WVU Superstars Noel Devine and Steve Slaton: Rise of One, Fall of Another

Growing up for the first seven years of my life in Nitro, WV, I quickly was thrown into the world of Mountaineer football.

You see, WVU football in West Virginia is not just a sport, but a way of life, a way that the family comes together. This was before that one community college in Huntington got some semi-decent talent on their team and won high school state titles or whatever it is they revel at themselves for. WVU was a way of life, win or lose. I remember a lot of bad seasons in the first half of my life. But then, WVU football changed forever. It was changed by two freshman, two best friends who were two of the best players to ever strap on a WVU football uniform.

Enter the best three year stretch of football at West Virginia University.

Enter All-Americans and Heisman Candidates.

Enter two BCS Bowl victories, three straight bowl victories, three straight finishes in the Top 10.

Now, 2008: exit Steve Slaton...check that. 2007: exit Steve Slaton, because it definitely seems he left at the beginning of his junior season and not at the end when he declared for the draft.

How did Steve Slaton go from one of the best running backs in the nation, and a Heisman contender to a bust seemingly overnight?

It wasn't his fault, it was the result of poor advice: advice to bulk up to add more power to his running game, but the thing is, Steve's game never was about power. Even after putting the weight on, he seemed to either shy away from hits or not even use what he had to his full advantage. It truly is sad that Steve left early for the NFL because with the new coaching staff at WVU, I believe that he could've gotten back to the Steve of old. I really do wish him well in the NFL and hope that he can turn his career around to what it used to be.

As for now...

Enter Noel Devine- the new starting WVU RB.