I’m generally a pretty open minded and upbeat person, but the thought of watching WVU play a game in the state of WV and not at the Coliseum isn’t something I look forward to. I’m not trying to be negative on my experience, but watching WVU play a basketball game outside of the Coliseum feels about as normal as if WVU adopted an all BLACK uniform scheme like other schools have as of late instead of the traditional Old Gold and Blue colors. Yeah it would still be the Mountaineers, and while the crowd was split 65/35 (I’m being more than conservative in that split), HOME for WVU is the Coliseum and no other place has that feel. Also, the lighting at the Civic Center plays hell on taking pictures unless you are within a few rows of the court. Anyway, Charleston is a nice town though. I grew up around there, but surprisingly I have not watched too many WVU games at the Civic Center. Go Figure. I’ve driven 3 hours countless times to watch WVU at the Coliseum, but I haven’t watched them a lot when they’re in Charleston. I arrived at the Charleston Town Center (next door to the Civic Center) at about 5 PM. I went to a bar and got a bit to eat. The place was very pro WVU, more so than the game would be, but wouldn’t you know it, I sit at the bar and the only half dozen Marshall fans in the place were next to me. I overheard a conversation as I was finishing my meal and getting ready to leave. One Marshall guy commented that “there is no better game experience (meaning WVU vs Marshall) than the Charleston Civic Center”. I choked (literally) on my food and thought, yeah if you throw out any WVU vs PITT, WVU vs Nova, WVU vs UConn, WVU vs CUSE, and WVU vs Temple at the Coliseum back in the day. I knew it was time to head over to the game when I heard that. I didn’t want to try and debate a guy with a single digit IQ. The WVU women were in the 2nd half when I arrived. The game was pretty much over. WVU was just a much better and more physical team. Then there was an intermission before the men took the floor. This leads me to do some thinking. The Chesapeake Energy Capitol Classic can best be described as a game brought about for the City of Charleston (and to allow the School Presidents to hobnob with the WV Legislature for funds). The Governor didn’t force this series. The School Presidents keep this one going. The place filled up quickly and the Mountaineers took the floor to play the game. As for WVU’s play in the game, I think it can best be described by paraphrasing a Charles Dickens quote, ie “it was the worst of times” (the first half), and then “it was the best of times” (the second half). The first half of the game really had no intensity on WVU’s part. Rob Summers had 2 fouls in the first 3 trips down the floor on defense. WVU as a team didn’t execute very well either. Still after trailing by more than a dozen at one point, WVU was only down 5 points at the half due to an awakening with about 5 to go in the half. Still, from where I sat I just saw an offense that didn’t flow like it normally does. In the second half, the consensus was Frank Young really took the lead of this team and supposedly said during a TV timeout, “We’re not losing this game”. Judging by the cheers of Patrick Beilein, who sat 5 ft away to my left, he most certainly endorses my assessment. Also credit Jamie Smalligan for stepping up and battling for rebounds. The hot hand just got contagious because with 7 minutes left in the game, everybody wearing Old Gold caught it. Mazzula stepped up big for a true freshman hitting free throws like he’s Pat Beilein, Ruoff hit a 3 that was the dagger, and Nichols was reminiscent of JD Collins with 15 left in the game. Joe Alexander was a presence too. Like I said, it was contagious, but Frank Young got it all going. The only thing in the second half that WVU did wrong was lose the Cheerleader Strength and Stamina Contest (which is supposedly the first time that has EVER happened vs Marshall). WVU won in a convincing fashion. There was no Country Roads, but as the game ended WVU was “Beilein” balling like they were running at Daytona. WVU didn’t start this game very well, but unlike games vs Cincinnati and Notre Dame, WVU did FINISH this game. WVU still has to get some conference road wins to get into March Madness, but winning this one won’t hurt the cause.   -- WVUenginEER