Three Guys Before The Game

A middle school football coach kicked Mike Florio and it changed his life. That's not hyperbole, it's the truth.  Actually, it was more than one kick to Florio's backside, but regardless, the impact is still being felt today.  In this episode, the "Guys" spend an entertaining visit with the founder of Pro Football Talk. While his passion remains the NFL, his non-football writing continues to gain popularity.  It's a enlightening and fun conversation with one of the most interesting guys to appear on the podcast. 

Wren Baker is the 13th Athletic Director in West Virginia University history. It's fair to say none of his predecessors have navigated the changes and challenges that he's encountered. Forget about the “normal” requirements of the job, Baker is also leading WVU in the transition from college amateurism to a pay-for-play model.  It's uncharted territory for everyone involved and, for Baker, just another challenge that's being handled with both confidence and optimism. In this episode, the “Guys” dig deep into the new world of college athletics and learn Baker's plan for how WVU athletics will compete in a very new world.

Little has been heard from Zac Alley since his arrival in Morgantown.  West Virginia University's defensive coordinator is a rising star in coaching circles. You could say Alley's decision to join the WVU program is Rich Rodriguez's biggest recruiting coup yet. Alley's departure from Oklahoma gives Rodriguez the aggressive attacking nature that pairs well with his fast-paced offensive attack. In this episode, Alley reveals his motivation and goals in his role with the Mountaineers.  It's an insightful visit with Alley, who admits West Virginia University football changed his life before he ever arrived in Morgantown. 

Bill McKenzie.It's a name that will forever be associated with West Virginia University football.  His story about life as a Mountaineer is as remarkable as improbable. The West Virginia kid from the small high school became one of the most recognizable names in WVU history with one single kick of a football. In this episode, Bill and the "Guys" celebrate the 50th anniversary of that play and the dividends it continues to pay. 

Treysen Eaglestaff has a story. The self-described chubby high school kid has blossomed into one of college basketball's top scorers. That's why his entrance into the transfer portal produced numerous scholarship offers, which included Kentucky, Kansas, Gonzaga and South Carolina.  Instead of 'blue bloods", Eaglestaff chose the Gold and Blue of West Virginia and will be part of Coach Ross Hodge's debut season.In this episode, Eaglestaff shares his obsession with improving and an improbable journey from North Dakota to Morgantown. 

Nathan Adrian says it's time. The former Mountaineer basketball standout recently celebrated his 30th birthday.  He still loves the game that's taken him around the world to play, but his body is hurting. In this episode, Adrian talks about his recent season in Japan and his future plans.  It's a fun and informative episode about how the game of basketball transformed Adrian's life on and off the court. Listener questions and comments complete the show. 

Sometimes you just have "stuff" to talk about. Welcome to episode 636 of 3 Guys Before The Game.  It's an episode that covers a number of topics in the ever-changing world of WVU football and basketball. The "Guys" dig into the latest roster additions and jump into the latest basketball and baseball news. Listener questions and comments complete the episode. 

The list of coaches Travis Trickett has worked with is jaw-dropping.  Imagine being mentored by Bobby Bowden, Nick Sabin, Jimbo Fisher and Rich Rodriguez. That group, which has combined to win 10 national championships and 40 conference titles, makes Trickett an invaluable resource as he returns to the WVU football program. In this episode, Trickett explains his decision to return to Morgantown and the rebuilding of the WVU roster. It's an informative inside look into a massive roster rebuild and how it will come together. 

Jasper Floyd will tell you that prayers are answered.Floyd's prayers to play at a "Power Four" conference school were answered this month when he accepted a scholarship offer from West Virginia.  The Florida native will join his North Texas coach Ross Hodge and teammate Brenen Lorient in Morgantown. Floyd's path to Morgantown is a story of persistence and determination.  He made two stops at the junior college level before playing at Fairfield and North Texas. In this episode, Floyd shares the story of his journey and goals as a Mountaineer. Listener questions and comments complete the episode. 

He hasn't played a game yet for West Virginia University, but Honor Huff has certainly made a memorable first impression. The Brooklyn native, who led the nation in three-point shooting last season, joins the "Guys" for an entertaining and informative conversation.  The Tennesee-Chatanooga transfer explains his frenetic recruitment once entering the transfer portal and why he chose WVU. It's an insightful and fun visit with a key member of WVU's new class of recruits. Listener questions and comments complete the episode.

There really isn't an offseason in college football and basketball. The games may be over for now, but roster movement has become a season of its own. In this episode, the "Guys" discuss roster changes for WVU football and basketball along with revenue- sharing plans and NIL opportunities for college athletes. Listener comments and questions complete the episode. 

History is being made when it comes to the rosters of college football teams. Coaches are being asked to reduce their roster to 105 to meet the House Settlement requirement. That means some players must unexpectedly find a new school. Meanwhile, the roster is slowly growing for the new WVU men's basketball coach, Ross Hodge.  In this episode, the "Guys" debate the "new world" of roster management and provide analytics on the new basketball commits. Listener questions and comments complete the episode. 

The 24th men's basketball coach in West Virginia University history is on the job. Ross Hodge was formally introduced on Thursday morning.  He shared his thoughts and philosophy on the game of basketball and his future vision of the WVU program. In this episode, the "Guys" share their thoughts on the Hodge press conference and what it means for Mountaineer Nation. 

It has been 17 years since Rich Rodriguez coached on Mountaineer Field with fans in the stands.  That streak will end on Saturday when the Mountaineers collide in the Gold & Blue Showcase.  It will give Rodriguez and staff a final chance to evaluate the roster.  It's also the last chance for players to shine before the roster is reduced.  New rules will allow for just 105 roster spots starting next season.  That's a reduction of about 20 players from the current system. In this episode, Brad and Tony talk with Coach Rodriguez about the current state of the program and changes that will be made in the next several months. Listener questions and comments complete the episode. 

The search is over. Ross Hodge, the current head coach at North Texas, will become the 24th head men's basketball coach in West Virginia University history. The 44-year-old Hodge, a Dallas native, will arrive in Morgantown once the season is complete for the Mean Green, who are in the Final Four of the NIT. In seven seasons as a head coach, Hodge has won 80% of his games.  His current squad is 27-8 heading into next week's NIT semifinal game against UC Irvine. In this episode, the "Guys" discuss the hire and dig into the analytics of what WVU basketball will look like under Hodge. Listener questions and comments complete the show. 

College basketball's coaching carousel is rolling. WVU Athletic Director Wren Baker will make the decision on who will serve as the Mountaineers new head coach.  Candidates are being vetted, and formal interviews have begun. Monday marked the one-year anniversary of the hiring of Darian DeVries who unexpectedly resigned last week.In this episode, the "Guys" discuss possible coaching scenarios and preview the WVU women's NCAA tournament game against North Carolina. Listener questions and comments complete the episode. 

The clock is on AGAIN for West Virginia Athletic Director Wren Baker. The search to find a replacement for Darian DeVries is Baker's fifth (basketball and football) in the last 24 months. That likely means this won't be a long search.  There's a built-in familiarity with candidates since only 51 weeks have passed since Baker last went to the market for a new men's coach. In this episode, the "Guys" discuss the impact of DeVries' departure and the future of WVU basketball. Listener questions and texts complete the episode. 

Emergency podcast with reaction to Darian DeVries' departure to Indiana.

Initial disbelief has become anger for Mountaineer Nation.The NCAA selection committee's snub of West Virginia's basketball team has become a national story.  The sounds of discontent will soon be squelched by cheering when tournament games begin, but WVU's tournament denial will forever be a scar for Mountaineer fans. In this episode, the "Guys" vent their frustration with a series of facts and figures that make the committee's decision even more head-shaking. Listener questions and comments complete the show. 

It was a poor performance when it mattered the most.  West Virginia's elimination from the Big 12 Conference Championship was both surprising and deflating. A Mountaineer team that defied expectations all season suddenly lost its swagger. Now what?  The good news is that WVU will still receive an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. The question is whether they can rediscover their winning ways before opening play next week.  In this episode, Brad and Tony dissect the game against Colorado and look ahead to the NCAA tournament. Listener questions and comments complete the episode. 

An improbable season continues to get better for the West Virginia University basketball team. The Mountaineers, picked 13th in the Big 12 preseason poll, have received an opening-round bye in this week's Big 12 Championship in Kansas City.  West Virginia earned the bye with a 72-65 win over UCF and Colorado's 76-56 victory over TCU.  WVU is seeded 8th and will meet the winner of the TCU-Colorado rematch in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. In this episode, the "Guys" analyze the victory over the Knights and preview the Big 12 tournament. Listener questions and comments complete the episode. 

The Mountaineer basketball team will try to close a memorable regular season with a victory on Saturday against UCF.  A win would galvanize an already likely at-large bid to the NCAA tournament.  The outcome will also determine WVU's seeding in next week's Big 12 Championship in Kansas City. In this episode, the "Guys" recap the victory at Utah and preview Saturday's sold-out game against UCF. Listener questions and comments complete the episode. 

The Mountaineer basketball team hopes its defense and offense will travel.  WVU departs on a regular-season-ending road trip Friday with games at BYU and Utah.Will the lock-down defense and hot shooting displayed in its win over TCU come along for the ride?In this episode, the "Guys" dig deep into the victory over the Horned Frogs and preview Saturday's date at BYU. Listener questions and comments complete the episode. 

The schedule is getting smaller and the games are getting bigger for the Mountaineer basketball team. With four games to play, WVU needs at least two victories to maintain its NCAA tournament chances.  The next challenge is Tuesday when the Mountaineers host TCU.  The Horned Frogs beat West Virginia 65-60 in Fort Worth earlier this month.  TCU shot 23 free throws to WVU's five attempts. In this episode, the "Guys" preview Tuesday's game and recap Saturday's loss in Lubbock to Texas Tech.  Listener questions and comments complete the show. 

A season-sweep over the Cincinnati Bearcats is exactly what the Mountaineer basketball team needed.  West Virginia's second-half rally enhances the WVU resume and provides much-needed momentum before playing at No. 9 Texas Tech on Saturday afternoon. In this episode, the "Guys" present a detailed breakdown of the victory over Cincinnati and preview the matchup against the Red Raiders. Listener questions and comments complete the episode. 

It's bounce-back time again for the WVU basketball team.  Saturday's loss at Baylor was another oh-so-close result that ended in defeat.  In this episode, the "Guys" recap Saturday's trip to Waco and preview Wednesday's massively important date at home against Cincinnati. Listener texts and comments are featured in Textual Healing. 

It's back to Texas again for the Mountaineer basketball team. (Yes, again!)West Virginia plays its first and only regular season game against Baylor on Saturday in Waco.  It's a big game and a big challenge for the Mountaineers. Baylor is 11-1 at home this season. In this episode, the "Guys" preview the matchup with the Bears and recap Tuesday's loss to BYU. Listener questions and comments complete the show. 

Challenge number one from the Utah delegation of the Big 12 Conference went well for the WVU basketball team.  The Mountaineers 72-61 victory over visiting Utah before a sold-out crowd was memorable.  It not only gave WVU its first ever victory over Utah, it also evened its Big 12 record at6-6 with eight league games remaining. The next challenge comes Tuesday when BYU visits the Coliseum for the first time. In this episode, Brad and Tony review Saturday's win and give an analytical preview of the BYU matchup. Listener questions and comments complete the show. 

It's bounce-back time, once again, for the Mountaineer basketball team.  Wednesday's loss at TCU was West Virginia's fourth loss in five games. The 65-60 setback to the Horned Frogs will be long remembered for the disparity in free throw attempts.  TCU attempted 23 while the Mountaineers took just five.  Despite attempting 19 shots, Big 12 leading scorer Javon Small never took a free throw. In this episode, the "Guys" review the game and look ahead to Saturday's sold-out home date against Utah. Listener questions and comments complete the episode. 

The skid is over for the West Virginia University basketball team.  Sunday's victory at Cincinnati snapped a three-game losing skid, and gave WVU more Big 12 road victories than it had in the previous three years combined.  (Yeah!) The Mountaineers will try for another league road win on Wednesday when they visit TCU. In this episode, the "Guys" dig deep in Sunday's game and preview the first of two regular season encounters with the Horned Frogs. Listener questions and comments complete the episode.

The last six weeks have been a blur for Rich Rodriguez.  The Mountaineer head coach hired a new staff, retooled his roster and started preparations for spring practice. Despite the whirlwind, Rodriguez is at peace and content. In this episode, Coach Rod shares his thoughts with the "Guys" about coming home and reflects on his first tenure at WVU while looking toward the future. Listener questions and comments complete the episode. 

The West Virginia University basketball team has lost consecutive games for the first time this season.Now what?  WVU's nationally ranked defense has struggled in back-to-back losses to Arizona State and Kansas State.  Can the Mountaineers rediscover their defensive tenacity and shooting stroke?  They'll certainly need them on Wednesday when No. 6 Houston visits the WVU Coliseum.In this episode, the "Guys" deep-dive into the analytics against Kansas State and preview the Houston game. Listener questions and comments complete the episode.  

It's been a memorable week for the No. 23 West Virginia basketball team.  The Mountaineers recorded a memory-searing victory over No. 2 Iowa State on Jerry West Day, and then suffered a suprising loss at home to Arizona State. On Saturday they'll have an opportunity to return to their winning ways at Kansas State.  The Wildcats have struggled in the Big 12 but have the talent to be dangerous. In this episode, the "Guys" recap the loss to Arizona State and preview the matchup with Kansas State. Listener questions and texts complete the episode. 

It could not have been scripted any better. Jerry West Day inside the WVU Coliseum produced a memory that will not be forgotten by Mountaineer Nation. West Virginia's victory over No. 2 Iowa State provided the perfect exclamation point on a day that honored its greatest player.In this episode, the "Guys" explain how WVU orchestrated the victory and preview Tuesday's game against Arizona State. Listener questions and comments complete the show. 

The biggest challenge of the season awaits the West Virginia University basketball team. The Mountaineers, fresh off a game at No. 10 Houston, host No. 2 Iowa State on Saturday inside the WVU Coliseum. It's another opportunity for an upset victory for a WVU team that's already defied the odds in wins over No. 3 Gonzaga, No. 23 Arizona and No. 7 Kansas.In this episode, the "Guys" recap the Colorado-Houston road trip and preview Saturday's date with the Cyclones.  Listener questions and texts complete the episode. 

It's time for an extended road trip for the No. 21 West Virginia men's basketball team. The Mountaineers play in Colorado on Sunday and visit No. 12 Houston next Wednesday. In this episode, the "Guys" recap WVU's loss to Arizona and preview the next two games. The crew also chat about the No. 17 West Virginia women's victory at Texas Tech and the new additions to the WVU football program. Listener questions and comments complete the show. 

The surprising season of West Virginia's basketball team continues to produce even more surprises. On Monday, WVU was ranked in the Top-25 for the first time this season.  That's an amazing accomplishment for a team that did not return a single player from last season's squad. Saturday's win over Oklahoma State was another example of tenacious defense and timely shooting.  Next up, a rematch with the Arizona Wildcats.  West Virginia defeated Arizona in overtime in a non-conference game in November.  This one will count and the 'Cats will be looking for revenge. In this episode, the "Guys" breakdown the analytics to Saturday's win and preview Tuesday's game. Listener questions and comments complete the show. 

The glow of Tuesday's win at No. 7 Kansas continues for the Mountaineer men's basketball team, but one big victory doesn't make a season.In this episode, the “Guys” reflect on the historic win over the Jayhawks and preview Saturday's Big 12 home opener against Oklahoma State. Listener questions and comments complete the show.

It's that great stretch of days between Christmas and New Year's Day. Chances are you're not sure what day it is and that's perfectly fine.  We do know that the bowl season continues and the conference basketball season is ready to begin.  Yeah!In this episode, the "Guys" wander around the sports world (shocker) and look ahead to West Virginia's Big 12 opener next week at No. 7 Kansas. Listener questions and comments complete the episode. 

The transition within the West Virginia University football program is happening quickly.  Notable names from last season's team have entered the transfer portal.  Meanwhile, weekend recruiting visits have led to the first commitments for coach Rich Rodriguez. In this episode, the "Guys" discuss the new world of roster management and recap Sunday's basketball victory over Mercyhurst. Listener questions and comments complete the episode. 

The season is now officially over for the Mountaineer football team. Tuesday's bowl loss to Memphis displayed great effort by WVU, but also showed why the team finished with a losing record. The season-long struggles of the Mountaineer pass defense led to its demise against the Tigers. So now what?  There's little time to waste for a massuve roster rebuild that begins immediately for new coach Rich Rodriguez. In this episode, the "Guys" analyze the bowl game and look ahead to Sunday's WVU basketball game. Oh yeah, they also talk with Hoppy about his own major announcement. Listener questions and comments complete the show. 

The Mountaineer football team closes the 2024 season in the Scooters Coffee Frisco Bowl on Tuesday. The question is what Mountaineer teams shows up? Neal Brown's termination and Rich Rodriguez's hiring sent the program into a transition period. Will the Mountaineers be ready to perform mentally and physcially with all the questions surrounding their futures? In this episode, the "Guys" discuss the game and look back at Friday's formal introduction of Rich Rodriguez. Listener questions and comments complete the show.