There’s a great article in the West Virginia Sports.com Rivals web site about Shane Commodore, whose parents at John and Donna Commodore and who grandfather is the late Jim Commodore, Class of 1950, who played football at Monongah High.

Shane was second team All-State at Morgantown High, finishing his high school career with 122 yards and a touchdown in a 35-14 romp over crosstown rival University High before walking on at WVU five years ago. He is 6 feet tall and weighs 205 pounds. He stood out on WVU’s scout team, which helps the starters prepare for the next opponent, and was given a scholarship at the start of the 2017 season. I reported that on this Monongah High blog in August as I did the scholarship he got in the spring of 2017 as a reward for his scout team efforts.

With TCU next on WVU’s schedule – Saturday, 3:30 p.m. in Fort Worth and on Fox Sports 1 – it might be a good time to remind everyone that Shane flew down the field last season in the opening kickoff against the Horned Frogs, made the tackle, caused the fumble and recovered the ball. I was there to witness the happy event by the guy with a Monongah connection.

Like me, Shane has been watching the Mountaineers since he was 5 years old. Unlike me, that doesn’t add up to 80 years of seeing my eventual alma mater cavort on Old Mountaineer Field, in the shadows of the three Woodburn Circle buildings where WVU was born, and, since 1980, in New Mountaineer Field (with season tickets for the past 20 years).

Shane won’t join the Mountaineers making $51 million this season in the NFL, but he plans to add a master’s to the accounting degree he will get at WVU. Since I have five accountants in my family I can tell you that that is a lucrative profession.

Shane’s aunt and John Commodore’s sister, Rose Commodore Cain, also Class of 1950, lives in Fairmont. So does Joe Commodore, their brother.

Other brothers are Tom Commodari, Class of 1958, who lives in Monongah, and Don Commodore, also Class of 1958, who lives in Rock Creek, Ohio -- Ashtabula County in northeast Ohio.

They were the children of Dominca Commidari (others changed the family name to Commodore).

The Rivals article about Shane:

Commodore proves himself

Patrick Kotnik | Staff Writer

 

Commodore was put on scholarship during fall camp.

 

One of Morgantown’s own received the news that student-athletes desire.

Entering his fifth year at West Virginia, safety Shane Commodore, a Morgantown High School graduate, was awarded a scholarship along with fifth-year wide receiver Alejandro Morenco III.

Commodore first heard the news when Ryan Dorchester,West Virginia’s director of player personnel, pulled him into his office.

“It’s really special,” Commodore said. “It shows your hard work finally came to pay off.”

For Commodore, earning a scholarship has been his goal since day one, but after walking onto his hometown Mountaineers, the Morgantown native knew that he had prove he was worthy of a scholarship and remain patient.

“I didn’t expect to get one right off the bat,” Commodore said. “I knew I had to come in and prove myself.”

After redshirting his freshman year, Commodore progressed through scout team reps which would eventually lead him to earning more playing time on the field. He was named the team’s scout team champion for the Iowa State game during his redshirt freshman year, but did not see any game action during the season.

That would change during his redshirt sophomore season when he appeared in five games, but Commodore would earn his break during his redshirt junior year. Last season, he played in all 13 games and was the special team’s champion for the TCU and Iowa State games.

“Shane’s been a great Mountaineer from day one,” West Virginia defensive coordinator Tony Gibson said. “He’s been a great player for us on special teams and he’s been a role player on defense.”

Through his progress and journey, Commodore found inspiration from former West Virginia linebacker, Justin Arndt.

“I would look up to him because he started off on all them special teams and he made a difference and he got noticed,” Commodore said. “He was a good player and it showed that last year.”

This season, Commodore’s role centers around special teams duties, but he will also provide some depth at the safety position.

Knowing that he cannot play football forever, Commodore finds more value in his academics, but finds a balance between his performance on both the field and in the classroom.

“It’s difficult, but it’s doable,” Commodore said. “I don’t think I’d actually be able to play football at first if I didn’t have academic scholarships.”

An accounting major, Commodore plans on attending graduate school following graduation this fall.

As he is into his final season with the Mountaineers, now as a scholarship player, Commodore stands tall with respect and praise from his teammates and coaches for his hard work and dedication as he suits up in the blue and gold for one last season.

“He’s a guy that’s put his time in and deserves this,” Gibson said. “Shane has done everything that you ask him and I couldn’t be happier for him.”