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Chuck Landon: What’s best for WVU best for state?
Welcome to “Second Guess” Tuesday.
The opinions du jour will be cloudy with a chance of reign.
Let’s get something straight about West Virginia University.
It is the biggest school in the state and the most popular. There is no doubt or debate about that. But it’s not the only college in West Virginia.
And there’s the catch because sometimes the Mountaineers’ leaders act like WVU is indeed the one and only institution of higher learning in the Mountain State.
Take, for example, comments WVU basketball coach Bob Huggins recently made to a Morgantown newspaper.
“We need to do what’s in the best interest of West Virginia University,” he was quoted. “This notion that (the Marshall series is) the greatest sports weekend of the year. ... no, it’s not.
“And in doing what’s in the best interest of the university, by and large we’re doing what’s in the best interest of the vast majority of the people in this state.”
Oh my goodness.
For starters, not all West Virginians are sports fans. Heresy, right? But it’s true. Lots of people like to say they bleed blue and gold or bleed green, but the truth of the matter is most people still bleed red.
Here’s another shocker. Not all Mountain State residents are Mountaineer fans. The majority are. But vast majority? I don’t believe so.
There also are Marshall fans. And Concord fans. And University of Charleston fans. And West Virginia State fans. And West Virginia Wesleyan fans. And Fairmont State fans. And West Liberty fans. And Shepherd fans.
WVU isn’t the only college in West Virginia. It’s not even the only NCAA Division I college in the state. There are two, including Marshall.
Besides those two, there are 14 NCAA Division II schools, one Division III school and one junior college.
They all have their followers and fans. Do many of them have dual allegiances? Sure.
But to have the abject pomposity to declare what’s in the best interest of WVU is in the best interest of the vast majority of the people in this state is absolutely stupefying.
Is what’s best for Ohio State in the best interest for the rest of the state of Ohio? How about in Kentucky? Is what’s best for UK what is best for the rest of the Bluegrass State? I think Western Kentucky might debate that.
What about Virginia? Is what’s best for UVa also what’s best for the rest of the state? I have a feeling Old Dominion fans might disagree.
Huggins speaks for WVU, not the entire state of West Virginia. And just because he says something, it doesn’t make it accurate or true.
Think Concord University’s administration and fans are happy about WVU moving WVU Tech from Montgomery, W.Va., to Beckley and calling it WVU Beckley? Is that in the best interest of the Athens, W.Va.-based school that counts Robert C. Byrd among its alumni?
No, it’s simply in WVU’s best interests.
And what’s best for WVU isn’t necessarily what’s best for the rest of us.
J.J. Hoover finally is where he belongs.
The beleaguered relief pitcher is back in the minor leagues, instead of a Cincinnati Reds uniform.
Group phew!
Hoover’s abominable 14.34 earned run average and allowing six homers in 10.2 innings was too much to bear.
I won’t even use a Hoover vacuum anymore.
Chuck Landon: What’s best for WVU best for state?
Welcome to “Second Guess” Tuesday.
The opinions du jour will be cloudy with a chance of reign.
Let’s get something straight about West Virginia University.
It is the biggest school in the state and the most popular. There is no doubt or debate about that. But it’s not the only college in West Virginia.
And there’s the catch because sometimes the Mountaineers’ leaders act like WVU is indeed the one and only institution of higher learning in the Mountain State.
Take, for example, comments WVU basketball coach Bob Huggins recently made to a Morgantown newspaper.
“We need to do what’s in the best interest of West Virginia University,” he was quoted. “This notion that (the Marshall series is) the greatest sports weekend of the year. ... no, it’s not.
“And in doing what’s in the best interest of the university, by and large we’re doing what’s in the best interest of the vast majority of the people in this state.”
Oh my goodness.
For starters, not all West Virginians are sports fans. Heresy, right? But it’s true. Lots of people like to say they bleed blue and gold or bleed green, but the truth of the matter is most people still bleed red.
Here’s another shocker. Not all Mountain State residents are Mountaineer fans. The majority are. But vast majority? I don’t believe so.
There also are Marshall fans. And Concord fans. And University of Charleston fans. And West Virginia State fans. And West Virginia Wesleyan fans. And Fairmont State fans. And West Liberty fans. And Shepherd fans.
WVU isn’t the only college in West Virginia. It’s not even the only NCAA Division I college in the state. There are two, including Marshall.
Besides those two, there are 14 NCAA Division II schools, one Division III school and one junior college.
They all have their followers and fans. Do many of them have dual allegiances? Sure.
But to have the abject pomposity to declare what’s in the best interest of WVU is in the best interest of the vast majority of the people in this state is absolutely stupefying.
Is what’s best for Ohio State in the best interest for the rest of the state of Ohio? How about in Kentucky? Is what’s best for UK what is best for the rest of the Bluegrass State? I think Western Kentucky might debate that.
What about Virginia? Is what’s best for UVa also what’s best for the rest of the state? I have a feeling Old Dominion fans might disagree.
Huggins speaks for WVU, not the entire state of West Virginia. And just because he says something, it doesn’t make it accurate or true.
Think Concord University’s administration and fans are happy about WVU moving WVU Tech from Montgomery, W.Va., to Beckley and calling it WVU Beckley? Is that in the best interest of the Athens, W.Va.-based school that counts Robert C. Byrd among its alumni?
No, it’s simply in WVU’s best interests.
And what’s best for WVU isn’t necessarily what’s best for the rest of us.
J.J. Hoover finally is where he belongs.
The beleaguered relief pitcher is back in the minor leagues, instead of a Cincinnati Reds uniform.
Group phew!
Hoover’s abominable 14.34 earned run average and allowing six homers in 10.2 innings was too much to bear.
I won’t even use a Hoover vacuum anymore.
