Governor Wants Apology From Virginia for Halftime Show

West Virginia Gov. Bob Wise wants an apology from the University of Virginia after a halftime show by the school’s pep band in the Continental Tire Bowl lampooned West Virginia’s rural image.

“This type of performance merely perpetuates the unfounded stereotypes that we in West Virginia are fighting so hard to overcome,” Wise said Monday in a letter to Virginia President John T. Casteen. “The incident on Saturday was conduct unbecoming of the University of Virginia.”

During the Cavalier-Mountaineer matchup at Charlotte, N.C., Virginia’s independent pep band staged a parody of “The Bachelor,” with a male Virginia student choosing between two female contestants.

One female, purported to be from West Virginia, had blue overalls, pigtails, a talent for square dancing and a dream to move to Beverly Hills -- a reference to “The Beverly Hillbillies.”

*

Baylor offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin will be Michigan State’s new offensive coordinator. The former San Jose State and Cal State Northridge head coach spent the 2001 season as the Cincinnati Bearcats’ offensive coordinator.

*

West Virginia co-defensive coordinator Todd Graham will become Tulsa’s assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. Graham starts work at Tulsa next week.

*

Rich Brooks is returning to football, introduced as Kentucky’s new head coach after two years away from the game.

Brooks, who previously coached Oregon and the St. Louis Rams, has been out of football since January 2001.

“I’m kind of a nuts-and-bolts football coach,” Brooks said. “I believe in blocking and tackling and throwing and catching. Those things don’t change.”

*

Wisconsin player Brett Bell pleaded innocent to misdemeanor charges that he attacked a man near campus. Bell was charged with disorderly conduct, battery and bail jumping. Coach Barry Alvarez suspended Bell the next day, and Bell missed the Badgers’ 31-28 win over Colorado in the Alamo Bowl on Saturday.