West Virginia Blue
The Best Blogging Community in West Virginia Democratic politics, progressive policies, the good life and free living in Wild, Wonderful West Virginia.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- So many employees at the mines and factories throughout West Virginia asked off their shifts when the Mountaineers played their NCAA tournament regional semifinal last Thursday that Coach Bob Huggins was told by Gov. Joe Manchin (D) that play-by-play of the game was piped over speakers so people would still go to work.
"You don't understand unless you've ever been to West Virginia how much it means to the people," said Huggins, a West Virginia native.
There are no major professional sports teams. There are no major cities. In a state of more than 1.8 million residents, it does not get any bigger than the Mountaineers, who have reached their first Final Four since 1959.
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"Of all the places I coached -- and I coached at a lot of different places -- the passion that West Virginia fans have, the passion that the people of the state of West Virginia have for the Mountaineers, is unlike anything else," Hahn said.
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