Neither has played a game. One will even be led by a man who has never been a head coach.
But that hasn't stopped the summertime prognosticators from predicting that both the football team as well as the men's basketball team at West Virginia University will be playing in their respective postseasons.
Both teams suffered significant losses following the 2010-11 season which begs the question, "Are these expectations based on the overall strength of the programs or the coaches who lead them?"
Depending on which magazine - or Internet website - you read, the Mountaineer football team is one of the favorites-a solid one in many cases-to capture the Big East title this season and capture the conference's automatic bid into the Bowl Championship Series. One prediction has the old gold and blue taking on Oklahoma State in the Fiesta Bowl.
That matchup that would pit new WVU head coach Dana Holgorsen against the team he spent the last two seasons as offensive coordinator.
A realistic prediction?
Some would argue that a WVU squad minus its leading rusher (Noel Devine), its leading receiver (Jock Sanders) and seven of 11 starters on defense would be a long shot to bring home the Big East crown.
But that is where the reputation that Holgorsen brings with him to Morgantown and the one defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel has earned during his tenure with the old gold and blue come into play.
There is no arguing that WVU's 33rd head coach has turned around the offenses at the schools where he has coached and the Mountaineers do bring back one of the top quarterbacks in the country in Geno Smith.
Then there is the resume Casteel has built up since taking over as the team's sole defensive coordinator in 2003.
Speaking of resumes, how about the one developed by men's basketball coach Bob Huggins since his return to his alma mater?
The postseason has become an expected place to see the Mountaineers since the former Mountaineer star replaced John Beilein.
All one has to do is point to last season to understand why Huggins' coaching ability is respected so highly by so many in the national media.
The loss of three starters off of a team that reached the Final Four as well as a series of injuries, suspensions, and unexpected departures found the Mountaineers' bench composed of more assistant coaches than players.
Still, Huggins and his staff found a way to win games in a Big East Conference that included eventual national champion Connecticut as well as nine other programs that would be included in March Madness.
WVU even won its opening-round game and came very, very close to upsetting Kentucky to reach the Sweet 16.
So, it was with little surprise to me when I viewed that ESPN Bracketology expert Joe Lunardi had installed the Mountaineers as a No. 8 seed in next year's South Region.
Will these early prognostications prove to be true? Only time will tell.
