70589 Info

The anticipation for this big football weekend New Orleans is about to experience is so great, its hard to resist the urge to just go around tackling people in the street! It seems folks are having little trouble getting up for the LSU vs. Alabama showdown.

The feeling in the air of excitement is so thick you can cut it. These fans expect an exciting game between the Fighting Tigers and Crimson Tide.

Blowem out of the house! one fan declared of her LSU Tigers. Im not ready to see any more field goals!

The regular season meeting between these two team ended in a field goals-only 9-6 victory for LSU.

They might light it up and throw up some more points this time around, said another football fan.

I think its going to be a very competitive game, said another fan, and I think there is going to be a lot of scoring. I dont think its going to be 9 to 6 again.

And to get you warmed up, the record book-torching New Orleans Saints host the Detroit Lions in an NFC Wildcard Playoff game Saturday. The BCS Championship game is Monday.

Fans say theyre excited for LSU/Alabama and Saints/Lions:

Sonys
PlayStation 3 and the rest of companys gaming division have yet to make consumers recognize their value, DFC Intelligence analyst David Cole says.

Speaking to Industry Gamers in an interview published yesterday, Cole said the PlayStation 3 has proven incredibly robust and comes with a great content library. However, he cautioned that not all consumers seem to have gotten the word, and Sony is in need of consumer excitement.

The key challenge in 2012 is to bring back consumer excitement around the Sony and PlayStation brand, Cole said of the consumer electronics giant.

But is Coles argument fair or accurate? Based on sales figures, it appears quite clear that consumers are excited about the PlayStation brand.

According to Sonys own worldwide PlayStation 3 sales tally, the company sold 3.5 million units during the two quarters the console was available in its 2006 fiscal year. In fiscal year 2007, unit sales were 9.1 million units, followed by 10.1 million in fiscal 2008. In fiscal 2009 and 2010, sales once again rose to 13 million units and 14.3 million units, respectively. Just last month, Sony Computer Entertainment head Andrew House said the company is on target to sell 15 million units by the time its current fiscal year ends in March.

Last year was an extraordinary year in the world of sport, and if anything, 2012 looks all set to top it in terms of action, excitement, and the human drama that can lift our spirits and crush our souls in the blink of an eye.

When Santa asked me what I wanted for Christmas, I could only reply, “more of the same please. Make next year as action-packed and as fun-filled as 2011, and you can put me down for feeding the reindeer next December.”

Santa, I am sure, will not disappoint.

Firstly, we can look ahead to what promises to be an enthralling climax to the Barclays Premier League
season.

With the two Manchester clubs slugging it out at the top of the table, like prize-fighters who’ve bet heavily on themselves, both will be glancing over their shoulders from time to time at Tottenham Hotspur, the perennial underachievers, who this season might, just might, be ready to shed the tag.

Spurs have delighted neutrals with their swashbuckling style and their occasionally blustering derring-do, and proved that results can be achieved playing attractive, flowing football — a statement to the pragmatists who threaten to turn the beautiful game into a drudge. Don’t look away; you know who you are.

Furthermore, the “bun fight” that is the race for a UEFA Champions League spots has never been more hotly contested, with powerhouses Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool all realising that their previously accepted divine right for inclusion is by no means assured.

I’m anticipating a fascinating year in the world of tennis as well, as Roger Federer continues to confound the critics who wrote him off, almost as a matter of course, throughout 2011.

At the age of 30, R Fed is long past his sell-by date as far as the tennis world is concerned, and yet he continues to draw on his reserves of experience and mental strength to defeat players several years his junior.

That he won the Tour Finals at the end of last season is testament to his resilience and seemingly indefatigable love for a game that has made him one of the most high profile sportsmen on earth, and the fact that he has done it with such grace, humility, sportsmanship and style, is enough to make ardent cynics vomit into their breakfast cereal.

Roger is a nice man; a genuinely good bloke; with an acceptably unattractive wife, and we love him for all of it. The fact that he has a backhand that can only have been made in heaven, endears us further to the living legend.

Would I love him to successfully defend his Australian Open title in January and secure his 17th Grand Slam win? Yes, probably; as long as he doesn’t cry afterwards.

I’m also looking forward to the start of the new Formula One season, if for no other reason than it’s going to be “precedental”. I don’t even know if that word exists, but if it doesn’t, it should.

For the first time ever, on the starting grid for the season-opening race in Australia in March, there will be 6 World Champions — past and present.

Kimi Raikkonen returns to F1 after messing about in rally cars for a couple of years — what was he thinking?

His rivalry with Michael Schumacher will resume, and I think it’s fair to say that there won’t be too many more circuit tours for the 43 year old German who, incidentally, has won as many world titles as the other 5 drivers put together.

Then there’s Jenson Button, World Champion in 2009, Lewis Hamilton (2008), and Fernando Alonso (2005 and 2006), and lest we forget (unlikely) the reigning champ Sebastian Vettel, the youngest ever double champion, and the youngest ever consecutive champion.

The word “competitive” simply doesn’t do justice to what promises to be an intriguing F1 season.

The golf world meanwhile, is delighted to be able to welcome back a seemingly rejuvenated Tiger Woods, although every other player on the tour may not quite share those sentiments.

Woods ended 2011 with a win at the Chevron World Challenge (his first tournament victory in two years) playing golf of the calibre that made him the very best in the world for a staggering 623 weeks, all told.

Tiger is competitive again, and significantly, healthy. I for one, can’t wait until April, when he has a tilt at The Masters, looking for his 5th win at Augusta, and his first since 2005.

But perhaps the biggest and most compelling sporting event of 2012 will be taking place in London, from the 27th of July until the 12th of August.

It doesn’t seem like 4 years since the last Olympic Games in Beijing, but my diary assures me that it is. When one epic edition ends, it’s miserable to contemplate the long wait for the next one, and yet it’s crept up precipitously, and almost unnoticed. Or maybe I skipped an intervening year…

Every Olympic Games boasts that it’s going to be the biggest and the best in history, and in the current global economic climate such bravura may appear to be a little misplaced, or even misguided.

One can expect London though, to put the games on with a certain sense of style, and a very high level of organisational prowess, and it’s gratifying to note that even the top people at the IOC are delighted by the arrangements made so far.

It’s the biggest sporting gig on the planet, and it’s never without its share of drama, controversy, excitement and nail-biting tension. Forget the “altius” and “fortius”. I just want July to come round “citius”.

Catch Andrew Leci on SportsCenter on ESPN every weekday at 7.30 pm, for highlights and news from the world of sports

ENID
We are on the eve of a very sad event. The end of the college football season is at hand. Yes, with the playing of Monday nights BCS National Championship game between LSU and Alabama, its over. Sure, we still will have the NFL playoffs and, of course, the Super Bowl, but nothing measures up to college football in terms of passion, excitement and rivalries.

So, while there certainly is controversy surrounding the participants in Monday nights title tilt, enjoy it because it is the last time well see action on the college gridiron for the next eight months. But what a college football season it has been.

The season started out with Oklahoma in the top spot and finished with Oklahoma State knocking on the door, making a case for itself in the championship game, even if the computers did not see it that way. Lets be honest, did anybody really see that coming?

The Big 12 proved itself to be the center of college football again, both on and off the field.

Off the field, we had to endure countless weeks of speculation and rumors regarding the future of the league, thanks primarily to Texas Aamp;Ms decision to bail out, running with its Aggie tail between its legs to the SEC. Missouri decided to leave for the SEC as well. But will they really be missed?

While their departures brought about plenty of handwringing, and dire predictions proclaiming the end of the Big 12, the truth is the Big 12 will not miss a beat without them as TCU comes on board next season and West Virginia within the next two years after that. Both schools have made bigger impacts in college football in recent seasons than the two departed teams. In the end, the Big 12 will be a stronger conference with the addition of the Horned Frogs and the Mountaineers.

But on the field, the Big 12 made its biggest impact.

While quarterbacks Landry Jones from OU and Brandon Weeden from OSU were in the forefront of early season Heisman talk, it was a quarterback from a school that, until very recently, was quite comfortable being a Big 12 bottom feeder that rose to take the award as Baylors Robert Griffin III (yes, Baylor!), thanks in large part to Baylors televised wild, comeback, last-second 45-38 victory over OU Nov. 19, caught the attention of voters and claimed the Heisman Trophy for RG3.

Then there were the bowl games. The Big 12 showed again it is one of the premier football conferences in the nation this bowl season, which included a convincing 31-14 win by OU over Iowa in the Insight Bowl and OSUs thrilling 41-38 overtime win over Stanford in the Fiesta Bowl, with the game-winning field goal set up by a clutch reception by Enids Colton Chelf.

Sure, there have been some somber and troubling moments this past college football season. The sad and unpleasant child sex-abuse scandal that rocked Penn State and cost legendary coach Joe Paterno his job stands out, but that should not be what is most remembered this past season. No, thankfully, there were enough on-the-field superlatives to keep the focus in the end where it should be on the players and the games.

The NFL will give us another month of football and the over-hyped Super Bowl to keep our football appetites whetted, but for many, the real football season ends Monday night.

But its not too bad. Spring practice is just around the corner.

Ruthenberg is sports editor at the News amp; Eagle. Contact him at daver@enidnews.com.

Cant hide the excitement for NFL playoffs

The look of excitement and the eagerness in his voice gave Tom Coughlin away. Its playoff time, and he loves it that his New York Giants are back in contention after missing out the last two years.

New Sault venue created big excitement back then (photo) Saturday, January 07, 2012 by: Rick McGee

Grand opening festivities for a building that played a central role in Sault Ste. Marie life over five-plus decades occurred exactly 99 years ago today.

The Gouin Street Arena made its debut during the evening of January 7, 1913.

About 600 people participated in the proceedings, which included public skating on the rinks much-anticipated ice surface.

The $45,000 facility had followed the towns first enclosed structure.

It had burned to the ground in a November 1910 blaze at the same location near the northeast corner of East and Bay streets where apartment high-rises now stand.

The new arenas inaugural hockey game took place on January 10.

Fans from both sides of the river packed the rink and watched the Michigan Soo squad edge the home side 3-2 in overtime.

Having turned away people that night, the arenas management immediately began adding seats.

That year the rivals from the two Saults played in the International League, which included Blind River and Little Current.

Despite the opening night loss, the Canadian Soo (the Greyhounds name wasnt adopted until 1919) went on to win the league championship.

Because the arena operated with natural ice, mild weather could mean postponements and the teams 1912-13 season actually lasted from only January until March.

Hockey wrapped up in splendid fashion for Sault fans that year.

Former local residents George and Howard McNamara who had played with the Soo Marlboros of the old International Professional Hockey League were then with the Toronto Tecumsehs of the National Hockey Association (forerunner of the NHL).

The McNamaras helped bring pros north to play the areas top talent in some exhibition games.

George (who later coached the Greyhounds to the 1924 Allan Cup) and Howard skated for the locals and help lead them to a 10-9 win in the opener.

For many years hockey, skating and curling dominated at the Gouin Street Arena (which was also known as the Arena Rink).

But it accommodated various activities (including boxing, roller skating and non-sporting events) and served other needs when called upon.

During World War One, the building became the recruiting centre and barracks for the 119th (Algoma) Battalion.

The aging arenas prominence declined when the Sault Memorial Gardens opened in 1949.

But the Soo Curling Club continued to use the building and it also went on to house the Sea Cadets until a spectacular fire destroyed almost everything on July 3, 1965.

6 days ago 

The look of excitement and the eagerness in his voice gave Tom Coughlin away. It’s playoff time, and he loves it that his New York Giants are back in contention after missing out the last two years.

Just as spirited is Denver cornerback Champ Bailey. And Pittsburgh nose tackle Casey Hampton.

Their teams start down the path to Indianapolis on Sunday when the Giants host the Falcons, and the Broncos host the Pittsburgh Steelers. The playoffs begin Saturday with Cincinnati at Houston and Detroit at New Orleans.

“The energy and the excitement are even stronger than yesterday and that’s the way I think it works. I think it goes along,” Coughlin said.

When told he looked particularly animated this week, Coughlin threw up his hands and replied with a smile: “How can you say that?”

The NFC East champions went 9-7, one game worse than visiting Atlanta’s record as a wild card out of the NFC South. Denver was a mere 8-8 in the AFC West, but that was good enough to win the division in a tiebreaker over Oakland and San Diego.

It’s the Broncos’ first trip to the postseason since losing in the 2005 AFC title game — to the Steelers. Bailey remembers that defeat, and that Pittsburgh went on to win the Super Bowl. But he isn’t harping on the past too much; the present is too invigorating.

“I’ll definitely be excited. That’s every game,” the 13-year veteran said. “I mean this is the playoffs, there’s a little bit more excitement there just because it’s hard to get in this tournament and when you’re in you have to take advantage.”

Many doubt the Broncos are equipped to do so against a Steelers team that was 12-4, losing the AFC North to Baltimore on a tiebreaker, and allowed only 227 points, fewest in the league. Pittsburgh is playoff-tested, with three Super Bowl appearances in the last six seasons, including a loss to Green Bay last February.

“That’s the best thing about being here. We’re usually in the playoffs,” defensive end Brett Keisel said. “When we get here we know what it takes to get going. Hopefully we can lean on that leadership and lean on that experience and hopefully it can lead us to a few wins here.”

It better, Hampton insisted.

“If you get to the playoffs and that doesn’t get you fired up, something’s wrong with you,” Hampton said. “So yeah, you get nervous a little bit, but it’s a good kind of nerves. Certainly beats watching at home.”

Watching at home this weekend are the top seeds, defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay in the NFC, and New England in the AFC. Also on byes this weekend are No. 2 seeds San Francisco in the NFC and Baltimore in the AFC.

Coughlin and the Giants recognize the advantages to earning a bye, but also know going all the way hardly is impossible when you have to play four postseason games. Hey, they did it in 2007 as a wild card, just as the Steelers did in 2005 and the Packers last year.

Coughlin even sounds as if he doesn’t particularly mind playing this week while four other teams await the winners.

“I’ll tell you what, it’s exciting. When you’re sitting there late at night, it’s exciting,” he said.

New York hasn’t won a postseason game since stunning undefeated New England for the 2007 championship. Atlanta has fallen in both of its playoff games since Matt Ryan took over as quarterback, including a 48-21 home rout at the hands of Green Bay a year ago — as the NFC’s top seed.

Star receiver Roddy White understands the need for excitement, but also the need to temper it a bit.

“Absolutely. When you get into playoff football, you’ve got to be focused, locked in, tuned in,” White said. “You can’t go out there and make mental mistakes because any play can be the play. Everything has to be tight.

“Everybody is going to be moving a little bit faster, running a little bit faster. It makes the tempo faster. The mental aspect of the game has to be right, because if it’s not, that’s how you get beat.”

Atlanta’s Tony Gonzalez, who holds nearly every career record for tight ends, is 0-4 in the postseason. He’s not just looking for one win, but an even higher level of exhilaration.

“It would mean a lot to me, but at the same time, that’s not our goal,” Gonzalez said. “After the game if we’re fortunate to win, don’t expect me to be elated. Ask me after the Super Bowl. That’s where I’ll be truly excited. The goal is not to win a playoff game; it’s about winning a couple of playoff games.”

Copyright © 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Each of the first seven years of Lee Evans NFL career ended the exact same way.

Evans would finish up the regular season, empty the stuff in his locker into a bag and head home for the offseason. He and his Buffalo Bills teammates would watch the postseason unfold from their living rooms as hundreds of other players around the league got to enjoy the playoff stage and the excitement that comes with fighting it out for the Lombardi Trophy.

Every year, Evans says, hed wonder whether hed ever get to experience that excitement, whether hed get a chance to suit up and take the field in the playoffs instead of having to watch the games from home. And with every season that passed, those questions in Evans head (Will I ever get there? Is there a chance Ill never be part of a playoff team?) would only intensify.

This season, of course, is different. Now a member of the Ravens, Evans is a part of the AFC North champions, and thus, hell get his first ever taste of the playoffs next Sunday when the Ravens host a divisional round game. Thats why, despite being asked countless questions this week about finally making it to the postseason, Evans still cracks a smile when yet another reporter inquires about how hes reacting to this experience.

Its special, Evans said. To be on this journey with these men who have been there and done it before, really there is only one thing left to conquer. I cant even put it into words. Its a special experience for me. Its kind of like being a rookie all over again going into the playoffs because its somewhere Ive never been, but Im looking forward to it and Ive been preparing for it since I came into the league. So, Im excited.

The last four years, those in the Ravens locker room have known nothing but the playoffs. The Ravens have 35 players on their 53-man roster that have been to the postseason before, including guys like Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, Jameel McClain, Tom Zbikowski and Haruki Nakamura who have made the playoffs every season in their pro careers.

But not every player is so lucky. Some guys, like Evans, can play years in the NFL and not reach the postseason. Even if they do get a taste of the playoffs, that opportunity might be gone before theyve really gotten a chance to enjoy it.

You can file running back Ricky Williams into that category. Williams has now played 11 NFL seasons and has suited up for 147 regular season games in that time. The veteran has made the playoffs twice in his 10 prior years in the league, but both times, his team has been bounced in the wild card round.

One hundred forty-seven regular season games, just two playoff games. Thats a ratio that Williams says hes looking forward to adjusting over the next few weeks.

Ive enjoyed everything that Ive experienced, but I think when you get into the upper echelon of teams and you have an opportunity to go deep into the playoffs, its different, Williams said. Its really where heroes are made, where stars are made and where careers are made. So I think we have an opportunity to show how special we are.

Ive had a long career and a successful career, but a Super Bowl is something thats not on my resume. So it would be nice to go deep and showcase, as a team, our abilities and the way we play football.

According to head coach John Harbaugh, veterans like Anquan Boldin have made sure to talk with the younger players this week and let them know that opportunities like the one they have now dont come around every season. Boldin even made a point to reference Evans and Williams in a speech during an offensive meeting, Harbaugh said.

When youve been in the league for seven, eight, nine, 10 years and you havent been to the playoffs, sometimes the young guys take it for granted, Harbaugh said. The veterans can let them know how special it really is.

I think that message has been portrayed, said Evans. A lot of the older guys who have been here, that have gone through it before, theyre imparting that upon people. For me, I understand how hard it is to get here and how hard weve had to work to get to this point. This is one of those moments youve got to cherish but also take advantage of because they dont come very often.

Many St. Landry Parish residents are so devoted to Louisiana State University football that it is said they bleed purple and gold.

For them, this Saturday nights game with Alabama to determine who has the best team in the nation is critical.

We are already No. 1. This will just add some more credence to that lofty ranking, said Opelousas High School Principal Rodney Johnson, whose office is awash in LSU memorabilia.

You ought to see my home. Ive got more than 700 items spanning 30 years, said Johnson, who first graduated from LSU in 1979 and has returned twice since for advanced degrees.

All season we have been hoping for a match like this, he said of the game between the two undefeated teams that have both brushed off their first eight opponents with double-digit wins.

It is difficult to find a true rival in the SEC, but Alabama comes closest, said Johnson, who said he has been fielding calls for weeks from friends throughout the nation, all excited about the game.

I dont watch often, but Ill be watching that game, agreed newly-elected St. Landry Parish Councilman Wayne Ardoin, out getting a haircut Wednesday afternoon.

It is going to be the college equivalent of the Superbowl, Ardoin said. You have two coaches there that are very bright. They will be trying every trick.

LSU safety Brandon Taylor said hes seeing the same nationwide excitement.

People are coming up to me and saying they are praying for us, Taylor said. I am getting so many text messages and phone calls. They say, Bring it to Alabama. You are playing for the state of Louisiana.

Don Williams, out shopping for a new pair of boots in Opelousas, said hes pumped for the big game that kicks off at 7 pm in Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. His only regret is it isnt being played in Tiger Stadium, so more local fans could attend.

The game is seen by many as a potential national title elimination contest and marks the first time two SEC teams have met before the league title game ranked 1 and 2 in the nation.

There hasnt been a regular season No. 1 and 2 showdown anywhere since Ohio State and Michigans 2006 finale.

While Williams is a die-hard LSU fan, he has his fingers crossed for this contest.

I dont want to jinx it, but I think this is going to be blow out. LSUs team is stacked this year, Williams said.

To help get everyone in the mood for the game, Norma Guillory with Village Boutique on Creswell Lane in Opelousas is offering 25 percent off on everything purple in her store.

It is unbelievable how excited our customers are, said Guillory, who said fans have been coming in all week, snapping up everything from team logo hair ribbons to purple and gold baby clothes.

While LSU may be the big draw, she pointed out that Opelousas Catholic, which also has purple as one of its school colors, is having some great teams this year.

My grandson plays for OC. The sixth, seventh and eighth graders are all in the playoffs, Guillory said.

? AP Sports Writer John Zenor contributed to this story.

MORGANTOWN -

It has been a long
time coming for many involved in the conference realignment shuffle going on in
college sports at West Virginia.
On Tuesday afternoon, West Virginia University officially became a
member of the Big 12 Conference.
After weeks of scanning message boards, following social media and
refreshing websites, it is finally over for Mountaineer fans everywhere.

Interim Big 12
Commissioner Chuck Neinas was in Morgantown Tuesday afternoon to help welcome
WVU to the conference. Not only
was it a press conference, it also felt like a party with the Mountaineer pep
band and cheerleaders being in attendance. Neinas thinks that West Virginia just seemed to be the
perfect match for the Big 12.

We did have
considerable interest and the expansion committee went through and took a look
at all those who had shown interest and West Virginia just stood out, Neinas
said. Their academics fit well as
a land-grant college with a number of our members and everything just seemed to
fit.

Many rumors spread
last week that the Morgantown Municipal Airport did not have a long enough
runway to suit many schools when they had to come to WVU to play. Also, many complained that
geograpically the move to the Big 12 did not make any sense. In the end, neither of those mattered
in the final decision.

It really was not an
issue, Neinas said. It was just
something to talk about. For
example, the longest trip in college athletics today is Tuscon, AZ [University
of Arizona] to Seattle, WA [University of Washington]. That#39;s been in the [Pac-12] for years
and nobody talks about it. It#39;s
near 1,700 miles. You go to
Boulder, CO, to play and you land at Denver International Airport which is 45
miles from Boulder so like I said, it#39;s just something to talk about.

One of the most
important people to help make this move happen is Athletic Director Oliver Luck. He did an amazing job throughout the
entire process of keeping things quiet and under the rug, but now that it is
over, there are issues that need to be worked out. If WVU does join the Big 12 like it is proclaiming in 2012,
they currently have 13 games scheduled which would be too many. With nine conference and four
out-of-conference games, a few details need to be worked out between the
conference and the school.

We have a lot of
work to do to sit down with the Big 12 and to discuss all of the issues, Luck
said. At this point I can#39;t
really talk about scheduling or travel but we realize we have a lot of stuff to
work on and those are all issues that will be focused on over the next three
weeks. We#39;ll get issues resolved
as we always do. We#39;ll do what#39;s
prudent for the student-athletes, the university and do what#39;s in the best
interest of our program.

Head Football Coach
Dana Holgorsen is no stranger to the Big 12. He spent several seasons at Texas Tech as an assistant under
Mike Leach. He was also the
offensive coordinator at Oklahoma State before heading to West Virginia where
he would eventually become the head coach.

Holgorsen also made
it clear when he arrived at WVU that he will recruit the state of Texas and
areas of the midwest. With the
move to the Big 12, he feels it will improve recruiting.

It solidifies your
future, Holgorsen said. The Big
12 is here to stay and it#39;s a very powerful conference. They#39;ve won national championships and
I know they set the standard from a national exposure standpoint with TV and
facilities. Kids across the
country understand what kind of football that is.

At least we have
something that we can tell the recruits and there#39;s no uncertainty that people
can use against us. We#39;ll keep
recruiting the areas that we#39;ve been recruiting but we#39;ll branch out to parts
of the southwest as well.

If WVU has its way,
this season will be the last time the Mountaineers fight for the Big East
title. With four games remaining,
Holgorsen hopes they can bring home the title in their final attempt.

You would think you
would want to win the title anyway, Holgorsen said. That was the goal we set forth at the beginning of the year
and we#39;ve put ourselves into position where that is obtainable, but we still
have to go out there and play to the best of our ability each and every
week. If nothing else it probably
made the bullseye on our back even bigger so we have to be prepared every
week.

Holgorsen is not the
only head coach at West Virginia that is familiar with the Big 12. Head Basketball Coach Bob Huggins was
at Kansas State for a season before making the jump to WVU in 2007. Although football seems to be the driving
force with conference realignment, this move means a lot to basketball. The Big East was considered one of if
the not the best basketball conference in America, but the Big 12 is no joke on
the court.

I think I know a
little bit more about the conference than anyone else since I coached in the
league for a year, Huggins said.
I think the thing our people will find out is the venues there are
incredible. When you go to
Stillwater and they#39;re playing Prairie View, they#39;re going to fill it. There#39;s a great passion for basketball
at Oklahoma State, Kansas and Kansas State.

With the ongoing
lawsuit against the Big East, it is uncertain yet whether or not West Virginia
will be playing in the Big 12 next season or 27 months from now, but there is
no doubt that there is a newly found excitement in the air around the WVU
Athletic Department.