The ESPN2 crew was in the Queen City. There were the parachutes beforehand. Fireworks.

Late in the game, though, the clip played at Nippert Stadium. And it has to explain how WVU's team and fans feel today.

It was a clip of Otis Day and The Knights in "Animal House."

Singing "you know you make me want to shout.''

At the Mountaineer coaches. At the game's officials.

And not in glee.

"Throw my hands up and shout.'' In exasperation.

As was reported here on Friday, many of the nation's media heavy hitters were in the press box for the game. Rose Bowl reps were there. (Why, I have no idea.)

More importantly, though, No. 7 was there for West Virginia. In addition to tailback Noel Devine, nose tackle Chris Neild was there. And Scooter Berry. And Sidney Glover. All of those banged up for the Mountaineers showed.

They played hard.

They just needed a little help in the 24-21 loss.

And didn't get it.

It was a shame for the visitors.

Down the stretch, WVU's coaches seemed to find a little something. That power football deal worked for Connecticut and, hey, it seemed to work for the Mountaineers. Fullback Ryan Clarke, who finished with 60 yards, was making a name for himself. Quarterback Jarrett Brown was either running for his life, picking up first downs or completing passes. He finished hitting 17-of-25 for 188 yards, no interceptions, one throwing TD and one running.

But, with over five minutes left, on a third-and-9, WVU offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen called for tiny Jock Sanders to rush into the middle of the line at the UC 25.

If that wasn't bizarre enough, Mullen and/or Stewart then passed on a 41-yard field goal attempt that would have cut the Bearcats' lead to 21-17. When the fourth-down pass failed, 5:23 remained in the game, plenty of time to make a defensive stop and put together an offensive attack.

Moments later, after the back-to-back bizarre calls, UC's Isaiah Pead burst free for a 43-yard gain down the left side. Game over.

WVU also played a fine first half.

Of course, as expected, the Mountaineers played it close to the vest early, running on its first three-and-out. Then, slowly, Stewart, Mullen and company opened it up a bit. They allowed Brown (another hobbled player, by the way) to throw. He received some protection. Before one knew it, Brown was 5-of-5 passing for 49 yards and had tied Cincy 7-7 at Nippert. (Hey!)

Perhaps only two things hindered WVU from hitting the halftime locker room with a lead. First, the Big East officials inexplicably reversed a play that went from a Mountaineer fumble recovery to a UC Pead touchdown. It was odd enough the officials thought to check it out. It was odder yet that a reversal was announced, much to the delight of the sold-out crowd.

There was no way the booth official could tell whether Pead had kept or lost control of the ball when it crossed the goal line. None. The official simply should have deferred to the call on the field.

Instead, he made the call that had to raise eyebrows across the country. (We've seen it time and time again this season across the country. Conference officials, it seems, are protecting their league's higher-ranked teams. The shot at a national championship berth appears to be coming into play.)

The reversal was a reversal of game momentum. In a big way.

Later, the game officials ignored a blatant pass interference call that would have gone the way of WVU's Alric Arnett.

Of course, WVU was also hurt by its special teams play. Or, rather, special teams coaching. Again. (Yes, Stewart is the special teams coach.)

On one kickoff, after Brown had slashed through the UC defense for an impressive 8-yard touchdown, the Mountaineers were called for having only three players on the left side of the kicker. They were whistled for being offside. They were whistled for an illegal kickoff formation. All on the same kickoff!

Cincinnati took over at its 49.

Then, after perhaps West Virginia's best offensive play of the season, the Mountaineers gave up another big kickoff return to their 42. That came after fullback Clarke followed fullback Ricky Kovatch into the end zone to give WVU a 14-7 lead.

Off the field, the Mountaineers received all kinds of help. There's been a buzz around UC coach Brian Kelly all week linking him to the Notre Dame job. Kelly didn't have his change-up to Pead, Jacob Ramsey, available because of injury.

All the WVU players seemed to need was a little help.

Their backs were against the proverbial wall - and they played like it.

Now, barring a miracle, their backs are pinned to the mat.

Wanting to shout.