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Carpenter Crunch Time Week 2: Can you root for WVU and not like Rich Rodriguez?

Duane Carpenter says he can cheer for WVU while refusing to forgive or support coach Rich Rodriguez—calling the hire a mistake—then recaps My Buckhannon standings and his Week 2 game picks.

BUCKHANNON – Social media is a cesspool, we all know that. I should know better, but watching that WVU first half against Robert Morris, I went on it and made a post about my displeasure with Rich Rodriguez having WVU ready to play against an FCS team.

Of course, the conversation broke down, but one response intrigued me. I was told not to jump on the WVU bandwagon when they start winning, since I was complaining about Rodriguez and the effort they were giving. I found that interesting.

So, let’s just get this out of the way. If you are okay with WVU giving Rodriguez a second chance, that’s fine…. good for you. For me, I will never forgive him for his exit at WVU. Sure, he wanted upgrades that he didn’t get, but he tried to torch the University on his way out. To me, that is unforgivable. And I don’t think he intentionally threw the 2007 Pitt game, but again, he didn’t have WVU ready to play as he had his eyes on leaving for Michigan soon after. He has admitted on the record that he was outcoached in that game.

Also, remember this quote from Rodriguez: “I will be at West Virginia as long as the fans and administration will have me.” Or until Michigan drops a boatload of money at his feet. Never mind the personal issues that have plagued him during his career.

His hiring was a low-rent move by the WVU administration to appease fanboys wanting to recapture past glories. Sorry, but Pat White and Steve Slaton aren’t walking back through those doors.

Yeah, he had some success at Jacksonville State, but at the Power 5 level, he went a combined 58-57 in nine years at Michigan and Arizona. Fans threw Neal Brown under the bus for that same winning percentage while at WVU.

The guy is a phony. He is saying all the right things now, but I guarantee you if someone like Alabama came calling with a dump truck full of money, he would be in Tuscaloosa before you could blink an eye. The nickname Fraud Rodriguez is there for a reason.

But back to the social media post saying not to enjoy WVU when they start winning again. Let’s get one thing straight: I will never root against WVU as a program. I hope they go 16-0 and win the national title under Rich. That doesn’t mean I have to support Rodriguez, though, at the same time. You can separate the two. So, I will be cheering them on when they succeed. Beat Ohio, then beat Pitt! So, I’m sorry if that doesn’t fit your narrative of ‘jumping on the bandwagon’ when and if the program gets turned around.

Now onto the important stuff… the My Buckhannon standings, which look like this.

Name   Week   Overall
Duane   7-0       7-0
Brian      6-1       6-1
Katie      6-1       6-1
Monica 3-4       3-4

I was perfect in week one at 7-0, while Brian and Katie both went 6-1. Poor Monica sticks with Marshall each week, being a graduate from there. I get it, but don’t pick them against Georgia Moncia!

As I said last week, we had a record number of submissions from our readers, so thank you so much for your interest in this column and My Buckhannon. We had four readers go 7-0: Rob Kimble, Corrie Plaugher, Zach Davis and Mackenzie Michael. We have two week one winners as two readers tied even after going to the tiebreaker. The total points for the WVU game were 48 (45-3), and Mackenzie picked 44 and Corrie picked 52, leaving them both four points off. So, congrats to both for being our week one winners!

Now onto our games this week:

Philip Barbour (1-0) at Buckhannon-Upshur (0-1)

I think this could be a competitive game, but the Bucs need to play a flawless game. It seems like the Colts always get up for this contest.

Duane: Philip Barbour; Brian: Buckhannon-Upshur; Katie: Buckhannon-Upshur; Monica: Philip Barbour

Robert C. Byrd (1-0) at Fairmont Senior (1-0)

The rich get richer. In case you didn’t hear, the Polar Bears just picked up former Southmoreland sophomore quarterback Anthony Smith, who is already receiving DI offers from schools like Syracuse. It must be nice.

Duane: Fairmont Senior; Brian: Fairmont Senior; Katie: Fairmont Senior; Monica: Robert C. Byrd

West Virginia (1-0) at Ohio (0-1)

I am putting West Virginia on upset notice this Saturday. They have never lost to a team from the MAC, but I think this might be the first. I will still pick the Mountaineers, though.

Duane: West Virginia; Brian: West Virginia; Katie: West Virginia; Monica: West Virginia

The Final Four:

Preston (0-1) at North Marion (1-0)

Duane: North Marion; Brian: North Marion; Katie: Preston; Monica: North Marion

East Fairmont (0-1) at Grafton (0-1)

Duane: East Fairmont; Brian: East Fairmont; Katie: East Fairmont; Monica: East Fairmont

Missouri State  (0-1) at Marshall (0-1)

Duane: Marshall; Brian: Marshall; Katie: Missouri State; Monica: Marshall

Michigan (1-0) at Oklahoma (1-0)

Duane; Oklahoma; Brian: Oklahoma; Katie: Michigan; Monica: Michigan

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