Country Roads Confidential: A WVU Mountaineers podcast

At long last, basketball takes has the stage at WVU. The Mountaineers are undefeated but also unranked, and that's OK. Don't listen to the RPI, which rates WVU No. 1 and a has a sleeper at No. 2. Chris and Mike then tackle two big questions about how to build the proper WVU team and wonder whether Derek Culver should start or come off the bench. The episode closes with some football and a look at...

Neal Brown punctuated his initial season in charge of West Virginia’s football program with a 20-17 win over TCU. The Mountaineers accomplished many things they had not done in similar situations before and kept the Horned Frogs from reaching a bowl game. What does this do for the present and the future? What type of difference did Jarret Doege make? How can WVU polish strengths and work on weakne...

It's a short week at WVU, but it's a busy one, too. Chris and Mike (with a cameo by a dead bird!) look ahead to the final football game of the season and what to expect against TCU and what to look for in the future. Gary Patterson takes away what an opposing offense does best, which makes WVU kind of tricky. Can the offensive line improve in the offseason? How much of a gap will exist between tha...

For the first time since 2013, West Virginia is not going to play in a bowl game. The Mountaineers lost their seventh game of the season Saturday but had their chances in the 20-13 loss. Tonight’s episode recounts the close calls, highs, lows and curious decisions from the 11th game.

West Virginia returns home for Senior Day this weekend and Oklahoma State is coming to town. Robert Allen of GoPokes joins the podcast to help preview the contest between the Mountaineers and the Cowboys. Plus, we discuss Mike Gundy's future, the state of the program, and the interesting history between the two teams.

The NCAA approved Gabe Osabuohien's eligibility waiver Wednesday, and the 6-foot-7 forward is eligible for the 2019-20 season. How does that affect the roster? What can Osabuohien do for WVU's offense and defense? How soon can he make an impact? All that and more is covered in today's quick episode.

West Virginia football has a lot to play for, but Neal Brown isn't saying much about what's on the line. Does that undersell the opportunity or continue the plan he began at halftime against Missouri? Chris and Mike cover that as well as who and what have improved (or not) on offense and defense, how to build a game plan to stop Oklahoma State and more. Then they bounce to basketball and detail th...

The losing streak is over, West Virginia has a new starting quarterback and the final two games of the regular season are more interesting now than they were before kickoff. Chris and Mike discuss Jarret Doege's debut as the starter, the revitalized run game, the opportune defense and the debate they don't want to have but were born to have.

West Virginia travels to Manhattan, Kansas for this Saturday's game against No. 24 Kansas State. GoPowercat publisher Tim Fitzgerald joins the podcast to discuss the matchup between the Mountaineers and the Wildcats, what strengths and weaknesses there are on this team, and a projection for the game.

As West Virginia's football team nears the end of the football season and the basketball team gets started, we discuss how the Mountaineers will go about their business on the field and on the floor. The football team may be getting healthier and improving in hidden areas, and there are some recruiting repercussions to cover before and after Saturday's game against Kansas State. But before that, t...

West Virginia dropped its fifth straight game Saturday with a 38-17 loss to Texas Tech. Both teams were 3-5 when the day began, but the Red Raiders ended their three-game losing streak thanks to a big first half. This episode discusses how it all went so wrong, what to think of Austin Kendall and Jarret Doege, the logic involved with a flea flicker in the red zone and Neal Brown's new F word.

Jarret Johnson of Inside the Red Raiders joins the Country Roads Confidential podcast to discuss this weekend's game between West Virginia and Texas Tech. The two discuss what has gone wrong for both programs, why there's still hope moving forward, and what might happen on Saturday. And, because both teams are 3-5, Chris and Jarret also go off on a basketball tangent for a more positive discussion...

Two teams with first-year coaches and lengthy losing streaks meet in Morgantown Saturday afternoon. We'll see whether Texas Tech's defense or West Virginia's offense can break out of a funk and which new coach stays out of the basement. Additionally, two more players are no longer part of the program, and there are surely more on the way out when the season is complete. What can WVU do to recover...

It was closer than many expected, but ultimately it was the outcome most predicted. No. 12 Baylor remained undefeated Thursday night by beating WVU 17-14. Chris and Mike are here to discuss the quarterback conundrum, the penalty that altered the game, the roster's dire straits, the excellent audible by the defense and all that kept the Mountaineers from ending a losing streak and securing a win th...

Tim Watkins of BearsIllustrated joins Chris Anderson to preview Thursday night's game between West Virginia and Baylor. The two discuss Baylor's hot start, how Matt Rhule rebuilt the program, what is to be expected from the game, and how the Mountaineers might be able to pull the upset.

Maybe the hard part of the schedule isn't over for WVU? After taking three straight losses to the teams atop the Big 12's preseason poll, WVU begins the remainder of the season against the conference's only undefeated team. Baylor is 7-0, and Mike and Chris discuss what the Mountaineers have to do to change that as well as who will be involved, how the team prepared and what coach Neal Brown meant...

No game? No problem. Eersports.com readers on the message board and on Twitter submitted a number of worthy questions about the present and future of WVU football and basketball. Mike dedicated some free time during the open weekend to provide his answers. Today's episode covers the run game, scripting plays, using motion, the recruiting class, the next step for the program, the next wave of facil...

West Virginia QB commitment Garrett Greene joins the podcast to discuss his relationship with WVU, his visits to campus, and a couple of top targets on his own recruiting board. 

West Virginia's third straight loss was like and unlike the other two before it. The Mountaineers played a good half and faded, but the opponent was uniquely qualified to do damage. WVU was beat up entering the game and had to make some changes and then improvise a little once the game started. Chris and Mike cover everything from the 52-14 defeat, try to find a positive spin and look ahead for wh...

OUInsider Joey Helmer joins the Country Roads Confidential podcast to help Chris preview West Virginia and Oklahoma. The two discuss the Sooners' improvements this season, where their weaknesses might lie, and whether Austin Kendall is the quarterback everyone thought he was in Norman.

Neal Brown's poor roster took a few more hits on Tuesday with more players disappearing through the transfer portal and due to injury. The top players on offense and defense are questionable ... and the opponent Saturday is formidable. Chris and Mike discuss the (maybe) comings and goings, the upcoming game, some bright spots on and off the field and how the Mountaineers can finish the season and...

West Virginia took some hits on and off the field Saturday in a 38-14 loss to Iowa State. The visiting team played its game, and the home team had to improvise along the way on offense and defense. Chris and Mike explain why that wasn't a great mix, what the Cyclones did to control the game, how the Mountaineers dealt with the quarterback fiasco and how the coaches will attempt to answer a lot of...

Alex Halsted of Cyclone Alert joins the show to discuss this weekend's game between Iowa State and West Virginia. The two discuss the matchup, Iowa State's start to the season, what Matt Campbell has brought to Ames and more. 

West Virginia has another top-shelf Big 12 opponent coming to town Saturday, but the defense is now officially without a former starter and the offense won't be have all its personnel at its disposal. Upon additional review, Chris and Mike discuss exactly what happened (and who's to blame) on big plays against Texas and who has to make the big plays against Iowa State. The Cyclones have a rare def...

West Virginia doesn't feel like it was that far away from a different outcome Saturday, and the stats and the scoreboard don't completely disagree. Texas won 42-31, but the Mountaineers know turnovers, missed field goals and some iffy defense at inopportune times were too much to overcome against the talented Longhorns. This episode explores all of that, plus Neal Brown's aggressive defense of Aus...