The views from here:
n Maybe it's me, but doesn't it seem every sports conference in which WVU resides suffers from instability?
Southern Conference, Atlantic 10, Big East, Big 12 ...
I bring this up now, of course, because of the possible showdown between (mainly) Oklahoma and (mainly) Texas over issues like expansion and a potential league television network. Speculation is if the two don't play nice, one might split.
Meanwhile, WVU, once again, is caught within. Once again there's nervousness in Morgantown. The Mountaineers - and the rest of the Big 12 - need for Texas and Oklahoma to get along. They need both schools in the conference.
What seems tricky from the outside looking in is WVU president E. Gordon Gee's seat on the league's expansion panel. According to a reliable source in Morgantown, Gee remains very firmly in favor of expansion. Also, unlike OU, WVU's Board of Governors are, well, on board with its president.
Keep in mind, though, Texas was the power school that most helped WVU get into the Big 12. Oklahoma wasn't so keen on the idea. (OU president Dave Boren is tight with Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, who was pushing for Louisville. Boren served with McConnell in the Senate.)
So it's an interesting dynamic in which Gee finds himself. Luckily for WVU, he's been around the block more than a couple, three times.
n When our Mike Casazza reported pay raises for WVU football assistants JaJuan Seider and Ron Crook, it raised a few eyebrows on a couple levels.
First, it was just prior to spring drills that Mountaineer head coach Dana Holgorsen brought in Joe Wickline to "help" Crook with the offensive line.
"We're really good at coming off the ball," Holgorsen said at the time. "But we need help in pass protection. That's kind of one area, in looking back, we didn't do well [in 2015]. ... Wick is going to help with some tackle situations and protections."
Understand, though, Crook might have saved WVU's most recent recruiting class. It was Crook who landed four-star linebacker Brendan Ferns of St. Clairsville, Ohio. Ace recruiter and defensive coordinator Tony Gibson didn't really get involved with Ferns until the last week or so.
Seider, meanwhile, is known for his Florida connections and recruiting. So maybe that explains the raises.
Of course, both received their $40,000 bumps because former receivers coach Lonnie Galloway left his $375,000 salary behind to become an offensive coordinator at Louisville. "Pool" money was left in the wake.
But another oddity is that the contracts of Seider, Wickline and Gibson are not directly tied to Holgorsen's deal. When WVU Athletic Director Shane Lyons first hit Morgantown, tying assistants' contracts to the head coach was a goal. Lately, however, he seems OK with contract "offsets." If an assistant is fired with, say, a $250,000 salary and gets a job paying $200,000 at another school, WVU will pay the $50,000, not the entire amount.
n While on the topic, isn't it a little nutty to include an assistants' salary pool in a head coaching contract? Shouldn't that be a separate matter altogether?
Holgorsen's contract says the collective salaries of the assistants is to increase at least 5 percent in a season that follows a bowl game. If you're in a heated competition for a coach and he demands such a clause, I understand. Otherwise, though, it makes little sense. Let each contract (and performance) stand on its own.
Sometimes it seems money is spent on salaries just to be spent, and it's not just at WVU. Texas is set to give three assistants large pay raises - with the Longhorns coming off two losing seasons in a row.
n That leads us back to Holgorsen. I had to shake my head over an article that trumpeted he "turned down a contract extension offer" back in February.
As you might remember, the Gazette-Mail had the bead on all that action, up to and including when Lyons confirmed contract negotiations had ended.
Keep in mind the time frame. Holgorsen was under intense heat after losing to an outmanned Kansas State team at regular season's end. Lyons had decided to keep the coach, but didn't want to put more of the university's money on the table.
"His agent has brought [renegotiating] up and I have to see what he's proposing," Lyons said at the time. "I'm not sure what he's looking for. Also, I have some things in mind."
It's not difficult to read between the lines. Lyons tried to help Holgorsen's recruiting effort with a restructured contract offer that, on the surface, looked pretty - until you looked deep. Lyons surely offered more years, but not at an increased cost to WVU. The coach and his representatives decided, instead, to roll the dice on a good 2016 season and increased leverage.
So don't take that "offer" too seriously.
n And finally ...
The esteemed James Strawn asked that I pass along the dates for Charleston's upcoming WVU Classic outing.
It will be held June 9-10 and, as always, at Berry Hills Country Club.
Those interested in golfing or participating may call Geoff Christian at 304-552-3919.
So there ya go, Mr. Strawn. Hope it helps.