
Look for the launch of those two sites later this spring.
Once those two are completed, that will bring the total number of active web sites promoting West Virginia University athletics to seven. There is MSNsportsNET.com, WVU Varsity Club.com, CoachRod.com, ShopWVU.com and the West Virginia University sports (wvu.edu) web sites up and running right now.
All seven of those web sites fall under the jurisdiction of yours truly.
The additional funding is subject for approval by the WVU Board of Governors and the monies will come from bonds, private fundraising and WVU’s athletic operating budget. According to WVU associate athletic director Russ Sharp, the total price tag for the stadium capital improvements is now expected to be in the $11 million range.
As for North Carolina, the word on the street is that the Tar Heels are going to make a big push for Roy Williams once the Jayhawks’ season is finished.
Previously, Chattanooga’s Jeff Lebo removed his name from consideration for the Tech basketball job vacated with the firing of Ricky Stokes.
With the Big East having four teams advance to the NCAA tournament “Sweet 16” and Syracuse making the Final Four, it’s pretty safe to call 2003 a successful campaign for the Big East basketball conference.
The same can be said for the women’s basketball conference. For the first time in Big East history, seven teams made the NCAA tournament field. Also, four advanced to the “Sweet 16”, two made it to the “Final Eight” and Connecticut is still alive in the “Final Four.”
Have a great week!
