Football- A-, I toyed around with a straight-up A or a B+ for this one. There were some great things to happen (Mayo Bowl win, first 9-win season since 2016, finishing in the top half of the conference) while some shoddy things were still happening (Hail Mary in Houston, defensive coaching, 2 kickoff return TDs at Baylor). Neal Brown has deserved another year in charge since the win at Baylor, and I hope he does well enough next year to get an extension no one will be mad about or a new job to move on to reunite the fanbase. Garrett Greene should be a top QB next year coupled with Jaheim White and CJ Donaldson 1-2 punch in the backfield. Transfer portal recruiting ability has also been great (especially with French and Crandall). If the season goes as it should go, this team should lock themselves into A next year, anything less than a B and we are debating Neal Brown's status again.
Men's Basketball- C, This program does not deserve anything less as I don't think any men's basketball program in the country would be able to avoid the level of hit WVU took over the offseason saga that would have given any soap opera a run for its money in the terms of craziness. From Bob Huggins' anti-gay slur and the resulting suspension and fine, his DUI in Pittsburgh and his subsequent retirement, the fight over who should coach this year (leading to a move WVU should have done from the jump with Josh Eilert as the interim), scrambling to keep and rebuild the team for the second time in months, the suspension of Kerr Kriisa, and the eventual lawsuit to make the NCAA allow RaeQuan Battle to play for us. Any team that has all of this and still has some decent players gets a bonus from me. Not to mention the fact the program did make the NCAA Tournament in March and I will give them a C. Focus on getting to March, thank Eilert for his services, and hire McDermott or May.
Women's Basketball- A, Women's basketball has flown under the radar until the undefeated non-conference slate it just performed and its first AP Top 25 ranking in two years. The program also has had two head coaches in 2023, with Dawn Plitzuweit's secret leaving for Minnesota right after losing in the NCAA Tournament, and the hiring of Mark Kellogg proving right as of right now. Resiliency bonus and a winning bonus for this team. JJ Quinerly deserves to be revered by WVU fans for the quality of player she is and for sticking with the Mountaineers through two coaching changes in the two offseasons she has been in Morgantown. WVU looks will be looking to prove the non-con was not a fluke starting Saturday at Kansas.
Baseball. A-, Look, baseball had a great season, but I have a hard time giving out a straight A for a team that blew a chance to gain a straight-up Big 12 regular season title by getting swept at Texas, lost both games in the Big 12 Tournament, and lost 2 out of 3 in the Lexington Regional. This is even with the record number of wins with 40, and the single-season attendance record. I will understand if there are people who become upset with this grade and we can argue about it. Randy Mazey's final season has the potential to get an A+ with JJ Wetherholt looking to get himself the best chance to be the No. 1 pick in the MLB Draft and another good recruiting class before Steve Sabins takes over in 2025.
Men's Soccer- A+, The sport of the fall. Dan Stratford took this team to its first-ever College Cup after somewhat turning down expectations following the 2022 season's disappointment. The only negative you could find here is the Sun Belt Tournament loss to Marshall. Any time a sport can get to its final four for the first time is an automatic A+. enough said.
The other sports that I can give a confident grade on (so we can avoid a forever long post)
Women's Soccer- D
Volleyball- F
Rifle- A
Gymnastics- C
Men's Swimming and Diving- C
Women's Swimming and Diving- C-
Wrestling- A+
Men's Basketball- C, This program does not deserve anything less as I don't think any men's basketball program in the country would be able to avoid the level of hit WVU took over the offseason saga that would have given any soap opera a run for its money in the terms of craziness. From Bob Huggins' anti-gay slur and the resulting suspension and fine, his DUI in Pittsburgh and his subsequent retirement, the fight over who should coach this year (leading to a move WVU should have done from the jump with Josh Eilert as the interim), scrambling to keep and rebuild the team for the second time in months, the suspension of Kerr Kriisa, and the eventual lawsuit to make the NCAA allow RaeQuan Battle to play for us. Any team that has all of this and still has some decent players gets a bonus from me. Not to mention the fact the program did make the NCAA Tournament in March and I will give them a C. Focus on getting to March, thank Eilert for his services, and hire McDermott or May.
Women's Basketball- A, Women's basketball has flown under the radar until the undefeated non-conference slate it just performed and its first AP Top 25 ranking in two years. The program also has had two head coaches in 2023, with Dawn Plitzuweit's secret leaving for Minnesota right after losing in the NCAA Tournament, and the hiring of Mark Kellogg proving right as of right now. Resiliency bonus and a winning bonus for this team. JJ Quinerly deserves to be revered by WVU fans for the quality of player she is and for sticking with the Mountaineers through two coaching changes in the two offseasons she has been in Morgantown. WVU looks will be looking to prove the non-con was not a fluke starting Saturday at Kansas.
Baseball. A-, Look, baseball had a great season, but I have a hard time giving out a straight A for a team that blew a chance to gain a straight-up Big 12 regular season title by getting swept at Texas, lost both games in the Big 12 Tournament, and lost 2 out of 3 in the Lexington Regional. This is even with the record number of wins with 40, and the single-season attendance record. I will understand if there are people who become upset with this grade and we can argue about it. Randy Mazey's final season has the potential to get an A+ with JJ Wetherholt looking to get himself the best chance to be the No. 1 pick in the MLB Draft and another good recruiting class before Steve Sabins takes over in 2025.
Men's Soccer- A+, The sport of the fall. Dan Stratford took this team to its first-ever College Cup after somewhat turning down expectations following the 2022 season's disappointment. The only negative you could find here is the Sun Belt Tournament loss to Marshall. Any time a sport can get to its final four for the first time is an automatic A+. enough said.
The other sports that I can give a confident grade on (so we can avoid a forever long post)
Women's Soccer- D
Volleyball- F
Rifle- A
Gymnastics- C
Men's Swimming and Diving- C
Women's Swimming and Diving- C-
Wrestling- A+
