Legendary voice of the Mountaineers and veteran broadcaster Tony Caridi took center stage Friday evening as the keynote speaker for the annual “Inside the Huddle” event in Vienna, West Virginia.
Hosted by the Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg, the gathering at Buzzie Dils Park drew a crowd eager to hear Caridi’s inside scoop on West Virginia University (WVU) athletics and the rapidly changing world of college sports.
Attendees were treated to beer on tap and savory BBQ from North End Tavern Catering, setting a casual yet enthusiastic atmosphere for the evening. The event began at 5:30 p.m. and served as both a fundraiser and a chance for sports fans to connect over shared pride in WVU’s teams.
Caridi opened his remarks by applauding the Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg for their ongoing efforts to support the community. “Every dollar raised at this event goes back into local programs,” he said. “This organization is doing great work, and I’m honored to be here again.”
This year’s event took place earlier than usual, a shift Caridi said was necessary due to the whirlwind of change at WVU and within college sports more broadly. “We are in a historic moment,” he explained. “College athletics is undergoing a transformation unlike anything we’ve seen before.”
Caridi addressed the impending shift to a pay-for-play model, beginning July 1, which marks the official start of revenue sharing in college athletics. This change comes in the wake of lawsuits like O’Bannon v. NCAA, which successfully challenged how athletes are compensated for the use of their name, image, and likeness (NIL).
“Starting July 1, college sports as we know it changes,” Caridi said. “WVU and other schools will move from amateur status into a new era of professional-level compensation.”
According to Caridi, roughly 75-80% of WVU’s $20.4 million in new athlete revenue will go to football players. Basketball programs will receive 8-10%, while the remainder will support other sports.
He highlighted the dramatic financial shift by noting that a starting quarterback in the Big 12 Conference will earn four times the salary of former WVU football coach Don Nehlen in his final year—over $1 million annually.
In addition to revenue sharing, athletes can now benefit from endorsements and booster funding. Caridi hinted that West Virginia fans may soon see stadiums and sports facilities named for sponsors, signaling a more professional tone to university athletics.
On the field, Caridi was cautiously optimistic. He predicted 75-80 new players would be added to the football roster, but with so many unknowns, he admitted, “We’ll just have to wait and see how it comes together.” He also commented on former coach Rich Rodriguez’s surprising return, adding to the unpredictability of the upcoming season.
For basketball, Caridi discussed Darian DeVries’ departure to Indiana, noting it was an unexpected move. He celebrated recent successes in women’s basketball, especially JJ Quinerly’s selection in the WNBA draft, earning a round of applause from the audience. On the baseball front, he praised the smooth coaching transition from Randy Mazey to Steve Sabins and called it an “unbelievable year.”
Caridi concluded with a message that transcended sports. “What makes West Virginia unique is that the whole state rallies around the Mountaineers,” he said. “But tonight isn’t just about athletics — it’s about giving back. You’re changing lives through your support.”
Caridi has partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Parkersburg for nearly a decade and continues to be an advocate for the organization’s mission to uplift the local youth. With insight, heart, and humor, Caridi gave fans a night to remember and a hopeful glimpse at the future of WVU athletics.
