Country Roads Confidential: A WVU Mountaineers podcast

Wednesday was the release date for the initial Top247 rankings for the 2024 recruiting class. WVU's connected with a lot of names on the list. It's a start, but it's a good sign, too.

West Virginia has some needs on the roster. There were more before one player committed. There may be fewer by the end of the weekend. More will remain. Who are the Mountaineers looking at and what are the thinking?

The third week of spring football starts today, and WVU is approaching the point where the pace picks up and players begin to separate themselves.

A message board post and a modest donation turned into a movement that raised more than $100,000 for the Mountaineers Athletic Club. What the heck happened here?

Neal Brown wasn't planning to speak to reporters Thursday. He wasn't expecting to lose a top defender, either. What happened before and after Akheem Mesidor's decision to transfer?

What WVU has to accomplish in spring football seems to align with what spring football allows. The way the roster is made up combines with what the team has to do to create a potentially productive environment.

Now is about the time when spring football picks up, and West Virginia is on track to be like its peers. Developments are underway. Visitors have committed. Targets are transferring. There's plenty of proof of progress here and there.

Managing a college football roster is an increasingly critical and chaotic task. It's good to have a plan, but it had better be flexible. WVU has six scholarships to use and an idea for half, but what can happen with the other half?

The doors opened early and remained ajar longer than expected as West Virginia let reporters watch about two hours or spring football practice Thursday. What went down and what does it mean?

When spring football practice starts at WVU, the focus will be on the quarterback competition. The Mountaineers have more work to do. Here are two other storylines to follow.

Spring football begins Tuesday at West Virginia, and from the start, it's going to be about the quarterbacks.

Starters Jalen Bridges and Isaiah Cottrell have decided to transfer and women's basketball coach Mike Carey is retiring.

The NIT said no to WVU after WVU said no to the CBI, and it raises all sorts of questions before we proceed to questions and answers about football and basketball.

Without much time left on the season's shot clock, Justin Jackson visits to talk about the season, the future, the Big 12 and more.

WVU kicked off sprong football with a fruitful news conference Thursday, much of which deserves further attention.

A disappointing basketball season forces an evaluation of the program. Spring football begins with questions about Year 4 and access. What could the Big 12 look like as soon as next season?

Another loss for the basketball team refreshes old questions while the start of spring football and the baseball season give fans something to anticipate and appreciate.

Three problems converge to create a massive headache for college teams and coaches. Chris and Mike have some thoughts on how to fix it as well as suggestions for basketball's offseason and reasons to think fondly of WVU sports in trying times.

Evan Miyakawa makes his anticipated and triumphant return to review WVU's season, players and lineups and suggest fixes to take this team to the NCAA Tournament.

Gerad Parker is moving on. Someone is moving in. This is sudden, and the search for a replacement may not be fast or easy. Meanwhile, WVU moves on in allotting the remaining scholarships.

The final score didn't prove the point, but maybe WVU's head coach and players are onto something when they say the team is close to breaking through again.