Country Roads Confidential: A WVU Mountaineers podcast

Nobody has perfect circumstance right now, and every team has to figure out how to handle what it does best and where it needs help in a hurry. Today’s episode discusses strengths and weaknesses at WVU.

Coaches will have their eyes on the field to see who can play it also where players can play. Battles are an indispensable part of preseason football, and today’s episode covers the key competitions and where players end up.

It was probably a bad idea to attempt to preview the schedule without knowing who, when and where WVU would play games in 2020. Nevertheless, Chris and Mike tried, uncovered a few reasons to like what could happen and discussed how things might look in the future.

We set the expectations for an upcoming vacation, establish parameters for an emergency podcast and discuss what’s news as college football tries to right the ship.

As a nod to those who are tired of the conversation, the expected outcome from a document dump and the conclusions we may reach is pushed to the finish. Before that, we discuss a transfer, some scheduling options, staffing outcomes and the basketball season.

West Virginia’s powers that be can’t say much about the controversy in the football program, but that does not mean they don’t have to say anything to help us all move on. Chris and Mike cover the response, make their recommendations and look at new ways the team and the NCAA can operate in a pandemic season.

WVU and defensive coordinator Vic Koenning struck a mutual agreement to part ways Wednesday, and Chris and Mike discuss the entire episode from start to finish.

After four months, there maybe some answers for how to proceed with sports. Basketball has a new player. Football may have an alternate opponent.

The Mountaineers are keeping busy as they encounter and attempt to solve all sorts of pandemic problems. Listen as Chris and Mike explore and explain the latest round of developments.

The Big Ten won’t play non-conference sporting events in the fall. The ACC and Pac-12 are reportedly not far behind. This affects WVU football, Mountaineer finances, Olympic sports, opponent bookkeeping and more ... and it might be just the beginning.

The Mountaineers have many international student-athletes whose futures may be uncertain. Kedrian Johnson is on the way to town. A cornerback may be on Johnson’s heels. Football practices will look different, provided there’s a season.

Armed with big news about the future of the website, Chris and Mike gather to discuss Big 12 bets, in-state recruits, wild animal trapping and good news about EerSports.

After a quick discussion about Edward Vesterinen, Chris and Mike spend the episode emptying a subscriber mailbag and discussing European talent, the future of the defensive line, the next ACC commissioner, alternative careers and plenty more.

Things are suddenly quiet at WVU as a resolution approaches, and a football season with much to teach is maybe on the way.

A player used Twitter to publicize alleges instances of insensitivity by one of the football team’s coaches, and Chris and Mike try to provide available answers to the many questions.

Creative ways to build a roster and sneaky ways to construct a defense highlight today’s episode, which also covers recruiting developments and CopyrightGate.

WVU has one positive test result, and the next part tests the entire process. Basketball has a plan to return to campus. Best Virginia has its opposition in The Basketball Tournament. Mike Gundy has a new T-shirt.

WVU football has a plan for just about everything involved with bringing the football team back to campus, including clever details for workouts. 247Sports needs suggestions for Social Distance guests ... and also generated intense feedback for the Big 12 preseason poll.

WVU has added two more commitments to the recruiting class, and the quality may be growing the quantity of the players. Chris has updates about the players and their futures, and Mike asks if the Mountaineer can close the deal with everyone. And then, it’s on to plans to structure the preseason and the challenges teams still face.

Neal Brown did his homework for Wednesday’s event, and today’s episode covers his responses and what purpose they serve. In addition, time is spent on Florida State football and early reviews for teams returning to campus.

The Mountaineers will let their coaches, staffers and players return to campus in phases this month. How will that work? Who needs to be here soon? Who benefits the most? How would we arrange it? Plus news about the roster, staff and protests as well.

It’s time to talk about sports again and not simply the return of sports or the pause in sports. Tom Bragg, formerly of the Charleston Newspapers and HD Media and now out on his own, dishes about the Mutant League, sports without crowd, Neal Brown’s expectations and what he knows he’ll be writing about and what he hopes he’ll be writing about when WVU is back on the field again.

Plans for Neal Brown’s Q&A started more than a month ago, WVU football has yet to announce a plan for returning to campus, there are some surprises about returning to campus and Shea Campbell may be starting a trend in Division II.

The NCAA is letting three sports back resume on a voluntary basis. It’s good news for WVU, and weeks ahead of schedule. What will this look like and how stands to benefit?

Sudden developments on and off the field point to West Virginia getting back to campus before too much longer and having a two new players on defense. Chris and Mike discuss the events and many other current and expected developments.