3 Guys Before The Game

Classes have begun at West Virginia University which means the start of the football season is now just days away. On this episode, the "Guys" begin their annual over-under projections. They start on offense and dive into rushing yards and yards-per-catch. Those two categories will go a long way in determining the Mountaineers final record. Brad and Tony also give a disclaimer on preseason optimis...

The game of conference musical chairs has restarted. Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports joins the "Guys" to give context on a possible alliance among the Big 10, Pac 12 and ACC. Where would that leave the Big 12 and West Virginia University. It's early in the process but Brad's anger is growing quickly. Hoppy provides seven strong connections between Gordon Gee and ACC leaders. Text questions raise several...

It's been 25 years since WVU football all-time sacks leader and consensus All-American Canute Curtis last played for the Mountaineers. It's been over a decade since he last stepped foot on campus. Despite the passage of time, the native of Amityville, NY has vivid and fond memories of his record-setting career. How did West Virginia's geography lead him to Morgantown? Which coach made the biggest...

Preseason training camp has begun for the West Virginia University football team. The Mountaineers practice for the first time on Friday. On this episode, Hoppy, Brad and Tony look ahead to the coming season and present their latest thoughts on conference movement. Hoppy explains how this is actually coach Neal Brown's true first season with the Mountaineers, and explains how gold digging is simil...

Now what? The reality that Texas and Oklahoma are leaving the Big 12 has moved the remaining eight schools into a next move philosophy. On this episode, the "Guys" propose possible moves by West Virginia University and other schools left in peril by the unexpected departures. Will college sports be redefined in a way that benefits a very small select group? Answers to those questions and a cameo a...

Nicco Marchiol was born into the sport of football. His dad played in the NFL and two brothers played collegiately. However, Nicco broke the family linebacker tradition to become one of the nation's most highly regarded quarterbacks. This December, he'll sign at West Virginia University. He'll become one of the shining stars of a WVU recruiting class that will be ranked among the best in school hi...

The conference tsunami has begun. How large will it become? Its impact could dramatically change the landscape of collegiate athletics as we know them. On this episode, Brad and Tony deliver the latest news, offer commentary and answer listener questions. The "Guys" will return Thursday with a guest interview and a conference update.

How we handle adversity often defines our life. As a high school senior Garin Justice watched a coaching change at West Virginia University nearly derail his plan of playing for the Mountaineers. With the odds completely stacked against any chance of playing he took the bet. He won. Not only did he become captain of the Mountaineers 2006 Sugar Bowl champion team, today Justice is the offensive lin...

Ready for some summer hoops? Best Virginia is ready to take its shot at the one-million dollar winner-take-all prize money at The Basketball Tournament (TBT). Former WVU standout Alex Ruoff is among the group of Mountaineer alums who make up the Best Virginia roster. On this episode, Ruoff updates the "Guys" on his 12-year professional career and offers a scouting report on Best Virginia and the u...

One of the most powerful and respected news sources covering the National Football League operates in West Virginia. Mike Florio, the founder of ProFootballTalk.com, has spent the two decades overseeing a website that has become one of the most powerful and influential in the football world. On this episode, Florio details the journey and looks ahead to the future of football both on and off the f...

She's the most accomplished two-sport athlete in West Virginia University history. Seven-time All American Kristin Quackensbush-DiBartolomeo earned the equivalent of the Heisman Trophy in gymnastics before turning her attention to pole vaulting where she finished third nationally in the NCAA Championships and earned an invitation to the United States Olympic trials. The native of Whitesboro, New Y...

How does someone finish as a school's third all-time leading rusher and not be a starter? That's just one of the many questions that Undra Johnson answers on this episode of Three Guys Before The Game. The Florida native came to West Virginia in 1984 and became a key member of a Mountaineer team that played for a national championship. In this fun-filled conversation, Johnson details his journey f...

Chances are you haven't heard from him lately, but please know that Kevin Pittsnogle is comfortable and happy. The West Virginia University icon has fond memories of his record-setting career as a Mountaineer basketball player but chooses to devote his attention on the future much more than the past. The center with guard skills that became a nationally known phenomenon graciously declines intervi...

At 44 years of age Marc Bulger's desire for competition still burns.  His interests have turned from the gridiron to the ice where he's dedicating time to the sport of curling.  The COVID pandemic has delayed  plans for a bid to make the United States Olympic team but the dream continues. Two decades have passed since his last game as a quarterback at West Virginia University, but his statistics s...

He's one of the greatest football players in West Virginia University history. Nearly 40 years after his Mountaineer career was complete, Darryl Talley's name remains synonymous with success at the highest level. He ended his days at WVU and the Buffalo Bills as the leading tackler in team history. When it came to toughness, Talley never missed a single game in his 11 seasons with the Bills which...

Like a fine wine, Kevin Jones continues to improve with age. The soon-to-be 32 year-old former Mountaineer standout was the Most Valuable Player of his team in Japan's top professional league this past season. On this episode, Jones details his nearly decade long international career and looks ahead to this summer's TBT event and playing with the Best Virginia team. Jones explains how his game has...

Lance Frazier's football career has touched every level of the game. The former Mountaineer captain played for both Don Nehlen and Rich Rodriguez during one of the program's most significant transitions. When his Mountaineer career was over he played professionally in the NFL and CFL seeing action with the Dallas Cowboys and winning a Grey Cup championship with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Today...

Former West Virginia University basketball standout Nathan Adrian is eagerly looking forward to his next overseas assignment. The Morgantown native is back home after averaging 18 points and 8 rebounds per game last season playing in Ukraine. His productivity will likely earn him a significant promotion at one of Europe's higher level leagues. On this episode, Adrian provides details on a memorabl...

Which West Virginia University coach has the best career winning percentage? The answer is very simple and it's not even close. Men's soccer coach Dan Stratford arrived in Morgantown after compiling a mind-numbing 61-4-5 record at the University of Charleston that includes two national championships. His debut season in Morgantown ended with a 6-3-1 mark and a controversial omission from the NCAA...

A visit with Darius Stills and the long-awaited boar hunt recap highlight episode 285 of Three Guys Before The Game. All-American Darius Stills joins the “Guys” on the eve of the NFL draft. He talks about his transition to professional football and predictions for next season’s Mountaineer football team. Dave Whittaker, founder of Warriors in the Field, provides a recap of Tony’s much anticipated...

The Mountaineer football team plays the annual Gold and Blue scrimmage game on Saturday afternoon. On this episode, the "Guys" introduce you to defensive line coach Andrew Jackson and preview the game. Jackson, who coached against WVU in 2019 while at James Madison, comes to Morgantown after making stops at a number of schools including Penn State and Mississippi State. The conversation ranges fro...

Football is the family business for Blaine Stewart. The son of the late WVU football coach Bill Stewart, was 5-years old when his dad arrived in Morgantown as an assistant coach for Don Nehlen. Two decades later, Blaine Stewart is ready to begin his fourth season on the coaching staff of the Pittsburgh Steelers. At 26-years old, his rise within the coaching ranks has been nothing but impressive. A...

Former Mountaineer Anthony Becht by definition is a retired NFL veteran who played for more than a decade. However, retired is the last thing anyone would call Becht. The multi-talented player turned broadcaster, coach and entrepreneur catches up with Brad Howe and Tony Caridi on episode 282 of Three Guys Before The Game. Becht, who's currently preparing for NFL draft coverage, is also guiding his...

The "Guys" return with their first episode focused on WVU spring football practice. Is there a quarterback battle?  Have WVU receivers improved?  How much should we know about why players enter their name in the transfer portal? Those questions and many more are answered by Brad Howe, Hoppy Kercheval and Tony Caridi as they transition from winter to spring. Join them again next week as they breakd...

How should we define the just completed West Virginia University basketball season? The "Guys" make their best attempt at answering the question from multiple perspectives. There's no question, the 2020-21 season was the most unique in school history and perhaps that will be the lasting memory. Like most teams, the Mountaineers experienced highs and lows along the way and created some vivid memori...