BUCKHANNON — You may have missed this bit of news over the weekend, but former West Virginia University head coach Dana Holgorsen was fired as offensive coordinator at the University of Nebraska by head coach Matt Rhule following a four-game losing streak.
Since leaving WVU in 2019, Holgorsen has now been fired by both Nebraska and the University of Houston, where he posted a 31-28 record in five seasons after departing the Mountaineers.
It always amazes me how often coaches discover that the grass isn’t necessarily greener on the other side.
Despite my occasional rants about Rich Rodriguez, I genuinely love my Mountaineers. I believe West Virginia is a wonderful place to build a career and spend a significant portion of your coaching life. Just look at Don Nehlen for proof.
Holgorsen left WVU for several reasons, but money was always front and center. Following an 8-4 season in 2018, he wanted a contract extension. However, then-athletic director Shane Lyons was unwilling to commit to a long-term deal and a significant raise.
Houston, where Holgorsen had previously coached, came calling with a five-year, $20 million contract — roughly $2 million more than he was making at WVU.
I get it. Most of us would be tempted to follow the money in that situation. But since leaving Morgantown, Holgorsen has been fired twice and would seemingly be out of the running for a major college head coaching job.
Had he stayed at WVU, he would have faced a roster drop-off in 2019, so who knows how things would have turned out? But do you think he would be in a worse position today than he is after two firings and an uncertain coaching future?
I’m not going to rehash the Rodriguez situation when he left WVU because we all know the story. He had a laundry list of reasons for leaving his home state to chase what turned out to be delusions of grandeur at Michigan.
By 2018, he was out of football. He later had coaching stints at lower level schools like Louisiana-Monroe as an assistant and Jacksonville State as head coach before influential boosters decided he was the best fit to return to WVU. (Sigh.)
It’s just more proof that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.
Interestingly enough, the one coach who genuinely believed WVU was special and seemed to love being in Morgantown was the only one of the three who was actually fired. That was Bill Stewart.
Sometimes, loyalty and loving a place aren’t enough to keep a coaching job. But there’s something to be said for recognizing a good thing when you have it.
Crunch Staff & Friends Leaderboard
| Name | Overall | Last week |
|---|---|---|
| Duane | 59-18 | 6-1 |
| Bobbie | 59-18 | 6-1 |
| Corrie | 59-18 | 5-2 |
| Brian | 55-22 | 6-1 |
| Katie | 43-34 | 2-5 |
| Monica | 39-38 | 4-3 |
We’re back to a three-way tie at the top this week after Bobbie and I both went 6-1, while Corrie finished 5-2. All three of us now sit at 59-18.
Brian remains within striking distance after another strong 6-1 week. He is four games back at 55-22. Katie (43-34) and Monica (39-38) round out the standings.
Sandra Kimble and Jerry Abel were the only two readers to finish a perfect 7-0. However, after applying the tiebreakers, Sandra Kimble came away as the Week 11 winner. She will receive a $20 gift certificate to a local restaurant.
Todd Ware continues to lead the reader standings with 63 points, while William Parker owns the best overall record at 61-16.
As always, readers will pick seven games each week, with Game 7 serving as the tiebreaker. Entries are due by 7 p.m. Friday before kickoff.
Click here to make your picks for Week 12.
Now, let’s get to this week’s picks.
Week 12 Games
Buckhannon-Upshur (4-6) at Cabell Midland (9-1)
Under head coach Sloan Baisden, the Bucs have qualified for the Class AAAA playoffs for the second consecutive season.
Yes, 16 of the 20 teams make the playoffs, but don’t think for a second that the four teams left out — Preston, Hedgesville, Riverside and Oak Hill — wouldn’t trade places with the Bucs.
That said, there aren’t many teams that would want to trade places with Buckhannon-Upshur this week. The Bucs draw Cabell Midland, one of the top teams in Class AAAA.
The Knights might not win the Class AAAA championship, but the Bucs will certainly have their hands full Friday night.
Staff picks:
- Duane: Cabell Midland
- Bobbie: Cabell Midland
- Corrie: Cabell Midland
- Brian: Cabell Midland
- Katie: Cabell Midland
- Monica: Pending
West Virginia Wesleyan (4-6) at Glenville State (2-8)
Mike Kellar returns to his former workplace Saturday when West Virginia Wesleyan visits Glenville State.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: If Kellar isn’t named Mountain East Conference Coach of the Year, I don’t know what to say.
A victory would give the Bobcats a 5-6 record and cap an impressive turnaround. If that isn’t among the best turnarounds in college football this season, perhaps even nationally, I’m not sure what is.
Staff picks:
- Duane: West Virginia Wesleyan
- Bobbie: Glenville State
- Corrie: West Virginia Wesleyan
- Brian: West Virginia Wesleyan
- Katie: Glenville State
- Monica: Pending
Kansas (3-6) at West Virginia (5-4)
It’s now or never for WVU’s bowl hopes.
Beating Houston and Utah the next few weeks appears to be a tall order, meaning the Mountaineers need to take care of business against Big 12 bottom-dweller Kansas if they hope to reach the six-win threshold for bowl eligibility.
Last week’s game was painful to watch and about as West Virginia as it gets. The Mountaineers essentially lost a game on a safety after their quarterback tripped in his own end zone.
If WVU wants to keep its postseason hopes alive, Saturday’s matchup is a must-win.
Staff picks:
- Duane: West Virginia
- Bobbie: West Virginia
- Corrie: West Virginia
- Brian: West Virginia
- Katie: West Virginia
- Monica: Pending
Final Four
Fairmont Senior (3-7) at North Marion (9-1)
- Duane: North Marion
- Bobbie: North Marion
- Corrie: North Marion
- Brian: North Marion
- Katie: North Marion
- Monica: Pending
Spring Valley (5-5) at Robert C. Byrd (7-3)
- Duane: Robert C. Byrd
- Bobbie: Robert C. Byrd
- Corrie: Robert C. Byrd
- Brian: Robert C. Byrd
- Katie: Spring Valley
- Monica: Pending
Appalachian State (5-4) at Marshall (5-4)
- Duane: Marshall
- Bobbie: Marshall
- Corrie: Appalachian State
- Brian: Marshall
- Katie: Marshall
- Monica: Pending
Texas (7-2) at LSU (6-3)
- Duane: LSU
- Bobbie: LSU
- Corrie: LSU
- Brian: LSU
- Katie: Texas
- Monica: Pending
Note: Monica’s picks will be added when they are received.
Community Bulletin
Morgan Nesland, PA-C, has joined WVU Medicine St. Joseph's Hospital as a pediatric provider at St. Joseph's Rural Health Clinic in Buckhannon, where she is accepting new patients from newborns through age 18. Read more →
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