Faithful readers to this blog were probably wondering if I was still alive following West Virginia’s loss to South Florida Friday night. I’m still alive.
Prior to the game, among some of my friends, I had hinted some anxiety about the game. Being at last year’s South Florida upset over at West Virginia, I knew the program had talent and could play with West Virginia. South Florida’s defense did what no one else has been able to do in three years - knock West Virginia’s offense out. In one game, South Florida eliminated any hope West Virginia’s Pat White or Steve Slaton had at winning the Heisman Trophy.
South Florida will likely represent the Big East in a BCS Bowl game, likely the Orange Bowl. West Virginia still has an outside shot at a BCS berth, but will have to win out and need some help to get into the top eight by the end of the season. I think the Mountaineers can do that, but not if they play the way they did Friday night.
Which brings me to the title of this blog commentary, “The Chicago Cubs of College Football.” This was something I thought a lot about this weekend as I thought about West Virginia’s play against South Florida.
The Chicago Cubs are the lovable losers from the National League that have failed to win a World Series title since Theodore Roosevelt was president. West Virginia has failed to win a major national championship in football or basketball. For our purposes, the two NIT Championships do not count.
The Chicago Cubs typically find a way to lose (except this season) when in the hunt. West Virginia typically finds a way to lose when close to making a run at a national title in football or basketball. Think the 1989 Fiesta Bowl, the 1994 Sugar Bowl, the overtime lost to Louisville in the 2005 Elite 8 after dominating the game most of the way, or the 2006 Sweet 16 loss to Texas on a last-second shot. West Virginia even lost its only NCAA Championship appearance when it had Jerry West in the starting rotation.
The Chicago Cubs have a loyal fan base. West Virginia has a loyal fan base.
The Chicago Cubs play at a historic field. Well, OK that’s the only place where it doesn’t work as West Virginia’s Old Mountaineer Field has long been destroyed and is now the home to the new Life Sciences Building.
Like the Cubs, West Virginia will rip your heart out and make you wonder about your sanity and turn your hair gray before God intended. But, it’s well worth the ride on the way.
Remember, there is always next year, right?
