WVU’s Marshall wishing for a retraction after loss

Rasheed Marshall ate his words at Virginia Tech on Saturday as NHL players will eat their… Rasheed Marshall ate his words at Virginia Tech on Saturday as NHL players will eat their Jell-O in the hospital for a little extra time, and Daniel Snyder will have a tough time swallowing what’s on his plate in D.C.

Small ‘neer talk.

For not being the Big East, the Mountaineers sure played like it on Saturday.

West Virginia quarterback Rasheed Marshall was quoted a week ago saying, “We are not the Big East.” He was concurring with the question that the Big East was a weak conference this year, but then saying he and his team were not part of it.

His team was ranked No. 7 in the nation and had oranges in its sight when he made this statement. And no other team in the Big East was close to being ranked, so he did have a point there.

But wait, he must have overlooked a trip to Virginia Tech last Saturday.

The play on both sides was sloppy, but forget about that detail. The fact is that West Virginia lost 19-13.

I bet Marshall wishes he could not only have back his pass that went for an interception, but his words too.

Rasheed Marshall, you’ve just lost to the Hokies. Would you like to rephrase?

Never mind rephrasing.

We (the Big East) will forgive you. We missed you while you were off in fantasy land. Welcome back to the Big East. Now that you’re back, you can focus on what is realistic. Winning the title of the conference you belong to — the Big East — which is, at this point in the season, still up for anyone’s taking.

Rehab anyone?

It was announced that the Colorado Avalanche would pay four of its injured players when the National Hockey League season should have started — Oct. 13.

The four players, Adam Foote, Dan Hinote, John-Michael Liles and Peter Worrell, were all injured last season or in the World Cup of hockey and are in the process of recovering.

They will be paid until they are fully healed, including any rehab that is required. Foote just had surgery on his elbow last week, so it is possible that he will be getting paid throughout the entire lockout.

They say hockey players are tough and will return to the ice quicker than they should, but I don’t think you will hear any of these guys saying, “Hey doc, I feel better. Honestly.”

Redskins should Gibb up.

And they’re 1-3.

Surprised?

I’m not. The Redskins are perennial underachievers. Last year they were the Jetskins, now they have Joe Gibbs coaching, and, before that, there was hype for coaches Steve Spurrier and Marty Schottenheimer.

Sports Illustrated had picked them to be 14-2 a couple seasons ago, but the Redskins didn’t even make the playoffs. Daniel Snyder, owner of the great organization has constantly brought in players with his checkbook, and, despite his efforts, Redskins still lose.

Running back Clinton Portis comes to Washington as part of a blockbuster deal the Denver Broncos laugh at every time Champ Bailey makes a big play.

The list goes on and on.

It’s about time the Redskins just give up and play football. Stop going out of the way to bring in marquee players and coaches. It’s all about chemistry, and when you constantly are changing, chemistry is tough to build.

But my position is, as long as Snyder is in charge, the Redskins won’t win. Unless he puts his checkbook away and lets his team build with what it’s got. He could have built under Spurrier, a young coach, but he opted for the aging Gibbs.

There is good news for Washington fans.

The Expos should be in town shortly.

Jimmy Johnson is the assistant sports editor of The Pitt News and he is not the Big East.