Nobody asked me, but. ...

• I hope Marshall head coach Mark Snyder and his staff allow the offense to shine in Sunday's scrimmage.

It is much needed after the offensive debacle in Charleston a week ago. Instead of the close-to-the-vest play-calling on offense versus a wide-open, blitz-happy defense, the scenario needs to be reversed this week.

Offensive coordinator John Shannon needs to open his playbook and Sunday would be the perfect time for defensive coordinator Rick Minter to remain in his base defense.

That would allow the Herd's inexperienced offensive line to work on base blocking. It also would give quarterback Mark Cann a much-needed opportunity to work on execution.

MU's offense needs to develop both confidence and chemistry and Sunday's scrimmage is the perfect time to help it happen.

• I would like to see West Virginia University star quarterback Patrick White kickoff his Heisman Trophy campaign with a solid showing in the Gold-Blue game at 12:30 p.m. today in Mountaineer Field.

That's right, Heisman campaign.

Thanks to new WVU head coach Bill Stewart's lack of ego, the Mountaineers actually will promote White for the Heisman Trophy this season.

That should have been the case last year with White and running back Steve Slaton, but former coach Rich Rodriguez refused to permit the Heisman hype.

Although his pretense was being "team-oriented," everyone knows it was simply a matter of the ego-maniacal Rodriguez not wanting to share the spotlight.

That is no problem for the down-to-earth Stewart.

"Patrick needs to be on the cover of our media guide," said Stewart, who was displayed on the cover of WVU's spring media guide. "He needs to be our focal point."

Amen,Brother Billy.

• I have learned a little more about Marshall's purchase of the XOS Technologies computer system. And it should put Herd fans' minds at ease.

The collective first reaction was the money devoted to the cutting edge technology should have gone to funding a much-needed indoor practice facility.

The fact is, however, there was money in Marshall's budget ear-marked strictly for video improvement. It was a use-it-or-lose-it situation, so MU used it.

And rightfully so.

As for the controversial indoor practice facility issue, Snyder lobbied Gov. Joe Manchin for some financial help during his visit to spring football practice last week.

Manchin promised he would provide some funding, but I still hear that the bulk of the project will have to come from private donations.

• My contention that Rich Rodriguez puts the "un" in unethical was proven again this week. Just when everyone thought the Coach Rod versus WVU soap opera couldn't resemble a septic tank more, it over-flowed again.

This time it was Rodriguez offering Larry Aschebrook a job at Michigan, if the former Mountaineer Athletic Club executive director would take the fall for former WVU assistant Calvin Magee's allegations of racism.

Never mind that Aschebrook swore in a deposition that he wasn't the person who made the alleged remark. It obviously was a ploy to discredit the WVU athletic department.

And what does this latest twist in the soap opera accomplish? All it does is sully WVU's national image even more and reveal Rodriguez' Machiavellian intentions.

It's a lose-lose situation.

Chuck Landon is a sports columnist for The Herald-Dispatch. Call him at 526-2827. E-mail him at clandon@herald-dispatch.com.

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