West Virginia’s push to get a few more seasons out of its athletes is now headed toward a key September date, and the group fighting for eligibility has grown.
A lawsuit filed in early August by basketball players Brenen Lorient and Javan Buchanan, a transfer from Boise State, is seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against the NCAA so they can play one more year at the college level. The hearing is scheduled for September 24 in the Northern District of West Virginia.
That date now also applies to two more Mountaineers: football cornerback Jason Chambers and baseball pitcher Ben McDougal, whose names were added when Lorient and Buchanan’s attorneys amended the complaint. The plaintiffs did not ask for the hearing to be moved up.
If the schedule holds, Chambers could miss West Virginia’s first three games of the season against Coastal Carolina, UT Martin, and Virginia. The hearing comes two days before the Mountaineers open Big 12 play against Oklahoma State.
Chambers returned to the team midway through fall camp, and while West Virginia probably won’t need him early, getting him back on the field sooner would have been ideal for game reps before conference play. He already knows Zac Alley’s system, after starting all 12 games last season. Chambers finished with 34 tackles, four passes defended and one interception, production that would be a welcome addition to the secondary if he gets cleared in time for the Big 12 opener.
McDougal’s case carries its own importance. He dealt with injuries this past season, but chose not to redshirt because he wanted to be part of the Mountaineers’ run even in a limited role.
That decision paid off in a big way. He became a crucial bullpen arm, getting important outs in the Big 12 Conference tournament and the Morgantown Regional, closing out the final outs that sent West Virginia to Omaha, and then delivering under pressure against Troy in the first game at the College World Series.
The timing matters across multiple sports, and for West Virginia basketball in particular, the absence of Chambers and McDougal from the broader eligibility picture would leave Ross Hodge with tougher lineup decisions. It could mean Seydou Traore moving into the starting five at the four, or Amadou Seini and Mo Sylla sharing the floor together.
That would not be an ideal setup. With them available, though, Hodge suddenly has a lot more flexibility, and there’s a case to be made that this could be the deepest roster West Virginia has had in quite some time.
In Other News...
Pat Whites WVU Honor Only Happened After A Longstanding Barrier Fell
Pat White is finally getting the kind of recognition that has long felt overdue in Morgantown, with his No. 5 jersey set to be ceremonially retired Saturday before West Virginias season opener. The official retirement will come after the current season ends, once Jaden Bray finishes his eligibility, but the announcement alone marks a significant shift for a program that had long held firm on a rule that kept jerseys from being retired.
The key change came when the West Virginia Athletic Council revised that policy, opening the door for Whites place in school history to be honored in the most visible way possible. In a recent interview, White said he reflected on his career and expressed gratitude for the moment, a fitting response for one of the defining figures of the Mountaineers modern era, even as the final step in the process still waits out the season. [Read more 🡒]
Rich Rodriguez Just Made West Virginias QB Situation Even More Intriguing
Rich Rodriguez used the first Coaches Show of the new season to lay out where West Virginia stands after a busy roster reset, and the biggest takeaway was how much the staff is leaning on experience to steady things up front. He touched on the additions the Mountaineers brought in through high school recruiting and the transfer portal, then quickly turned to the offensive line, where continuity figures to matter a great deal as the team tries to settle into a faster rhythm.
The quarterback picture, though, is the part that will keep drawing attention. Rodriguez named Scotty Fox and Michael Hawkins as possible starters, which only adds another layer to a room that still has to define itself while the rest of the offense takes shape around it. He also gave updates on Cam Cook, Amari Latimer, DJ Epps and Jaden Bray, all while making it clear the up-tempo approach remains the plan, so the pressure to identify the right pieces and get them moving together is already building. [Read more 🡒]
Rich Rodriguez Is Bringing Back A WVU Feel Fans Will Debate
Rich Rodriguez is already putting his stamp back on the Mountaineers, and one of the first visible changes will be at the start of the game. On his radio show, Rodriguez said West Virginia will not revive the inflatable helmet entrance that became a calling card in the early 2000s. Instead, the team is headed back to a more familiar setup, entering through the tunnel with smoke and a tunnel camera feeding the big screen for fans.
It is a small detail, but in Morgantown these kinds of details matter because they help shape the feel of game day. Last years entrance from the weight room was a notable departure, and now the program is leaning back toward a look that feels more connected to its past. Whether fans embrace the change or argue for the old spectacle, Rodriguez has made clear the first impression at home will have a different flavor this time around. [Read more 🡒]