Tom opens the first Words of Steele episode of 2026 with a quick update from north-central West Virginia and a recap of recent WVU sporting events. He also looks back at WVU football’s 4–8 finish, including the season-ending loss to Texas Tech.
He then returns to a familiar topic: how the transfer portal and NIL have reshaped college sports. Along the way, he previews the upcoming national championship game (Indiana vs. Miami on Jan. 19) and shares why he admires Indiana coach Curt Cignetti’s disciplined approach.
In basketball, Tom discusses Baylor’s addition of James Nnaji—a player with professional experience overseas—and what midseason additions can do to team chemistry. He also recaps WVU’s home win over Kansas (86–75), highlights freshman standout Darren Peterson, and closes with a pointed take on how college athletics is drifting away from the “student” part of student-athlete.
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This show has been produced by Adkins Media Co.
