Bill Stewart: "They Remember November"
by 5th Year Senior on Dec 3, 2009 11:35 AM EST
in Mountaineer Football
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PrintAt the beginning of the month, HCBS told us that, "They Remember November." Now "they" includes a lot of people, so I am sure everyone has differing opinions and memories from an unseasonably warm November.
Personally, I remember a few too many bad decisions and having to serve up my special Plan B Colada a couple of times (Tiger knows what I'm talking about). My old specialty was a judo chop to the stomach, but it is more obvious and less effective -- just ask Tyler, my 18 month old.
Anyways, because none of you care about my personal life, I will return my focus to Mountaineer football. While I predicted a 3-0 November, going 2-1 is not bad at all.
My specific memories from the month that was come after the jump...
The lackluster performance against Louisville.
We got the W but many felt this game was a sure sign of bad things to come in our next two games against Top 10 opponents. Stew's approval went into the tank even more and fans were pretty upset. Looking back, however, I think we can all agree that getting another W built some great momentum for our end of the season push.
The blown replay call.
We have pissed and moaned about it for a few weeks now but it does not hurt any less. That was a devastating replay reversal that cost WVU a trip to a BCS game and robbed our athletic department of millions of dollars. We played a fairly solid game but in the end could not beat the No. 5 Bearcats. I will be rooting for Cincy against Pitt.
Bill Stewart's press conference controversy.
I think it was much ado about nothing but many fans and media members were very pissed off after it went down. Our coverage of this event, lead to Tony Caridi making an appearance on The Smoking Musket, to explain his and Bill Stewart's press conference interaction. In the end nothing came of it, other than giving Stew's detractors more ammunition to hate him.
The Noel Devine run against Pitt.
It was an innocent trap play and then Noel Devine appeared out of nowhere from behind WVU's line. When I saw the size of the hole and only one Pitt defender directly in front of him, I knew he was going to house it. The Pitt defender was picking up his jock as Devine out ran the other members of Pitt's secondary for the score. Is Noel Devine the most explosive back in WVU history?
The Tyler Bitancurt kick.
It is my most vivid memory because it is the most recent. The entire play occurred as if it were in slow motion. The snap was good, the ball boomed off Bitancurt's foot and soared through the air as everyone held their breathe. Once the fans behind the goal posts reacted, the rest of the crowd went crazy. I was jumping around and my dad started to shake me harder than he did when I was a baby. It was awesome!
All in all, I would grade WVU's performance in the month of November a solid B+.
What are your opinions and memories about November?
Editor's Note: 5th Year Senior does not have a kid, as that would be the first sign of a coming apocalypse.
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Personally didn't think the press conference was that big of a deal
We beat a Top 10 Pitt team. Went toe-to-toe with Top 5 Cincinnati in their house. This team shows up when it has to.
A-
Minus for horrible play calling in the beginning of the Pitt game and ugly Louisville win. This deserves deserves to be in the A category for the month of November.
My grade's a little lower
I’d give the month a B, not B+.
I just can’t get over how bad the whole team looked in the Louisville game. C
At Cincinatti we was robbed, but still could have won with a little better O-line play in the third and fourth quarters. Too many drives ended in punts because JB was running for his life, and Stewart should have kicked the field goal with 4th and 8 at the Cin 24. B
Beating Pitt was as sweet as anything I’ve seen this year. A
REMEMBER NOVEMBER...... but don't forget SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER
GRADE FOR THE MONTH = B TEAM OVERALL
=A- QB & RBs
=C- OL
=B LBs
=B DL
=B CBs
=B Ss (EXCEPT SANDS = A)
=A- SPECIAL T (EXCEPT KO = C-)
=B- RECEIVERS
=B+ PLAY CALLING (the PROBLEM is EXECUTION)
=A COACHING (unsure re: OL coach, but will wait & see
=A- for IMPROVEMENT
=A for EFFORT
THAT’S HOW IT LOOKS FROM HERE ! STILL HAVEN’T SEEN THAT GATOR IS A “LOCK”!
If we go by wins and losses, we finished at 67% which is either a D or F. If we go by the eyeball test we looked solid, not great, against cincy and Pitt and terrible against Louisville. So let’s call that about 70%. Which is a C or D. So I’ll be generous, round up, and give us a C.
by The 25314 on Dec 3, 2009 1:20 PM EST via mobile reply actions
When we beat Rutgers...
What will your grade be for the last four games of the season?
Leave no doubt tonight! Leave no doubt tonight! No doubt! They shouldn't of played the Old Gold'n Blue.
by 5th Year Senior on Dec 3, 2009 2:34 PM EST up reply actions
IF we beat Rutgers, it would probably be a B, provided we play decently. Not saying we shouldn’t win, and if we do lose for the first time in 15 years, I’ll lose it. But the game is not a gimme for the 67th ranked scoring offense in D-1.
by The 25314 on Dec 3, 2009 3:13 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
That is fair. I was just wondering.
Leave no doubt tonight! Leave no doubt tonight! No doubt! They shouldn't of played the Old Gold'n Blue.
by 5th Year Senior on Dec 3, 2009 3:26 PM EST up reply actions
I agree
If we beat Rutgers, I give the last 4 games of the season a B. This would be a B grade in spite of coaching, certainly not because of it.
I am really surprised to see many on this blog talking about a bowl game despite playing a nice Rutgers team this coming weekend. Seems to me that many are “looking ahead” to playing a .500 FSU team. Remember, the Rutgers game is a better game than the bowl….it just is.
Weren't you saying earlier in the season how the entire BE is terrible?
And now you’re giving RU credit for being a “nice” team and saying we shouldn’t overlook them (despite your previous assertions that WVU is far more talented than everyone else in the conference)?
by Country Roads on Dec 3, 2009 8:59 PM EST up reply actions
Devine
I saw a stat somewhere (wish I could find it now, maybe somebody could help me out?) regarding the number of long (like 60+ yard or something, maybe 80+) runs in WVU history. There haven’t been that many, maybe 10-15. Devine has like 7, 4 this season. Nobody else has more than 2. I always thought that Slaton had more breakaway speed, while Devine was shiftier (probably due to Devine being run down at Maryland his freshman year and at Louisville last year). But based on that, I’d have to say it’s Devine.
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