Mountaineer Mess: Was Bill Stewart an Imprudent Decision?

The West Virginia Mountaineers' 2008 win-loss record is a far cry from their No. 7 preseason ranking. Arguably, the talent on that team is one of the best five in the country, but the report card is a C-minus at best.

Who is to blame?

How does a program go from three consecutive 11-win seasons to going week after week without gaining one vote? How does an offensive unit go from averaging 41 points a game to 24 points a game just one year later, with virtually the same personnel?

At the moment, it's quiet in Morgantown since the convincing win over Auburn Thursday night, but make no assumptions that the Mountaineers are back to playing like a national title contender. There are aspects of this program that continue to frustrate fans in the mountain state.

Even with the 17-point margin against one of the SEC's top programs, the offensive play calling remains alarming and of major concern amongst Mountaineer loyalists.

Pat White is first in the Big East and WVU in career rushing yardage, a record for a quarterback with 3,934 yards. He is second all-time in the NCAA, short by 355 yards (the record is 4,289 yards).

Some would say that, with six games left in his college career, White will shatter that record, leaving it almost impossible to break, while those who have been watching the gut-wrenching play calling since Week One of the 2008 season would say, "not a chance."

Prior to the 2008 season, White averaged 121 rushing yards on 17 attempts per game. In six starts this year, White is averaging 72 yards on 13 attempts per game. In 2006, White had 18 TDs on the ground, and in 2007 he had 14. Through six games in 2008, his rushing TDs total: two.

It's also worth mentioning that Pat White never dropped straight back to pass prior to this season. This year, White drops straight back to pass at least half the time a pass play is called.

For a quarterback with exceptional speed, staggering quickness, and a keen ability to read defenses—and the stats to prove it—why would Jeff Mullen, the OC, call for drop-back passing schemes?

White is a tremendous threat to any defense when he's rolling out, as he has proven his ability to throw on the run time and time again. When everyone is covered, Pat has the ability to turn the corner and pick up big yardage.

By making him drop back and sit in the pocket, you may as well put shackles around his ankles. Doing that to your offense is like driving a race car with two flat tires. These disturbing facts give reason to believe that the offensive coordinator doesn't know his quarterback and doesn't understand the importance of running on all cylinders.

So who is to blame for this nonsense? The feedback that I have gotten helps me understand that the majority of the blame is on Bill Stewart. The head coach is steering this ship, and when the propellers aren't rotating in the right direction, it's his responsibility to get them fixed.

Others are blaming the University (Athletic Director Ed Pastilong) for hiring Stewart impulsively after an emotional win against Oklahoma, the No. 1 Big 12 team, in the Fiesta Bowl following Rich Rodriguez's departure for the University of Michigan.

What's the answer? WVU just extended Stewart's contract for six years. Does he deserve another year? Does the university step in and stop the bleeding before more top recruits decommit, like Tajh Boyd, the top-rated high school QB, did a month ago after the Colorado loss?

It's not like it isn't obvious. The offensive play calling is irrational, special teams are painful to watch, and the whole feeling around Bill Stewart and how he is perceived to be a nice guy, but not a leader, are all things that are going to bring this program down.

Any college football fan knows that a couple of mediocre seasons hurts recruiting and ultimately hurts the win column.