We’re changing things up a little bit. For the past four years Campus Connection has kind of been like a weekly blog full of tidbits, notes, commentary, quasi-opinion and weak stabs at humor that have sometimes hit the mark and at other times completely missed. Well, to keep up with the Jones', we’ve decided to turn Campus Connection into a daily blog. If we miss a day then you know we’re struggling.

Hope you enjoy it ...

History Repeats Itself
Posted By John Antonik: January 31, 2008 (11:01 am)

They say history repeats itself.

In digging through some files researching something for next Wednesday’s signing day I came across a statement issued by Dr. Herbert E. Warden, chairman of the West Virginia University Athletic council, concerning the resignation of football coach Jim Carlen in 1969 following WVU’s Peach Bowl victory over South Carolina.

Carlen announced a day after the Peach Bowl that he was taking the head coaching position at Texas Tech University. Warden’s statement was released two weeks after Carlen’s departure on Jan. 14, 1970.

“As chairman of the Athletic Council which governs the intercollegiate athletic program at West Virginia University, I felt compelled to make this statement because of erroneous information reported by some sports writers concerning Jim Carlen’s decision to leave WVU.

“Every possible effort was made to keep Jim at WVU. But on December 31, when he first reported his intention to leave, he said that he was fully committed to Texas Tech and that he couldn’t negotiate.”

Warden’s statement also referred to Carlen’s wish in November of 1969 to obtain salary increases for himself and his coaches, his wish to secure more grants-in-aid for football players, and the ability to redshirt players.

At the time, redshirting and grants-in-aid were regulated by an agreement between West Virginia University, Pitt, Penn State and Syracuse. According to Warden, WVU twice asked the presidents of those three schools to consider modifying the redshirt rule and increasing scholarship support for football but the presidents denied West Virginia’s request.

It also became clear to West Virginia that the three schools would drop WVU from their schedules if it did not adhere to the redshirting and scholarship agreements. The Athletic Council chose not to jeopardize relationships with those schools.

According to Warden, the Athletic Council promised Carlen salary increases that would have exceeded the bonuses that the University of South Carolina finally provided its football coaches for reaching the Peach Bowl. WVU considered salary increases “based on meritorious performance” to be “more desirable” than one-shot bonuses.

“Jim appeared pleased with these proposals when they were discussed with him,” Warden wrote.

In light of what has transpired over the last month with the Mountaineer football program, isn’t it eerie how similar the circumstances really are?

Rutgers Stadium Expansion
Posted By John Antonik: January 30, 2008 (2:28 pm)

Rutgers yesterday unveiled a planned $102 million expansion to Rutgers Stadium that will boost the stadium seating capacity to 55,500 and will provide 28 luxury boxes. The school will borrow $72 million of the funds needed to complete the project with the remaining $30 million coming from private sources.

The present facility has a seating capacity of 41,500 although 1,500 temporary bleachers were added to the end zone because of increased ticket demand. The Rutgers Stadium project is expected to be opened in phases in 2008 and 2009 and construction is completed.

The Scarlet Knights are scheduled to play at West Virginia in 2008.

Here is the Bergen Record Story:
R.U.: 14,000 more seats + 28 luxury boxes = $102 million

Winning Combination
Posted By John Antonik: January 29, 2008 (9:18 am)

Bill Stewart is building a winning collection of assistant football coaches. Stewart was able to hang on to two members of West Virginia’s coaching staff (Jeff Casteel and Bill Kirelawich) that went 11-2 this year and beat Oklahoma in the 2008 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

Stewart also convinced David Johnson to leave 11-2 Georgia, Doc Holiday to depart 9-4 Florida, Jeff Mullen to leave 9-4 Wake Forest and David Lockwood to leave 8-5 Kentucky.

Georgia had a blowout victory over Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl, Wake Forest beat Connecticut in the Meineke Bowl and Kentucky defeated Florida State in the Music City Bowl. The Cats this year can also count an overtime victory over national champion LSU.

Including Steve Dunlap from 3-9 Marshall and Chris Beatty from 2-10 Northern Illinois, the combined record last year of the teams WVU’s assistants worked for was 64-38. And that doesn’t include Stewart who also worked WVU’s sidelines.

On the defensive side of the football three of the four defensive coaches have coordinating experience. Top defensive strategist Jeff Casteel was recently named Rivals.com defensive coordinator of the year after his unit finished the year ranked seventh in the nation in total defense. Steve Dunlap coordinated West Virginia’s No. 1-ranked defense in 1996 and Dave Lockwood spent time running Minnesota’s defense in the Big Ten.

Offensively, Johnson was an original member of Mark Richt’s Georgia staff in 2001 that has since won 72 of 91 football games. Offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen followed Jim Grobe from Ohio to Wake Forest, where the Demon Deacons have forged a 20-7 record the last two seasons including an Orange Bowl appearance in 2007.

Before Grobe got to Wake Forest in 2001, Wake Forest had a 352-542 all-time record in football.

Chris Beatty was one of the most successful high school coaches in Virginia, operating a spread offense that helped Landstown high school to the big school title in 2004.

Stewart has one more spot to fill on his coaching staff.

Dodd's Rankings
Posted By John Antonik: January 29, 2008 (8:21 am)

Bill Stewart was picked 18th out of the 18 changes that took place in major college football this year by CBS Sports.com writer Dennis Dodd.

Dodd wrote: Can you say battlefield promotion? None of the other names on this list got their job without an interview. None of the coaches were promoted from being tight ends coach/special teams coordinator.

However, I wouldn't get too alarmed with Dodd’s rankings. He is also responsible for the following regarding his No. 1 choice Rich Rodriguez: If you're worried about the defense, don't be. Jeff Casteel was Rivals.com's defensive coordinator of the year. The Mountaineers finished in the top 10 in total yards and rush defense in '07 using Casteel's "stack" defense.

Of course Casteel opted to remain with Dodd's 18th-ranked coach.

Here is Dodd’s coaching rankings: http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/10604892

Winning Streaks
Posted By John Antonik: January 28, 2008 (2:45 pm)

Winning streaks are on the line when the No. 12 West Virginia women’s team takes on No. 5 Rutgers Tuesday night at the WVU Coliseum. The Mountaineers (16-3) have the nation’s ninth-longest home winning streak at 14 games and have also won 10 straight at home in Big East play.

Rutgers, 17-2, is one of the hottest teams in the country having won 12 straight heading into Tuesday night’s showdown with the Mountaineers. The Scarlet Knights’ two losses this year have come against No. 8 Stanford and at No. 15 Duke.

Included among Rutgers’ 12 consecutive wins was a 56-51 victory over No. 12 California on Dec. 10.

West Virginia’s last home loss came against Connecticut on Jan. 2, 2007, when the Huskies claimed a 63-44 victory. The Mountaineers have won 20 of their last 21 games at the Coliseum dating back to last season.

Casteel Recognized
Posted By John Antonik: January 28, 2008 (2:50 pm)

West Virginia's Jeff Casteel was recognized by Rivals.com as its defensive coordinator of the year. The Paden City native directed the nation's No. 7-ranked defense allowing just 301.7 yards per game.

The Mountaineers also ranked eighth in scoring defense (18.1 ppg.), 14th in pass defense (188.8 ypg.), 18th in rush defense (112.9 ypg.) and 28th in pass efficiency defense with a 114.19 rating.

West Virginia ranked first in the Big East in rushing defense and scoring defense and was second to Pitt in total defense.