3 Guys Before The Game

Irish eyes were smiling on the West Virginia football team Saturday.

Jack Cassidy, a kicker from Derry, Ireland, who admits he didn't know the rules of American football when he arrived, became the unlikely hero of the Mountaineers' thrilling 45-42 victory over Cincinnati.

In a game filled with offensive fireworks and defensive frustration, it was a single stop that ultimately made the difference.

After surrendering points throughout much of the afternoon, the WVU defense delivered when it mattered most, setting the stage for Cassidy to write the final chapter.

And what a chapter it was.

More than 1,000 yards of total offense. Eighty-seven combined points. And a young man from Ireland providing the winning kick in a game Mountaineer Nation won't soon forget.

In this episode, the "Guys" dissect the victory, examine the numbers behind the offensive explosion and discuss what the result means for West Virginia moving forward.

The crew also shifts to basketball for a recap of the Mountaineers' exhibition debut at Maryland.

Brad Howe goes inside the numbers with Spreads on Stats, Hoppy Kercheval delivers his Obvious Observations, and listener questions and comments complete the episode with Textual Healing.

Cincinnati is rested. West Virginia is restless.

The Bearcats and Mountaineers enter Saturday's matchup in Morgantown from very different places, but both have something to prove.

WVU is desperate to end a three-game losing streak fueled by historically poor defensive performances. Cincinnati, meanwhile, returns from a week off looking to rebound from its first loss of the season at Arizona.

Both teams are built to run the football. Both want to control the tempo. And both know that the ability to stop the opposing ground game could determine Saturday's outcome.

For West Virginia, the stakes extend beyond another conference victory. The Mountaineers must demonstrate they can correct the defensive problems that have derailed a once-promising start.

Can they find the answers before another opportunity slips away?

In this episode, the "Guys" examine the significance of Saturday's matchup, break down the keys to victory and explore what the outcome could mean for the remainder of WVU's season.

Brad Howe digs into the numbers with Spreads on Stats, while Hoppy Kercheval delivers his Obvious Observations.

Listener questions and comments complete the episode with Textual Healing.

The crew returns Monday with a recap of the Cincinnati game and West Virginia basketball's exhibition matchup at Maryland.

The frustration is growing. The answers remain elusive. And the numbers are becoming impossible to ignore.

West Virginia's 52-31 loss to Arizona on Saturday was another painful chapter in a season increasingly defined by defensive struggles.

The Mountaineers have now surrendered a staggering 138 points in their last three games. Three consecutive Big 12 losses have transformed early-season optimism into mounting concern throughout Mountaineer Nation.

So, where does WVU go from here?

Coach Rich Rodriguez isn't hiding his frustration. He acknowledges the problems and vows to continue searching for solutions. But with the conference schedule moving forward, the time for finding answers is growing shorter.

In this episode, the "Guys" examine the latest setback, dissect the defensive breakdowns and dig into the troubling numbers with Brad Howe's Spreads on Stats.

Listener questions, frustrations and observations take center stage in another edition of Textual Healing.

The crew returns Thursday with a complete preview of Saturday's Homecoming matchup against Cincinnati.

Opportunity and urgency will collide Saturday in Morgantown.

After consecutive Big 12 losses, West Virginia returns home needing a response. Waiting for the Mountaineers is Arizona — and one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in college football.

Noah Fifita is already the Wildcats’ all-time leader in passing yards and touchdown passes. He now gets his opportunity against a WVU defense that has surrendered 86 points over the last two games.
It’s a matchup that could define where West Virginia’s season goes next.

But the challenge works both ways.

Arizona’s ultra-aggressive defense must contend with a Mountaineer offense powered by Michael Hawkins and Cam Cook. The duo has combined to produce 23 touchdowns through just five games and presents a very different problem for the Wildcats.

Something has to give.

In this episode, the “Guys” break down the matchups that will determine Saturday’s game and examine what West Virginia must do to end its two-game slide.

Hoppy Kercheval delivers his Obvious Observations, while Brad Howe tells the analytical story with Spreads on Stats.

Listener questions and comments complete the episode with Textual Healing.

Saturday was memorable for the West Virginia football team — for all the wrong reasons.

The Mountaineers scored 42 points on the road and still came home without a victory.

Iowa State repeatedly overwhelmed the WVU defense on its way to a 45-42 win, handing West Virginia its second consecutive Big 12 loss and turning an early-season concern into an increasingly urgent question.

Can the Mountaineers stop anyone?

After opening the season with encouraging signs, WVU has reached a pivotal point. The offense produced enough points to win in Ames. The defense could not produce enough stops.

Now, with Arizona coming to Morgantown, solutions must come quickly.

In this episode, the “Guys” dissect what went wrong against Iowa State, examine the growing concerns defensively and dig into the numbers with Brad Howe’s Spreads on Stats.

Hoppy Kercheval delivers his Obvious Observations, while listener questions, frustrations and comments pour into Textual Healing.

The “Guys” return Thursday with their complete preview of West Virginia’s matchup against Arizona.

October has arrived, and with it comes West Virginia’s first Big 12 road test.

The leaves may still be on the trees, but Saturday’s trip to Iowa State could tell us plenty about where the Mountaineers fit in the conference landscape.

Was last week’s disappointing loss to Oklahoma State simply a bad night? Or did it expose problems that must be corrected before WVU can establish itself in the upper half of the Big 12?

Ames should provide some answers.In this episode, the “Guys” take a deep dive into the Cyclones under first-year head coach Jimmy Rogers. They examine the matchups, numbers and pressure points that could determine whether West Virginia can respond with an important road victory.

Hoppy Kercheval delivers his Obvious Observations, while Brad Howe opens the statistical fire hose with Spreads on Stats.

Listener questions and comments complete the episode with Textual Healing.

Well, that was painful.

One week after West Virginia energized Mountaineer Nation with an impressive victory over No. 25 Virginia, the momentum disappeared in a 41-24 loss to Oklahoma State.

The result was more than a disappointing start to Big 12 play. It exposed problems that must be addressed quickly and left the Mountaineers facing an unavoidable question:

Now what?

There’s little time to dwell on the answer. West Virginia must identify what went wrong, correct it and prepare for its first Big 12 road test Saturday at Iowa State.

In this episode, the “Guys” dissect the loss to the Cowboys, dig into the numbers behind the result and examine what must change for WVU to rebound in Ames.

Hoppy Kercheval delivers his Obvious Observations, while Brad Howe goes inside the numbers with Spreads on Stats.

And yes, there’s plenty to discuss. Listener questions, frustrations and observations pour into Textual Healing.

The “Guys” return Thursday with their complete preview of West Virginia’s matchup against Iowa State.

Things are about to get very interesting for the Mountaineer football team.

Saturday night’s Big 12 Conference opener against Oklahoma State gives WVU a chance to match last season’s win total before September is over.

It’s a clash of contrasting styles—and two teams that have recorded statement wins. WVU’s run-heavy attack blossomed in last week’s victory over No. 25 Virginia, while Oklahoma State arrives with a win over No. 8 Oregon on its résumé.

In this episode, the “Guys” break down the key matchups and what it will take for the Mountaineers to open conference play with a victory.

Hoppy delivers his Obvious Observations, Brad presents Spreads on Stats, and listener questions and comments round out the episode with Textual Healing.

Can you hear that?

Mountaineer Nation is still buzzing after West Virginia delivered its most complete performance of the young season, imposing its will on No. 25 Virginia in Saturday night’s 38-27 victory in Charlotte.

For a rebuilt WVU roster that had shown promise but lacked consistency in victories over Coastal Carolina and UT Martin, this felt different.

The Mountaineers were physical. They were productive. And, perhaps most importantly, they offered the clearest evidence yet of what this team could become.

Now comes the next test.

In this episode, the “Guys” break down the victory, dig inside the numbers and examine what Saturday’s performance revealed about West Virginia as it prepares for its Big 12 opener against Oklahoma State.

Hoppy Kercheval delivers his Obvious Observations, while Brad Howe goes inside the numbers with Spreads on Stats.

The crew returns Thursday with its complete preview of WVU versus Oklahoma State.

A big game deserves a big show.

With West Virginia preparing to face No. 25 Virginia on Saturday in Charlotte, the “Guys” explore the matchup and what it could reveal about the Mountaineers.

Starting offensive lineman Nick Krahe joins the program to assess WVU’s first two games and discuss the challenge ahead against the Cavaliers. WVU Athletics Director Wren Baker details contract extensions for three Mountaineer head coaches, shares the latest on the Protect College Sports Act and recounts a recent painful encounter with a copperhead snake.

Hoppy delivers his Obvious Observations, while Brad digs into the numbers behind the matchup with Spreads on Stats.