November 29 Notebook
November 29, 2005 10:48 AM | General
November 29, 2005
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – There were many wonderful moments last Saturday evening when Jerry West returned to Morgantown to take part in the school’s halftime ceremony to officially retire his uniform number 44.
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| West Virginia great Jerry West addresses the crowd during Saturday evening's No. 44 jersey retirement ceremony at the WVU Coliseum.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks |
Watching the way West conducted himself was truly inspirational. He spoke, sometimes almost in a whisper, of what the University meant to him and how it impacted his life. He mentioned that were it not for West Virginia University his life might have turned out differently. He talked about what it meant putting on the Mountaineer uniform and representing his native state.
He reminisced about his favorite games, his teammates and those who once lived in town like the late Dinardi sisters who were instrumental in keeping West in school.
“If you can believe this, I was homesick for a town of about 500,” chuckled West.
It was also apparent that this shy and private man was uncomfortable with all of the attention. West, now 67, admitted his palms were sweating on the flight up to Morgantown -- not because he had to land at Hart Field -- but because he was nervous about the prospect of walking out onto the floor in front of 12,000 people.
“I hate to walk out on the court,” he said. “That’s why I never sit in the stands during basketball games or particularly a team I’m involved with. I don’t want to be seen or heard.”
West said when he was a player he used to run out onto the floor with his head down. And when the game was over he ran off the court with his head down.
On Saturday West Virginians everywhere proudly held their heads high in recognition of their most famous son.
To me, the most memorable moment of Saturday’s wonderfully conducted retirement presentation didn’t take place on the floor when Master of Ceremonies Tony Caridi listed all of West’s great accomplishments, or when West made a touching speech recognizing all those responsible for helping him get to where he’s at right now.
It wasn’t even when Caridi surprised the crowd by announcing that the school is going to construct a statue in West’s honor outside the Coliseum Blue Gate.
The moment for me came when, by chance, I happened to look into the crowd and I noticed all those grandfathers, sons and grandsons standing up together applauding one of their own. Three generations of West Virginians recognizing and saluting the dignity, honor and class that is Jerry West.
Briefly:
Of course a more likely scenario is for the Gator Bowl to wait on Virginia Tech should the Hokies lose to Florida State in the ACC title game.
The MPC Computers Bowl has the sixth pick from the ACC and is very interested in landing the Eagles – even if BC isn’t that thrilled about going there. Because the Gator and Peach Bowls are more interested in southern schools that travel well, there is a very real possibility that BC might fall that far.
MPC Bowl executive director Gary Beck said the Eagles are now their prime target.
“If they're available, we're going to pick them,” Beck said. “They can't say no. We have a contract.”
Of course the irony in all this is that 8-3 Boston College would have had no trouble at all landing a Gator Bowl bid had they remained in the Big East. If in fact BC ends up in Boise playing what will be a home game for Boise State … well, it couldn’t happen to a better bunch of guys.
By the way, The Weather Channel’s extended forecast for Boise is calling for snow showers and a game-time temperature of minus 4.
The 7-4 Knights last played in a bowl game in 1978 in the nearby Garden State Bowl when Jimmy Carter was president.
So who did Rutgers play in that ‘78 Garden State Bowl classic, you might ask? You guessed it, Arizona State. Nothing like waiting 27 years between bowl games to play the same team.
That means 6-4 South Florida is probably headed to the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte, N.C., to face a team from the ACC -- most likely Georgia Tech. The Big East could get a fifth team into a bowl game if 5-5 Connecticut upsets 8-2 Louisville this Saturday.
A Connecticut win and a South Florida loss to West Virginia could push the Huskies into the Meineke Car Care Bowl and send USF to the Motor City Bowl.
As important as it is for West Virginia to have a good showing in its BCS bowl game for the Big East, it is as equally important for the league’s other bowl teams to travel well to its games.
Talley is particularly impressed with Rodriguez’ spread offensive system. “I really like the concept because it exposes any weaknesses a defense might have,” he explained. “When you spread out the field like they do (defenses) can’t hide any bad players – they’re going to find them and take advantage of them.”
Collins likened this year's team to the 1993 undefeated West Virginia team that he played on.
Have a great week!
