ITG 141 - Latest Headlines Around WVU
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00:00 [MUSIC]
00:05 In the gun, episode 141 of your new favorite WVU football podcast.
00:10 I am Wesley Euler.
00:11 We got the best teammates in the business as always the signal caller Jed Drenning.
00:15 We are efforting our dearly, our beloved Big O as he is,
00:20 might be out there on the on the UPS truck getting some late night work done.
00:26 We'll see if Big O can hop in here.
00:27 But for now you got me and Jed.
00:29 On this headlines episode of ITG, nothing crazy formal to discuss here on this
00:33 edition of In the Gun, but we got a couple headlines,
00:37 a couple different stories that we're gonna hit on for a few minutes here.
00:40 As we get going, we remind you as always that our show, our program,
00:44 our podcast here, ITG is brought to you by our, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
00:49 Brought to you in part by our friends at BetOnline, where the game starts.
00:53 And Jed, speaking of the game starting Thursday,
00:57 January 25th as we record this, it's Thursday night.
01:00 This will drop on Friday the 26th.
01:01 But today as we record this, I renewed my WVU football season tickets.
01:06 I'm already locked back in for a new year.
01:08 And I gotta tell you, I mean, from talking to my girl Alexa at the ticket department,
01:15 it sounds like there's a little bit more of a premium on seats this year.
01:19 It sounds like there's a little bit more of a demand for
01:22 season tickets this year than there was the last couple years.
01:25 It's funny how that works, isn't it?
01:28 >> It's very funny how that works.
01:30 I can only imagine how difficult that Penn State ticket's gonna be.
01:35 And of course, the school would be remiss if they didn't on some level leverage that,
01:41 right?
01:42 That's gonna be an incredibly hot ticket.
01:45 We've talked about it before.
01:46 We'll get into this in the future as to whether or
01:48 not West Virginia will be ranked, won't be ranked.
01:50 We have our thoughts on that.
01:51 We're gonna spend time in future episodes breaking that down.
01:54 Penn State certainly will be ranked, at least in the top 15.
01:58 I would imagine maybe even the top 10.
02:00 But you start there.
02:02 But when you come off a nine win season,
02:05 a buzz tends to develop irrespective of how you got to that nine.
02:10 They don't ask how, they ask how many.
02:13 And when you're coming off a nine win season and
02:15 returning some of the critical pieces that we'll get into here in a few minutes,
02:20 there's gonna be some buzz.
02:22 There's gonna be some excitement.
02:23 So, I mean, I'm already jazzed about it.
02:26 Here we are, not even out of January yet.
02:28 But the schedule itself is eminent.
02:31 It'll be out maybe even as early as next week.
02:34 When it does, we'll break it down.
02:35 >> I was gonna say, we hope so.
02:36 >> I'm happy for you, man.
02:37 There's gonna be some big ones in Morgan County.
02:41 >> Absolutely, no, there certainly is.
02:44 Starting with that Penn State game and rolling on without a doubt.
02:48 The ACC schedules came out this week.
02:50 So we know for sure WVU will play Pitt up at Akershaw Stadium on September 14th.
02:55 That'll be week three of the college football season.
02:58 So that is one that we know for sure.
02:59 But other than that, like Jed said, it shouldn't be too much longer here before
03:04 we do get that schedule release, hopefully in the next week or so.
03:08 We have got a big guest on the show next week.
03:11 There's a tease for you.
03:12 We'll tell you who that's gonna be before we get out of here a little bit later.
03:16 But Jed, I did wanna discuss with you as well too, the Chambers Elite program.
03:20 That's something that you and I and Owen and we've discussed on this show before.
03:25 It is an opportunity for Mountaineer football players,
03:28 Mountaineer athletes to get a head start in the business world,
03:32 I guess is maybe the most basic way to put it.
03:35 They travel different places, they get to connect in,
03:38 what's the word I'm looking for?
03:40 Network with different people in the real world, if you will.
03:44 So I think another edition of Chambers Elite just took place recently,
03:48 I believe this past week.
03:50 And what do you know what happened?
03:52 I saw some pictures of our guys looking dapper on social media.
03:54 I mean, wearing their suits and Garrett Green got a haircut for the occasion.
03:59 So I mean, you know when baby Jesus is cutting his hair,
04:02 it must be something serious.
04:04 >> Yeah, I got to talk to Garrett a little bit yesterday.
04:07 First of all, let's establish what the program is, let's revisit that.
04:11 You kind of talked about it.
04:13 It's an off the field development program for the kids on the team and
04:17 it gives them an opportunity at career preparation.
04:21 They take cultural field trips last year.
04:23 Not only did they go to Manhattan and hit some cool spots, but
04:27 they also went to Europe.
04:28 I think they plan on doing that again.
04:30 Garrett was part of last year's group, as was Nick Malone,
04:34 Jaquay Hubbard, some of those guys.
04:36 And this year's group, there were 14 kids, there were 14 Mountaineers involved.
04:42 And what happens is they ask some of us,
04:44 it's kind of a mixed bag of media types like me and Tony, John Antonik.
04:50 The Mountaineer was supposed to be there, something came up, he didn't make it.
04:54 Dale Sparks was there last year, he couldn't make it this year.
04:58 But they brought Julian Miller back, former player, and he provides some insights.
05:03 And we have a retired general that is always really cool to have as part of
05:07 the panel that's there in Morgantown with connections.
05:11 And so what they do is they take the 14 kids, one at a time,
05:14 they get up on the stage.
05:16 This is just part of this much broader program that they prepare them for and
05:20 put them through.
05:21 And they wanna prepare them to interface, and not just an interview setting, but
05:26 in other settings, they're gonna serve them well.
05:29 So they have to introduce themselves, tell us who they are, and
05:32 then kind of on the fly answer questions.
05:34 And they don't know what questions we're gonna ask them.
05:36 Sometimes they're challenging questions.
05:38 And then afterwards, they ask one of us a question, provide some feedback,
05:43 and then we give them feedback on how.
05:45 I'm just gonna tell you, the way things played out, it was very impressive.
05:53 I mean, all 14 of them showed and showed well.
05:57 And last year was impressive enough, but
06:00 I've seen the program take an even greater step since last year.
06:05 But they presented well, I think it's a terrific program.
06:08 They're coached so incredibly well.
06:10 There's a lot of people who pitched into this effort.
06:12 >> It's awesome.
06:13 >> Just to play a little tiny part in it.
06:16 And we get this free shirt out of it, so that's why I'm sporting my shirt tonight.
06:21 But yeah, it's a really cool experience.
06:24 And just to play a tiny little part in it is cool to see exactly what they're doing
06:28 for these kids.
06:28 I think it's terrific.
06:31 >> I think so too.
06:32 Listen, we all know it's a football program.
06:36 These guys wanna get to the NFL.
06:38 These guys wanna win games.
06:40 But it's such a small percentage of guys across the board that get to that level.
06:44 And it's always important to be prepared for life after football.
06:47 And you love seeing that from the guys and the different opportunities and
06:50 maybe the head start that they get in a lot of those avenues.
06:52 >> I'll tell you how blown away we were by some of these kids, Wes.
06:55 I mean- >> I'm sure.
06:56 >> Their hand gestures, their body language,
06:59 their ability to handle a room and handle a crowd.
07:03 And Nico even said, one of the questions he fielded, Nico was part of the group.
07:07 He was asked about the pit game.
07:08 I don't remember if it was John or Tony asked him about,
07:11 how do you handle that environment?
07:12 And he just admitted, he's like, look, I was a lot less nervous jumping out into
07:16 that environment in front of 60,000 screaming fans than I am behind this
07:20 podium talking to you guys right now.
07:22 And it was kind of raw, it was kind of real.
07:25 But yeah, I mean, I could individually go through each of the 14 and
07:29 tell you what impressed me about them.
07:31 >> Sure. >> But all of them,
07:32 all of them were impressive, they really were.
07:35 >> Well, that's awesome.
07:36 That's awesome, that's what we like to hear.
07:37 Yeah, and it's cool that you're involved with that.
07:39 And that's something we're always gonna highlight here on the show,
07:42 particularly when we got some time to do so here in the off season here in our
07:46 little highlights edition of ITG.
07:49 Another thank you to our friends at Toothman Ford, shout out to our guy JR.
07:52 We all know cars cost less in Grafton.
07:54 They do yeoman's work to support our student athletes, WVU.
07:58 Make sure you're supporting those who support our guys and
08:01 gals across the board.
08:03 All right, Jed, speaking of Chambers Elite and Garrett Green,
08:06 he was one of those guys who was there.
08:07 You sent me this, I think it was yesterday, the College Football Report putting out
08:12 their list of the top 15 college football quarterbacks next season.
08:17 And our guy Garrett Green checking in at number 15.
08:19 Now, there's a couple people in front of him that I think, okay,
08:23 I would have Garrett in front of this guy.
08:25 But I still think that that's nice recognition for Gavin.
08:28 You got Carson Beck at the top of the list, Quinn Ewers, Dylan Gabriel,
08:31 Jalen Monroe, a lot of the names that you might expect.
08:34 But man, Jed, what really stood out to me was the number of big 12 quarterbacks
08:40 in this top 15.
08:41 That would be five, five of the top 15,
08:43 a third of the top 15 quarterbacks ranked here, all big 12 guys.
08:47 Shadur Sanders of Colorado, Noah Fifta, Fifta,
08:50 exactly how he pronounces his last name, but Arizona's quarterback, of course,
08:55 coming off that 10 win season.
08:56 Jalen Daniels, who it feels like he's been at Kansas forever now.
09:00 Cam Rising, who has been at Utah forever.
09:04 And then Garrett Green as well, too.
09:05 So five different big 12 quarterbacks there as well.
09:08 Jed, man, it feels like the conference is gonna have some solid quarterback play
09:13 across the board.
09:15 But there's some really high end talent, including our guy GG,
09:18 getting a little recognition here.
09:21 >> There's no doubt about that.
09:22 And what strikes me, I'm still settling into the new reality,
09:27 both the good and the bad, right?
09:29 As you're going through the big 12 quarterback names,
09:32 not among them is Quinn Ewers of Texas.
09:35 Not among them is Will Howard, who's no longer of K State, he's now at Ohio State.
09:40 >> Right, right.
09:40 >> But Cam Rising is among them.
09:43 So did you see the situation?
09:45 You mentioned the Arizona quarterback.
09:47 Did you see what happened there?
09:48 Those two kids, the quarterback and the receiver, landed a heck of an NIL deal.
09:53 And what they did, a lot of people thought they were gonna bolt because their coach
09:56 was gone.
09:57 I mean, this was very much in position, this Arizona team, had Jed Fish stayed.
10:02 They were cranking and cooking with gas down the stretch and a lot coming back.
10:06 A lot of people were projecting them as a preseason top ten.
10:09 So that's how loaded they were expected to be.
10:13 People thought that they would scurry with the loss of Jed Fish.
10:17 And that hasn't entirely happened.
10:18 It went to their credit.
10:19 Some of those critical pieces have remained intact.
10:22 They landed this big NIL deal and turned around and shared it with the team.
10:26 That's kind of cool.
10:28 That's kind of a nice little cultural piece when you're losing your head coach.
10:32 You still have that type of culture in place to do that.
10:34 But there's gonna be, as you touched on, very high level quarterback play in this
10:40 league.
10:40 And the fact that Garrett is parked there among the top 15.
10:44 Let's face it, there's 130 plus starting quarterbacks heading into week one in
10:48 college football next year.
10:49 So when you can count yourself among the top 15, buckle up because this is gonna
10:55 be a fun offseason, a fun ride, where these are the types of conversations
10:59 you're going to have.
11:00 When you have a quarterback who had more than a pulse and you had so much
11:06 production down the stretch on the offensive side of the football, these are
11:09 the types of things that you're gonna be talking about.
11:11 And this is the type of stuff that the last time we had a quarterback coming
11:15 back after some offensive explosion down the stretch was Will Greer in 2018.
11:20 Anytime you have a guy coming back, a battle tested guy behind center who has
11:24 been productive, who has been explosive, and Garrett has.
11:28 And you know what?
11:29 It's one thing to talk about Garrett, and that's plenty to talk about.
11:33 But when you talk about the stability of the room, we talked a couple of shows
11:38 ago about Nico committing to come back and return to the program.
11:42 He's very invested in what we're doing.
11:45 I heard him speak, as I talked about, at the program yesterday.
11:51 He's just an impressive kid.
11:52 And the way that him and Garrett complement each other, the stability of
11:57 that room is absolutely incredible.
12:00 And how can you not be excited?
12:02 This is the first of many lists that we will see like this.
12:05 >> Yeah, absolutely.
12:06 And as you and I talked about when we were discussing one of these lists last
12:11 week that had WVU ranked 13th, I think College Football Band Nation 24,
12:16 something like that, had WVU ranked 13th in their way too early preseason poll.
12:21 Where in reality, these lists mean nothing, right?
12:23 I mean, you gotta play the games out on the field in the fall, and
12:26 that's what really matters.
12:27 It is also good to see WVU back in these lists, individual lists for
12:31 guys like Garrett Green, preseason rankings list for the team.
12:35 One, because it just speaks to the turnaround that we had last season.
12:40 And two, because again, just for brand exposure, that's never a bad thing.
12:43 So we will take all of that certainly.
12:46 Jed, I do think we're gonna get Big O here.
12:48 We'll take a break and get Big O in here in just a minute.
12:50 But one thing before we go, we got some big around campus news on the other side,
12:55 and we'll talk about our big guest for next week as well too with Big O.
12:59 Before we get to that, I have to get your thoughts.
13:01 Jim Harbaugh, we speculated, we had a feeling it was coming for a long time.
13:06 He is going back to the NFL with the LA Chargers,
13:10 is where Harbs is off to as he maybe gets ready to duck some sanctions
13:15 coming Michigan's way here in the wake of that cheating scandal.
13:19 So before we go to break here,
13:20 just needed your thoughts on Jim Harbaugh to the Chargers.
13:23 >> Of all the memes and all the tweets that I've seen about her, first of all,
13:25 Jim Harbaugh said what you want about how he did or didn't do it.
13:29 >> He's wins everywhere he goes.
13:30 He's won everywhere he's been.
13:31 You fully expect him to step with a franchise quarterback in San Diego,
13:35 not San Diego, in Los Angeles.
13:37 Step into Los Angeles, old habits die hard, and find a way in what's suddenly
13:43 becoming a far more interesting AFC West, and find a way to do it there.
13:47 My favorite meme, my favorite tweet on this topic was the one I sent you guys in
13:51 the thread, and it was Bane from the Dark Knight Rises.
13:55 >> They expect one of us in the wreckage, brother.
13:59 >> Exactly, when the plane was going down, he made his buddy stay behind.
14:02 So that's kind of what people were saying that Harbaugh was saying to
14:06 Sharon Moore, because now reports are coming out that some people are 99.9%
14:12 certain that Sharon Moore will in fact assume the mantle, take the whistle.
14:18 Why not?
14:19 He's the only guy that could compete for the job that has a win against Ohio State.
14:23 He also beat a ranked Penn State team.
14:25 He did a nice job stepping in.
14:27 He's been there before.
14:28 That doesn't mean it'll translate immediately.
14:30 We don't know that.
14:31 But I couldn't help but wonder, the timing of this with Jim Harbaugh,
14:36 you always expect some level of shake up.
14:38 And it's just a matter of degree.
14:40 And I kind of put that on Twitter.
14:42 Across the landscape, there's gonna be moving parts.
14:45 How minimal or how large will those moving parts be?
14:48 If it's an internal move, which you expect it to be, maybe that will minimize it.
14:53 But even then, there's no guarantee that both coordinators will be kept.
14:57 So if you go external for one of your coordinators, all of a sudden,
15:01 there's a lot of moving pieces and a lot of other programs that cause an effect of
15:05 that.
15:05 So here come the moving parts across the college football landscape,
15:08 even if you hire Sharon Moore, depending on what Sharon Moore does internally.
15:13 Another question I might have is, who does Harbaugh take with him, if anybody?
15:16 We don't know the answer to that.
15:17 More possibility.
15:19 When there's a program like Michigan, one of the Blue Bloods coming off the season
15:22 they came off with a national championship to show for it, and
15:26 you have a shakeup that has some openings on that staff.
15:29 It's going to have a derivative impact across the country at other programs,
15:34 even if the replacement for the head coach is an internal one.
15:38 One of the names to keep an eye on, and
15:40 this is somebody you're probably familiar with like I am, Wes, and that's Kurt Campbell.
15:44 Kurt Campbell, kind of a soaring rocket in the coaching ranks in the last decade.
15:49 West Virginia fans, if you've heard the name, Alderson Broaddus College,
15:53 which recently closed its doors.
15:56 He had a run from 2012 to 2016 as the O coordinator there, did a great job.
16:01 Parlayed that into an analyst spot up in Happy Valley with Penn State.
16:05 From there, he jumps to ODU, he starts climbing quickly.
16:08 He's the offensive coordinator at Old Dominion.
16:10 And then he lands as an analyst on the Michigan staff.
16:13 One year later, last year, on that championship run, he's coaching the
16:16 quarterbacks, and now he's talked about as being in the mix.
16:20 If Sharon Moore goes from OC to head coach,
16:23 does Kurt Campbell go from quarterback coach to OC?
16:27 That's a possibility, but a lot of things to pay attention to.
16:30 Even if the hire is done internally, don't rule out
16:34 some external effect at other programs across the country.
16:38 It'll be an interesting thing to pay attention to.
16:41 >> Certainly will, without a doubt.
16:43 I mean, we just saw this with Alabama and Washington and Arizona.
16:46 I mean, all these things, the ecosystem of college football are all linked together
16:50 in a way, so yeah, without a doubt.
16:52 And I think you're right, good landing spot for Harbs.
16:55 Nice weather, a nice roster already to work with.
16:59 And let's be honest too, it's the Chargers in LA.
17:02 Like it's not the Lakers, it's not the Dodgers, you're not even the Rams.
17:05 If you have success, it's gonna be great.
17:07 If you don't, no one's really gonna crush you for it.
17:10 It's not like you're coaching in Chicago or Dallas or
17:13 somewhere where they're just desperate for a winner.
17:17 So yeah, this will be a very interesting one.
17:19 I do, like you said, I expect him to have some success,
17:22 cuz that's what he's done everywhere he's gone.
17:23 >> There's a certain big bodied receiver that tore him up in the CFP semifinals
17:29 when TCU upset them, remember this?
17:32 >> Yeah, he's on that roster now.
17:34 >> He's a big bodied receiver to play for now, yeah.
17:35 >> The Chargers, yeah.
17:37 >> Yes.
17:37 >> I see what you're doing there.
17:38 >> Interesting, yeah.
17:39 >> I see what you're doing there.
17:40 All right, here's what we're gonna do.
17:41 We're gonna take a break and we come back on the other side.
17:43 Two pieces of exciting around campus news to bring to you.
17:47 And then we'll tell you about that special guest that we got coming at you next week
17:50 as well too.
17:51 We'll do all that when we return.
17:52 You are in the gun.
17:54 >> Nobody supports the blue and gold Mountaineers like Toothman Ford.
17:57 With over 20 NIL deals and counting,
17:59 Toothman Ford continues to rally behind our student athletes.
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18:19 Toothman Ford, where cars cost less in Grafton and at toothmanford.com.
18:24 [MUSIC]
18:26 >> For more West Virginia Mountaineer football content,
18:28 be sure to follow us on Twitter @inthegunpodcast.
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19:44 There's just too much to do.
19:45 So if you gotta be a welder, or a farmer, or a ditch digger,
19:50 that's just who you are that day.
19:52 And tomorrow, you can be somebody else.
19:55 [MUSIC]
20:01 >> Get your Coyote at the new location of Johnston Equipment,
20:05 between Weston and Buckhannon.
20:07 >> Back in the gun here, we have got our, the gang is reunited.
20:10 Our other teammate, the beer truck, Owen Schmidt, in action here.
20:15 He's, I tell you what, the hair, the beard,
20:17 I mean, you got a nice look going on here, big O.
20:19 You're looking UPS chic here, cousin.
20:22 >> Yeah, whoa, whoa, UPS, the beard truck and chic?
20:27 Wow.
20:29 >> I mean, I'm just saying, you got the, the hair's looking nice and
20:31 feathered like mine.
20:33 I mean, you got the- >> You got the clothes off.
20:34 >> You got the house plant behind you.
20:37 I mean, you're looking real dapper here.
20:38 >> Straight out of the salon, man.
20:39 >> When's the GQ photo shoot?
20:41 >> I got that blow dog.
20:43 >> You actually, your hair and your beard right now kinda look like our big guests
20:46 that we're gonna have on the show next week,
20:49 that we're gonna tell you about here in just a minute.
20:50 But first, we have to do our around campus real quick.
20:53 Before we get to that, another thank you to our friend Rick Lewis and
20:57 Fortis for roof performance and financial certainty guaranteed.
21:02 Make sure you visit fortis.us.com.
21:06 A couple quick hitters before we finally talk about this person that we're having
21:09 on next week, gentlemen.
21:10 Little around campus as we give some love to our other teams.
21:14 How about a shout out to JJ Weatherholt?
21:17 Of course, second baseman for WVU baseball.
21:19 You guys know we've talked about him in the past, one, because of how good he is,
21:23 and two, because he went to the same high school as me,
21:25 which is like a fun added bonus for me.
21:27 Well, he was just voted unanimous preseason Big 12 Player of the Year, fellas.
21:34 Not just Big 12 Player of the Year,
21:36 unanimous preseason Big 12 Player of the Year.
21:40 He's gonna be a top pick in the upcoming NFL draft, maybe first overall.
21:43 If not, certainly top five or top ten.
21:46 But that's pretty darn cool.
21:48 I mean, to think of where our baseball program was, Owen,
21:51 when you and I were in school compared to where it is now, it's really cool.
21:56 >> It's been lights out, man.
21:57 And the last couple years have been a lot of fun to watch.
22:00 And that young man is going to have a interesting year this year,
22:07 and then prosperous into his next journey that he'll be on.
22:13 But it was a pleasure that he stuck with us, and
22:17 hopefully we can get some of that mojo back from last year.
22:19 >> Yeah, from the days of Holly Field to this.
22:24 >> Quite different, quite different.
22:25 >> It's been quite a journey.
22:26 It's been quite a journey.
22:28 And I will say this, I give far more credit to the media types
22:34 in the Big 12 baseball circuit than the football circuit.
22:38 >> Okay. >> They seem to have a better grip on
22:40 what's playing out there.
22:41 >> [LAUGH] Well, I mean, I guess that's not terribly difficult to top now, is it?
22:47 [LAUGH] >> No, not really.
22:50 But yeah, now if you can just avoid the SI curse type thing.
22:53 But as it turns out, SI cursed itself anyway.
22:56 So, but no matter how you stack that, that says a lot.
23:01 That says a lot about what you've already accomplished,
23:03 what you've already achieved.
23:04 And as you touched on Wes, it's one thing to be named such, but
23:09 to be named unanimously speaks volumes.
23:13 >> Pretty darn cool, pretty darn cool.
23:15 Speaking of which, pretty darn cool, our women's basketball team continues to have
23:19 a great season here in the Kellogg era.
23:21 They're ranked 24th in the latest AP poll.
23:24 And Owen, get this, West Virginia women, the first Division I team
23:29 to hold its opponent scoreless in the first quarter in consecutive games.
23:34 So they did it to Houston, they led 17-0 at the end of the first quarter.
23:37 Then they went and did it to Cincinnati,
23:39 led 15-0 at the end of the first quarter.
23:43 That's pretty darn cool.
23:44 I mean, not only are they beating teams, but man, they're stingy,
23:48 they're playing great defense.
23:49 Back to back games starting out with first quarter shutouts there.
23:53 That's pretty cool for the ranked Lady Mountaineers.
23:56 >> They've been dominant, man, and a lot of fun to watch.
23:59 It's kinda neat, the other sports really starting to evolve and
24:05 build into these, what we wanna be.
24:09 We wanna be a top 25 every sport we're in.
24:14 So it's nice to kinda see us gain some notoriety in the rankings there.
24:19 >> And how long ago was it?
24:21 A handful years ago, I don't remember, but women's basketball,
24:24 unless I'm mistaken, used to go halves like men's.
24:27 >> Yes, yes. >> They went into the quarter format so
24:30 many years ago.
24:30 I kid you, it wasn't that long ago, a handful years ago.
24:33 >> No, it wasn't that long ago, but I feel like it was before the pandemic.
24:36 So I don't- >> Yes, I think you're right.
24:38 >> It's kinda where I feel like three or four years, I'll feel like one long ago.
24:41 >> Take the math, let's say it's five years.
24:44 How many games have been played, all right?
24:47 And the reason I'm saying is because before that it was a half and
24:49 it wasn't gonna happen for a half, so it can only happen a quarter.
24:53 So how many games have been played and
24:54 the fact that it hadn't happened in consecutive games?
24:57 Like I helped coach Mav, my little guy, help coach his fourth grade team.
25:01 And sometimes they're shut out at halftime.
25:04 That's a fourth grade team, right?
25:06 But to be shut out for a quarter in a Power Five basketball game-
25:10 >> Their own scholarship to-
25:11 >> That is some defense now.
25:12 I mean, that is some defense, absolutely.
25:15 >> Absolutely.
25:16 >> Two times in a row.
25:17 >> Fantastic, fantastic, gotta love it.
25:19 And again, first year for coach Kellogg there and
25:22 they are often run with a lot of momentum here early.
25:26 And that's gonna make you happy as a WVU fan,
25:28 because Ren Baker won for one with his basketball hires already.
25:32 And we know he's gonna have to be put back on that podium once again here before
25:37 too much longer, and speaking of the men's basketball program,
25:42 good news today or Thursday, January 25th as we record this.
25:48 The Mountaineers and Pitt announcing the extension of the backyard brawl in
25:52 men's basketball.
25:54 They actually, this was the last year that it was officially on the books.
25:58 But we know a little bit easier to work these things year to year in college
26:02 basketball where you have a dozen, Baker's dozen non-conference games as opposed to
26:06 football.
26:07 There's a lot less logistics and a lot more wiggle room in there.
26:11 But it was not on the schedule going forward.
26:13 However, though today WVU and Pitt agree to a four game series extension in men's
26:18 basketball, so that'll pick up again next year, continue for
26:22 at least the next four years.
26:24 And guys, I mean, that's awesome.
26:25 We've all been starved of rivalry since we moved to the Big 12.
26:29 It's been a lot of fun these last, what, five years or so now that the brawl has
26:33 returned in football, the last two year, pardon me, in basketball.
26:37 The last two years now in football.
26:40 You got Pitt on the schedule for the next two years in football and
26:43 then it takes a little break and then it comes back for four more years.
26:48 That can always change too.
26:49 But it's, guys, it's just nice to look at the men's schedule for football,
26:53 to look at the men's schedule for basketball and
26:55 see Pitt on there regularly in the future.
26:59 That decade without that felt really weird.
27:02 I mean, that's, we've talked about it before.
27:03 Rivalry is the lifeblood of college athletics.
27:06 And glad to see Ren Baker and Heather Lyke, the athletic director at Pitt,
27:11 get this one done and taken care of.
27:14 >> It's all about the rivalry, baby.
27:18 Keep it going, keep it going.
27:19 >> As you talked about on the football front and west,
27:23 we got him for a couple more years.
27:25 It goes away, use that term loosely at this point, pencil it in and pencil.
27:30 >> Yeah, it could always change, it could always change.
27:31 >> 26, 27, 28, we're not scheduled to play them.
27:34 They come back on the schedule in 29.
27:36 But there's some moving parts there as well with all the juxtaposition of
27:41 conference realignment and whatnot.
27:43 But as far as the basketball front, first of all, let's start with this.
27:48 Good, because you didn't want it going away with that game.
27:53 I mean, after the way we've owned them,
27:56 you did not want that to be the final taste in your mouth.
28:01 So it's great to have it back on the schedule.
28:04 So at least if you itch, if you have a backyard brawl itch,
28:07 it could be scratched in some of the other sports.
28:11 Well, it's not gonna be scratched at least for football for 26, 27, 28 for now.
28:16 So let's see how this all unfolds, but I'm very happy to have it back on there as well.
28:22 >> Yeah, absolutely, that's like I said- >> [CROSSTALK]
28:26 >> Say that again?
28:27 >> We're going against number three Kansas, we haven't been on the air since it happened.
28:30 >> That's right, yeah, baby.
28:31 >> We're not talking about anything that happened since then, but
28:34 how about that win against number three Kansas?
28:36 I mean, you gotta love it, yeah.
28:37 >> We'll leave it at that, yeah.
28:39 >> That's a little, you guys know in the off season,
28:40 we like to do those around campus things,
28:42 keep you updated on some of the other cool stuff.
28:44 The rifle team beat the army.
28:46 I mean, just standard stuff for WVU rifle taking down our service academies,
28:50 no big deal.
28:51 >> I love looking at rifle team scores.
28:54 Like they'll post it on Twitter.
28:55 >> It's like gymnastics, it's a different language the way they score.
28:59 It's like the pass efficiency rating in the NFL.
29:02 I'm like, how in the world do you figure this out with some sort of formula?
29:07 It's like 4538 to 4219.
29:11 Holy cow, great.
29:13 >> I love it, I love it, fantastic.
29:16 So all right, gentlemen, here we go.
29:18 As we wrap this up, a final thank you to our new friends, Johnston Equipment.
29:22 Make sure you're checking out their new location,
29:24 Route 33 there right outside of Weston.
29:27 Boys, we've got a pretty, pretty, pretty big guest lined up next week.
29:34 He is a West Virginia native.
29:36 He is a Morgantown native.
29:38 He is becoming a rapidly rising country music star.
29:44 Big O, who we got on the podcast next week, baby?
29:47 >> We got CWG man, Charles Wesley Godwin.
29:51 The man himself with the bandana.
29:53 >> Mr. 14 himself.
29:55 >> Mr. 14, buddy, Mr. 14.
29:58 If you don't think I'm gonna ask him a lot of questions about that next week,
30:02 I will be.
30:04 And in multitude of questions,
30:07 I met Charles a while back when I had the saloon.
30:12 We had mentioned about getting guests on here throughout the year,
30:17 especially after football season kind of rolls around.
30:21 I shot out just a little text message to him.
30:25 And I mean, the busiest, you'd think he'd be the busiest man alive.
30:30 I mean, he's literally everywhere.
30:33 >> Everywhere. >> All over the US, playing all over the place.
30:36 And got back to me, said he'd love to, and we worked out for next week,
30:41 which is gonna be amazing because it'll be great to catch up with Charles.
30:46 And kinda ask him how his rise to glory is going.
30:52 >> Go selling himself a little bit short.
30:55 When, as the story goes, we'll get into this next week, but
30:59 he was kinda cutting his teeth in his early days of music.
31:03 As you were playing music with him.
31:04 So I wanna hear you guys just exchange these stories.
31:07 That's what I wanna hear.
31:08 But you know what?
31:09 You shot in the group text, you were giving us updates.
31:12 It didn't feel real until I told Wes earlier, Wes posted something on
31:17 the Twitter account at In The Gun podcast.
31:20 And I was like, this is happening.
31:22 This is happening.
31:23 So it's pretty cool.
31:24 >> Yeah, I mean, he just did the biggest podcast in the world a couple weeks ago
31:28 with Joe Rogan.
31:29 So I mean, he's gotta do the second biggest podcast in the world next.
31:34 I mean.
31:35 >> I mean, my questions might be about doing Joe Rogan.
31:37 >> That's what I mean.
31:39 >> For sure, I mean.
31:41 >> We'll talk to him about that.
31:42 I mean, we got a lot to talk to him.
31:43 But guys, he was just on Good Morning America a couple weeks ago.
31:46 He just cut a new video with CMT, with Country Music Television.
31:50 He is rapidly rising in the world of music.
31:54 So I'm looking forward to this one.
31:56 It'll be a lot of fun.
31:57 I'm a fan of his, never talked to him, never met him.
31:59 And obviously you have the relationship with him.
32:02 This one, we're really looking forward to.
32:04 >> I think Joe Rogan's out there saying, hey,
32:07 good thing we got a hold of him before.
32:09 >> That's right.
32:09 >> Before ITG.
32:12 >> Yeah, yeah.
32:13 No, Charles is a great dude, great.
32:15 I mean, has a growing family now as he's on the rise with his career.
32:21 Great way, cool story about how him and his wife Samantha met.
32:26 It's really cool, man.
32:29 And gonna be a lot of fun next week.
32:31 Please tune in.
32:33 And it'll be something a little bit different, right, for us.
32:36 But kinda show everybody, I guess,
32:41 kinda how the world works, right?
32:42 It's all about connections and meeting people.
32:45 And this is just kinda how that thing comes full circle.
32:48 So pretty cool stuff.
32:50 >> We will put down- >> More than ever.
32:53 >> Go ahead, Jeff.
32:53 >> I was just gonna say, being here, telling here.
32:55 Now more than ever.
32:55 >> Exactly, that's right.
32:57 Yes, we, listen, I'll tell you, we're gonna put aside our football and
33:00 pick up our musical acumen next week here on the podcast, all right?
33:03 And so it's gonna be a lot of fun.
33:05 Mr. 14 on the program with us next week.
33:09 So yes, as we close this down, the one thing we ask of you,
33:12 especially now, is to be in here and tell in here about your new favorite WVU
33:17 football podcast as we will be rocking and
33:19 rolling with Charles Wesley Godwin right here next week.
33:22 That'll do it for us this week, though, for this edition of ITG.
33:25 Big shout out to our producer Skylar Callahan for
33:27 putting this together for us as always.
33:29 For the signal caller Dred Drenning and
33:32 the runaway beer truck down the sideline, big Owen Schmidt.
33:35 I am Wesley Uler.
33:36 Take care, everybody.
33:38 Be back next week with CWG.
33:40 This is ITG.
33:42 You've been in the gun.
33:43 [BLANK_AUDIO]