Can Bill Stewart Take West Virginia over the Top?

CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 27: Head coach Bill Stewart of the West Virginia Mountaineers celebrates with his quarterback Pat White #5 after their 31-30 victory over the North Carolina Tar Heels at Bank of America Stadium on December 27, 2008 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Everyone remembers the 2008 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. Fiery interim head coach Bill Stewart led the West Virginia Mountaineers to an upset victory of the Oklahoma Sooners 48-28.

The next day, January 3, he was named the 32nd head coach in West Virginia history.

After leading the Mountaineers to a 9-4 record (second most all-time for a first year head coach), a Meineke Car Care Bowl victory over North Carolina, the main question in Morgantown is: Can he lead the Mountaineers to a national championship without Patrick White?

It will be a bumpy road ahead for Stewart, but with some good recruiting seasons and some luck, he could lead West Virginia to their first championship victory.

Stewart does have a great defense, with DC Jeff Casteel. But they are lacking on the offensive side of the ball. OC Jeff Mullen will have a tough time trying to develop a future QB with White gone and Jarrett Brown leaving at the end of the 2009 season.

Stewart has helped in developing a legend QB in White, who has the most rushing yards by a QB all-time.

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