The Morning Spiel

Alex is joined today by Mike Asti, Managing Editor of WV Sports Now, to chat about WVU football's loss to Penn State and the necessary response coming against Duquesne (4:32). Then Adam Zundell, color analyst for Big 12 Now on ESPN+ coverage of WVU Men's and Women's Soccer, joins the show to discuss the early season highs and lows of Mountaineer men's and women's soccer (24:46).

This Wildcard Wednesday is focused on opioids, overdoses, and awareness and stigmas around the subject. We begin exploring some of the history of the epidemic in the United States -- though certainly not a complete history (0:00). Alex is joined in this episode by Pam McDonald and Jami Brown (9:12). Pam is a social worker from Healthy Minds Clarksburg . Jami is in recovery and has been sober for m...

WVU and Penn State: it's on. A critical week of preparation is here. Mike Asti of WV Sports Now breaks down the major storylines and weighs in on if WVU can hang with the Nittany Lions (3:33).

It's all football today. Greg Carey, sports reporter with West Virginia MetroNews, joins the program to recap an exciting Week 1 full of some surprisingly lopsided scores highlighted by the three defending champions outscoring their opponents 172-13 (4:07). Then we begin our first ever edition of Headlines (24:05). Winning submissions will win a free car wash courtesy of Triple Fresh Auto Detailin...

Jason Young joins the show to discuss the 5-year anniversary of the Robinson Grand Performing Arts Center re-opening (2:47). Aristotle Jones, the Appalachian Soul Man, highlights Wax Brain and Stone Senate (18:34).

On another edition of Wildcard Wednesday: Alex is joined by Mark Lambert, Director of WVU Extension Fire Services (2:51). Plus, the epilogue from the WVU Football Season Preview show (17:23).

It's finally here: the Mountaineer football preview extravaganza on The Morning Spiel. Tannor Lambert, host of the Mountaineer Sports Insider podcast, joins the show to set the scene and lay out expectations on campus (0:00). Then Greg Carey, who covers the Mountaineers for WV MetroNews, lays out some of the major storylines surrounding the coaching staff and embattled head coach Neal Brown (13:33...

Michael Minnich, Sports Editor of WV News, joins the show to help put the final word on the prologue of the high school football season in West Virginia (3:52). Plus, Mike sticks around for a little bonus soccer talk after WVU demolishes Saint Francis and talks his favorite storylines of the high school soccer season (31:01).

Tannor Lambert joins the program to discuss the dog days of Mountaineer football practice with a special sneak peak at some of the big storylines ahead for the team in the 2023 season (4:41).

It's all WVU soccer, men's and women's, on The Morning Spiel as we are joined by WWVU-FM Sports Director Tannor Lambert and Daily Athenaeum Sports Editor Luke Blain (0:00). The hosts of Mountaineer Sports Insider podcast assist with breaking down WVU Women's Soccer under the leadership of Nikki Izzo-Brown (5:16). Next, they look at the WVU Men's Soccer team in what could be described as their post...

Jason Young joins the show to discuss Mountain Stage at the Robinson Grand Performing Arts Center (2:41). Aristotle Jones has a fresh collection of artists to share, including Lords of Lester (16:28).

Alex is back and sorting through some serious reactions to the announcement of WVU's "transformation" that includes the erasure of 32 programs, hundreds of students, and seven percent of the faculty through reduction-in-force measures (0:00). Then Lisa Di Bartolomeo, Teaching Professor of Russian Studies and Slavic and East European Studies, joins the show to detail what's next for those hoping to...

It's been all odes all week. Greg Carey, reporter from WV MetroNews, joins Alex to discuss how the massive changes to the Big 12 will impact the fan experience and the student-athlete experience (3:45). Then Chad Clem pays homage to the late William Friedkin (27:04).

It's a tribute to Robbie Robertson on this edition of The Morning Spiel (0:00). Jason Young, Program Manager of the Robinson Grand Performing Arts Center, discusses Moutain Stage, Mtn Craft Film Festival, and more. Aristotle Jones talks about the "Shindie" Festival in Shinnston, Born and Bred series, and much more (21:52). In the live show, Alex played parts of two songs to pay tribute to The Band...

With Fall sports season fast approaching, Alex decided to dedicate an entire episode to head injuries. First, Dr. Michael Ebbert, a Sports Neurologist from the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, joins the show to give us the latest on concussions -- what they are, how they happen, why they happen, and where the field of study is headed (3:17). Then Dr. Javier Cárdenas, RNI's Concussion & Brai...

It's a grab-bag of local and regional sports content on today's The Morning Spiel. Alex chats with Austin Scott, recently promoted from Defensive Coordinator to Head Coach at Robert C. Byrd (3:10). Scott talks about taking over a program where expectations are always high plus the differences day-to-day in his new role. Also joining the show Tuesday is Robbie Root, Head Coach of the Bridgeport Lit...

Zach Davis, head coach of Buckhannon-Upshur, joins the show ahead of his third season at the helm of a Bucs program in a 25-year playoff win drought (4:07). Brad Howe of WVMetroNews and "3 Guys Before the Game" podcast joins the show to discuss the major expansion of the Big 12 announced Friday (20:39). Plus a brief look at the Erik Karlsson trade to Pittsburgh (36:42).

Jason Young joins the show to discuss some new shows announced at the Robinson Grand Performing Arts Center, an important visit, and Jaws (3:30). Meanwhile, Aristotle Jones has another round of artists to share on this visit (17:07).

It's the return of The Morning Spiel following a brief hiatus for Alex's trip home to wish his grandmother a happy 90th birthday (0:00). Dr. Erik Herron, Eberly Family Distinguished Professor in the Department of Political Science at WVU, opens a lengthy discussion on the role of political parties in U.S. history and politics (5:03). That's it. That's the show!

An age-related Spiel (0:00). Then it's Chris Johnson for a lengthy conversation dealing with all the upcoming changes in the WV high school football world (10:03). Alex has thoughts on how to address the playoff format if "AAAA" classification is finalized for football in West Virginia (37:10). Related Links: State BoE clears path for expansion in Class AAAA sports, final decisions expected in fal...

It's a high school football double feature on today's edition of The Morning Spiel. Dustin Cogar, Head Coach of Lewis County High School, talks about the resiliency and leadership of a Minutemen program looking to take that next step and return to the playoffs (4:19). Meanwhile, Cogar's Opening Day opponent, Fairmont Senior Head Coach Nic Bartic, joins the second half of the show to discuss his ph...

Alex Wiederspiel is joined by Bill Dubensky with your road closure updates, plus a new #TripleFreshQuestionOfTheWeek (0:00). Then Mike Asti of WV Sports Now joins the show to talk about a shockingly good weekend for WVU Men's Basketball, the shockingly low expectations for WVU Football, and reflecting on 11 years of Randy Mazey (11:22). We wrap with Top-of-Mind/Bottom-of-Show (38:29)

A Friday edition: meaning it's a pop culture day. Tannor Lambert of the MSI Podcast joins the show to discuss the Randy Mazey retirement and the possible paradigm shift of younger coaches (4:38). Meanwhile, Brian Hernandez of Zero Dark Nerdy Podcast joins the program to talk about the biggest strike in Hollywood since 1960, superhero fatigue, and season two of The Bear (18:18). Bottom-of-show, top...

Trivia and random facts are on Alex's mind (0:00). Plus, Jason Young joins the show to talk about the paradox of "Buy Local" when it comes to booking local talent (12:17). Then Aristotle Jones joins the show to remind you that there are still fantastic outdoor music festivals coming up in spite of the seemingly endless supply of summer storms (26:13). Alex's Bottom-of-Show/Top-of-Mind: what it mea...

On today's edition of The Morning Spiel, Alex brings on Mike Farrell, Vice Chairman with the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Comission to set the stage for the conversation about higher education in West Virginia as troubling long-term financial outlooks and demographic shifts begin to impact West Virginia's colleges and universities (9:46). The conversation continues throughout the entirety...