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.
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.
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