West Virgnia Mountaineers One Game Away from BCS Championship

After the devastating loss to South Florida in late September, the
West Virginia Mountaineers looked to be on track for having a second straight disappointing season, according to pre-season expectations.

But now, with a win over arch-rival Pitt in the 100th annual "Backyard Brawl," the Mountaineers will be riding high all the way to New Orleans for the BCS National Championship Game.

The Mountaineers have not been to a national championship game since Major Harris took them there in 1988—only to be beat by Lou Holtz's Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The Mountaineers have been long without Major Harris, but they have found a similar replacement with Heisman contender Pat White.

White went out late in the second quarter with an injury in the loss to South Florida, but he has more than made up for that ever since. Tied late in the fourth quarter against conference rival Louisville, White raced 50 yards to score the winning touchdown in order to keep the Mountaineers alive in the Big East and BCS race.

White showed up big time again in what ended up being the Big East Championship game against UConn at home. He went 9-13 passing with a touchdown and rushed 16 times for 186 yards and another score—without even playing in the fourth quarter due to stomach problems. However, White was not needed as the Mountaineers finished the game strong to win 66-21 as they clinched their fourth Big East title in the past five years.

Don't give all the credit to White and the Mountaineer offense though. After finishing the 2006 season ranked 109 out of 119 division one teams against the pass, West Virginia is now ranked 6th in total defense, while improving to 15th in pass defense going into the Backyard Brawl.

A big help to the defense has been Ryan Mundy, a senior transfer safety from Michigan who was allowed to play immediately due to a new NCAA rule involving graduate school. Mundy has made very few mistakes this season in West Virginia's complicated 3-3-5 defense, which is completely different than the defense he played under while at Michigan.

The Mountaineers will be looking to keep up the tough defense and explosive offense as they end their season at home against Pittsburgh. Never in the history of the Backyard Brawl has this game meant as much to the Mountaineers as this one does. The Panthers will be hungry as well, as nothing would put more of a positive spin on their disappointing season than to ruin the national title hopes of their hated rival on their own turf.

If White and the Mountaineers can pass this one final test, they are certain to have reached the goal that 119 teams had their eye on when the season began: to play for the national championship.