Fiesta Bowl - Oklahoma vs West Virginia

Duckjake

LEGACY MEMBER
LEGACY MEMBER
Joined
Jun 10, 2002
Posts
32,190
Reaction score
317
Location
Texas
He sure struggled on kickoffs though. And the coverage was poor too. OU kept getting incredible field position.

Yeah, what was up with those ground balls WVU kept kicking?

They didn't give the coverage team time to get downfield so by the time the return man ran into any traffic he was already past the 30 or 40 yard line.
 

Southpaw

Provocateur aka Wallyburger
Supporting Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2003
Posts
39,818
Reaction score
3,410
Location
The urban swamp
Kelly was doubtful all week with a leg injury. The guy who replaced him was great.

Why didn't Murray play, I think he would have helped the OU run game some?

Why did OU continually blitz Pat White? Every key 3rd down was the same, they'd blitz, White would run for the first down, and then Haden would tell us how hard it is to account for the QB when you blitz, so why blitz?

WVU was really impressive, all the big plays made this game watchable otherwise all the damn penalties would have killed the game. I know there were some obvious holds that weren't called and some that were but it got to be ridiculous they couldn't run 2 plays without a penalty. That's the problem in bowl games teams are never sharp with the layoffs.

Don't know that sharpness had anything to do with the " personal fouls ". At one point WVU had 8 penalties for 110 yards. That figures only 2 were 5 yarders.

The football world better not expect many more games out of Devine at the NCAA level. His transcript looked like a jigsaw puzzle with only 5 pieces that didn't fit. Dude had 2 children by the time he was 16. Has 3 now.
 

Russ Smith

The Original Whizzinator
Supporting Member
Joined
May 14, 2002
Posts
84,546
Reaction score
33,353
Don't know that sharpness had anything to do with the " personal fouls ". At one point WVU had 8 penalties for 110 yards. That figures only 2 were 5 yarders.

The football world better not expect many more games out of Devine at the NCAA level. His transcript looked like a jigsaw puzzle with only 5 pieces that didn't fit. Dude had 2 children by the time he was 16. Has 3 now.

He turns 20 in 3 weeks. IIRC that means he's draft eligible after his soph year because he'll be 21 by the draft so he doesn't have to play 3 years?

Crazy story, parents died of AIDS, Deion Sanders tries to adopt him etc. I agree doesn't seem like he'll be in college very long but at his size the NFL might not be in love with him.
 

Southpaw

Provocateur aka Wallyburger
Supporting Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2003
Posts
39,818
Reaction score
3,410
Location
The urban swamp
He turns 20 in 3 weeks. IIRC that means he's draft eligible after his soph year because he'll be 21 by the draft so he doesn't have to play 3 years?

Crazy story, parents died of AIDS, Deion Sanders tries to adopt him etc. I agree doesn't seem like he'll be in college very long but at his size the NFL might not be in love with him.

Sad story, that could have turned out better. Hope he gets a job in the NFL, because he is a babymaker and not a candidate for Monster.com.

Maybe he can be a KR specialist or a slot back, but I don't think he catches the ball well.
 

Skkorpion

Grey haired old Bird
LEGACY MEMBER
Supporting Member
Joined
May 9, 2002
Posts
11,026
Reaction score
5
Location
Sun City, AZ
Congratulations Rivercard and WVU. What a delightful game to watch.

Never expected this result but loved it. Beating up on the losing coach is unfair. Somebody had to lose. This time it was OU.

At one time, Bear Bryant had the longest losing streak in bowl games and he's still one of the best coaches ever.

Right now, notre Dame has the longest bowl losing streak, I think.
 

dreamcastrocks

Chopped Liver Moderator
Super Moderator
Moderator
Supporting Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2005
Posts
45,919
Reaction score
11,315
I think you are right, and I think it is up to 8 now.
 

LVCARDFREAK

In the league 20 years!
Joined
Mar 3, 2003
Posts
6,360
Reaction score
1
Location
Vegas
Just got back from the game....Read through this whole thread, will try to comment in one reply.

1. The coach thing. I think where people dont understand is this is not just "another coach" who left a program. This was the prodigal son who came home. Played at WVU, First coach as a GA was at WVU, always called it his 'dream job". Just re-signed a 5 year extension last year and got money, facilities upgrades, etc out of it. Left by passing a note to a GA to give to the AD-never spoke with him directly, tried to steal recruits by telling them prior to telling his team. Just classless. What recourse do fans have then to "whine". And whine they should, they got shafted on this deal. 3 weeks ago WVU was playing for a NC game spot, then the coach bails. I know it is hard to understand if you are a fan of say, UA, who cant understand the level of success that WVU has.

2. Oklahoma was big and slow and WVU was fast. They claimed they saw the same speed before when they played Missouri and Kansas. They were wrong. WVU beat them in every facet of the game and especially in the trenches. They had no answer for White or Devine or Reynaurd. Playing calling was much better than in past games

3. Noel Devine is committed to WVU. He has been calling recruits tryign to "woo" them back after RR departure. He could go to the NFL after next year, but honestly question marks about his size will probably keep him at WVU at least 2 more years. But who knows. Regardless WVU has 2 other 4 star freshman RB's on the roster and 1 more 4 star recruited (had 2 but he decommited)

4. The "Brian Bosworth" clone you refer to is Owen Schmit and he rated asthe #1 FB in the draft by many. You will see him blow up on Sundays.

5. Devine can catch, but his weakness is blocking and his size.

6. Losing to Pitt. Some consipracy theorists believe RR had contact with Michigan prior to that gam and became distracted. Others believe he "threw" the game to go to Michigan. I dont buy any of that bull. WVU lost the game the same way they have lost games the last 3 years: White and/or Slaton goes out, lots of turnovers, predictable play calling. Otherwise, at least offensivley, they are very difficult to stop.
 
Last edited:

Southpaw

Provocateur aka Wallyburger
Supporting Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2003
Posts
39,818
Reaction score
3,410
Location
The urban swamp
IMNSHO WVU made a huge mistake hiring Stewart. Comes off as an emotional , "feel good" hire. ( and he comes real cheap ). WVU has lost its best assistants to RR staff in Michigan. Stewart has a staff of not wanteds and a bunch of holes. Miami did this with Coker and Shannon and are going down the tubes.

Best of luck to the program.
 

Gee!

BirdGang
Supporting Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2003
Posts
26,222
Reaction score
25
Location
Gee From The G
Im just glad them WVU fans got outta town.. What an annoying bunch they were..
 

LVCARDFREAK

In the league 20 years!
Joined
Mar 3, 2003
Posts
6,360
Reaction score
1
Location
Vegas
IMNSHO WVU made a huge mistake hiring Stewart. Comes off as an emotional , "feel good" hire. ( and he comes real cheap ). WVU has lost its best assistants to RR staff in Michigan. Stewart has a staff of not wanteds and a bunch of holes. Miami did this with Coker and Shannon and are going down the tubes.

Best of luck to the program.

Kinda agree. But Stewart has been a candidate from day 1. He didnt just get the job because of the Fiesta bowl win. I am concerned and will be watching very closely as to who becomes his assistant coaches. I am hoping we get soemone on staff that will be the "head coach in waiting", but wwho knows.
 

Southpaw

Provocateur aka Wallyburger
Supporting Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2003
Posts
39,818
Reaction score
3,410
Location
The urban swamp
Kinda agree. But Stewart has been a candidate from day 1. He didnt just get the job because of the Fiesta bowl win. I am concerned and will be watching very closely as to who becomes his assistant coaches. I am hoping we get soemone on staff that will be the "head coach in waiting", but wwho knows.


Just hope as hard as you can he is not another Larry Coker.
 

LVCARDFREAK

In the league 20 years!
Joined
Mar 3, 2003
Posts
6,360
Reaction score
1
Location
Vegas
That's not exactly a ringing endorsement. :) Can he recruit for the long haul??

Yeah he brought in Pat White and he recruited several of the 3 and 4 star recruits that have committed this year. I am not worried about Recruiting with him. Coaching? Thats a different story!
 

Skkorpion

Grey haired old Bird
LEGACY MEMBER
Supporting Member
Joined
May 9, 2002
Posts
11,026
Reaction score
5
Location
Sun City, AZ
Appreciate your passion, LV.

Good luck. You may need it.
 

Goober Man

Ultra Vida Guerra Mojo
Joined
May 18, 2007
Posts
961
Reaction score
0
Congrats on the great win LVC...Like many other people I am on the fence with the HC hire personally I think you guys should of hired CMU's coach Butch Jones or Terry Bowden. I've always liked WVU and wish your team the best of luck in the future as your team will certainly need it with the number of Asst. coches that are leaving for MU. From what I've read Offensive cord. Calvin MaGee,DB and recruiting cord Tony Gibson, QB coach Rod Smith,Oline coach Grey Frey,Safeties coach Bruce Tall, and also strength and conditioning coach Mike Barwis...It seems like the only coach that is not coming to UM is the Def. cord Jeff Casteel. I got the info from here http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3181757 I hope Stewart turns out better than his 8-25 record while he was at VMI.

Edit: Just more sources of the coachs coming to UM http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08004/846760-100.stm?cmpid=latest.xml
 
Last edited:

Southpaw

Provocateur aka Wallyburger
Supporting Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2003
Posts
39,818
Reaction score
3,410
Location
The urban swamp
This mass exodus explains why schools should avoid hiring a first time HC. NO staff. When a top 20 program does something like this, it is a recipe for disaster. Stewart most likely end up with not wanteds, just fireds, and newbies. It is not like he has time and youth on his side. I think he is 55 years old and this would be his last gig, wheteher it is a good one or bad.

The CMU hire would seem like the better choice. An up and coming coach who could bring his own staff and has had success at a mid level school. Looks like emotions overruled this decision process.
 

Goober Man

Ultra Vida Guerra Mojo
Joined
May 18, 2007
Posts
961
Reaction score
0
This mass exodus explains why schools should avoid hiring a first time HC. NO staff. When a top 20 program does something like this, it is a recipe for disaster. Stewart most likely end up with not wanteds, just fireds, and newbies. It is not like he has time and youth on his side. I think he is 55 years old and this would be his last gig, wheteher it is a good one or bad.

The CMU hire would seem like the better choice. An up and coming coach who could bring his own staff and has had success at a mid level school. Looks like emotions overruled this decision process.
Thats exactly what I was thinking but Bill Stewart isn't a first time coach though he was a HC at VMI. The problem with Stewart is that he came cheap which prevents his current/future assistants from being paid a decent amount of money. I'm not exactly sure about that but I thought it was some sort of policy there or something.
 

LVCARDFREAK

In the league 20 years!
Joined
Mar 3, 2003
Posts
6,360
Reaction score
1
Location
Vegas
Congrats on the great win LVC...Like many other people I am on the fence with the HC hire personally I think you guys should of hired CMU's coach Butch Jones or Terry Bowden. I've always liked WVU and wish your team the best of luck in the future as your team will certainly need it with the number of Asst. coches that are leaving for MU. From what I've read Offensive cord. Calvin MaGee,DB and recruiting cord Tony Gibson, QB coach Rod Smith,Oline coach Grey Frey,Safeties coach Bruce Tall, and also strength and conditioning coach Mike Barwis...It seems like the only coach that is not coming to UM is the Def. cord Jeff Casteel. I got the info from here http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3181757 I hope Stewart turns out better than his 8-25 record while he was at VMI.

Edit: Just more sources of the coachs coming to UM http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08004/846760-100.stm?cmpid=latest.xml

I dont persnally like BUtch Jones. He is a RR clone and hasnt accomplished much at CMU. Winning the MAC at 7-5? wow. Terry Bowden hasnt coached in 10 years and cant keep his johnson in his pants. The one guy I would have liked to seeat WVU was Jimbo Fisher but that fell through.

The one coach I wanted to stay was Barwis. He has done wonders and WVU tried to keep him offerring him more money.

The other guys are RR friends and it was expected they would follow.
 
Top