WV Inaugural Festivities

Very nicely done.  Although the crowds may have been down, it was by no means a poor turnout.  The event at the Clay Center showed how well that building can accomodate a group with plenty of room and style.  The swearing in was cold but I certainly prefer having it on the non-river side of the capitol.  It appeared one poor soldier was overcome by the cold but other than that, everyone toughed it out.

The civic center event was by far the best I have ever seen.  The four seasons themed decoration were very, very well done and the Spinners put on a classic Motown show. 

One word to those on the platform during the swearing in ceremony.  When you come down the stairs, all eyes are on you because, quite frankly, there is nothing else to watch.  The gents should take off their hats, bonnets or whatever adorns your cranium, hold it in your hand then put it back on when you reach your seat.  Governor Manchin even went so far to take off his coat as he descended the stairs and put it back on at his seat.  The parade of odd hat wearers was however interesting.  Several cowboy hats and a few “let’s go sledding” stocking caps were on display. 

In my opinion Joe Manchin has done a remarkable job for the state.  Presumably, his successor was somewhere on the platform on Monday.  He will be very hard if not impossible to replace. 

NFL Overtime

There has been a lot of chatter after the Colts/Bolts overtime game bemoaning that the Colts didn’t get the ball at all so whoever wins the toss wins the game.  Actually, I think the team that wins the toss only wins half of the time but perhaps the overtime rule should be changed.

Rather than go to the college rule which is a little Mickey Mouse, why not do what the NBA does?  Namely, play another set amount of time.  In the NBA I think they play another five minutes.  Perhaps the NFL should play ten minutes or even a fifth quarter.  That would be a fairer way to figure out who really was the better team on that day.

 

Bowl Victory

Not the way I predicted but it was the victory I predicted.  Hopefully, all the Stewart bashers will at least hold their tongues and pens for a while.  The Big East went 4 and 2 in bowl play which is not bad at all.  Interestingly, the two highest ranked teams, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, both lost whereas the next four (WV, Rutgers, UConn and South Florida) all won.  What does that mean?  Well, perhaps it means that the Big East is basically at the top of the “second tier” of college teams.  Not top 10, maybe even not top 15 but solidly in the 15 to 25 ranking area.  A decent springboard for a “loaded” team to make a run at the top 10 and even the top 5 each year. 

What will happen next year?  Probably about the same as this year.  If such is the case, 2010 could be the year WVU challenges for a spot at the top of the rankings.  For now, just sit back and enjoy a good bowl win, a better than average season and, if you want, smile a little bit at Rich Rod’s dismal showing.  Four million just doesn’t buy what it used to!