In an announcement that has sparked both excitement and skepticism, a group of West Virginia football starters and “key” players have declared their return to the program. While fans may be cheering, hoping for a triumphant revival of the team, the reality is likely far less glamorous. These so-called “stars” are making their return not out of a desire to push the team to new heights, but simply to avoid the harsh realities of the NFL draft, while also clinging to the comfort of a program that has been mired in mediocrity for far too long.
West Virginia has always had a knack for hyping up players and their potential, but the fact remains that the program has yet to achieve anything truly spectacular. The Mountaineers have languished in the middle of the pack, often underperforming despite having promising talent. Yet, here we are again with players touting their “comeback” as if it’s the second coming of a football dynasty. Let’s be real: no amount of returning starters is going to magically transform this team into a championship contender.
Moreover, the notion of these players as “key” figures is questionable at best. Many of them have been inconsistent in their performances, often failing to deliver when the game is on the line. The team has shown flashes of brilliance, but those moments are far too fleeting to inspire confidence. If these players truly were the backbone of a championship-caliber team, West Virginia wouldn’t be stuck in the same cycle of mediocrity year after year.
At the end of the day, the return of these players may excite the fan base temporarily, but it’s hard to see how this move benefits the program in the long term. The Mountaineers have shown no real signs of taking the next step, and unless there’s a dramatic overhaul of the coaching staff, or a shift in leadership, the team’s future is likely to remain stuck in the mud. The real question is not whether these players are coming back, but whether they are truly capable of doing anything with it. With the same old faces and the same old problems, don’t expect much to change anytime soon.
