Today's Newsmakers
Posted By John Antonik: April 28, 2008 (3:44 pm)
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| Joe Alexander | |
It may be the off-season but that doesn’t mean Mountaineer basketball is not in the news. Forward Joe Alexander continues to attract attention after a strong post-season performance and his interest in testing the NBA draft.
ESPN’s Andy Katz wrote today: “It’s pretty simple: if Alexander returns, the Mountaineers have a shot to compete for the Big East title, and who knows, maybe a run for the 2009 Final Four in Detroit.”
According to Katz, Alexander “would have a shot to be a first-team All-American if he comes back. But he’s got the athletic and scoring abilities to convince at least one team to take him high enough.”
Katz says if Alexander leaves West Virginia has enough talent to remain competitive in the Big East.
> > > Early entrants leave teams playing the waiting game
In a separate story, ESPN’s Chad Ford examines the growing list of underclassmen available for this year’s draft.
Ford’s take on Alexander: “Alexander is a sleeper. He’s a long, athletic forward who really began to dominate toward the end of the season. He has the physical tools to be a very good NBA player, but he needs quite a bit more polish. Look for him to go somewhere between 20 and 35 if he stays in the draft.”
> > > Complete list: Who’s in, who’s out of 2008 draft?
Last week, CNNSI.com NBA writer Ian Thomsen had a lengthy article on Russian professional baskeball. Near the end of the article Thomsen referenced former WVU forward Marcus Goree, playing professionally for CSKA Moscow in the Euroleague.
Thomsen quoted CSKA Moscow’s coach Ettore Messina on his forward, “(Goree) could be the European Ben Wallace.”
The 6-8 forward has found a niche playing in the European professional leagues after last playing at WVU for former coach Gale Catlett in 2000 when he averaged 14.5 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.
> > > Russian Revolution
A story on the rebirth of Quin Snyder by ESPN Page 2’s Jeff Pearlman also included a quote from former Mountaineer star Kevin Pittsnogle on Snyder. Said Pittsnogle, “He’s different than any of the other coaches you see here. Most coaches here are all about my-way-or-the-highway. But Coach Snyder was very detailed, very into his players, very into seeking our input.”
Pittsnogle played 15 games for Snyder at San Antonio in the NBA Developmental League before being dealt to Albuquerque. In 33 games with Albuquerque Pittsnogle is averaging 15.7 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.
> > > Quin Snyder is in Austin … but a long way from the Big 12
More football notes: WV Metro News.com is reporting that four Mountaineers have now signed free agent contracts. Wide receiver Darius Reynaud signed with Minnesota, defensive end Johnny Dingle signed with Kansas City, defensive tackle Keilen Dykes signed a two-year deal with Arizona and linebacker Marc Magro signed with St. Louis.
Yesterday, the Seattle Times announced that safety Eric Wicks signed with the Seahawks.
> > > Four Mountaineers Sign Free Agent Deals on Sunday
The Seattle Times has a story on Owen Schmitt in today’s online edition. Times NFL reporter Danny O’Neil basically recycles all of the old stories we’ve come to know and love about Owen including a reference to our web site. As always, anything on Owen is a good read.
> > > Seahawk pick Owen Schmitt might be as daring as he is tough
ESPN's Jeffri Chadiha lists his 10 best marriages of talent and team needs and picks Steve Slaton 10th. Wrote Chadiha: "You put him into assistant head coach Alex Gibbs' zone-blocking run game, and he's guaranteed to be effective."
> > > Draft: 10 best marriages of talent, team needs
And today’s Houston Chronicle examines the Houston Texans draft class that includes running back Steve Slaton.
> > > Texans hope hard work pays off for draft selections
Draft Notes
Posted By John Antonik: April 28, 2008 (10:07 am)
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| Steve Slaton | |
You could say West Virginia is doing more with less in the eyes of the pro football scouts. The Mountaineers have been ranked in the Top 10 in each of the last three seasons and they join USC as the only two programs to have gone to five straight New Year’s Day bowls.
Since then, West Virginia has had eight players drafted by NFL teams with just one player (Pacman Jones in 2005) selected in the first round.
USC, meanwhile, had 10 players taken in this year’s draft including four picked in the first round. During the same span of time the Trojans have had 35 players drafted, nine of which went in the first round.
Amazing.
Here is proof that good players just don’t go to the big schools. I took a quick glance through the 252 players taken in this year’s draft and according to my unscientific count I had 32 of those players coming from non-Division I-A schools.
I-AA power Appalachian State, where WVU wide receivers coach Lonnie Galloway came from, produced a pair of draft picks in wide receiver Dexter Jackson and safety Corey Lynch.
There were seven non-D-I players taken ahead of West Virginia star running back Steve Slaton and a total of eight were among the top 100 players drafted. Two, Tennessee State’s Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Delaware’s Joe Flacco, were selected in the first round.
The eight Big East Conference schools produced 19 players that were taken in this year’s draft. Louisville led the way with five while Pitt had four players drafted. Pitt actually had a fifth player drafted if you count Delaware transfer Joe Flacco, who started his career with the Panthers. If you recall, Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt would not release Flacco from his scholarship which forced him to sit out the 2005 season.
Ironically or coincidentally, both Pitt and Louisville failed to make bowl games last year.
I can see why West Virginia coach Bill Stewart is making such a strong recruiting push in Virginia. Virginia Tech had eight players drafted this year and the Hokies have now had 46 players selected during this decade.
Virginia has had 29 players drafted this decade while Hampton University of the MEAC has had seven drafted since 2000.
By comparison, the Mountaineers have had 14 players selected this decade with four of them coming in 2000 - Don Nehlen’s final season at WVU.April 28, 2008
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Comfort is a big deal for football players. It’s not the comfort that a plush couch or a hammock in the backyard might afford, but rather the ability to be comfortable in one’s actions - to react rather than to think on the football field. That is just as important as any physical tool a player might possess.
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| Pat Lazear makes the move from sam to mike linebacker this fall. Pete Emerson photo | |
That read-and-react ability is more essential to playing linebacker than perhaps any other position on the field. Take a second too long to think and a lineman is on you. Pause to take in a situation and a running back blows by you. Anticipate a play as it develops - or perhaps even before - and you have a chance to be successful.
Junior linebacker Pat Lazear has made that transition from dazed and confused to fully comfortable this spring. The Bethesda, Md., native made 13 tackles last year, mainly as a special team standout, but he did appear in several games playing sam linebacker. He will be the first to tell you that he was anything but comfortable in his first year playing in the Mountaineers’ 3-3-5 scheme.
“Last year I wouldn’t even consider myself part of the defense. I didn’t know anything to be honest. I was just running around playing like I did in high school,” Lazear said. “Now I’m starting to understand it a little bit more. I have improved by leaps and bounds compared to last year.”
This spring Mortty Ivy made the move over to the sam (strongside LB) spot while J.T. Thomas is handling the duties on the other side at the will (weakside LB). That moved Lazear inside to the mike (middle LB) spot where he split time with Anthony Leonard taking reps with the first team in place of the injured Reed Williams, who sat out the spring with a shoulder injury.
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Lazear believes that the move inside will allow him to react quicker and be more disruptive to opposing offenses.
“I’m really just learning this defense now so I’m beginning to understand the mike. I didn’t even know the sam very well last year,” Lazear said. “The mike is a more instinctive position so I think I fit better there and I’m hoping to be really successful.”
Now that he is on the inside of the defense, Lazear is trying to get past guards and centers coming right at him for the first time in his career.
“Personally, I need to work on getting off linemen now that I’m in the middle,” Lazear said. “I’ve never really dealt with that before. I need to just use the drills that we do to get better at that and fine tune some things.”
The next step in his progression will be to understand every position’s responsibility on the defense and to develop a better grasp of what the unit is trying to accomplish as a whole – getting a better handle on the big picture.
“I need to understand the defense and everyone’s role a little more. Now I know all the linebacker’s positions,” Lazear said. “I would like to know everyone’s position and what they are supposed to do.”
To gain that understanding Lazear has relied on the film room, a place where he has studied the game since his days in high school.
“I watched a lot of film in high school. I probably averaged about 10 hours a week so I’m pretty good at being able to pick up on stuff like that,” Lazear said. “I’m pretty good at reading the lineman’s eyes.”
As spring turns to summer and fall camp looms on the horizon, Lazear hopes to develop into a force among a deep group of Mountaineer linebackers.
“I’m playing with a lot more confidence now. I’ve probably grown 200 percent as a linebacker from last season,” Lazear said. “I’m a lot more comfortable.”
Pat Lazear’s newfound comfort could make opposing offenses very uncomfortable next fall.Morgantown
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Four former West Virginia players sign free agent deals after going undrafted in this weekend's NFL draft.
Wide Receiver Darius Reynaud signed a free agent deal with the Minnesota Vikings just minutes after the NFL draft concluded on Sunday. Reynaud will head off to a rookie mini-game later this week. Also, senior defensive lineman Keilen Dykes signed a two year free agent deal with the Arizona Cardinals. Junior defensive lineman Johnny Dingle signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. Morgantown native and University High School product Marc Magro signed his free agent deal with the St. Louis Rams where he hopes to be teammates this season with former WVU standout Marc Bulger.
The deals for Reynaud, Dykes Dingle and Magro came after the seven round draft ended Sunday. Three WVU players were taken during the second day of the draft. Running back Steve Slaton went to Houston in the 3rd round. Fullback Owen Schmidt was selected by Seattle in the 5th and defensive back Ryan Mundy was taken by his hometown Steelers in the 6th round.
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Here is ESPN’s analysis of Slaton:
Slaton ran for 1,128 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2005 on his way to the Big East rookie of the year award. (He added 12 receptions for 95 yards and two more TDs.) He raised the bar as a sophomore, setting the
WVU fullback Owen Schmitt has been chosen by the Seattle Seahawks in the 5th round of the NFL draft. Schmitt was the 28th pick in the 5th round and the 163rd pick overall.
Last season Schmitt carried the ball 47 times for 272 yards and four touchdowns. He also caught 12 passes for 121 yards. Schmitt became known at WVU for his work ethic and hard-nosed playing style. He's big and powerful. He had to deal with some nagging injuries, but never missed a game.
Schmitt transferred to WVU in 2004 after attending Wisconsin River-Falls.
Morgantown
Former Marshall standout and Beckley native Doug Legursky will get an NFL opportunity with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Legursky signed a free agent deal shortly after the conclusion of the seven round NFL draft Sunday evening.
Legursky was a four year starter at center for Marshall. He says the deal from the Steelers was the best offer he received because he believes he fits the style the Steelers play on the offensive line well.
The 6-3, 300 pound Legursky expects to play guard in the NFL. He will report to a Steelers rookie mini-camp Friday.
Two Mountaineers who decided to forego their senior season were not selected in the NFL’s seven round draft. Defensive end Johnny Dingle and receiver Darius Reynaud skipped their final year of eligibility and entered the draft, but neither was chosen.
Another junior who left after his junior year, running back Steve Slaton, had better luck. The Houston Texans took Slaton in the third round.
Dingle gained a reputation as an explosive pass rusher. At 6-2, he was believed to be a little short, but he was still expected to be a late round draft pick.
Reynaud was a major offensive threat for the Mountaineers. He had 64 catches for 733 yards and 12 touchdowns in his career. He also rushed for 103 yards and one touchdown last season.
WVU Safety Ryan Mundy has been selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL draft. Mundy was the 28th pick of the 6th round and the 194th pick overall.
Mundy played one year for WVU after transferring from Michigan, utilizing a special rule that gave me another year of eligibility. He provided leadership and experience in the WVU defensive backfield.
ESPN critiques Mundy this way: “Mundy had had some problems staying healthy, and he doesn’t have great top-end speed or the ability to change directions quickly. On the plus side, he has experience lining up at both corner and safety.”
Morgantown, WV
So who is the most decorated athlete in the history of the state?
Their have been plenty of players to move on to the collegiate and professional levels. A few have won championships and a couple have made the Hall of Fame in their chosen sport.
It is a tough call, definitely worthy of an argument.
When you take everything into account, from individual honors to team accomplishments a name that needs to be on that list and maybe at the top is Moorefield, WV native Brent Metheny.
Metheny is a true example of an athlete. A kid who played three sports and dominated each of them in his scholastic career. Not only collecting enough personal awards to write a book, but also constantly leading his teams to post season tournaments and championships.
With the changing landscape in high school athletics and players being forced to choose a single sport, we may never again see a more accomplished high school star in West Virginia.
When Brent Metheny entered 9th grade in 1995, the Moorefield High School Yellow Jackets became a year around powerhouse. From football to basketball to baseball, if Brent was playing, they were going to be good.
In four years, Metheny played in eleven West Virginia State Tournaments and won five state championships. Winning became a common occurrence when Brent was in uniform.
He led Moorfield to three consecutive state football championships (1996-1998) and also led the Petersburg American Legion baseball team to back to back state titles (1997-1998).
Metheny’s Moorefield teams made three basketball state tourney appearances and three baseball state tournament visits along the way. They reached the semi finals in basketball twice (1998-1999) and finished runner up in baseball once (1998).
With winning comes recognition and Brent Metheny was deservingly recognized quite often for his athleticism and leadership. He was selected to six West Virginia First team All-State squads; captaining four of them.
Metheny made five All-State Tournament teams and West Virginia honored him as it’s class A “Mr. Basketball” his senior season.
Twice he was named the Daily News “Athlete of the Year.”
When his high school career came to an end, he was invited to play in the North South All-Star game in all three sports and also the West Virginia vs. Maryland Basketball Classic. His performances were business as usual. Metheny was named the MVP of the North South football game and WV vs. MD basketball classic.
These awards were important because it put an “he plays at the single A level” talk to rest and proved that the bottom line was that Brent Metheny could just flat out play at any level at any time.
With high school behind him, it was time to move to the collegiate level and focus on one sport. Metheny chose baseball and James Madison University was the beneficiary of that decision.
Just as he had done at Moorefield, Brent made an immediate impact his freshman year. He hit .353 and set a school record for saves in a season with 6. For his play he was selected as the Dukes Rookie of the Year.
At the conclusion of his college career one thing was clear. Brent Metheny puts up numbers and makes his team better.
The college third baseman hit .355 in his career with 25 home runs. He is currently JMU’s career leader in at bats (895), runs scored (224), RBI (199) and total bases (471). He sits at second in school history with 312 hits and 60 doubles, while being third on the all time list with 94 stolen bases.
Metheny was selected to the Colonial Athletic Conference second team once and first team twice while the Dukes became a power in the CAA with Metheny in the lineup. In 2002 they finished 44-16 and received an at large bid into the NCAA baseball tournament. The Dukes were nationally ranked for eight weeks that season.
During his college summers he played in two of the best NCAA sanctioned summer leagues in the country. As is the trend with Metheny, he proved to be a notch above the rest.
He made the All-Star team in the Valley League while leading the Harrisonburg Turks to the championship in 2000. Metheny led the Cape Cod League in doubles and was selected as an all star and team MVP for the Cotuit Kettleers in 2001.
2002 placed him back with the Turks in the Valley League where again he made the all star team as was selected team MVP.
After Brent’s senior year at JMU professional baseball came calling and the Seattle Mariners signed him as a free agent. Metheny spent the 2003 and 2004 seasons with the Mariners in the Midwest League before being released.
The Mid Missouri Mavericks of the independent Frontier League immediately signed him for the 2005 season. He earned team MVP honors for the Mavericks and was invited to play winter ball in Columbia, South America. Again, Metheny proved his worth by leading the league in RBI and making the All Star team.
The Chicago White Sox signed Brent prior to the 2006 season and he was sent to the Class A Kannapolis Intimidators. For the second straight year he spent his winter in South America where he led the league in batting average (.343) and again earned All Star honors.
2007 meant another change of scenery as he played in the independent Northern League for the Winnipeg Goldeyes. Brent earned team MVP honors and another All Star selection. His 21 home runs placed him second in the league for the season.
Last winter the 27 year old played in Perth, Australia and was chosen as an All Star and team MVP.That adds up to five All Star teams and three team MVP awards in professional baseball.
His always exciting journey in professional baseball landed him back in White Sox camp this year for spring training. Unfortunately, he was released again by the White Sox. But, Winnipeg immediately resigned the left handed hitting veteran.
Metheny reports to Canada this week to continue down the only path he has ever followed. The path of athletics and competition.
You can’t blame him for hanging on though; he is just too good at it.
That path has defined him as one of the best athletes to ever be produced in West Virginia. Regardless of when the path ends, he will have a lifetime of individual and team accomplishments to ponder... There is just something about this kid that keeps him on the field and keeps his teams winning.
That something will be remembered and talked about for years by anyone who has ever seen Brent Metheny play... Not just baseball but anything.
He is a winner and he is still leaving his mark every chance he gets.
Huntington
GREEN TOPS WHITE TEAM, 44-9
Marshall University Closes Spring Football Practice
HUNTINGTON
Quarterback Mark Cann and running back Terrell Edwards, both redshirt freshmen, led the Green to a 44-8 victory over the White team. Cann completed 16-of-21 passes for 181 yards and Edwards carried 14 times for 77 yards and three touchdowns.
"We have shown progress throughout the spring, but we still have a long way to go," Marshall Head Coach Mark Snyder said. "Its now up to our players to do the things they need to do over the summer and that is where senior leadership comes in."
Tight end Robert Henry led the White team in receiving with seven catches for 49 yards and power back Kelvin Turner had 39 yards on 10 carries. Turner switched sides at the start of the second half and played for the Green team, racking up another 85 yards and a touchdown on five additional carries. The senior also produced one of the games biggest offensive highlights, breaking a 59-yard touchdown run in the second half.
Quarterbacks Jonathan Garner and Brian Anderson also saw action for both sides Saturday, combining to complete 23-of-50 passes for 164 and 42 yards, respectively.
E.J. Wynn was the game’s leading receiver with 76 yards. Bryant Milligan finished with seven catches for 65 yards and returning All-Conference USA tight end Cody Slate had 63 yards on five grabs.
Phillip Gamble and Antawn Booker led the Green with six tackles each. Gamble was also one of two Green team defensive backs to record an interception along with Omar Brown. Booker also recorded a sack and two tackles for loss.
The White defense was led by B.J. Evans with 11 tackles, including one tackle for loss. Howard King recorded eight tackles with three for loss and a sack. Defensive end Demetrius Thompson earned two points for the White team, sacking of Brian Anderson for a safety. It was one of seven tackles for Thompson, who had two stops for loss and also forced a fumble.
Marshall’s kickers were five-for-five on the day. Former Thundering Herd soccer goalkeeper Craig Ratanamorn connected on all three of his attempts for the Green, including a long of 47 yards at the end of regulation. Elliott Boyd also knocked through two 37-yard attempts for the White.
The game concludes the Herd’s spring practice period. Marshall Players are scheduled to report for fall camp on August 3 and the season opener with Illinois State is set for August 30 in Huntington.
Season tickets are now on sale for the 2008 season. For more information call 1-800-THE-HERD or go online to
– The future of the Marshall Football program was on display Saturday as 6,701 fans made their way to Joan C. Edwards Stadium for the Annual Green and WhiteGreen Tops White, 44-8
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April 26, 2008
Huntington, W.Va. - The future of the Marshall Football program was on display Saturday as 6,701 fans made their way to Joan C. Edwards Stadium for the Annual Green and White Game Saturday.
Quarterback Mark Cann and running back Terrell Edwards, both redshirt freshmen, led the Green to a 44-8 victory over the White team. Cann completed 16-of-21 passes for 181 yards and Edwards carried 14 times for 77 yards and three touchdowns.
"We have shown progress throughout the spring, but we still have a long way to go," Marshall Head Coach Mark Snyder said. "Its now up to our players to do the things they need to do over the summer and that is where senior leadership comes in."
Tight end Robert Henry led the White team in receiving with seven catches for 49 yards and power back Kelvin Turner had 39 yards on 10 carries. Turner switched sides at the start of the second half and played for the Green team, racking up another 85 yards and a touchdown on five additional carries. The senior also produced one of the games biggest offensive highlights, breaking a 59-yard touchdown run in the second half.
Quarterbacks Jonathan Garner and Brian Anderson also saw action for both sides Saturday, combining to complete 23-of-50 passes for 164 and 42 yards, respectively.
E.J. Wynn was the game's leading receiver with 76 yards. Bryant Milligan finished with seven catches for 65 yards and returning All-Conference USA tight end Cody Slate had 63 yards on five grabs.
Phillip Gamble and Antawn Booker led the Green with six tackles each. Gamble was also one of two Green team defensive backs to record an interception along with Omar Brown. Booker also recorded a sack and two tackles for loss.
The White defense was led by B.J. Evans with 11 tackles, including one tackle for loss. Howard King recorded eight tackles with three for loss and a sack. Defensive end Demetrius Thompson earned two points for the White team, sacking of Brian Anderson for a safety. It was one of seven tackles for Thompson, who had two stops for loss and also forced a fumble.
Marshall's kickers were five-for-five on the day. Former Thundering Herd soccer goalkeeper Craig Ratanamorn connected on all three of his attempts for the Green, including a long of 47 yards at the end of regulation. Elliott Boyd also knocked through two 37-yard attempts for the White.
The game concludes the Herd's spring practice period. Marshall Players are scheduled to report for fall camp on August 3 and the season opener with Illinois State is set for August 30 in Huntington.
Season tickets are now on sale for the 2008 season. For more information call 1-800-THE-HERD.
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