Ok, so LSU won. I was wrong. My last blog now puts me on the same expert level as Sean Salisbury. Whatever, I still stand by my guns, although out of ammo, it was not a prediction. It was just a thought, a really bad thought. I tip my hat to you Les Miles. The beer is on me buddy. I will even invite Saban; you might want to throw a toast his way. Regardless, your team has proven itself worthy of praise. National Champs. Congrats.

But, if you are going to come to this party, you will have to wait your turn for the keg stand. I’m sorry, but first dibs have got to go to the unsung, long shots that are, that were and will always be WVU!!!!

Does anyone remember Reggie Rembert, Major Harris or A.B Brown? Chances are, no one does. Want to know why? Because history doesn’t give recognition to the guys who come in second place. That’s just the way it is.

The three above mentioned players were the driving force behind a WVU offensive attack that led the Mounty’s to a National Title try in the late 80’s against Notre Dame. The result, a loss. A heartbreak for WVU and its’ fans. Those poor fans!!

Let’s face it, being from the great state of West Virginia has drawbacks. Besides the ever revolving jokes that involve your mother being your sister who is a cousin from years back, there are not a lot of great sports teams to get excited about. They have to borrow teams from other states and call them their own. Trust me, if it isn’t WVU or NASCAR then it is a Pittsburgh Steelers flag hanging outside the trailer. What do you expect? The only thing else is a giant hunting and fishing store called Cabella’s. Yikes!! You live and die with WVU football. And the last 20 years has done nothing but spawn more gravestones.

This year began to look no different than the last and the one before that, and before that and so on and so on. They had a chance to shut down the entire state, (a feat that is usually only saved for the first weekend of deer season) and challenge their neighbors (Ohio) to a duel. But, we all know what happened to that dream. Dave Wanstadt and his mustache intervened. Woops!!

So Pitt beat WVU and washed away the National Title dreams of the Mounty’s and their fans. Surprised?  It has happened before. They choked on their own air, or error.

That’s what happens in rivalry games. Throw out the records. I know it hurts, but nothing is guaranteed! I saw the tears on all those pasty faces. I thought it was from staring at the yellow uni’s in HD, (West Virginia isn’t actually crawling with fashion sense either) but it has HAPPENED BEFORE. The prize?  Another BCS bowl bid that won’t deliver a title. I need a yard sale and some peanut butter!!! It was too depressing to even cope with!

The aftermath of that game was like a giant avalanche. Title hopes gone. Richey Rod scooted off to bigger and better. And just to pour a little more salt in that flesh wound, the Mounty’s had to go back to Arizona (where they were embarrassed by Notre Dame 20 years ago) and play a Sooner team that many believed should have been in the National Title game. Advantage Oklahoma! Or was it?

I will admit I was on board for the inevitable slaughter. There were just too many circumstances against WVU. And stats! Oklahoma was in the top 5 for run defense, and the offense scored a ton of points this season. That sounded like a winning formula to me. And they had a stool pigeon to boot. That’s right, it turned out that Bobby Stoops just happened to be b.f.f. with none other than one Mr. Coach Jim Leavitt. You know him WVU. His Bulls wrecked the China Shop that was your perfect season. Nothing like a little insider info among friends. Especially when one of those friends had already beaten your upcoming foe. Throw in the whole no coach thing and you got your self a loss. 

But guess what? 48-28.. That’s what. Say it with me WVU! 48-28.. Yeah buddy!

Just like Martha Stewart has taught us, insider info is not always a sure fire way to a win. WVU looked like a pro team playing against the J.V. Pat White looked great, Devine was amazing and the D was brilliant. I am not even a WVU fan (GO HERD) but man, what a victory. 48-28!! Say it WVU! Put your teeth in and say it!! 48-28.

Sure LSU will get all the hype that the National Champ deserves and WVU will undoubtedly be 2nd place. But what a 2nd place! This is not the 80’s WVU, you went out with a win! To hell with the Steelers! Go Mountaineers!

Remember, there is a team in Norman right now that is crying in their cheerios. They had the better bowl record, conference and the inside chirpings from South Florida. And they blew it! I bet the house that Stoops has not returned any of Leavitt’s calls this week.

 All of these spoils were brought on by a team, a state and a way of being that has had the loser soup bib on for way too long. That was a hell of a second place finish!

So get off your #### Mountain Mama! Put the cheesy poofs down and get to Wal- Mart. Buy that Fiesta Bowl Champs shirt and wear it with pride because it looks damn nice with that thermal underwear you already have on.

And that is the Inside Dirt.