WVU has dismissed the following players for felony possession of marijuana with intent to deliver:

John Holmes, LB
Ed Collington, DL
James Ingram, RB

After being pulled over for speeding and smelling the odor of marijuana, deputies found individual bags of marijuana in the car. Ingram also informed the deputies that he had marijuana in his apartment. Individual bags of marijuana were then found in his bedroom.

Read the full story at ESPN

Signed Letter of Intent
Josh Jenkins, OG, 6-3, 282, Parkersburg H.S. (WV)
Jerome Swinton, CB, 5-8, 160, Seabreeze Senior H.S. (FL)
Donovan Miles, ILB, 6-1, 225, Brooke Point H.S. (VA)
Bernard Smith, OLB, 6-2, 205, Benjamin E. Mays H.S. (GA)
Jeff Braun, DT, 6-4, 310, Winters Mills H.S. (MD)
Tyler Urban, OLB, 6-4, 235, Norwin Senior H.S. (PA)
Christopher Palmer, DT, 6-2, 285, Saint John Neumann H.S. (PA)
Jatavious Miller, OLB, 5-11, 186, Pahokee H.S. (FL)
John Bassler, OT, 6-5, 285, Francis Scott Key H.S. (MD)
Tyler Bitancurt, K, 6-0, 175, West Springfield H.S. (VA)
Ryan Clarke, FB, 6-1, 235, DeMatha Catholic H.S. (MD)
J.J. Dorsey, ATH, 6-1, 190, Handley H.S. (VA)
Corey Freeman, OLB, 6-2, 210, Cleveland Heights H.S. (OH)
Joe Madsen, OG, 6-4, 275, Chardon H.S. (OH)
Robert Sands, WR, 6-6, 193, Miami Carol City Senior H.S. (FL)
Coley White, QB, 6-1, 165, Daphne H.S. (AL)
J.D. Woods, WR, 6-2, 180, Golden Gate H.S. (FL)
Jorge Wright, DE, 6-3, 260, Dr. Krop H.S. (FL)
Larry Ford, DE, 6-3, 241, Georgetown, SC, Coffeyville Community College
D.J. Shaw, DT, 6-2, 285, Bude, MS, Copiah-Lincoln Community College

Verbal
Terrence Kerns, RB, 6-1, 225, Hargrave Military Academy
Tevita Finau, DE, 6-5, 275, Oahu, HI, Phoenix College
Courtney Stuart, S, 6-2, 210, Chandler, AZ, Phoenix College
Brantwon Bowser, CB, 6-0, 180, Phoenix, AZ, Phoenix College

In-depth analysis to follow

Junior RB, Steve Slaton, announced on Sunday that he will forgo his senior season at WVU and will enter the NFL draft

AP reports:

Mountaineers football spokesman Mike Montoro confirmed Sunday that Slaton informed the coaching staff of his decision Sunday afternoon.

“I just told my coaches,” Slaton told ESPN.com. “This is hard for me. But my coaches that knew me best have left. And now it’s time for me to leave. … It’s a good decision for me now because I’m a versatile back. As versatile as any back. I can play running back, wide receiver, kick returner. This was hard for me but it’s my time now to go.”

After setting West Virginia’s school record with 1,733 yards rushing last season, Slaton ran for 1,051 yards this season to surpass 1,000 for the third straight time.

Slaton joins fellow Mountaineers, Darius Reynaud and Johnny Dingle, as early entrants in the NFL draft.

Source: The Daily Athenaeum

“West Virginia University star running back Steve Slaton is returning for his senior season, a source close to the team told The Daily Athenaeum on Friday morning.

Slaton, who exited the 2008 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in the first quarter on Wednesday night with a leg injury, is fresh off his least productive year as a Mountaineer and may have unfinished business to settle.

In West Virginia’s last two bowl games, Slaton has only carried the ball a combined four times for 9 yards.

In the 2007 regular season, the superback from Levittown, Pa., gained a modest 1,053 yards on 210 carries and scored 17 touchdowns.

He was replaced Wednesday night by freshman Noel Devine, who went on to gain 108 yards and scored two touchdowns including a 65-yard scamper to seal the Mountaineers’ 48-28 win over No. 4 Oklahoma.”

For those who missed the Bill Stewart press conference earlier today, I found it on YouTube.

Part 1 - Introduction
Part 2

Following the emotional win against the Oklahoma Sooners in the Fiesta Bowl, WVU will announce Bill Stewart as the new head coach at WVU. A press conference is scheduled for 11 AM.

ESPN’s, Pat Forde, is reporting that Stewart will be rewarded with a 5 year contract worth $800,000 per season with a heavy incentive package.

West Virginia Mountaineers 48 - Oklahoma Sooners 28

After a month full of turmoil the Mountaineers came out swinging against the 3rd ranked Oklahoma Sooners. WVU pressured OU quarterback, Sam Bradford, early and often sacking him four times and picking him off once in the endzone. WVU’s fourth ranked defense also managed to hold Oklahoma to 28 points (15.3 points below their season average).

The Mountaineers offense was running on all cylinders as they rushed for 349 yards….and that was without Steve Slaton who left the game in the first half with a hamstring injury. WVU put up the most rushing yards against an Oklahoma team since 1993.

Plays of the Game

Owen Schmitt - 57 yard TD run
Tito Gonzalez - 79 yard TD reception
Noel Devine - 65 yard TD run
Darius Reynaud - 30 yard TD run

Players of the Game
Offense:
Pat White (Passing: 10-19, 176 PYD, 2 TD; Rushing: 20 carries for 150 yards)
Noel Devine (Rushing: 13 carries, 108 yards; Receiving: 2 rec for 47 yards; KReturns: 4 returns, 88 yards)

Defense:
WVU Defense: 4 sacks, 1 INT, 28 Pts Allowed

Congrats to Coach Bill Stewart and the 2007 WVU Mountaineers. You played with heart, you played to win and you made West Virginia proud!!

It’s sounding like Doc Holliday is now the leading candidate to take over as the next WVU head coach. The News and Sentinel, a Parkersburg, WV newspaper, is claiming that WVU will tab Doc as the new head coach any day now.

John “Doc” Holliday is a Hurricane, WV native, a former Mountaineer linebacker and coach. Doc has also coached at NC State and most recently at the University of Florida.