Fall Practice Update
As the Mountaineer football team’s first practice wrapped up on Saturday, there were a couple summer questions that finally got answered regarding a two Mountaineer players. The first question that is sure to be on everyone’s mind is whether or not Jock Sanders would be in a uniform after Februarys DUI incident. Bill Stewart had previously said that once Sanders completes some court ordered requirements (community service), his charges will be dropped. Stewart also said that after Sanders completes the court ordered work, he would leave the final decision in the hands of the seniors. Well the verdict is in, and it seems that Sanders has been working hard because he was at the first practice on Saturday and is now apart of the team again. Sanders worked out with the first team on Saturday as Wes Lyons missed the first practice because of a personal issue. Sanders will likely share the slot position with Lyons this season.
There were also many questions surrounding the rumors of Tevita Finau. Stewart has been hoping to add Finau to the Defensive Line for almost 2 years now. Finau verbally committed to WVU in November of 2007 and attempted to get an associates degree in one year at a community college but came up short. After being four credits short to enroll at WVU for the 2008 season, Finau was supposed to complete the credits needed at Arizona Community College and enroll at WVU for the spring semester of 2009 but never did. Finau was trying to get his transcript sent from one school to the other and be accepted in time enough to start practice on Saturday. However Finau came up short again. There is still no word on when Finau will be in Morgantown, but he did not show up for practice on Saturday. Stewart said Sunday that “I don’t know the status with his academics. That is still an on-going process, and I would like you to know the clock never stops. He will continue to work on the academic issues, as well as his personal issues. We are wishing him the very best, and hopefully he will join us as soon as possible.” It was likely that once in Morgantown, Finau would have started for the Mountaineers. Although there was some bad news surrounding Finau, it is good to see the good news of Jock Sanders finally come. There are only 26 days until the first game of the season. Let’s hope Stewart can have his team ready to play come Sept. 5.
