I have to start this column off with saying I have read what some of our brothers and sisters out in Mountaineer land have said regarding our new staff, as well as those that call themselves “analysts”.

First of all, the majority of “analysts” never have good things to say about West Virginia sports period. How many times have you tuned into a Mountaineer game on ESPN or even FOX and wanted to reach through the television and slap the reps of the halftime shows or the commentators for the asinine thing they just said about us? I thought so.

Why? Because they really don’t like the fact we have a talented core of players that actually play their hearts out and give the best they can for the blue and gold. Because we can’t be ignored as a definite challenge for any football team in Division I football.

Don’t think so? My advice is just check out what we’ve done over the years to some of the most heralded conferences. Now, getting to the fans of Mountaineer football is simple. We are all die hard WVU fans that thrive on rooting the Mountaineers on gameday, and some are just really nervous and downright afraid we aren’t going to succeed from here on out with the questions surrounding Coach Stew and crew.

Morale is at a all time high in the state for our football team. I see WVU anything and everything on vehicles or apparel that have even took the form of a pigskin in the shape of a football ladies purse. My answer to you that have any doubt or concern about our staff, is to simply give them and our players the love and backing the football program has received for so many years and things will pan out just fine.

I think the salaries these gentlemen are earning with WVU are pretty close to fair as fair can get. Experience and duties dictate pay in such things as coaching the same as they would in whatever job you do everyday. But one definite change is they are the highest paid staff in WVU history, and I think that’s great.

I believe we have a special group running the show for us in football and no one is going to know what to do with them but hang on tight and hope they can play with the same heart and intensity. I dare say that Stew probably could have come out with more money than he signed on for but he had his head in the right places and not in air castles like some we all know. He took the excess and got these members the money they deserve to work their tails off to make our program an elite one.

With the time they had to get a staff together and get on the recruiting trail, they did a really good job landing players and turning heads out there. But if you thought they were done there you’re kidding yourself, because there’s a lot of talk about possible additions before May from even more interested and willing players. I can also guarantee you one date they all have circled on their calendars are all the possible dates we’ll be in Pittsburgh.

With the additions of Auburn and Colorado to our schedule this will definitely be proving time for the boys in blue and gold. I have one request of Stew and staff up there in Morgantown:

Can you please not play conservative and let these guys go all out all year long on our opposing teams? Thanks.