A Chance Meeting
September 08, 2006 09:58 AM | General
September 8, 2006
It was a chance meeting if there ever was one. Deacon Duvall was making his way through an airport when he was asked about the Fairmont State ball cap that he was wearing.
It seems the fellow who was inquiring was the starting quarterback at Eastern Washington when the Eagles played Fairmont State for the NAIA national championship at old Mountaineer Field in 1967.
Coach Duvall remembered the signal caller by name and the two rehashed details of the game which Fairmont State won 28-21.
Before going their separate ways the QB had a question that he just had to ask the legendary Falcons coach: “Coach, you’ve got to tell me. Did that Blackstone boy ever make it in the NFL? It seemed like he made every single tackle in our game. All I can remember is the public address announcer saying, ‘Tackle by Blackstone.’”
Duvall undoubtedly smiled when he heard the question … that’s because there was more than one Blackstone on the field that day for the Falcons. Twin brothers Larry and Barry Blackstone were starters on the Falcons defensive front and although they never made it to the NFL, they did have Eastern Washington seeing double.
Much has changed at Eastern Washington in the nearly 40 years since their last visit to Morgantown. The school has become a well respected I-AA program (when I-AA was still a classification) that annually competes for the Big Sky Championship.
Of course, playing Eastern Washington this season had about the same chance of happening as that chance meeting in the airport. The University of Buffalo’s decision not to fulfill its contract with the Mountaineers led to the last second schedule change.
By the way, congratulations to the Boys at Buffalo for that scintillating season-opening 9-3 overtime victory over Temple. Make sure you put the game film of that one in the trophy case, which at Buffalo may consist of a refrigerator box.
Look for true freshman Eddie Davis to play in this weekend’s game. Rich Rodriguez is trying to develop depth in the offensive backfield. Davis and Ed Collington are being given opportunities to show what they can contribute.
Meanwhile, starter Steve Slaton is looking for his third-straight 200-yard rushing game. The sophomore had a Sugar Bowl-record 204-yard performance last year against Georgia, and followed that up with a 203-yard effort in the season opener last Saturday against Marshall. Slaton has now accounted for 21 touchdowns in his last nine games dating back to last year’s Louisville victory.
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| Nate Sowers |
Rodriguez says Nate Sowers is being prepared to play the role of “Slash” in the Mountaineer offense. Coach Rod says the southpaw from the Eastern Panhandle will take snaps at quarterback, receiver, and be used on special teams. WVU coaches realize that Sowers has too much upside not to be used at several spots.
WVU running backs coach Calvin McGee received a surprise phone call in the box late in the fourth quarter of the season opener against Marshall. Quincy Wilson was calling from the field phone. He wanted to let his former coach know he not only made the Cincinnati Bengals roster, but that he was the team’s second string running back. It couldn’t have happened to a better young man. Quincy Wilson is a classic example of what hard work and relentless determination will bring.
Way to go Quincy!
Tonight’s Pitt-Cincinnati game will be available real-time on Mobile ESPN, the only mobile phone service completely dedicated to the sports fan.
Mobile ESPN users who subscribe to the Total Sports Package will have one-touch, automatic access to games as they are happening through Mobile ESPN’s unique “Sideline” menu. The package includes all Mobile ESPN sports content, audio and video player and alerts, wireless Internet access and text messaging.
I only bring this up because the service will also be available for next Thursday night’s West Virginia-Maryland game.
Be sure to tune into the MSN radio broadcast; there is no live television for Saturday’s game. Afterward, be sure to stop back to MSNsportsNET.com for highlights, podcasts, stats, and a complete post-game wrap up.
