10.23.2008

Pregame/Visual goodness from WVU

Hey everyone. Quite a ride into Morgantown. Once you hit traffic here -- about three miles from the stadium -- you are locked up.

Took me 70 minutes to arrive at the Morgantown exit in I-79.

Took me 60 minutes to traverse those final three miles. So it goes.

WARMUP UPDATE:
  • They're running the "I" formations again this weekend. I'm seeing plenty of "ace" and shotgun in the team sets.

  • Neil Caudle appears to be running with the second-team offense. Chris Todd apparently is running with the third-team offense. Barrett Trotter is out there, but I can't really gauge his status.

  • Bosley is working at center. Ryan Pugh is at RT.

  • Big Snacks Berry is starting at RG in place of Byron Isom. I'm not sure what the story is there.


BUYOUT UPDATE: Colonial Bank had a realllly bad week. I wonder if that affects Tuberville's job security in the sense that, you know, a lot of people are in financial trouble these days. Is Auburn really willing to spend $12+ million just to change football coaches?

Anyway ...

Here are some photographs I'd like to share:

This is the countryside along I-79, just north of the Pa./W.Va. state line. It doesn't look like Alabama. They'll build on a hill in a heartbeat.








Here is a view of Milan Puskar Stadium from the field-level box seats.









This is their scoreboard. Not bad. It has a clean design, which I prefer over Auburn's let's get every conceivable number associated with the game on this screen approach.








This is a view from the north endzone looking south. On your TV screen, this is left looking right.









Here is Sen'Derrick Marks kickin' it with West Virginia cornerback Ellis Lankster. Both players are from Mob Town and are graduates of Vigor ... separated by two years.











West Virginia, like some schools, uses a big ol inflatable helmet during the pre-game shenanigans. Strikes me as high-school, but whatever. Here's a view from INSIDE THE HELMET. Feel the electricity.

92 comments:

  1. any torched couches to report?

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  2. Now I am nervous. One hour until game time. I can't wait. It is almost time for the pizza ritual.

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  3. the game hasn't started yet so maybe I in too good of a mood just b/c AU is gonna be on soon but I can't explained how jacked I get just before a game. I played in high school and for the past hour I feel like I've been standing in front of a giant piece of paper. JACKED!!!

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  4. Anonymous5:35 PM

    Well, I got called in to work on something last minute and will not be around tonight. Don't have too much fun.

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  5. gonna miss the game?

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  6. they don't torch couches until AFTER a win

    the whole WVU campus is built on hills

    Jay, Greg and I got a laugh out of your "they'll build on a hill in a minute" comment.

    Great pics!

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  7. That sucks, Mr S!!

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  8. sounds like it's time you quit your job, sensible

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  9. Wartiger, Where did you play high school ball?

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  10. Anonymous5:46 PM

    Them thar hills is perty. Didn't get the "clean scoreboard" comment.

    Come back?

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  11. Ragland purple Devils

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  12. Less cluttered scoreboard.

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  13. Online pizza ordering. Life just doesn't get any better than this.

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  14. Any bets on how long it takes AU to put a TD on the board? I say 10 minutes in. I'm looking for a strong start. We can still be optimistic at this point.

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  15. Is it really "almost heaven, west virginia, mountain momma, shenandoah river" and is life "old there, younger than the mountains and older than the trees?"

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  16. Life is definitely old here.

    1930s old.

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  17. In the wintertime, West by God Virginia is like living in a black and white movie. Especially Huntington. No offense Monica.

    1930s old,,,hmmmm....tell us more when you have time. Dirk,,,,I mean Jay.

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  18. Finally home. Supper cooked. Dishwasher loaded. Radio pre-game on. HD TV on ESPN, volume muted. Ready for some football. War Eagle everyone!

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  19. None taken, Mr. Crum. When did you live here?

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  20. OK guys, Erin Andrews on ESPN right now.

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  21. Anonymous6:04 PM

    Erin Andrews is on Sportscenter talking about Tubs.

    Pretty cool.

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  22. Erin just dogged blogger..she is hot though so.....maybe she's right

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  23. Anonymous6:05 PM

    Jay, I'm asking you again.

    Please, just bring her back with you!

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  24. yeah jay bring her back will ya?! will ya?! huh will ya?

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  25. I walked the sidelines earlier and didn't see her. Believe me, I'd have talked with her ... I don't care how stupid I seemed.

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  26. Locking the office door and heading to the house.

    War Eagle boys and girls!

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  27. I'm ready to do this...

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  28. War Eagle, Phred!

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  29. Jay, hows the crowd shaping up? Does it look like a lot of Auburn folks made the trip?

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  30. Based on what I can see, Neil Caudle appears to be the No. 2 guy.

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  31. Well I guess that means Burns will be the QB all the way then.

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  32. The Auburn sections are pretty small. They're in both corners of the south endzone ... that's the right side of your screen.

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  33. Robert Dunn looks full speed.

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  34. Anything new out there in pre-game as far as formations?

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  35. glad to hear it means Kodi REALLY isnt looking over his shoulder. Not a dig on Caudle just I read some things preseason the even he kinda belived he wasn't good enough.

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  36. Well today is probably either the day of the turnaround or the start of the end of an era.

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  37. I dont care about the world series??GEEZ

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  38. I disagree. Tubbs still has time. I belive he has earned it

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  39. The HABOTN, next best thing to being there. Thanks Jay!

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  40. Anonymous6:17 PM

    This game is HUGE. GIGANTIC. ENORMOUS. Bigger than Tubs ears, bigger than Tony Franklin's gut, bigger than Al Borges paycheck, bigger than Will Muschamp's mouth.

    Win and we have a new season, lose and we start from the bottom up.

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  41. I think CTT has earned some time, but in this day an age people don't have a lot patience.

    This game could be the start of renaissance, or it could be CTT's obituary.

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  42. Yep, Tubs just said Caudle is #2, but he hopes Kodi can go the distance.

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  43. lot of pressure barkley but I feel you enthusiasm

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  44. I'm seeing Bosley at C and Pugh at RT.

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  45. Wartiger - how did you get HABOTN to show up in the list of blogs you're following? I have tried several times and it doesn't work for me.

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  46. Seeing a mix of "ace" and shotgun stuff.

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  47. In OB chillin'

    WDE!!!

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  48. Anonymous6:20 PM

    Robert Smith picked us to win???

    We are screwed, he couldn't pick a winner if Auburn played Hoover.

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  49. I don't agree that Tubs still has time. We fall on our face here tonight, then it's the beginning of the end.

    I hate to say it, because it does suck.

    He needs to give one of those Bill Clinton "there's nothing wrong with Auburn that can't be fixed by what's right with Auburn" pep talks.

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  50. So Hot Carter didn't travel & Powers might not play due to the cool weather.

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  51. I saw the beginning of the end once (though didn't realize it till later on). It wasn't pretty. AU losing BADLY to UF at Florida in (I think) 1990. If memory serves me correctly, Dye never recovered. Hope we don't see another end in sight at the end of this night. Personally, I think we start the road back up tonight.

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  52. Nice shot on Devine by Tub.

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  53. monica I get to Jay's page through dandbradio.com and once I got here I cut and pasteted the website to the blog part. I am pretty sure that's how I did it. My short term memory isn't that great but I think that's how I did it

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  54. Nice pictures Jay.

    "You are now arriving in West Virginia, please set your clock back 50 years."

    And let's hope our D will make like the lyrics of a song I know you've heard: "I'll sack the quarterback and jack da brother of the ball"

    WAR EAGLE!

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  55. War Eagle Everyone!!!! Just minutes to put up or shut up time. I'm stoked and ready for some football.

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  56. autiger3,

    That was 1990. We came in there in mid oct in the top 5. It was really the 1st time Stan White really played like a freshman...the next week it got worse with a loss to Brett Favre & Southern Miss.

    Starting with that UF game, Dye went something like 12-13-1 to finish his career.

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  57. rk- AU to win tonight?

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  58. Big Snacks Berry is starting at RG in place of Byron Isom.

    I don't know the story there.

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  59. 2 min and counting

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  60. I like the idea of Bosley back at center. I think the move to tackle was because Pugh wasn't dealing well with the two point stance.

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  61. Actually, we're at 17 min. and counting.

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  62. RK,

    I was there. It was awful. We stunk the joint up and got rained on too. As I said, hope to never see such again. Be nice to see an AU coach go out on top for once instead of having the program implode around him. I hope they look better tonight. They really have to.

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  63. I think we should win tonight. A lot will be determined on the 1st couple of drives. If we can get some momentum early, then we can build the confidence we need.

    I like our chances.

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  64. Thank you, Wartiger.


    Jay - Did you take that pic of Rhodes that is with your column today?

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  65. i'm not the only that that is late talking about the ref!! HA!!

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  66. I love the Don Knott's quote from Rod on the radio...

    "Let's nip this thing in the bud!"

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  67. I can't seem to get TV, computer, 1yr old, and 3yr old all in the same room. And wife is out for a while yet. Gotta work on that.

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  68. Rk- I believe it lies on well we move the ball after the 1st quarter since that is our weakness.

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  69. let me know if it works? I'll go through the process again to try to jog my memory if it doesn't work

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  70. Look at Trustee Spina greeting Tubs.

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  71. 1st drive of the game and 1st drive of the 2nd half are key.

    We've had the lead at the half in every game this year, but we've came out cold in the 2nd half and been stopped the rest of the game. We have to stop that.

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  72. Oh man...we have to listen to Holtz all game.

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  73. That Rhoads pic wasn't mine, nope.

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  74. I was debating on actually listening to the ESPN crew tonight. Dr. Lou seals the deal that the AU network will be on and the TV will be muted.

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  75. Anonymous6:33 PM

    I'm back. I decided I could finish this foolishness at work after the game. So, no beer, but at least I can watch.

    And hang with the HABOTN Nation, of course.

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  76. Anonymous6:33 PM

    I love seeing Auburn in those white unis.

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  77. I can't stand to listen to the announcers. That's why I have the radio on. Boy, Marks looks fired up!

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  78. My DSL is out or I would be listening to the AU network. It is bad enough doing the air card as it is.

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  79. im4au- isn't it delayed?

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  80. otherwise i'd do the same thing

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  81. Glad to see you back Mr. Sensitive.

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  82. The whole team better be fired up.

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  83. Yep, there's a delay which drives my husband crazy, but I can adjust!

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  84. My AUNetwork stream is usually 5 or so seconds late, so that sucks to listen to it and watch the game.

    I hate that Holtz is doing our game.

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  85. drives me crazy too so I deal with the announcers..

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  86. I actually like the delay on a big play. Back in the day you couldn't wait to hear Jim go nutz after seeing it.

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  87. Anonymous6:36 PM

    Good to be back Eddie.

    By the way, considering what you do for a living, I'm going to start calling you EddieMoney or Eddie$ for short.

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  88. YAY! Welcome back, Mr. S

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  89. Anonymous6:38 PM

    I don't care if Nick Saban is doing the color, as long as Auburn is winning.

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  90. Sounds good for me. Nice Ring to it.

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  91. White cleats? Are you kidding me? Didn't work against Vandy...

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  92. I have started a "first quarter" thread on the main page for your continued enjoyment.

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