Actual picture of The 25314 getting his groove back
As loyal readers of this web log know, I was once a regular contributor of content to this site and its awesome predecessor, West By God Virginia. I broke the Dave Johnson hiring with boundless excitement. I was completely incorrect in lauding his hire. I opined on Jeff Mullen the Tweaker. I was mostly completely correct in my reservations.
So why would a writer with such a remarkable felicity of expression, impeccable comedic timing, and acute insight retire to spend his days relentlessly waging war on Country Roads all over of the comment section of the web log with snarky quips, pursuing CR and offering no quarter?
The answer is simple: I lost my muse.
For some people, love inspires them. For others, it is music. For most, it's illegal drugs. For me, it’s points. More specifically, the adrenaline of beating down a team that knows exactly what it coming but is powerless to stop you.
Jeff Mullen stole my muse. He took the excitement out of Mountaineer football. We played the football equivalent of the four corners offense any time we had the slimmest of leads.
That is no more.
Dana Holgorsen is here, and he is one rad dude.
He brings his high octane offense which promises score more than Chazz Reinhold at funerals.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. You’re either thinking you’re going to go out there, take the world by the tail, wrap it around and put it in your pocket, or you’re thinking, now hold on just a hot minute Mr. The 25314, aren’t you Mr. Option Football.
Indeed I am. I am a child of the option. I grew up suckling at the teet of Nebraska and my good friend, Tommy Frazier. I literally wrote an "academic" paper in 2001 on why Rich Rod’s pass-happy spread offense would never win a national title because it abandoned the core I-formation principles of balance and play-action passing.
I rejoiced when, in 2002, Rich Rodriguez abandoned his run-and-shoot-spread offense and tailored his scheme to meet the skill set of the players in the program by running the power spread option. I delighted in the fact that WVU was "Nebraska in the spread," running at will against defenses powerless to stop us.
Besides reducing turnovers, I believe it is easier to find a quarterback for an option team than for a passing team. In option football, the QB has to rely mainly on his athleticism to make a play, whereas in a passing offense, cognitive ability is his most important asset. I believe it is much easier to find an athlete.
Furthermore, I believe that there is nothing more demoralizing for a defense than being unable to stop the run that you know if coming.
Given my philosophy, one would think I would be skeptical of Dana Holgorsen’s offense…and I am to an extent. However, I can not argue the results of his offense. His offenses have scored points at will, and though it is not my philosophy, it clearly works. Will it work as well at WVU? I don’t know. But I think it will. Will he be a good head coach? I don’t know, and I’m very nervous. But for the first time in a long time, I’ve got my muse back.