There used to be a time when I got excited that the other team was punting.  Not just because WVU's offense (which, at that time, was better than our offense is today) was about to get the ball back, but because I knew we had a chance to make a game-changing play in the punt return game.  Pac Man Jones was obviously the gold standard at punt returner for WVU, and the student section even had a special "Pac Man chomp" cheer they did whenever #9 dropped back deep.  Once the ball started its descent, you held your breath and hoped for magic.  But even guys like Lance Frazier, Vaughn Rivers, and Antonio Lewis (who returned a punt for a touchdown to break open a game against ECU in 2005) gave us a threat that not many teams had.  When games were close or WVU was the underdog, there was always the hope that a huge play on special teams might turn the tide in our favor or quickly nullify an opposing score on a kickoff return.  (Aside: I wonder who the special teams coach was during those years?)

Ah, but where have you gone, Darius Reynaud?  Our return teams have been "special" all year, but on Saturday against Louisville, they sank to a new low.  I can only watch Brandon Hogan field stand idly by as punts bounce right past him for 15 yards of field position so many times before throwing my hands up in disgust.  In fact, I'm pretty sure by the end of the game on Saturday I had thrown my hands in the air more times than during an extended playing of "Shout" during a TV timeout at Mountaineer Field. 

And in a game that promises to be as low-scoring as this year's edition of the Backyard Brawl, every single yard (let lone point, or shift in momentum) could be the difference between a deflating loss and the next step toward a Big East title.  WVU's special teams---in particular, the return units---need to be able to step up and help keep pressure off our defense.  But how likely is that?  Do we have a chance to churn up yardage, flip the field, or even score off of a special teams play this Friday?  Let's check out the numbers:

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Have you been watching Pitt football lose game after game and thought to yourself, "man, I wish I could experience this in the comfort of my own home!"  Well, NOW YOU CAN!  Introducing, the "Dave Wannstedt / Pitt Football" home game.  All the fun of the real thing -- and by the real thing, we mean whatever that was on ESPN last night -- with none of the tragedy and horror of actually being there.

Supplies are limited, so please act fast.

Note: This is part three of a four part series. Parts one (Louisville) and two (Syracuse) ran yesterday. Part four (Rutgers) debuts later today.

If that picture doesn't do it for you, let me list all the reasons why Pitt sucks:

• Dave Wannstedt


• Dave Wannstedt


• Dave Wannstedt


• Dave Wannstedt


• Dave Wannstedt


• Dave Wannstedt


• Dave Wannstedt


• Dave Wannstedt


• Dave Wannstedt


• Dave Wannstedt



• Dave Wannstedt


• Dave Wannstedt


• Dave Wannstedt


• Dave Wannstedt


• Dave Wannstedt


• Dave Wannstedt


• Dave Wannstedt


• Dave Wannstedt


• Dave Wannstedt


• Dave Wannstedt


• Dave Wannstedt


• Dave Wannstedt

I think I got my point across. Wait...

• Dave Wannstedt

OK, now I got my point across.

When your athletic director has to give you a vote of confidence after the first game, it's probably not a good sign. Especially when you consider that you were ranked going into that game.

Since his arrival, Wannstedt has managed to do less with more probably better than any coach in America. Inheriting a BCS team from Walt Harris, Wannstedt has consistently put together fantastic recruiting classes. While his first full-year class in 2005 was only ranked 42nd, his subsequent classes have been ranked 11th, 8th, and 25th. An untrained baboon could have gone at least .500 with those players, yet Wannstedt is 16-20 at Pitt. Just awful.

Even worse, a fan base full of irrational front-runners has failed to support the team in any meaningul way. Attendance in the Wannstedt-era has never averaged over 40,000, which looks even worse in a 60,000+ seat Heinz Field. These are the same fans that call for Wannstedt's firing. Eventually, they'll be rewarded with a new coach, at which time they will still fail to support their team. Typical Pitt fans.

Either way, Wannstedt is a terrible coach. He only has my respect because he continues to find new and exciting ways to squander both talent and games.

At this point, the only thing Pitt fans can cling to is the sad reference to "13-9." For WVU fans, we're Fiesta Bowl Champions and ranked #8 in the country. We're over it. For Pitt fans, it's all they have.

Just pathetic.

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At the very least, we beat Villanova yesterday. That should be reward in itself. But, as I see it, yesterday was a pretty damn good day.

• Bowling Green 27, Pitt 17


• Utah 25, Michigan 23


• East Carolina 27, Virginia Tech 22

That's a full day of orgasmic defeats and upsets. So while you're busy bitching about the defense, just remember yesterday was a good day for the Mountaineers. Think any of those three teams listed above would trade places with us?

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Pitt, fresh off its upset victory over WVU third consecutive season without a bowl, has decided to ramp up their offense. How, you ask? Simple: take carries away from one of the most heralded running backs in the country, LaSean McCoy.

In a word, brilliant. I can't wait to see how successful this turns out.

"The reality is we have two starting tailbacks," Pitt running backs coach David Walker said. "They are both going to play a lot and they are both going to play together at times because when we put them out there together it opens up a whole new challenge for defenses trying to stop us."

Actually, it really doesn't. All defenses have to do is cover LaSean McCoy and leave Stephens-Howling wide open. Seems pretty simple to me.

McCoy added, "With both of us out there, you have no idea who is getting the ball and that makes us both more dangerous."

No, you getting the ball is dangerous. Stephens-Howling getting the ball is retarded. Any carries that Stephens-Howling gets over you is a blessing from heaven itself. Any coach who would actively choose to give Stephens-Howling the ball is a moron.

Thank you Lord and Savior for your creation of Dave Wannstedt. Well done indeed, good sir.

"That is what made West Virginia so good, they had Pat White, Steve Slaton and Noel Devine back there, that's a lot to deal with. Hopefully people will say the same thing about us."

No, they won't. No one will say that. I promise you.

Stephens-Howling and McCoy are not just backfield partners, they have become best friends. They refer to themselves as Mario and Luigi in reference to Nintendo's Mario Brothers and have used that friendship to push each other.

Mario and Luigi were brother plumbers who fought the evil Bowser in Mushroom Kingdom. You are just two guys who came up with a pretty gay nickname for yourselves. What, were Ace and Gary already taken?

[HT: Pitt Post-Gazette, via Pitt Blather; picture courtesy of Rants and Raves]

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Before:

After:



Note: Sorry for the vomiting that results for seeing this. Here's the full, gruesome story on Eduardo da Silva.

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I'm not wrong. I swear.For the past few months, I have been championing the effort to "Save Dave" Wannstedt. It stood to reason that as long as Wannstedt continued to coach Pitt, WVU would continue to beat Pitt. Well, that obviously wasn't 100% true. I apologize for that. But as I said above, I'm not wrong.

Pitt fans are beside themselves today, and why shouldn't they be. Their decrepit team just knocked off their biggest rival and the #2 team in the country. This just hours after retread AD Steve Pederson extended the contract of retread head coach Dave Wannstedt. But Wannstedt is not the savior. 3 consecutive years without a winning record proves exactly that. This from a coach that inherited a BCS bowl team from Walt Harris.

Dave Wannstedt, regardless of what happened last night, will fall on his face yet again. And when that happens, WBGV will be there, camera in hand. The 2008 schedule is ripe with opportunities for utter failure. Will it be at Notre Dame? Maybe home to Iowa? Even more embarrassing, maybe at Navy or home to Bowling Green and Buffalo. All games that Pitt could lose. And if they're losable, Wannstedt will find a way.

Saturday night was a fluke. Maybe not for how badly Rodriguez coached but for how well Wannstedt coached. Dave's 15 minutes are up. 2008 will prove me right.

Sincerely,

Bitter in CRW

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Yes, boys and girls, our persistent efforts have payed off. We, single-handedly, "Saved Dave." Wondering what I'm talking about? Well then, check here. And here.

It was an ambitious undertaking. Imagine the audacity of trying to save the job of one of the worst coaches in the country. A coach who continually recruits pro-level talent and squanders every single bit of it. A coach who's most redeeming quality is the grooming of his mustache.

But alas, we have done it, as today, Dave Wannstedt's contract was extended through 2010. Now, instead of only winning one game this weekend, we have now one two: this year and next. With Wannstedt at the helm, we now have guaranteed a 6 game winning streak against Pitt. Hooray!

So, when you're at the game tomorrow, don't forget about the events of today. When you're signing Country Roads, sing it loud. But save just a little for 2008, because you'll be singing it next year after both Syracuse and Pitt.

2-0 baby!

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