WVU vs. Colorado: Thoughts And Feelings
by 5th Year Senior on Oct 2, 2009 3:08 PM EDT
in Mountaineer Football
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There were times where I could not watch the game last night. I was frustrated beyond belief by so many things at once, I had to just sit down and put my head in my hands while everyone was standing. I even poked myself in the eye a couple times because I could not believe what I was seeing.
We were world beaters the entire game. We would start to beat ourselves and then we would beat down Colorado. In the end I go back to old faithful, "You play to win the game!"
That being said, my thoughts and rants are after the jump...
#1 Noel Devine
We're not worthy!! We're not worthy!! We're not worthy!! I hope Mullen got the picture that Noel needs to touch the ball early and often. He showed the nation again, that he is a playmaker and deserves a lot more attention than he is getting.
#2 "The Cheer Chant" - EPIC FAIL
The "instructional video" before the game by the Mountainette was much better than the old dude swinging his arm like a monkey. The bad thing though, is that the stadium was still only half full when the video came on. That led to most people not having any clue about the cheer.
I was excited about this "new/old" cheer because it had the potential for being pretty dang sweet. However, I was so pumped after the opening kick-off, I completely forgot about it and just started screaming like I normally do. I hope they try it again but this chant is better suited for The Coliseum during basketball season.
#3 HOLD ONTO THE DAMN FOOTBALL
I hope HCBS goes all "The Program" on these players asses this week. Not the laying down in the road part but our skill guys should be forced to carry the football everywhere they go. If someone makes them fumble the player should do 20 push-ups on the spot. That would teach them a thing or two about ball security.
#4 Turnovers
It is not longer a blip on the screen. it is an epidemic. This team now has to prove that they are capable of NOT turning the ball over. It is a head shaker but what can you do to teach guys that have been playing football their whole lives the importance of ball security.
#5 ESPN
I was obviously at the game, so I no clue how bad it was, but everyone I have talked to said ESPN was ripping us a new asshole the entire. They ripped our students, our players for being in good spirits, our coach for his faces, our fans because of the cheer, our facilities and just our program in general. Any information is much needed.
To me, ESPN is becoming the Walmart of sports coverage. You want to avoid supporting them but it is almost impossible because it is the only thing left. I feel an ESPN bashing post coming next week when I am working on more than 2 hours sleep.
#6 Our fans
I understand being critical when criticism is due but think before you speak. It was actually hard for me to enjoy the game at times last night because the fans around me were making patently absurd comments that showed their absolute lack of football knowledge.
Examples:
On Noel's second run where he lost yards. "Bench his ass, run forward."
After JB's fumble. "Put Gino Smith in you idiot. Screw this season, let's build for the future."
After a counter was stopped for no gain. "Run the Devine play again." After that play is stuffed completely seriously. "That play never works, THROW THE BALL" I turned around and stared at the dude.
All the people behind me did was make fun of HCBS and Wes Lyons the entire game. Not one positive statement like "Great run by Noel, or hell of a pass break-up by Reed." They screamed don't be a hick Stew you moron or throw it to Wes he is the green giant, hahahaha. Funny the first time the 72 time was a little too much.
#7 Cornerbacks
left blank because they did nothing last night
#8 Scary good
If our team ever gets out of their way, watch out. We could KILL people. Will it ever happen? I don't know but I sure damn hope so.
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#3
I was saying that last night in the stands….as I’m sure a lot of other people were and still are today.
ESPN thing is over blown
The made fun of the students, but they deserved it. 3rd quarter of a close game on Thursday night w/ no classes the next day and the student section is 3/4ths full.
ESPN commented that the players weren’t down, but were actually joking around after the turnovers. It wasn’t making fun of, just EA’s observations from the sideline. You can take that two ways- poor discipline and a lack of leadership by the seniors, or a good job by the leaders of not letting things snowball and get worse. I’m not sure which and I’m not sure anybody does. There is no question at any point that our team was afraid of losing the game. We are scary good and we know it. Because we know it we’re going to get over confident in one of these games and lose when we shouldn’t. I believe we are a poor man’s USC this year (no we’re not in USC’s league), but we’ve got more talent than any other team we face and we know it. We’re not going to play up to that talent because we don’t have to. So far we’ve been unable to play up to that talent when we’ve needed to (Auburn 2nd half).
IT MAY BE BUT...
I watched the game from home as well and while it wasn’t that bad it could be labeled very condescending. I was very disappointed in what I saw from ESPN. There was a constant laughing at our team and the coaching tactics. They would, not every time, focus on the most hillbilly looking fan and laugh. Once they showed a man who had to be pushing 400lbs and commented that “he wasn’t going anywhere…haha, until the game is over.” Inappropriate is all I can say. They would never do this at Florida, Michigan or even Alabama. It’s just uncalled for and I’m disgusted. Erin seemed to enjoy speaking to Coach Stew because even though he might not be the greatest head coach he is a nice, respectable gentleman, yet every chance ESPN got it was again a comment with a hidden jab against him.
As someone who doesn’t live in WV anymore, it pisses me off to no end that the national media, including ESPN like to make fun of WV. The funniest part is that old Lou Holtz is from WV and all he does is dog us. I think we should never broadcast a game of ours again with them. They suck. They’re probably all closet fags anyway.
God Bless America
WVUD
off topic
…but did you hit the publish button instead of the preview button at one point? (happened to me Wed night)
classes
Classes were not cancelled on Friday. Yes, a few teachers made the decision to cancel class, but the majority of them still held class at the scheduled time. I know a few students left the game early, but you have to keep in mind that this is WVU. There will always be those students that care more about getting wasted than watching the football game. With that said, I have been pretty impressed with the student section so far this year (with the exception of the Liberty game). For the most part, it has been very loud. My only complaint is that some students always feel the need to chant “Eat s*** Pitt!!” or boo a player or coach everytime something doesn’t go quite as planned. They should be more concerned with the game being played on the field and be more supportive of our student-athletes and coaches.
It also makes me mad...
when I see students more concerned about starting the wave, throwing paper airplanes and chanting asshole than watching the game. Paper airpanes could cost us a 15 yard penalty. I noticed make it on the field and my dad pointed out another hit a Buffs player in the back of the head on the bench. The student section has dropped off considerably in only a couple years.
The students were pretty pathetic last night. My sources inside the section said more people were throwing up than cheering. I noticed the “Let’s GOOO” was not as loud as usual.
by 5th Year Senior on Oct 2, 2009 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions
...
i’ve been a student for several years now and a mountie fan since i can remember. i couldn’t agree with you more about the wave, the chants and the airplanes. i want to go back to the posts a while ago, about how real people deserve to have tickets more than students. there wasn’t a seat to be had in the upper level student section after halftime, and there wasn’t more than a quarter of the seats in the wv endzone filled the whole game. now im not saying that will be true when it gets chilly out, but i disagree with you and i think this year has been better than the last few years. anyway i gotta throw my thoughts out there cause im drunk. i love this blog and your posts 5th year. thank you and keep up the great work
Fumbles
HCBS should get the treadmill from Huggins to help teach about ball security
ESPN thing not over blown
The only football commentator I can stomach is Craig James, to me, he is a “regular joe” and has always rooted for WVU or commented favorably about the program even when Corso, Herbstreet(SP?), Mayes, even Holtz (I respect his knowledge, but the Dr. Lou thing is condescending) were bad-mouthing us. I would love to see another sports network to compete with them.
"LIFE'S A BITCH, THEN YOU TRAVEL TO MORGANTOWN" - The Devil
Disagree
and think we tend to have very thin skin. What were some of the quotes that were so called bad mouthing us? I didn’t see or hear anything that was over the top or untrue.
I remember one instance
HCBS was just looking at the field in a normal look and one of the commentators chimed in and said “huh?” as if making fun of his expression from last year. Yes, last year, the comment could have been made…this year not so much. Time to move on from last year. I think HCBS has greatly improved over last year’s sideline demeanor. I’m definitely loving his in your face coaching which seemed to get its start last year in the bowl. And I swear, at one point, I saw him cuss.
#8 Right ON!!!
We are scary good at times. If we ever put it all together, wow.
Is it me, or does it look like every time J Brown breaks into the open on a run he is carrying the ball like a loaf of bread? He is like a fumble looking for a place to happen.
A Thought
Do you think our tendency to score fast may end up being a bit of a burden to our defense? Our defense is a kind of bend but don’t break bunch, so I wonder if our quick strike offense wears them out a bit. I’m in no way suggesting that we change it up- I love the quick strike approach, I just wonder if it creates some situations in which the defense gets a little tired, especially when it is thin with injuries.
I wonder if that was part of the reason we put together the all run play drive toward the end of the game.
Good Post
I agree with you on all of the above. The end of the msnsportsnet game story said it all: "Despite scoring more than 30 points in each game this season, the West Virginia offense is still not firing on all eight cylinders. And when that happens?
"I’d say we can average like a 1,000 yards total offense per game, easily," Devine laughed.
No doubt. Just stop turning the ball over! The ESPN guys were pricks. And I though Stew looked pretty snazzy in that vest…
I thought the vest was sharp.
As long as he doesn’t completely steal the jim Tressel look. I like the coach looking snazzier than other coaches on the sidelines. Its old school
BASICS
I wonder if he had a history of dropping the ball in high school, or he probably just outclassed the competition in high school. I can remember my pop Warner coach beating into my head holding on to the ball. And that continued through high school. I guess even though he’s a 5YS at the University, he’s still kinda a freshman on the field.
"LIFE'S A BITCH, THEN YOU TRAVEL TO MORGANTOWN" - The Devil
The Jeff Mullen Era
In Jeff Mullen’s 15 games against D-IA schools as our offensive coordinator, WVU has not broken 35 points. In the previous 15 games against D-IA schools, WVU scored more than 35 points on 10 occasions.
How is the Pitt score relevant to that statistic?
Since we put up 48 on Villanova, WVU has gone 16 straight games without breaking 35 points. That’s the longest streak since Frank Cigneti did it 25 straight times in 77-79. Obviously, our offense is much better than that statistic would indicate. We are quite good, in fact. But that statistic illustrates the problems we have had putting together a complete football game without shooting ourselves in the foot – So i’m hereby specifically reiterating numbers 1, 3, 4, and 8 of 5YS post.
Understood...
But this is 2009, not 2007. Mullen is the OC. Mullen also does not 1.) Throw the football, 2.) Carry the football, 3.) Catch the football, 4.) Field punts or kicks.
Last I checked the man responsible for the arbitrary 35 point threshold was busy losing to Michigan State. Don’t forget that the men in charge of the current regime were also a plus 12 in turnover margin last year. In other words, shit happens.
Another point
I don’t care if we score 2 points a game just so we get the W. HCBS is 13-5. What was Fraud’s record over the same period, 5-10?
Why is everyone so concerned about winning pretty and scoring a million points? Put down your X-Box or “Spacestation” controller and come back to reality. You are not going to score on every play, you can’t hit the reset button every time you lose and you are not able to build your own recruit.
by 5th Year Senior on Oct 5, 2009 8:37 AM EDT up reply actions
But we’ve been getting w’s at a far lesser rate over those 16 games. And comparing rochrods first 15 with Stewarts is completely ridiculous in itself and has nothing to with us not scoring more than 35.
And you people need to let go of the Pitt game. It sucked but it was an anomly and it’s on the past. We’ve lost 5 games since then.
by The 25314 on Oct 5, 2009 1:26 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Blah blah blah
Why can’t we compare Fraud’s first two seasons with HCBS? Because you said so? That argument is bullshit.
If you can compare a second year head coach to Fraud’s last few years I sure as hell can compare HCBS first two years to Frauds first two years. In both we are installing a new offense that requires a different type of athlete.
Sure, we have better athletes now but they are still not the best to fit this system.
You play to win the games. Get off the X-Box and plug into reality. We are 3-1 and can improve.
by 5th Year Senior on Oct 5, 2009 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions
It’s about reaching your potential. Like you said, we can improve. We haven’t reached our potential one time in the last 1.5 years. We haven’t scored more than 35. And even you will admit that we’re a team that can and should score more than 35 every 16 games. As long as we play below our potential people will be less than thrilled. Making a team the best it can be is the coach’s job. That’s why a 9-4 season in 2002 was far more satisfying than a 9-4 season in 2008.
relevance....
That pitt score is a greatly reflects relevance…who cares how much you score? winning is all that matters!!!! the blowout of uconn the prior week is absolutely meaningless…shoulda saved those TDs for the following week.
relevance...
That pitt score is a greatly reflects relevance…who cares how much you score? winning is all that matters!!!! the blowout of uconn the prior week is absolutely meaningless…shoulda saved those TDs for the following week.
A better Comparison
All the points we scored in 06 &07 are due to Pat White and Steve Slaton. Period.
If you want a good comparison between Rod and Stew, then use 03, 04, and 05. In those years Rod had his system and his players, but had not stumbled upon White and Slaton(I know they were there in 05, but it was mid-season or later before they hit their stride). in those years we were good and we scored over 35 16 times out of 33. Or in other words, half the time. Now, in Stew’s 2nd year, in which he has his system and mostly his players (offensively anyway), we’ve scored 35 twice out of four.
Seems even to me
I still don't get...
What is so magical about 35 points? What about 28, or 24, or 31. I think the basic idea is to score one more point than whoever you’re playing…right? I mean, I’m no genius like Rich Rodriguez, but I’m pretty sure if you could manage to score one more point than your opponent 10-12 times a year then you’d be doing pretty well. Bottom line is we’re 3-1 with the only loss coming against a top 20 team on the road, in the rain, on a Saturday night.
I guess if you’re that disappointed you could always change your name to the 48103.
I don’t know why you’re fired up at me. I didn’t even give the stat. But we haven’t been scoring more points than our opponent in the amount of games that we should. You point to 13-9, but you fail to mentnion the 5 losses since then.
Also I never mentioned RIch Rodriguez or anything about it. That would be you, my apparently jilted lover friend. But apparently in you view anyone that isn’t satisfied with Bill Stewart is a Rich Rodriguez lover? Anyone that critizes WVU should move to Ann Arbor? Normally I cite statistics to back myself up, and I don’t know that I’ve ever name called, but in this case, I’m just going to go ahead and say, you’re an idiot. I know more about football and WVU football than you and when our opinions differ, I am correct..
:-)
Now, now. You seemed to side with Simple Jack who seemed to be making a direct comparison to RR with his 35 point stat. Hence, the reference to Fraud and the 48103. Not sure how you inferred that to mean I was “fired up” at you. Merely making a comment on your zip code. But if you want to call me an idiot, fine, I think that was pretty much my standard comeback in the 3rd or 4th grade or so. I have no problems laying ciriticism where it is due, but some folks just seem to bitch just for the sake of bitching. So bitch on my friend, bitch on.
Toys R Us
At least it did a few months ago. I have been banned for life from entering those stores again.
by 5th Year Senior on Oct 6, 2009 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions
I hear ya. Society is so stupid. I “can’t be within 100 yards of a school,” or “buy pseudofed.”. This is not my America anymore.
by The 25314 on Oct 6, 2009 1:17 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Child please
DIdn’t mean to cause a kerfuffle. I really wasn’t trying to compare Uncle BIll and Richy Rod. I was just quoting a statistic. That’s not an opinion. It’s a fact. The opinion part is that it’s frustrating that we have a dynamic offense but can’t seem to quite put it together for four quarters at a time. I don’t think that is very controversial. I’m not rooting for Mullen to fail.
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