There seems to be a prevailing thought about the WVU Mountaineers for the 2008 season.
Sure, the team may compete for—may even win—the national championship this season.
But in the next year and in the years after, expect WVU to fall from the ranks of the national elite, now that it’s no longer coached by a charismatic innovator and master recruiter, but instead by a Gomer Pyle who had one feel-good story in him, will win this year with the former coach’s recruits, and is now in over his head.
The easy comparison that the national sportswriters are making is when nice guy/defensive coordinator/players’ choice Larry Coker took over the outlaw Miami program from fiery, younger Butch Davis in 2001. Coker won a national championship in his first season with Davis’ players, played for it the following year, and then slid into mediocrity the following seasons.
Two responses to this.
One: Win a national championship just this year? I’ll take it.
Two: I think the naysayers are wrong.
To the first point: Yes, WVU is indeed loaded offensively this year, with senior Heisman hopeful Pat White returning at quarterback, and sophomore Noel Devine taking over running back duties from departed Steve Slaton.
Punishing fullback/folk hero Owen Schmitt and top wide receiver Darius Reynaud are gone, but the offensive line returns intact, Jock Sanders is ready to step in at the slot for Reynaud, and the offense has two veteran wide receivers in Dorrell Jalloh and Tito Gonzalez returning.
Furthermore, speedy underclassmen Brandon Hogan and converted quarterback Bradley Starks, in addition to let’s-hope-he’s-ready-to-stop-underachieving Wes Lyons (whose brother has transferred from Ohio State), fill out the receiver ranks.
Today's Must Reads
On defense, only four starters return, but what starters—linebacker Mortty Ivy, who I believe is ready to have a monster season; Fiesta Bowl defensive MVP linebacker Reed Williams (assuming his shoulder surgeries take); freshman all-American defensive end Scooter Berry; and safety Quinton Andrews, who had an interception in the Fiesta Bowl.
Defensive back Ellis Lankster, who saw considerable time as a backup last year, is set for a starter’s job and a spot as the leading punt returner this season.
This brings me to my second point: recruiting.
This year’s recruiting could have been a disaster for WVU. The first call the former coach made upon leaving was to his top recruit, telling him before his team. This looked like a portent of things to come for WVU—the pipeline of blue-chip talent that the former coach had turned toward Morgantown would now be diverted to Ann Arbor.
But when the new Michigan coach lost his top recruit, and to rival Ohio State, that instead turned out to be the portent: The former coach’s Midas touch had been tarnished.
Coach Bill Stewart’s first task was to keep West Virginia’s best high school prospect in years—Parkersburg’s Josh Jenkins—holding to his commitment to attend WVU, which looked wobbly after the former coach left. Stewart, humble enough to know what he doesn’t know, hired master recruiter Doc Holliday away from Florida, and the two of them locked down Jenkins.
After that, Stewart hired a two-fer: running backs coach Chris Beatty, who immediately opened up the fertile Hampton Roads recruiting grounds, once considered off-limits to anyone but Virginia Tech (both Vicks came from there). The hire brought immediate results: highly-ranked quarterback Tajh Boyd and wide receiver Logan Heastie.
Stewart got backup running back help in Californian Mark Rodgers, another Devine type, and Terence Kerns, a bruising running back with 4.4 speed. Kerns was touch-and-go academically, but he credited Coach Stew with holding his hand through the whole process, which persuaded him WVU was the place for him.
Speaking of which, coaches always say the best recruits are current players—White persuaded his little brother, quarterback Coley, whom the Whites say is the most athletic of the family (scary), to come to WVU.
Not everything has worked out for Stewart and his recruiters. Polynesian pass-rusher Teva Finau, a defensive end who runs with tight end speed, didn’t make grades and will spend another year at a juco. Cornerback Jerome Swinton, who Stewart hailed as perhaps the best player in this year’s class, also didn’t make the grades. Smooth move, Jerome.
And everyone knows that not every heralded recruit pans out. CoughcoughJasonGwaltneycoughcough.
The point is this: The blue-chip pipeline is hardly closed, the former coach didn’t take all the talent with him, and the continued success of the Mountaineer football program this year—a possible Big East title and BCS bowl berth, and perhaps a shot at the national championship—will only keep the talent flowing.
comments (17) write a comment »
write a new comment
about 1 month ago
frank, i think they will slide a bit, no matter what people say. just my opinion, though
about 1 month ago
I've been close to the program for 25 years, and it's never been in better hands. Doc Holliday has a Jimbo Fisher type deal in place. Coach Stew will oversee the transition for 3-4 years and then usher in the Holliday era. The staff assembled is top notch, and eveyone is excited to move past the nasty Fraudriguez saga. Good article, right on the money I think.
from about 1 month ago
Rick, that's interesting... I've heard that too (from relatives who have booster ties to WVU). I discounted it as a rumor, but now that I've heard from several sources that unofficially Stewart is a transitional guy to Holliday, I'm beginning to think there's more to it.
about 1 month ago
Frank-
It's refreshing to hear a positive note on WVU football. I personally think that WVU made a bit of a rushed decision on filling the vacant position, but you have to like Stew! He's a homebody, and has been faithful to WVU. With White and Devine, they will do well.
For some reason, WVU has never gotten the accolades they deserve, it's almost like people refuse to believe that the Big East can win a NC. I think otherwise!
I gave this 5 stars and POTD (tomorrow, dang it, I already voted today). Great write up!
about 1 month ago
Stewart is ushering in a new concept in college football. Instead of one main guy who gets paid big bucks and hires assistants who work for a fraction of what the HC is paid, Stewart has settled for a pittance compared with what other HCs earn, and has instead used that money to hire some brilliant minds. Success (and recruits) follow the members of WVU's coaching staff. Stew views himself as the coordinator of it all, but in reality, he stays out of the way and lets the minds he hired work their magic.
Are many heads better than one? I think the college football world is about to find out. I have a lot of confidence in the players that we've recruited and in the staff that Stew has so brilliantly assembled. I'm looking forward to WV football this year!
about 1 month ago
Teva Finau is not having problems with grades, he is trying to graduate 6 months early to be able to come to WVU this year. Should know in August.
about 1 month ago
Teva Finau is attempting to complete a 2 year degree in 1 1/2 years.
Odds are he WILL make it,maybe not till the end of August though.
about 1 month ago
Well Frank, I hope you are right. But I think we'll see a definite drop off. Bill Stewart is a nice guy, but he's not really a star and the program will drop off quick after 2008. The only way the program doesn't fall out of the top 20 is recruit the next coach soon. And don't screw with the coach on stupid inconsequential issues. And keep the governor out of it.
about 1 month ago
Two words Noel Devine. WVU will be fine in 2009.
Also, remember they play in the best conference in America (sarcasm).
about 1 month ago
..
I look to see them slide back into a sticky funk.
Bill Stewart is no RichRod, and WVU's bandwagon fanbase is in for a gut check.
It was nice for them while it lasted.
GO HERD.
..
about 1 month ago
Hey Herd,
At least we have a fan base lol!!!
about 1 month ago
Hey Herd, Nice to finally get a sellout in your crackerjack box stadium huh? How are the season ticket sales going this year without us on your home schedule? That's what I thought. Next time the Eers come to hang 48 points on your sore tails, we'll have another sea of Blue and Gold there. I've "Herd" rumblings from your 2 boosters that no one travels to Conference USA raod games. Hell, you folks don't even travel to home games. I really think your sorry assed squad would be better off with Matthew McConaughey as the coach. Seriously. Roughly 1\3 of your total season tickets a year ago were purchased by WVU fans who used the remaining sets of game tickets to light the tailgate party grill after spanking your pitiful squad. That's why the rest of the year, your home games hardly drew enough people to start a fight. Go back to midget league (1 AA) or minor league subconference B.S. where you were actually competitive.
from about 1 month ago
Hey, that's some nice writing. Well said!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My sentiments exactly.
about 1 month ago
I just can't help but wonder what basis people have for thinking WVU will 'slide' after '08. Bill Stewart isn't the one calling plays. He may have input, but he's leaving that to Jeff Mullen and his other guys. The playbook isn't CHANGING, it's being tweaked. You no longer have RichRod calling getting caught without a real gameplan when the defense blows up the running game. Sure, calvin Magee was OC last year, but RichRod called most of the plays.
Rich was successful in recruiting, but also managed to get us locked out of several areas due to his early handling of recruits. Those areas are now back open to us. Recruiting now is even better than when Rod was coach. Seriously... what is there to make anyone think performance will drop off? Does performance normally drop off when you get an influx of better talent and better coaching? yes, better coaching. We may have lost RichRod, but we gained a Doc Holliday, a Chris Beatty, a Steve Dunlap, a Jeff Mullen... and let's face it, Stew was the primary guy who taught Appy State the spread, so there's likely little drop-off there.
What we've REALLY gained is a true TEAM mentality instead of a 'what's best for Rich' mentality. The kids respond to Bill Stewart. That's worth more than a narcissistic primadonna.
about 1 month ago
Very nice article as always Frank. I look for a very good year again from our mountaineers and dont think this team will fall on its face in the coming years. Coach Rod did build the program up to what it is now, but, but, but no one person is bigger than the program, not the AD, not Steve Slaton, not even Pat White. So WVU football will move on, I love our current staff so much talent, if any downside to the new staff is how they will gel in a tight situation, will the be confortable when the game is on the line? only time will tell. and BTW MR HERD its people like you and ol coach pruitt that make mountaineer nation "hate" the thundering terds...out
about 1 month ago
WVU will always be a top 10 team even after Pat White leaves for one reason......recruiting, now everyone knows WVU and so they'll always have good players or even better than the current roaster men im a Mizzouri fan but boy do the WVU Mountaineers excite me whenever they're on the field...i just love how Pat White wades through defenses as if he were invinsible the guy can embarrass defenses like no one else and Noel Divine is even better just ask the Oklahoma D they couldnt keep up with the speedy youngster...2008 toughest game will obviously be the Auburn clash on 10/23 at 7.30 p.m one of those Thursday night games that can destroy or make your season...remember the 2006 season Lousville beats West Va one Thursday the following Thursday Rutgers beats Lousville so WVU u better be very carefull
about 1 month ago
whetther or not wee have a down year we a have been a rakned team and national contender for multiple years and start almost every year ranked, with that being said we might not be a national conteneder in 2 years but wih the number 2 recruiting class for 09-10 season already we will still be a gator bowl or bcs team no one will argue that and have anything to base their opinions on. but as far as the coaching staff stewart is not a new coach hes been around the blcok more than once andf with holiday and casteel your opinion on lack of experience is not a strong one
write a new comment