WVU vs. FSU: Grades And Recap

by 5th Year Senior on Jan 4, 2010 1:45 PM EST in Mountaineer Football Comment 61 comments

What the hell did we do to 2009 to deserve this start to 2010?

I am still recovering from WVU’s New Year’s Day suckfest. It sucked more than an Alpha Phi after a date party, minus the herpes.

Not only was I forced to watch the game in Shittsburgh because of a friend's wedding but I also had to hear and smell a homeless person talk shit about West Virginia. Friday, was the closest I have ever come, to killing a bum on purpose. That marks eleven trips to Pittsburgh for WVU sporting events and zero positive experiences.

For the most part, we sucked. There were, however, some bright spots, despite some fans continued extreme negativity. Grades after the jump...

Noel Devine: A I only gave him an A because he should have walked up to the box and Pac-Man’d Jeff Mullen in the third quarter. Devine was running hard and absolutely could not be stopped in the first half. Then he was only given the ball five times in the second half. Was he being stopped in the second half? No, he averaged 8.2 yards a carry in the 3rd quarter. Devine did not touch the ball in the 4th quarter.

Offensive Line/Offense: D Noel Devine and Ryan Clarke are the only two players that decided to show up on Friday. Receivers dropping balls, Devine made a lot of his yards on his own and the line gets a zero for pass blocking. I am not sure if it is coaching or if our linemen are just terrible. Judging from the fact that NFL scouts and Big East coaches think Capers is good I think it is coaching. Dave Johnson needs to be thanked for his service and then let go.

Tackling: F Was it the break or did all the slobber from the Bobby Bowden lovefest get on FSU’s jersey’s? Either way we did not tackle. To me, our lack of tackling was the most disappointing part of the game. We had defenders in the right positions but they could not make the play. Very frustrating.

Robert Sands: A+ He is a freaking beast and will be an All-American next year.

Special Teams: C Stew needs to either give up responsibilities for this unit or make Casteel give up some of his guys for kick coverage. We need speed and a bunch of scrubs don’t have it.

Coaching: D The only reason they get this grade is because Beatty has helped coach up Noel Devine and he has to get some credit in a horrible performance by this team.

Season: C Disappointing but we have a good to great group of talent returning next year. Stew’s seat is getting hotter because we did not improve from year 1 to year 2. Should he be fired, no. Should he make some coaching changes, yes.

Pastilong Returning: F Gov. Joe Manchin, keep your opinion to yourself and worry about running the state and not the athletic department. Shut it, please. More on this later in the week.

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we all know that Mr. Manchin can't keep his opinion to himself

he is the reason we are playing Marshall instead of VT or Penn St. or any other rival who is actually good

Players who should be in the Hall of Fame: DIck Lebeau, Pat TIllman, Dwight White, Donnie Shell, L.C. Greenwood, Ray Guy, Steve Tasker, Greg Llyod, Andy Russel, Chris Carter, Kevin Greene and Jerry Kramer
"If you give Arians a fullback, he won’t use one. Instead, he insists on using Matt Spaeth, who probably doesn’t cast a shadow because it would require blocking sunlight." Cliff harris is still a punk with some very true words

by WVPiratesfan on Jan 4, 2010 1:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

"...it sucked more than an Alpha Phi after a date party, minus the Herpes."

Hilarious. Good movie title, too.

Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.

by JP Fanshawe on Jan 4, 2010 2:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I Skew Higher On The Season...

….all the way up to B-. We beat Pitt, so this 9-4 is a tiny bit better to me. You are right, though. The seat is a little hotter….

Also, how come no mention of the gold jerseys? Unbelievably, we have a winning record in them, I think, but I don’t ever want to see them again. I give the team an F if they voted to go gold

And 5th…stop watching games in Pittsburgh!

Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.

by JP Fanshawe on Jan 4, 2010 2:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

First time watching a game on TV in Pittsburgh.

Every other time it was either the football or basketball edition of the Backyard Brawl. I hate Pennsylvania, cold, dreary and ugly.

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 Jan 4, 2010 2:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Can't forget the Pitt win

I’m sorry that it’s the only real high point of the season, but it shouldn’t be forgotten.

Hmmm. It’s been 24 hours since I last called for the return of Trickett. Heck, I’ll even put 5YS in as O-line coach. We’ll make him live in Pittsburgh (Oakland neighborhood), just so he comes to work with a little angst every morning.

by phucoffaholic on Jan 4, 2010 7:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Two years into the Bill Stewart era.

- 8 losses
- 0 complete games
- 50 unused timeouts stock piled
- Continued abomination that is kickoff coverage
- Regression in punt returns
- Below average kickoff returns
- Solid punt coverage
- Solid FG (when allowed)
- Continued less than stellar D, that did not perform with 8 returning starters
- Homocide of the offense two years running
- Handfuls of very questionable important in-game decisions

But I want everyone to remember one thing. We have enough coal in this state to heat hte world, enough oil in this state to lube the world and enough brains in this state to run the world.

by The 25314 on Jan 4, 2010 2:42 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Disagree with a couple things.

We have a pretty decent D when everyone is playing. We lack depth on the defensive side of the ball but when all our guys played, we looked pretty good. While it is not great, we ranked in the top 40 in almost all defensive categories.

Also, did you really bring up unused timeouts? What does that prove?

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 Jan 4, 2010 3:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree about the D. It is no better or worse than it was when Rich Rod was here. I think the D plays well enough to win almost every game. However, the offense is so tremendously worse, the D’s lack of dominance is more noticeable. And if Bill Stewart wants to play Tressel-ball, he needs to bring a Tressel defense. Otherwise, he needs to admit his mistake and bring in an offensive coordinator that can generate an occasional mind bogglign 400 yards in a game or 30 points.

As for the timeouts, it proves that he either thinks timeouts are like credit card reward points that he can cash out for first downs later down the road, or he “leaves bullets in the holster,” (whatever that means).

by The 25314 on Jan 4, 2010 3:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Or...

- 19 wins
- Enough Flashes of Brilliance to get those wins
- 2-1 in Bowls
- Effective recruiting
- Far less hokum than last season, which I think means he is growing in the job
- 75th in Punt Returns in 08 at 7.89 per, 44th in 09 at 10.36 (Not a regression)
- 54th in KO returns in 08 at 21.49, 62nd in 09 at 21.87 (lower ranking, but higher number)
- 11th in scoring defense in 08 at 17 per game, 31st in 09 at 21.69 points (but would you say we were healthy all year?)
- 39 points per game in 07, 24.54 ppg in 08, 26.15 in 09 (so some marginal improvement from last year to this year, but here I cannot disagree with you…)
- He invented the word “attackle.”

So chillax. Let’s see what year 3 brings.

Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.

by JP Fanshawe on Jan 4, 2010 3:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Two Stats That Say It All To Me

31 Sacks Allowed in 08, 58 Sacks Allowed in 09.
15th in Turnover Margin at .92 in 08, 70th in Turnover Margin at -.15 in 09.

Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.

by JP Fanshawe on Jan 4, 2010 3:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Made A Mistake On Sacks...Those Were Rankings

Still bad news though…we allowed 1.38 sacks per game in 08, and 1.85 per game in 09.

Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.

by JP Fanshawe on Jan 4, 2010 3:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Great point...

on the creation of “attackle.”

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 Jan 4, 2010 3:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

flashes of brilliance?

effective recruiting…TBD. None of the recruits have played yet except Josh Jenkins, Madsen and Tyler Urban and Ryan Clarke. And save for Clarke, they all are underwhelming at best.

Punt return average doesn’t take into account all the balls we let fall in between our TWO punt returners…and even still is very average.

And the offense scored 24.9 this year. You forgot to take into account the kickoff return TD v. UConn, safety against USF and INT TD against Rutgers. The offense was bad with pay white and without pat white.

So, like I said, special teams are average. Defense regressed. Offense is horrible. That is fact based on stats, history, observation. We are not good in any area of the game.

When Stew took over we were probably awesome at only one thing: offense. And what is the one thing he changed? Offense.

by The 25314 on Jan 4, 2010 3:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry, Zip But You're Wrong, Especially On Punting

I am just going by the numbers. We were 3rd in Net Punting last season at 40.50, and 12th this season at 38.42, a difference of just two yards. 12th out of 120 teams is not average. In fact, it is top ten percent.

The numbers I am pulling are coming from the final NCAA stats posted at their site. Our scoring offense is 26.15 for a rank of 67th. It includes the bowl game. I don’t disagree that our kickoff coverage is abysmal, but it is not the only element of special teams. 4/5 of our special teams are fine: KO return, Punt Coverage, Punt Return, and FGs.

I don’t think you can say that some of your argument is stat-based. I just disproved that.

“We are not good in any area of the game” is a preposterous sentence. We won nine games. Go to NCAA stats and scroll down to the bottom of scoring defense where Washington St., Western Kentucky, and Rice reside. Those are teams that aren’t good in any area of the game.

Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.

by JP Fanshawe on Jan 4, 2010 3:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

And Yes, Flashes Of Brilliance...

…big plays are brilliant, in my book. I haven’t been able to find such a ranking, but I am pretty sure we ranked high this season in the plays-of-20-yards-or-more category.

Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.

by JP Fanshawe on Jan 4, 2010 3:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The media guide noramlly has that stat, but it won’t be available until summer. But I would be willing to wager the number of plays in excess of 20 yards is not Top 20, and is no where near the # from 02-07.

Also, like you said, special teams are more than just one area. I agree that we were very good at punting. But very bad at kickoff coverage. And very average at the rest. That equals very average. Anything 35-75 is very average. Lower than that and it’s just plain bad.

Show me where we are top 25 in a catagory that isn’t punting (which some would argue is evidence of a failed offense in itself).

by The 25314 on Jan 4, 2010 3:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I See What You Are Saying...Zip

NCAA scoring offense number is just points scored divided by number of games. Your number is what our offense actually scored, yes, but absent all the defensive scores and any TD returns that happened in 2008 and 2007 (which would take some game-by-game analysis), I thought it better just to compare points scored from each of those years.

There is one stat that is pure when it comes to offense and defense and that is yards per play.

2007: 6.6 gained on offense, 4.5 allowed on defense for a differential of 2.1.

2008: 5.7 gained on offesne, 4.7 allowed on defense for a differential of 1.

2009: 5.7 gained on offense, 5.1 allowed on defense for a differential of .6.

I am surprised that this year’s offensive number is the same as last year’s. Bothered by it. And the differential represents a worrisome regression. The top 10 always have a differential of 2 yards or better. We need to get back to that.

Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.

by JP Fanshawe on Jan 4, 2010 3:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Our Top 25 Categories (Excluding Punting)...Er, Category....

25th in Rush O at 186 per game. That’s it. And goes to your point that we need some kind of return to the prolificacy of 2007’s O.

We are 36th in Rush D, 37th in Total D (which is based just on yardage allowed), and 31st in Scoring D (which I regard as the single most important defensive stat since the game is all about points).

Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.

by JP Fanshawe on Jan 4, 2010 4:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Disagree slightly

Think the total D is one of the things that hurt us at times this year. It seemed we had trouble getting off the field in certain key situations and that limited our O’s opportunities.

Also, the O looked much different after the Marshall game than before. Whether it was better competition or regression from our players. I’m a Stewart supporter, but good coaching shows in improvement throughout the season and second half adjustments. We were more dynamic offensively in the first half of the year and also lost 2 games where we jumped out to huge leads only to let them slip away in the second half.

by WVU-SC on Jan 4, 2010 4:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I just didn't get the play calling...

JB only threw the ball 4 times with 1 completion. Then you put in Smith and we only give the ball to Noel 5 times in the third and 0 in the fourth. The run was killing FSU and if Noel started to get tired that is why you have depth. If something is working DON’T change it. I haven’t been agaist Mullen all this time but I was at the game and I just have no clue what this guy was thinking. You have Ryan Clarke, Tavon Austin, Shawn Alston (ruined his redshirt on special teams), and Jock can even run the ball. Plenty of guys we can feed it to. The o-line didn’t even show up. We couldn’t throw the ball down the field because FSU was getting to much pressure on our QB. So why even risk throwing it and getting sacked when we knew we could run the ball. Robert Sands played great. He was flying around the field. Would have been nice to of gotten a pick. I never really rant this much but I just feel like we should have won the game but didn’t call the right plays.

by ShadyMountaineer on Jan 4, 2010 3:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I Heard An NFL Commentator Say Yesterday...

…that he was raised to believe in the 5-yard rule, which was if a play gained 5 yards, run it again, and keep running it until the defense holds you under 5 yards.

Wish we had considered that in the second half. Don’t know who it was that said it.

Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.

by JP Fanshawe on Jan 4, 2010 3:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If something is working DON’T change it. I haven’t been agaist Mullen all this time but I was at the game and I just have no clue what this guy was thinking.

Really?? You did see the other 12 games, right?

by eersfan65 on Jan 5, 2010 7:12 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Just Crazy

We have the best player on the field in #7 and he doesn’t get 20+ touches? I don’t know who decides that, but it’s wrong.

I hope Mullen gets a pink slip soon. I think HCBS needs to make some changes. I fear Devine is gone, and if so, he was a pleasure to watch. Go get your cash man, while you can.
This team needs some improvements in all 3 phases of the game, and obviously the recruiting will have to be revamped with the loss of Doc.

All in all, very disappointed in the bowl game. I think we had our chances to win, and WVU beat themselves, not that FSU was better.

by BurghMountaineer on Jan 4, 2010 3:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Bye Bye Devine....

get ready for a heavy dose of Ryan Clark next year. and along with it comes another lackluster season…. also get ready for continued mediocraty (is that a word?)

However, mediocraty(?) can win the Big East next year.

by cabincreekzeke on Jan 4, 2010 4:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I would like to know...

the record of the teams we beat this year and last year vs the record of the teams we lost to. I can only think of one “impressive” victory in two seasons (Pitt 09) and several “disappointing” losses (08 ECU, 08 Colorado, 09 USF, and 09 FSU). Take out the Fiesta Bowl win with Rod’s Team and it seems like Stew’s staff hasn’t done much. I acknowledge that I have been against the hire of HCBS from the beginning and maybe forgetting a quality win or two (although I can’t think of any). I also acknowledge that finishing anywhere but first in a very weak Big East Conference is a reason to make coaching changes to me (my expectations are higher than many on this site).

by WVUEric on Jan 4, 2010 4:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Again...

schedule strength ratings and out-of-conference performance do not bear out the assertion that the Big East is weak. It isn’t. It was the third-best conference this year and put six teams into bowls.

To answer your question, lots of info at the NCAA site. Under Toughest Schedule it ranks teams by cumulative wins/losses of opponents.

2007’s opposing teams’ combined record: 76-55 which ranked us 15th.
2008’s opposing teams’ combined record: 69-62 which ranked us 53rd,
2009’s opposing teams’ combined record: 72-57 which ranked us 30th.

Don’t forget that 07’s opponents’ combined record included an Oklahoma team that won 11 games…exchange the Sooners for a bowl opponent that had only won say, 8 or 9 games and Stewart’s 09 team posted the same figure, roughly, as the 07 team.

I am actually heartened by this. It indicates that this year’s nine wins were slightly better than last year’s in terms of competition. If only we could have gotten that bowl win….

And one other thing…Rod didn’t really have any marquee wins in 2007, either. Excluding the bowl, which didn’t include The Product anyway, we only played one ranked team, according to CFBStats.com – Cincy, which was ranked 17th when we beat them 28-23.

Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.

by JP Fanshawe on Jan 4, 2010 5:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Those are final rankings. In 2007, we lost to @ #18 USF, won @ #25 Rutgers, @#21 Cincy, and at home against #20 UConn.

I’m not sure if it’s more fair to judge by rankings at the time you played, or at the end of the season. I tend to lean towards the time you played, because once you beat a #20 ish team, they aren’t going to be ranked anymore.

by The 25314 on Jan 4, 2010 5:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I Lean Toward Final Rankings....

…just because it is a number that considers each team’s total body of work. Michigan was 4-0 and ranked 21st at the end of September, so does a win over them mean much in week 5 look the same in December when they went on to lose six of the next seven? I don’t think so.

Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.

by JP Fanshawe on Jan 4, 2010 6:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The majority of fans that I come in contact with daily have your expectations Eric. This blog site is not the true gauge of Mountaineer football feelings and expectations. This is “homer” central, those that post the most are not preaching the gospel. But I can see where it can get confusing.

by EatSchmittPitt35 on Jan 4, 2010 5:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well, Then...

I am glad that I don’t run into so many of the fans with whom you come in contact, Schmitty. Perhaps this explains a lot. You should hang around more positive people! You crack me up. This site is definitely not Homer central….there are how many regular posters and like, five of us, see the glass as half full.

“Those that post the most are preaching the gospel…” what does that even mean? What gospel? The one that is relentlessly pessimistic, not mention arrogant, and spoiled? Didn’t you say you didn’t like FSU’s fans for their demeanor (arrogant, insulting, spoiled…)?

If you want to debate, bring it like the Zip does. At least make an argument and back it up.

Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.

by JP Fanshawe on Jan 4, 2010 6:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Was I even speaking to you douchebag? Drop your obsession with me please, it’s getting old. Numerous times you’ve said you are through with me, yet evertime I post, you come running on like the little white knight to defend Mountaineer football and disagree with me.

by EatSchmittPitt35 on Jan 4, 2010 6:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

So Much For Playing Nice...

…fuck you. At least I generate content. All you generate is drivel.

Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.

by JP Fanshawe on Jan 4, 2010 6:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey 5th...

….whatever became of the Fan Manifesto?

Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.

by JP Fanshawe on Jan 4, 2010 6:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Too much time spent...

Trying to decide if I am a good or bad fan. Maybe I am terrible for cheering and not complaining after every second of action. If I wrote it now I would be labeled a stupid pussy that is ruining everyone elses terrible time.

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 Jan 4, 2010 6:37 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Keep generating content JP, you are doing a wonderful job. This just in, you don’t have to respond to EVERYYYYYY blog post. Christ, you live in here.

by EatSchmittPitt35 on Jan 4, 2010 6:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not enough time now but...

I have high expectations.I said less than 10 wins would be disappointing. How is that not a high expectation? I just don’t call for heads to roll every time we get beat. Our o-line has been our downfall 2 straight years and I call for Johnson to go.

I don’t make up mind before things happen and then hold tight to those beliefs no matter what.

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 Jan 4, 2010 6:32 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

I AGREE WITH YOU ERIC

KEN

by KENH on Jan 4, 2010 5:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I also agree w/ Eric and EatSchmidtPitt

This blog is very much “homerish” to the current coaching staff (and there’s nothing wrong with that). I speak w/ friends and read other sites and the disparity between negative and positive posts (not just after the FSU game) is glaring. The negatives win by a landslide.

Some things don’t need overanalyzed……Noel Devine gets 5 touches (in the 2nd half) after having a monster first half in the Gator Bowl + Diminished performance of the strength of our team from the moment he became the OC = immediate termination of the offensive coordinator

I must say that this site is kind of refreshing to come to, every so often, because these guys like 5YS, Charley West, WVUIE97, Country Roads and others are actually pro-current coaching staff, whenever it is so clear that every other site has post after post that preaches to the choir.

I am so far past being upset about WVU football and I have accepted the fact we’ll never be contenders for a NC under this current coaching staff. It doesn’t matter how weak our conference is, because we have also weakened considerably.

As for the hoopsters, WOW! Watched my first game (it was on national TV) when watching Seton Hall game and I couldn’t believe my eyes that we essentially don’t have a point guard to bring the ball up the court. We were number 6?? I think this team will do some really nice things this year but a Final 4 is out oft he question, if we don’t have anybody to bring the ball up the court besides Ebanks. I think we’ll be anywhere from a 2-4 seed, most likely the latter if Truck or someone else can’t play PG.

by WVUColumbus on Jan 4, 2010 7:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'm glad you enjoy the site.

Why do some negative posters find the need to constantly reinforce their opinions by saying that a “majority” of WVU fans hold their opinion? Are you that insecure in your opinion that you need others to agree with you?

I am so far past being upset about WVU football and I have accepted the fact we’ll never be contenders for a NC under this current coaching staff.

Do you always give up this easily?

When Truck gets healthy I think we can be a Final 4 contender.

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 Jan 5, 2010 8:55 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Truck’s biggest problem is decision making and inability to dribble, not his ankle.

by The 25314 on Jan 5, 2010 11:21 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You JUST NOW...

realized that I gave up the Mountaineer football team? I realized w/ the hire of the head coach that we had no shot at the pinnacle of college football.

I choose not to HOPE that things change, but instead look at objective attributes of the current situation, that is WVU football, and determine that Bill Stewart and Co. will never come within 2 games of playing for a NC.

Kinda like I lead my life, I guess you could say……….I don’t HOPE that I’m going to be successful and purchase Powerball tickets every Monday and Thursday night (is that when it’s played?), but instead I work/research/learn/network/etc. to earn my somewhat respectable success.

BTW, I have no problem w/ the fatalistic attitudes of “hoping” and/or “wishing” for certain outcomes (in this case Mountaineer football earning its first NC), I just simply tend to look at it in a manner that is real and objective, as that philosophy has worked well in my personal life.

by WVUColumbus on Jan 6, 2010 9:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Continue to be proud of quitting.

Also, you can’t be objective if you have already made up your mind about a situation or person. Your second sentence states that you gave up when Smilin’ Bill was hired. After that you only look for facts that support your argument that Stew is a terrible. Granted, he has given you plenty of ammunition

You may think I am unrealistic and not objective but I totally disagree. My opinions have changed as the season progresses. At the end of the regular season I was happy because our record had improved but because of our bowl loss our overall record did not. That means the season was a disappointment to me.

Barring an injury plagued season or some other major problem, WVU should win at least 10 games a year from here on out.

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 Jan 7, 2010 9:41 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

My guess is.......

“an injury plagued season or SOME OTHER MAJOR PROBLEM” will conveniently appear prior to the conclusion of the 2010 football campaign to null and void your 10 win expectation.

So let me get this straight…….if the Mountaineers beat FSU you’re singing the praises of Stewart, yet since they lost, the season is a disappointment? huh

I didn’t give up on Stew the second he was hired….I simply had my inclinations that a significant amount of time (1 season) wouldn’t be required for my initial fears to become a reality……2 games did it for me and many other fans (ECU and Colorado last season)…you would have never seen that from Nehlen, Rodriguez or any other D-I coach.

West Virginia alum just want a winner…..they don’t want a guy to lead a program just because he had some pregame speech that included direct references to Top Gun prior to an exhibition game (btw, aren’t you still using that quote on your posts?)…..Oklahoma had NOTHING to play for and we were playing w/ house money. Trips to Jacksonville, Charlotte get old…..they just do. We’ve been doing the same thing since the early 80s, excluding a handful of years. It’s time that the program exceed expectations and raise its status to a consistent, unprecedented level……this is a reasonable expectation for all…….we thought we were getting there w/ Rodriguez, but he wasn’t the guy to do it…..however, we also need to be realistic about the coach who is up to the task and Stewart fails to qualify.

by WVUColumbus on Jan 7, 2010 6:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't understand.

I realized w/ the hire of the head coach that we had no shot at the pinnacle of college football.

So that is not giving up on Stew when he was hired? Sure seems like it to me.

So let me get this straight…….if the Mountaineers beat FSU you’re singing the praises of Stewart, yet since they lost, the season is a disappointment?

Yes, I make my decisions based on what actually happens, not some preconceived notion about what I think. I am consistent in saying a win is a win is a win. It does not matter how ugly or pretty that win is, if we win, that is good.

I still like Stew but I think this season was a disappointment because we did not improve. That is not acceptable but is not grounds for firing right now.

"an injury plagued season or SOME OTHER MAJOR PROBLEM" will conveniently appear prior to the conclusion of the 2010 football campaign to null and void your 10 win expectation.

What the hell are you talking about? JB went down in this game and was not the same after Marshall but am I using that as an excuse? No. I said the season was a disappointment. Good lord you are incorrigible.

I criticize Stew and hold him to a high standard and you criticize me. Really?

2 games did it for me and many other fans (ECU and Colorado last season)…you would have never seen that from Nehlen, Rodriguez or any other D-I coach.

Did you see LSU’s final two games? Les Myles has won a MNC and he had some major timeout gaffes and clock management issues. Other teams make mistakes get over it. Nobody is perfect.

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 Jan 8, 2010 8:53 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

5th...I Appreciate Your Zeal...

…but at this point, why bother? The only guy worth arguing with, to me, is the Zip, because at least he makes reasoned arguments…rationality, and ironically, realism (you know, the ol’ “I am not negative, I am a realist” argument), are totally absent from The Nancies….

Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.

by JP Fanshawe on Jan 8, 2010 12:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wow, this JP Fanshawe cat

is all over the place. 25314 is an extremely knowledgable poster who is clearly not blinded by the lights of subjectivity, ala yourself, Country Roads, WVIE97, and others. Even 5YS is mostly objective, as he stated above.

JP Fanshaw may be the biggest homer of all and I wouldn’t be surprised if his “true” name is Tony Caridi :) (who happens to pick this blog to explain himself).

I think that you’ll most likley hang onto the notion that Stewart and gang will turn it around, and that’s fine……Trust me, though, you’ll be surprised at the declining numbers in attendance at home games, because many don’t share your opinions (even moreso if Stewart doesn’t get rid of this OC, which I assume he will do in coming weeks).

The Noel Devine debacle at FSU is a firable offense for an offensive cooridnator, especially one that is maligned to begin with….

by WVUColumbus on Jan 8, 2010 2:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Bill Stewart will turn it around.

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 Jan 8, 2010 3:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yep, That's Me....

Homer. You’ve read my work? The Odyssey….The Illiad? I wish I had Caridi’s job. I’d be better at it. I wouldn’t get excited when the opponent scores…

If you want to know who I am, there is this thing called Google. I am all over the place…

As for the declining attendance numbers, we shall see. But if we are losing fans of your ilk…good riddance.

Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.

by JP Fanshawe on Jan 10, 2010 9:23 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Recall the defense a couple years ago

When everyone was calling for Castell’s head (spelling?) and the death of the 3-3-5 because our D sucked. Bring in the transfer from Michigan, and suddenly we do well for two years (in fact, until this bowl game).

I was hoping the same for the offense, but truly think something is wrong. It’s hard to fault play calling when your quarterback has to race in his drops to get in the backfield before the defense does. ANY game plan will be hosed.

Some grades, making it for the entire season:

Offensive line: C-
QB: C. Except for maybe Rutgers, poor performance on the road in every single game. Singlehandedly lost the Auburn game. Unfortunately not the same since his concussion. While other scrambling QBs could make something happen with their arm, he rarely could. Never learned to deal with a blitz.
However, he beat Pitt, fought hard, and seems like a good human being, and when given time could throw the deep ball really well. (He and Arnett not hooking up for TDs in this bowl game was a tremendous disappointment.)

D-line: B-. I defer to others on this, but it did seem like they took a step backwards this year.

Linebackers: see what I wrote for D-line, except B+

Secondary: Hit or miss: often A, sometimes D, sometimes within the same game.

Running back: A, as in awesome.

Coaching: too depressed to discuss. Trickett is likely staying in Florida.

by phucoffaholic on Jan 4, 2010 7:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I am sitting at the Gator Bowl with my fellow ‘eer, and we realize we are watching the same performance from weeks ago in the regular season. Our observations concur with many opinions logged: Stewy needs to give up special teams and hire someone to turn this around immediately; then go recruit taller defensive ends having a better chance to defend against a passing game. Clarke needs to be in there more – but that’s another nail in the Mullen box – play calling is predictable. We score early, then ppsstt, that’s it were done. Unrelated, though important, why the hell do you blood born and living in West By Gosh allow this current Governor to continue to be the ass he is? As we leave the stadium, black suburbans with police motorcycle escort come flying out of the VIP entry and what’s up? Manchin is rolling down the window to hang out like an idiot waving his arms to his adoring throng??? No, hell no. Manchin, be the Governor of all West Virginia and leave our administrators alone!! (now I understand why he did not carry Marion County, his home, for the elections he ran in) In my opinion, Doc’s being hired by the Thundering Terds has Manchin’s hand all over it. This does not pass the smell test.

by atlpowderhorn on Jan 4, 2010 8:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Manchin is a grade A publicity whore clown. He’s done more to hurt WV on multiple levels than he ever has to help. I’ll never understand why the people of this state lower themselves to vote for him…ever. At least RCB gives us his government handouts (our dependency upon which will eventually bite us in the ass when he dies).

The people working around him in the WV government dislike him immensely. Even the troopers who protect him think he’s an asshole.

by Q-tip Motha on Jan 4, 2010 10:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I was at the game

And was disgusted with all phases of play..then I came home and watched it on TV ( I DVR’d it) and it was more respectable to me, at least I didnt throw up.

Stew will not quit like he promised so he better grow a pair and fire the OC and now. Defense was laughable except for Sands. Stew fire your own ass, you cant coach special teams. Squib kicks, Really?

Back to Jacksonville, I dug the town, I could live there. I have to say Florida State has better cheers than we do. F L O R I D A S T A T E, FLORIDA STATE, FLORIDA STATE, FLORIDA STATE! awesome and that tomahawk chop damn when 80,000 rock it it sounds incredible.

Good Trip…bad dream, now I’m home. Fuck.

KEN

by KENH on Jan 4, 2010 10:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

We lost before the opening kickoff

So much for the streak of white on blue….

by RichRN on Jan 6, 2010 4:38 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

New point to an old (dead horse) subject.

I think it was pre-arranged for WVU to let Florida State ( Bobby Bowden) win that game. I thought it from the time,Bowden started calling the shots,i.e.,"I would like to play my last game in the state of,Florida. I told my wife exactly what was going to happen after he said that. They will twist the rules to put Florida State in the Gator Bowl. Bill Stewart (Mr. Nice Guy) will lay down for them,so Bowden can win his last game. It was wrong for this to transpire.
     I have never commented before,negatively or positively, on Stewart or his staff but, after this,I think the whole bunch of them should be horse whipped then fired. It makes me sick.
      It was unfair to the players. It was unfair to the alumni. It was unfair to the fans.
      I am one of these people who bleed old gold and blue but, if he is there next year, I will not watch the games nor will I spend another penny on WVU merchandise.
      I am sick of all the childish crap that is going on up there. I am sick of the self anointed,gods of college sports(NCAA)screwing up everything that is good about college sports just 1) because they can,and 2) to pacify the wealthy.

by Cabin Creek Mountie on Jan 8, 2010 11:16 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I Don't Think We "Laid Down"

Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.

by JP Fanshawe on Jan 8, 2010 12:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think we laid down.

There was lack of emotion/energy from the early stages of the game through its completion. We even looked like we were going thru the motions when we were up early in the game…..Florida State is horrible.

by WVUColumbus on Jan 8, 2010 2:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No way we laid down.

We came out fired up and scored quick.

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 Jan 8, 2010 3:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What A Shock....

Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.

by JP Fanshawe on Jan 10, 2010 9:24 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Been The Same All Year

We have come out flat with no energy all year. Reminded me of the debacle at Auburn. Score quick and hope to hold onto a lead. Plus we stop running any play that has worked and try and get fancy and open up the play book. This team is just lucky that they didn’t finish with a worst record. Without Devine’s superhuman efforts we would have lost more. The 4th Qtr proves my point.. Zero touches in the 4th Qtr equals a WVU loss.

by MountieInGA on Jan 9, 2010 10:19 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

You contradict yourself within the first two sentences.

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 Jan 9, 2010 10:28 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Let me correct myself. Put together 2 decent drives then go flat. We haven’t played 4 full quarters of football the last 2 years. The discipline and execution have fallen foff from one week to the next.

by MountieInGA on Jan 9, 2010 12:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs