Quote
“I never criticize a player until they are first convinced of my unconditional confidence in their abilities.” – John Alexander Robinson (1935 –2024), U.S. football coach known for his two stints as head coach of the University of Southern California (USC) football team ( (1976–1982, 1993–1997) and for his tenure as head coach of the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams ((1983–1991).
WVU / Marshall
Spot the ball (again): Rich Rodriguez returning as WVU head coach
By MetroNews Staff / December 12, 2024 – 8:22 am
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be the head football coach at West Virginia University. My family and I are filled with gratitude to lead the Mountaineer football program again and look forward to working with the many supporters, fans, and friends to build the best football program in America! Take Me Home!” – Rich Rodriguez.
The 61-year-old Rodriguez returns to West Virginia after a successful three-year stint leading Jacksonville State. The Gamecocks won the Conference USA Championship last week, defeating Western Kentucky 52-12 in the title game.
Rodriguez replaces Neal Brown, who was fired December 1 after six seasons with the Mountaineers.
Rodriquez is WVU’s 36th head football coach.
https://wvmetronews.com/2024/12/12/spot-the-ball-again-rich-rodriguez-to-return-as-wvu-head-coach/
Fans react to familiar face Rich Rodriquez being named WVU’s head football coach
By Morgan Pemberton / December 12, 2024 – 3:17 pm
Tony Gibson Named As Marshall’s 32nd Head Football Coach
12/8/2024 2:20:00 PM | Football
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall Director of Athletics Christian Spears announced that Tony Gibson has agreed to become the 32nd head coach in the history of Marshall Football.
“Finding the right person to lead the Thundering Herd Football program is one of the most important decisions we will make in Marshall Athletics,” Spears said. “We recognize the significance of the moment. We want to thank our President Brad D. Smith for his leadership, his principle-based approach and thought partnership as we made this decision.
https://herdzone.com/news/2024/12/8/general-tony-gibson-named-as-marshalls-32nd-head-football-coach
Tony Gibson Hiring
December 14, 2024 / Sean Kelly / 12-13-24
For the first time since 2021, a new era dawns for Marshall football as. the team welcomed head coach Tony Gibson to the fold on Thursday afternoon.
https://www.marshall.edu/wmul/2024/12/14/tony-gibson-hiring/
West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission (WVSSAC)
https://www.wvssac.org/2024-football-championship-central/
https://www.wvssac.org/sports/football/
West Virginia high school football championship results
by: Isaac Taylor, Ryan Wilson, Zach Gilleland, Sam DeCoste
Posted: Dec 13, 2024 / 09:21 AM EST / Updated: Dec 14, 2024 / 10:19 PM EST
Class A
- The No. 3 Wahama White Falcons beat the No. 4 Cameron Dragons 29-22 for the Class A championship.
Class AA
- 1 Frankfort beat No. 2 Roane County 49-14 for the Class AA championship.
Class AAA
- 3 Bridgeport beat No. 4 Herbert Hoover 49-7 for the Class AAA championship.
Class AAAA
- 1 Martinsburg beat No. 2 Spring Mills 24-17 on Saturday to win the Class AAAA championship.
Supreme Court of Appeals of WV rules in favor of WVSSAC; original football ratings plan restored
By Joe Brocato / November 19, 2024 – 5:10 pm
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia has ruled in favor of the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission in a case that has stalled the state high school football playoffs for a week.
Charleston Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin thrilled for opportunity to host high school football title games
By Aaron Parker /December 11, 2024 – 9:12 pm
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Charleston Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin says the WVSSAC High School Football Championship games have left the Capital City almost completely booked on both hotel accommodations and restaurant reservations.
“That’s music to any mayor’s ears when you hear hotels are at capacity and it’s going to be really hard to get a supper reservation,” Goodwin said on MetroNews “Talkline” Tuesday. “Needless to say, we’re thrilled to host after 30 years…we’re going to have to rise to that occasion,” Goodwin said.
Sports Sources
West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission – https://www.wvssac.org/
Executive Director Newsletter – https://www.wvssac.org/
WV MetroNews – https://wvmetronews.com/sports
West Virginia University Athletics – Official Athletics Website – https://wvusports.com/
WV Sports Now – https://wvsportsnow.com/
Marshall Univeristy HerdZone – https://herdzone.com/
The Touchdown City Show – https://www.wvgazettemail.com/sports/tdc/
AP Sports – https://apnews.com/sports/
Wally’s and Wimpy’s Football Digest – http://www.wallywimpysports.com/
WV Sports Now – https://wvsportsnow.com/
Gold and Blue Nation – https://www.wboy.com/goldandbluenation/
The Touchdown City Show – https://www.wvgazettemail.com/sports/tdc/
Latest News
A compilation of the latest sports news from ESPN / NFL NBA NHL MLB College Football Men’s College Basketball Women’s College Basketball NASCAR Fantasy Football Rankings
Adam Silver: NBA examining increase in 3-point shooting
By Reuters / December 18, 20249:49 PM EST Updated 9 hours ago
December 19 – Commissioner Adam Silver acknowledges that the NBA might have a problem with the volume of 3-point shot attempts, but he isn’t ready to move the arc.
https://www.reuters.com/sports/adam-silver-nba-examining-increase-3-point-shooting-2024-12-19/
RealTime Sports and Sports-related
LIVE: High School Football Scoreboard
https://wvmetronews.com/high-school-football-scores/
Sports Betting
Study finds people bet on sports instead of investing in the stock market
People in monetary distress are particularly susceptible.
Sports Betting Revenue Hit a New High in 2023
https://www.insidehook.com/sports/sports-betting-revenue-record
Sports Betting Revenue Hit a New High in 2023
https://www.insidehook.com/sports/sports-betting-revenue-record
West Virginia Del. Fluharty leads bipartisan group to promote iGaming expansion
Features
Weekend Special: All in the pickleball family
Gen Z doesn’t care about sports. That’s part of a bigger problem. https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2024/01/07/gen-z-disinterested-sports-nfl-college-football-championship/72117123007/
Why Youth Sports in America Are in Decline https://www.theringer.com/2023/5/23/23725236/why-youth-sports-america-are-in-decline
The best photos from the 2024 NFL season
https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/09/sport/gallery/nfl-2024-season/index.html
Weekend Special: All in the pickleball family
Overtime
The Hidden Mathematics Behind Sports Strategies: A Deep Dive into Game Theory and Sports
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/hidden-mathematics-behind-sports-strategies-deep-dive-rao/
Lawn Mower Racing and Other Strange Motorsports You Didn’t Know Existed
https://blog.cheapism.com/strange-motorsports/
Is Chess A Sport? – Chess.com
https://www.chess.com/article/view/is-chess-a-sport
Sports Betting
Expanded College Football Playoff field draws more bets and on more teams
By MARK ANDERSON /Updated 2:51 PM EST, December 12, 2024
LAS VEGAS (AP) — If Texas coach Steve Sarkisian holds aloft the College Football Playoff trophy next month, that will be bad news for BetMGM Sportsbook.
It would be similarly disappointing if any of the coaches at Boise State, Indiana or Arizona State end up celebrating a title with confetti falling all around them inside Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Wait, what?
Expanding the playoff field from four to 12 teams this year meant more betting in general on college football and more varieties of wagering on the postseason. There were meaningful games played in the final month by not only Arizona State, Boise State and Indiana, but also SMU, Army and UNLV — a number of teams not always in the national title conversation.
https://apnews.com/article/college-football-playoff-betting-280463a9b58ff4b80af192754a5a1983
Related
Study finds people bet on sports instead of investing in the stock market
People in monetary distress are particularly susceptible.
By Dave Lozo /August 18, 2024
That losing 10-leg NFL parlay is coming at the expense of investments in the stock market, new research shows.
According to a July working paper, bears and bulls have become more inclined to bet on the Bears and Bulls since wagering on your phone was legalized in most states in the past six years. For every dollar put toward a sports bet, a household’s net investments drop by $2, the study found.
Sports Betting Revenue Hit a New High in 2023
https://www.insidehook.com/sports/sports-betting-revenue-record
Miscellany
The Incredible Uncrustable: How a Frozen PB&J Won Over the NFL
Anna Kinder | November 4, 2024
Once a quick meal for picky eaters, Uncrustables have become a top grab-and-go pick for NFL players.
The sandwiches’ love affair with American football players actually began before their commercial debut, as they were invented by a former North Dakota State wide receiver, Len Kretchman, and his wife, Emily.
https://foodinstitute.com/focus/the-incredible-uncrustable-how-the-frozen-pbj-won-over-the-nfl/
When Instant Replay Debuted During the Broadcast of a College Football Game in 1963, It Revolutionized the Way We Watch Sports
Piloting the new technology was a risky move in front of the national audience that watched the Army-Navy showdown on this day in 1963
Eli Wizevich /History Correspondent / December 7, 2024
Less than two weeks after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, an Army-Navy football game played in front of a crowd of 102,000 spectators at Philadelphia’s Municipal Stadium on December 7, 1963, might have been a subdued and somber affair.
For the crowd watching at home on CBS, however, football changed forever when Army quarterback Carl Stichweh faked a handoff and ran for a touchdown. Just a second later, he appeared to do it again. But this wasn’t a second touchdown. It was the first use of instant replay.
Tom Brady loses to high school senior in epic throwing challenge
Danny Jaillet /USA TODAY Sports
Former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was recently defeated in a throwing challenge by a high school quarterback.
The NFL legend competed against Jake Balanovich from Cyprus Bay High School in Florida. This was part of a YouTube challenge proposed by YouTube legend Mr. Beast.
Sports Opinion
Violence: Sports fans, show some self-restraint
Editorials / Dec 11, 2024
Now that the dust has settled, responsible adults have a duty to look back on what we witnessed during college football’s rivalry week and understand it was all part of a larger and very disturbing