photo: Rutgers' Kenny Britt, ERod, and KRodNever in my life would I expect to hear John Denver singing over the loud speakers during a celebration at a football stadium. And yet, at roughly 11:30 PM on December 2, 2006...as the West Virginia Mountaineers and their fans were deliriously celebrating their triple-OT victory over Rutgers University...Denver's familiar voice belted out "Country Roads". Almost heaven, West Virginia...
Well it certainly was a second fine trip to Morgantown for ERod. This time his good buddy Kevin Rodriguez joined him for the trip SW of NJ. We first attended the NJ State Playoff game at Giants Stadium where North Bergen nemesis St. Peter's Prep was kicked to the curb 41-0 by Don Bosco Prep. Then it was on to an overnight stay in Easton, PA.
Saturday morning we were off to WVU, arriving about 3 PM in the afternoon for a quick look around town, some Mickey D cheeseburgers, and a short shopping adventure at the Book Exchange. Then it was on to the Teal Lot where recruits driving into town are allowed to park.
Kevin really was in awe of the scene as were we as it there was much more at stake in this game as opposed to the Cincy game. The atmosphere was definitely more electric. After a pre-game buffet we got onto the field for warm-ups and even snapped a picture with Bayonne's Kenny Britt, a Rutgers wide receiver who was an opponent for these guys last year.
The Mountaineers were able to pull out the game in frigid temps (definitely below 30 degrees most of the game) but their secondary was exposed again as a weak link as Rutgers' QB Mike Teel threw for over 250 yards...which is always a good thing for ERod concerning his recruiting.
Following the final missed 2-pt. conversion, we were on the field for the celebration and then into the locker room for post game hoopla. ERod's coaches' daughter Susan Ascolese and her son, Vinny, were there as well. Little Vinny took the Nike gloves right off of a player and even found a football for the players to autograph afterwards. It was a great time for all of us.
And now comes his home visit with WVU, as Coach Hand will be by today (Tues, Dec. 5) to see his basketball scrimmage and then meet his mother for a second time. Tomorrow night ERod will welcome Temple's Mark D'Onofrio into his home as the former NBHS legend comes-a-callin' for a program that needs to land a star in the worst way. It would be safe to say Temple is a real, real long shot - but it never hurts to listen to an offer.
