Let's face it—the WVU administration hasn't made many great decisions lately concerning their football coaching staff.
Bickering over school books and sideline passes cost them Rich Rodriguez. Contract issues cost them Jimbo Fisher.
The Mountaineer brass have also looked at Butch Jones, Terry Bowden, and Doc Holliday—but after the Fiesta Bowl, it's clear they have exactly what they need:
A coach who cares more about his players than himself.
Bill Stewart is the kind of coach you come back and hug years after you're done playing. He's a man of integrity and kindness, and the sort of father figure young college players need.
Couple that with the offensive smarts of Calvin Magee and Co., and you have a winning combination without a prima donna attitude.
What you have, in fact, is what West Virginia is known for: nice people who work hard.
WVU would be fortunate to keep this group together after their performance against a great Oklahoma team. Magee was never given the chance to show his offensive genius before the Fiesta Bowl, because Rodriguez would never let him make the play calls.
That came back to haunt WVU in the Pitt loss, when Rodriguez refused to use the plays Magee called down from the booth. That info comes directly from the Mountaineer football team.
Rodriguez's hard head cost him the Pitt game, the respect of his former players at WVU, and the admiration of the entire state of West Virginia. Now he's a man without a home state.
As for Stewart—he's smart enough to allow the talents of both the coaching staff and the players to rule the day.
Bill Stewart, with Magee's help, earned a Fiesta Bowl win against a team many people (including Lee Corso) considered to be the No. 1 squad in the country.
These same guys will bring WVU a national title if they're given the chance.
It's said that Nice Guys finish last. West Virginia would be smart to let this Nice Guy finish first.
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