West Virginia Football: Bill Stewart and Ralph Friedgen Square Off

Editor's Note: This article was written prior to West Virginia's 31-17 win over Maryland on Saturday, September 18.

West Virginia had just finished their improbable comeback against Marshall on Friday night when another intriguing development presented itself: Bill Stewart and Doc Holliday failed to meet and shake hands, on camera, after the game.

Unusual behavior for two men that have known each other since the 1970‘s. Both coaches had publicly stated they were dear old friends in the days leading up to the game.

By their actions—or lack of—after the game, fans should question the sincerity in that testimonial.

Perhaps Marshall’s hiring of Doc Holliday away from West Virginia University last December actually made the annual “Coal Bowl” a rivalry.

The play of the Marshall football team against WVU would certainly add credence to a developing rivalry.

The WVU Mountaineers are set to renew their rivalry with the Maryland Terrapins on Saturday, September 18. Unlike the series with Marshall, Maryland is indeed a rival.

The Mountaineers and Terrapins have faced off 46 times in their history. Only Pitt (102), Penn State (59), Syracuse (57), and Virginia Tech (51) have played more games against the Mountaineers.

WVU owns a 23-21-2 edge over the Terrapins.

Terrapin head coach Ralph Friedgen and Mountaineer head coach Bill Stewart have known each other for many years. In fact, Stewart replaced Friedgen as the offensive line coach at William and Mary in 1981.

Rest assured the proclaimed friendship in this case is no rouse.

The Maryland offense presents a unique challenge to Jeff Casteel and the Mountaineer defense. Maryland utilizes a two quarterback system offensively so far in 2010, Jamarr Robinson and Danny O'Brien.

Robinson shows a 42.1 completion percentage and a quarterback rating of 91.60. It is Robinson’s legs that the WVU defense respects. Robinson has rushed 17 times for 128 yards, an impressive 7.5 yards per carry average.

O’Brien shows a 50 percent completion percentage, and an impressive quarterback rating of 215.36. O’Brien has completed five passes on 10 attempts for 79 yards and three touchdowns and sports an excellent 15.8 yards per completion. O’Brien has rushed three times for three yards.

Typically, a two-quarterback system tips a team’s intentions offensively. Robinson struggles to throw the football effectively, and O’Brien does not present a dual threat.

Because Maryland must substitute offensively by utilizing two quarterbacks, that should allow Casteel to substitute defensively to improve the Mountaineer matchups. There will be a chess match with substitutions in this game.

Rushing stats are the key to the WVU vs. Maryland game. Maryland boasts an impressive list of running backs to compliment Robinson and O’Brien.

Maryland’s backs are led by junior Davin Meggett, 16 rushes for 155 yards and one touchdown. Meggett shows a gaudy 9.7 yards per carry average. However, most of Meggett’s statistics were posted in Maryland’s season opener against Navy.

Senior Da’Rel Scott has carried 18 times for 100 total yards, a 5.6 yards per carry average.

To start the season the Mountaineer defense was thought to be the team's strength. After two games, the statistics for the Mountaineer defense are less than impressive.

WVU is ranked 53^rd against the run and 30^th against the pass after the first two games. Brandon Hogan, WVU’s top cover corner, is also suspended indefinitely, so there are concerns regarding just how dominant the WVU defense actually is.

Under Bill Stewart, the Mountaineer football team has typically recovered well from a previous poor performance. Look for that trend to continue in the Maryland game.

At the 8:26 mark of the fourth quarter, Mountaineer fans everywhere saw the dawning of “The Geno Smith era” on Friday night in Huntington. With WVU trailing Marshall 21-6, Smith began an impressive comeback that will go down in the annals of WVU football lore.

During the first of those drives, a 96-yarder, Smith was seen coming out of a time out simply nodding an affirmative as he walked onto the field to lead his offense.

The affirmative gesture was simply Smith’s way of saying, not tonight, not while I am the quarterback. Leadership by Smith is no longer a concern for Mountaineer fans.

WVU can expect continued improvement by Smith in only his third career start. Smith’s stats for 2010 are 52 completions on 72 attempts for 532 yards and three touchdowns. Smith sports a quarterback rating of 139.7 and a 72.2 completion percentage.

The Mountaineer offense is developing into sleeping giant. At some point this season experience will assemble with talent for WVU, and the giant will awake.

Until then look for Noel Devine to continue to provide the spark for the Mountaineers offensively.

Devine has posted solid stats, showing 46 attempts for 223 yards and two touchdowns, a 4.8 yards per carry average. Devine has added 12 receptions for 80 yards to his rushing numbers.

Through two games Devine represents roughly a third of the Mountaineer offense. Still, Devine has not displayed the characteristic “home run” talent that fans have come to expect.

Instead Devine has chosen to play his role in the grander scheme that is the Mountaineer offense. Mountaineer fans should follow Devine’s lead.

The Maryland defense will have its hands full on Saturday in their first road game of the season. The Terrapin defense has posted two impressive performances the last two weeks.

The Mountaineer offense presents a unique set of challenges for the Terrapins, WVU is not one-dimensional. Further compounding the Maryland challenge is the speed WVU fields on offense.

The odds makers have placed the Mountaineers as 10-point favorites at home against the Terrapins. Seemingly a high number for a border rivalry between two teams that have played as often as WVU and Maryland.

Expect WVU to show continued improvement on both sides of the ball and with special teams.

Ultimately, Maryland appears over-matched in this game. Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, West Virginia, is as difficult a place to play as there is in college football.

Bill Stewart should be victorious when he greets Ralph Friedgen in their postgame handshake.