Offseason Mountaineer Football Notebook
February 12, 2020 01:39 PM | Football, Blog
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – We are still a few weeks away from the start of spring football practice, which should be getting underway by the second week of March, but that doesn't mean activity at the Milan Puskar Center has come to a halt.
There is plenty going on across town, starting with the complex itself. The most significant improvements to the facility since its completion in 1981 are full speed ahead, according to Deputy Director of Athletics and senior football administrator Keli Zinn.
The current renovation and expansion project is going to add nearly 14,000 square feet of additional space to the nearly 40-year-old structure.
When completed, the Puskar Center, formerly known as the Facilities Building, will encompass approximately 86,000 square feet of space for the Mountaineer football program.
"I'm extremely pleased with where we're at," Zinn said. "The project is on schedule and under budget. March Westin is doing an incredible job."
This series of upgrades will also include a new Hall of Traditions that will be more accessible to the general public when completed.
Renderings, interactive videos and additional information about the Puskar Center Complex renovation project can be accessed on the Mountaineer Athletic Club website.
Meanwhile, offseason strength and conditioning work continues downstairs in the building. I have gotten word that the coaching staff has been extremely pleased with the players' effort and enthusiasm during winter workouts so far.
Coach Neal Brown mentioned a number of times last fall how vitally important this year's winter strength and conditioning program was going to be to the development of his young football program, particularly up front along the offensive line.
There are a number of young players who need to take advantage of this time with Mike Joseph and his staff to get them adequately prepared for the 2020 campaign.
Speaking of offensive lineman, recently departed left tackle Colton McKivitz was extended an invitation to participate in this year's NFL Scouting Combine, which will take place Feb. 23 through March 2 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
McKivitz's invite extends the streak to 19 consecutive years that at least one Mountaineer player has attended the NFL event. McKivitz also played in the Senior Bowl last month – the fifth straight year West Virginia has had a player in that game.
He earned first team All-Big 12 and second team Walter Camp All-America honors following an outstanding senior season in 2019. McKivitz owns the rare distinction of being named to an All-American team despite playing on a West Virginia squad with a losing record.
The last one I can recall doing so was cornerback Aaron Beasley, who accorded second team AP All-America honors following WVU's 5-6 record in 1995.
That's an indication of the type of season McKivitz had in 2019.
Former Mountaineer standout Terence Garvin performed well in his XFL debut with the St. Louis BattleHawks last Saturday afternoon.
The linebacker was credited with six tackles, two assists and two tackles for losses in St. Louis' 15-9 victory over the Dallas Renegades. The BattleHawks won the game despite being a 9 ½-point underdog.
St. Louis plays at Houston this Sunday evening.
Garvin was a four-year letterman at WVU for coaches Bill Stewart and Dana Holgorsen before spending parts of six seasons in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Redskins, Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers from 2013-18.
The Baltimore native played in 75 career NFL games.
Meanwhile, in other action, Kenny Bigelow's D.C. Defenders downed the Seattle Dragons 31-19 and Dravon Askew-Henry's New York Guardians defeated Marquis Lucas' Tampa Bay Vipers 23-3.
Ex-West Virginia standout Pat McAfee is doing sideline reporting for XFL TV coverage this year and, of course, Oliver Luck is the CEO and commissioner of the new football league.
The XFL will have a 10-game regular season schedule this spring plus two rounds of playoffs before its championship game will be played at the University of Houston's TDECU Stadium on Sunday, April 26. ESPN will televise the game.
I would suspect a great deal of Mike Montoro's football promotional work this spring will revolve around the Stills brothers, Darius and Dante, and freshman All-American defensive back Tykee Smith.
Those three will join returning starters Josh Chandler, Dylan Tonkery and Sean Mahone on Vic Koenning's 2020 Mountaineer defense.
On the other side of the ball, West Virginia has eight of 11 starters back, but must find replacements for both tackles.
And finally, some sad football news to report. Former Mountaineer quarterback Dick Loring, a Morgantown native and University High product living in Moorestown Township, New Jersey, died on Wednesday, Feb. 5 at the age of 89.
Loring played three seasons for West Virginia from 1949-51 for coaches Dud DeGroot and Art "Pappy" Lewis.
His best game came at George Washington on Oct. 6, 1950 in old Griffith Stadium when he passed for 122 yards and a touchdown in a 21-14 loss to the Colonials.
In 14 career games, he completed 26-of-59 passes for 495 yards and four touchdowns.
Dick was considered among the oldest living Mountaineer quarterbacks and among the oldest living players at the time of his death.
Former Mountaineer standout Roy Lester is now 96 living in Gaithersburg, Maryland, while University High's Louis Birurakis will be celebrating his 94th birthday later this spring.
Louis' first football season for the Mountaineers was all the way back in 1944 playing for the legendary Ira Errett Rodgers.
That's one year before the end of World War II!
Also, word was received that former cornerback Johnny Schell, a member of coach Bobby Bowden's 1975 Peach Bowl championship team, passed away last week.
Schell, 65, was living in Athens, Georgia, at the time of his death.
Teammate Steve Dunlap recalled that Schell, a 5-foot-11, 180-pound defensive back, was known to hit anything that moved - sometimes even his own teammates.
"I remember one time I was about to make a tackle and Johnny flew up and hit me so hard I thought he broke all of my ribs," Dunlap laughed. "I told him, 'Are you color blind? We're wearing the same blue jerseys!' He would hit anything."
Schell finished his Mountaineer career in 1976 playing for coach Frank Cignetti.
There was a Facebook post earlier this week referencing a great game-saving tackle Schell made during West Virginia's 13-10 win over NC State in the Peach Bowl, but Dunlap doesn't recall that specific play.
Nevertheless, our heartfelt condolences go out to both families.
There is plenty going on across town, starting with the complex itself. The most significant improvements to the facility since its completion in 1981 are full speed ahead, according to Deputy Director of Athletics and senior football administrator Keli Zinn.
The current renovation and expansion project is going to add nearly 14,000 square feet of additional space to the nearly 40-year-old structure.
When completed, the Puskar Center, formerly known as the Facilities Building, will encompass approximately 86,000 square feet of space for the Mountaineer football program.
"I'm extremely pleased with where we're at," Zinn said. "The project is on schedule and under budget. March Westin is doing an incredible job."
This series of upgrades will also include a new Hall of Traditions that will be more accessible to the general public when completed.
Renderings, interactive videos and additional information about the Puskar Center Complex renovation project can be accessed on the Mountaineer Athletic Club website.
Meanwhile, offseason strength and conditioning work continues downstairs in the building. I have gotten word that the coaching staff has been extremely pleased with the players' effort and enthusiasm during winter workouts so far.
Coach Neal Brown mentioned a number of times last fall how vitally important this year's winter strength and conditioning program was going to be to the development of his young football program, particularly up front along the offensive line.
There are a number of young players who need to take advantage of this time with Mike Joseph and his staff to get them adequately prepared for the 2020 campaign.
***
Speaking of offensive lineman, recently departed left tackle Colton McKivitz was extended an invitation to participate in this year's NFL Scouting Combine, which will take place Feb. 23 through March 2 in Indianapolis, Indiana.McKivitz's invite extends the streak to 19 consecutive years that at least one Mountaineer player has attended the NFL event. McKivitz also played in the Senior Bowl last month – the fifth straight year West Virginia has had a player in that game.
He earned first team All-Big 12 and second team Walter Camp All-America honors following an outstanding senior season in 2019. McKivitz owns the rare distinction of being named to an All-American team despite playing on a West Virginia squad with a losing record.
The last one I can recall doing so was cornerback Aaron Beasley, who accorded second team AP All-America honors following WVU's 5-6 record in 1995.
That's an indication of the type of season McKivitz had in 2019.
***
Former Mountaineer standout Terence Garvin performed well in his XFL debut with the St. Louis BattleHawks last Saturday afternoon.
The linebacker was credited with six tackles, two assists and two tackles for losses in St. Louis' 15-9 victory over the Dallas Renegades. The BattleHawks won the game despite being a 9 ½-point underdog.
St. Louis plays at Houston this Sunday evening.
Garvin was a four-year letterman at WVU for coaches Bill Stewart and Dana Holgorsen before spending parts of six seasons in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Redskins, Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers from 2013-18.The Baltimore native played in 75 career NFL games.
Meanwhile, in other action, Kenny Bigelow's D.C. Defenders downed the Seattle Dragons 31-19 and Dravon Askew-Henry's New York Guardians defeated Marquis Lucas' Tampa Bay Vipers 23-3.
Ex-West Virginia standout Pat McAfee is doing sideline reporting for XFL TV coverage this year and, of course, Oliver Luck is the CEO and commissioner of the new football league.
The XFL will have a 10-game regular season schedule this spring plus two rounds of playoffs before its championship game will be played at the University of Houston's TDECU Stadium on Sunday, April 26. ESPN will televise the game.
***
I would suspect a great deal of Mike Montoro's football promotional work this spring will revolve around the Stills brothers, Darius and Dante, and freshman All-American defensive back Tykee Smith.
Those three will join returning starters Josh Chandler, Dylan Tonkery and Sean Mahone on Vic Koenning's 2020 Mountaineer defense.
On the other side of the ball, West Virginia has eight of 11 starters back, but must find replacements for both tackles.
***
And finally, some sad football news to report. Former Mountaineer quarterback Dick Loring, a Morgantown native and University High product living in Moorestown Township, New Jersey, died on Wednesday, Feb. 5 at the age of 89.Loring played three seasons for West Virginia from 1949-51 for coaches Dud DeGroot and Art "Pappy" Lewis.
His best game came at George Washington on Oct. 6, 1950 in old Griffith Stadium when he passed for 122 yards and a touchdown in a 21-14 loss to the Colonials.
In 14 career games, he completed 26-of-59 passes for 495 yards and four touchdowns.
Dick was considered among the oldest living Mountaineer quarterbacks and among the oldest living players at the time of his death.
Former Mountaineer standout Roy Lester is now 96 living in Gaithersburg, Maryland, while University High's Louis Birurakis will be celebrating his 94th birthday later this spring.
Louis' first football season for the Mountaineers was all the way back in 1944 playing for the legendary Ira Errett Rodgers.
That's one year before the end of World War II!
Also, word was received that former cornerback Johnny Schell, a member of coach Bobby Bowden's 1975 Peach Bowl championship team, passed away last week.
Schell, 65, was living in Athens, Georgia, at the time of his death.
Teammate Steve Dunlap recalled that Schell, a 5-foot-11, 180-pound defensive back, was known to hit anything that moved - sometimes even his own teammates.
"I remember one time I was about to make a tackle and Johnny flew up and hit me so hard I thought he broke all of my ribs," Dunlap laughed. "I told him, 'Are you color blind? We're wearing the same blue jerseys!' He would hit anything."
Schell finished his Mountaineer career in 1976 playing for coach Frank Cignetti.
There was a Facebook post earlier this week referencing a great game-saving tackle Schell made during West Virginia's 13-10 win over NC State in the Peach Bowl, but Dunlap doesn't recall that specific play.
Nevertheless, our heartfelt condolences go out to both families.
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