3 Guys Before The Game

Latest Episodes:

Avon Cobourne visits Tony Caridi and Brad Howe Jul 15, 2020

Show notes

Do you know who Avon Cobourne is?
Sure, the easy answer is West Virginia University’s all-time leading football rusher. However, that’s just a tiny piece of a life story that’s both improbable and inspiring.
Cobourne provides the background and details about a career that could have easily ended before it ever began. You’ll learn how he overcame homelessness, major injury, coaching changes and challenges that would have made most people quit.
It’s a motivating and enlightening story that you'll likely share with others.

John Beilein's Mountaineer Memories Jul 08, 2020

Show notes

It’s been 13 years since John Beilein last walked the sideline as West Virginia University’s basketball coach. His last game ended with the Mountaineers hoisting the NIT championship trophy at midcourt of Madison Square Garden.
In retrospect, Beilein’s last game could not have happened in a more fitting place. It was on that same chunk of hardwood that WVU became media darlings just two years earlier. The Mountaineers improbable run to the Big East 2005 title game served as a catalyst for an NCAA fantasy ride that ended heartbreakingly close to the Final Four.
It was a special time in West Virginia’s basketball history. The coach that inherited the team with the most losses in school history had transformed them into must-see status.
For the first time since his departure, John Beilein takes a deep dive into his days in Morgantown. He reveals his approach, philosophy, and provides detail into some of the most memorable games in school history.
It’s an enjoyable look inside a very special era of West Virginia’s basketball history.

Brian King with Tony Caridi and Brad Howe Jul 01, 2020

Show notes

Brian King says the five years he spent in Morgantown are the greatest years of his life.
An under-recruited defensive back from Maryland, became a foundational piece of Rich Rodriguez’s rebuild of the WVU program and even met his future wife. You can understand why King’s love for WVU and the state of West Virginia still burns strong.
However, King hesitated upon receiving the interview request to joinThree Guys Before The Game. That’s because his biggest fan, his father, passed away just over a year ago. Steve King was the reason Brian became a Mountaineer and their memories together still trigger a myriad of emotions.
Join Brian, Brad Howe and Tony Caridi for an insightful and fun conversation.

Michael Baker - The Touchdown Maker Jun 24, 2020

Show notes

Can one conversation change someone’s life?
Mike Baker says the answer is an emphatic “Yes”!
The former WVU wide receiver details how a chance conversation in a garden as a teenager sent him down a path of success both educationally and athletically.
As a member of West Virginia’s 1993 Sugar Bowl team that finished the regular season 11-0, Baker provides insight into the team’s success and explains how he went from freshman academic ineligibility to an honor student.
It’s an entertaining and revealing look into how Baker defied the odds to become an unforgettable member of Mountaineer football.

Brian Jozwiak with Tony Caridi and Brad Howe Jun 17, 2020

Show notes

He played the position that normally draws the least attention on a football field, and yet 35 years after his final game in Morgantown, Brian Jozwiak is still among the most memorable and beloved Mountaineers ever.
Yes, he was talented, ending his career as a consensus All American and the seventh pick of the 1986 NFL draft. However, Jozwiak was able to pull off the rare feat of combining tremendous on-field talent with an equal amount of Hollywood showmanship that continues to this day.
In this episode, “Joz” takes Mountaineer fans for a walk down memory lane. He details his exploits both on and off the field, while giving insight into a hip injury that suddenly ended his career after just 28 games in the NFL.
Next month Jozwiak will celebrate the 30th anniversary of his annual celebrity golf tournament that raises funds for WVU Medicine Children’s hospital.
Join the “Guys” again next week for another episode of Three Guys Before The Game.

WVU Basketball standout Darris Nichols with Tony Caridi and Brad Howe Jun 10, 2020

Show notes

Darris Nichols may be the quietest most productive player in West Virginia basketball history.
Nichols’ unflappable on-court demeanor was the catalyst for Mountaineer teams that enjoyed NCAA tournament success under John Beilein and Bob Huggins. He was the silent assassin.
On this episode, the current University of Florida assistant coach explains how a one-on-one victory against his father changed his approach to the game. Nichols details his recruitment by WVU and how patience was the key to his success.
Nichols led the Big East in assist-to-turnover ratio and was twice named a Big East Academic All-Star and recipient of the Sportsmanship Award.
It’s an entertaining and enjoyable conversation with the quiet but always friendly Mountaineer; Darris Nichols.

Jake "The Snake" Kelchner with Tony Caridi and Brad Howe Jun 03, 2020

Show notes

Nearly 20 years ago quarterback Jake Kelchner helped lead the West Virginia University football team to a perfect regular season.
The native of Berwick, Pennsylvania performed with a blue-collar mentality both on an off the field.
On this episode, Kelchner provides an insightful and colorful chronology of his career. He provides specific detail into his Notre Dame enrollment and openly admits he would have changed many of his youthful decisions.
Yes, time has passed, but Jake "The Snake" is still winning, he's just doing now in the business world.
Get ready for an entertaining and educational trip down memory lane with one of West Virginia's most memorable performers.

WVU graduate and Oregon Athletic Director Rob Mullens May 27, 2020

Show notes

He may live and work nearly three thousand miles from Morgantown, but Rob Mullens' heart will never leave West Virginia.
On the verge of becoming the longest tenured athletic director in the Pac-12 Conference, Mullens joins Brad Howe and Tony Caridi for a conversation on a number of topics.
The "Guys" discuss the challenges of COVID-19 facing the Pac-12 along with Mullens' role as chairman of the College Football Playoff selection committee.
They also track his rise from a student at WVU to overseeing one of the nation's most popular and successful athletic programs.
Join the "Guys" again next week as they visit with former WVU quarterback Jake Kelchner.

WVU's Shane Lyons with Tony Caridi and Brad Howe May 21, 2020

Show notes

College sports have been turned upside down and West Virginia University athletic director Shane Lyons is trying to navigate the path toward a new normal.
On this episode, the "Guys" ask a series of questions regarding the resumption of practice and games. What will sports look like in the future? Will fans be allowed to watch the Mountaineers?
Those are just a few of the many questions discussed by Lyons who also sits as chairman of the NCAA's Football Oversight committee.
It's an informative and insightful look into the topics that are on every sports fans mind.
The "Guys" return next week with a new episode. Enjoy the weekend.

ESPN announcer Jason Benetti with Tony Caridi, Brad Howe and Hoppy Kercheval May 18, 2020

Show notes

ESPN and Chicago White Sox announcer Jason Benetti admits he may have shrieked the first time he heard the WVU Mountaineer blast his musket inside the Coliseum.
That story is just one of many that Benetti shares in an entertaining and laugh-filled episode of Three Guys Before The Game.
The humble Benetti shares his climb in broadcasting and details how he's been able to use his diagnosis of cerebral palsy to educate and motivate others.
It's a fun and wide-ranging discussion with one of sports broadcasting's rising stars.
Join Brad and Tony on Thursday when they're joined by West Virginia athletic director Shane Lyons.

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