Country Roads Confidential: A WVU Mountaineers podcast

WVU heads into the final stretch of the non-conference schedule before the start of Big 12 play, and it's fair to wonder if this is more of the same.

Supposing WVU had $10 million to use for signing and keeping players, two questions come to mind.

One question popped out of the mailbag and grabbed our attention. We devote this episode to an answers.

News has slowed just enough to take some time to discuss big issues and how to address them.

WVU's top four have decided not to play for the team next fall, and Neal Brown has a problem on his hands.

Wren Baker removed a hurdle Monday when he was introduced as the new AD, and now he get to procure and produce what WVU needs to win.

WVU commit Jordan Jackson joins the show to discuss his recruitment and weekend official visit. Things started with a "tryout" for the coaches, followed by uncertainty with the coaching staff and, finally, a big official visit this weekend.

WVU commit Rodney Gallagher joins the show to discuss the return of Neal Brown, the latest in his recruitment, and to answer questions from EerSports VIP members.

West Virginia's new director of player personnel/recruiting walks us through his career, his new position, the support he received from the athletic department, the tricks of the transfer portal and the future for recruiting.

WVU had a busy day by hiring an athletic director and announcing Neal Brown will be back for his fifth season.

WVU is hiring Wren Baker as its new athletic director, but that's not the end of this story.

WVU won the fifth-place game at the Phil Knight Legacy event. Was it the fifth-best team?

WVU produced something significant at the end of the game and at the end of the season. What, if anything, does it mean?

WVU hasn't had much luck against Saturday's opponent, but nobody's been successful in Stillwater. How can the Mountaineers go about changing their fate and finishing strong?

WVU basketball is off to a strong start, but the opposition in Oregon is stronger than what the Mountaineers have experienced so far.

The postgame podcast was preempted but we huddle between the loss to Kansas State and the finale against Oklahoma State to discuss the past, present and future for coaches, players and the program.

West Virginia welcome Kansas State for the final home game of the season. The Wildcats might be better than advertised ... but how?

The Mountaineers decided Shane Lyons will not be the one to solve the trouble with football.

Saturday's outcome may have marked the end of one era and the beginning of another, though not in the ways you may have expected.

West Virginia has had no luck against Oklahoma since joining the Big 12, but these Sooners aren't the same as they've been in the past. Are things bound to change at Mountaineer Field?

Defense, rebounding, depth, turnovers. West Virginia looked a bit like it has in good times and bad in the past but had more than enough to puklaway in its season-opener against Mount St. Mary's.

In need of a statement game, Neal Brown sure did come up with one.

It might not be exciting but it could be important for West Virginia Saturday. The Mountaineers are on the road again to take on Iowa State and are a touchdown-underdog despite the home team's five-game losing streak.

West Virginia returns to the road for Saturday's game against Iowa State, and we go behind enemy lines with Cyclone Alert's Nick Osen to learn about the last-place team in the Big 12.

The questions are obvious. The answers are ... fluid. WVU has a lot of work to do and time is ticking. Is there a reason to believe change is afoot or is this the next step toward the rumored conclusion?