SI.com - NCAA Football - Rutgers -- yes, Rutgers -- makes AP Top 25 - Sunday September 24, 2006 3:13PM:
Yes, Rutgers Scarlet Knights make AP poll for first time since '76
Monday, September 25, 2006
Welcome to the Big Table!
Thursday, September 21, 2006
I like it... I love it...
According to ESPN.com, Pitt continues to show an inability to stop the option. Actually, running plays of any sort have presented a problem the past few years whenever Pitt is matched against a ranked team. Several Pitt misreads on option plays enabled MSU to produce a pair of 100-yard rushers, including quarterback Drew Stanton, who tortured the Panthers all day. The bludgeoning evoked memories of last year's season-finale, when West Virginia ran for 451 yards in a 45-13 victory. On the day he was hired, Coach Dave Wannstedt promised a defense that would stop the run. Pitt fans are still waiting.
* * *
With the early success in this year's run game, WVU may be poised to repeat last year's "bludgeoning."
* * *
Scary Thought of the Day: According to Coach Rod, WVU has only utilized about half of its offensive play book through the first three games of the season.
* * *
Most Obvious Realization of the Day: WVU's other half of the play book are the pass plays.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Ready or Not... Here we come!
The No. 4 ranked WVU Mountaineers hit the road for four of our next five games.
Destination #1: Greenville, NC to face the ECU Pirates. East Carolina Coach Skip (son of Lou) Holtz knows what is coming. At his monday press conference he acknowledged, "They're fast. They can reach you. They're quick. They're athletic... They're scary."
After swiftly rushing past our first three challengers let's hope we don't hit a bump in the road against this perennial pain in the backside. Let's not forget this is East Carolina. The same team that just last year held WVU to less than 130 yards on the ground. So let's not overlook the Pirates.
Okay. Enough of the cautious "coach speak."
Who am I kidding? We are the No. 4 team in the nation and while ECU may have slowed us last year they did not face the wrath of Slaton, White, and Schmidt.
Let's hope our ground game may is so dominating that Pattrick White only attempts 8 passes and Steve Slaton starts the off week early in the 3rd quarter.
* * *
In other news, how bad is Miami (da U)? Or just how good is Louisville?
Talk about a scary thought, you lose your elite RB for the season and your star QB for at least a month. They haven't missed a beat. Credit has to be given to the U of L. As a Gold and Blue faithful I can only hope that we could reload as quickly as they have this season.
As for Miami (da U) and the rest of the ACC, they are getting their just deserts. While it may only be a aberration the ACC is not the conference that it was hyped to be when they raided the Big East. The only natural ACC team that is undefeated is Wake Forest. I love it!!! A-C-C... A-C-C... A-C-C...
* * *
How good is the Big East (and its former Members?) Just think about that for a second...
#4, WVU, 3-0;
#8, Louiville, 3-0;
#11, VT, 3-0;
#20, BC, 3-0;
dropping fast is Miami (da U), 1-2;
and rising fast is Rutgers, 3-0.
Destination #1: Greenville, NC to face the ECU Pirates. East Carolina Coach Skip (son of Lou) Holtz knows what is coming. At his monday press conference he acknowledged, "They're fast. They can reach you. They're quick. They're athletic... They're scary."
After swiftly rushing past our first three challengers let's hope we don't hit a bump in the road against this perennial pain in the backside. Let's not forget this is East Carolina. The same team that just last year held WVU to less than 130 yards on the ground. So let's not overlook the Pirates.
Okay. Enough of the cautious "coach speak."
Who am I kidding? We are the No. 4 team in the nation and while ECU may have slowed us last year they did not face the wrath of Slaton, White, and Schmidt.
Let's hope our ground game may is so dominating that Pattrick White only attempts 8 passes and Steve Slaton starts the off week early in the 3rd quarter.
* * *
In other news, how bad is Miami (da U)? Or just how good is Louisville?
Talk about a scary thought, you lose your elite RB for the season and your star QB for at least a month. They haven't missed a beat. Credit has to be given to the U of L. As a Gold and Blue faithful I can only hope that we could reload as quickly as they have this season.
As for Miami (da U) and the rest of the ACC, they are getting their just deserts. While it may only be a aberration the ACC is not the conference that it was hyped to be when they raided the Big East. The only natural ACC team that is undefeated is Wake Forest. I love it!!! A-C-C... A-C-C... A-C-C...
* * *
How good is the Big East (and its former Members?) Just think about that for a second...
#4, WVU, 3-0;
#8, Louiville, 3-0;
#11, VT, 3-0;
#20, BC, 3-0;
dropping fast is Miami (da U), 1-2;
and rising fast is Rutgers, 3-0.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Dog Eat Dog
Admittedly it is early, very early, in the season.
But there is no better time than the present to give props to the Big East and to bash the ACC.
ESPN.com - NCF - Schlabach: On (and off) the Mark:
On the Mark
Big East. In the second season of Big East Lite, the depleted conference is proving to be better than expected. Six of its eight teams have unblemished records. West Virginia is ranked No. 5, Louisville No. 12. Rutgers and Pittsburgh are knocking on the door of the Top 25. The Big East can bolster its reputation further in three big matchups this week: Maryland at West Virginia on Thursday (ESPN, 7:30 p.m. ET), and Miami at Louisville (ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET) and Michigan State at Pittsburgh on Saturday (ESPN2, noon ET).
Off the Mark
ACC. We're going to start charging ACC commissioner John Swofford rent for this space. A week after I wrote the ACC race would come down to three teams, Florida State, Miami and Virginia Tech, the Seminoles nearly lost to Troy. At least Clemson confirmed my belief that the Tigers aren't ready to challenge for the league championship. As for the rest of the ACC, Boston College is pretty good, Georgia Tech is OK, Maryland is mediocre, North Carolina is below-average, NC State is worse, Wake Forest is struggling, Virginia is bad and Duke is, well, Duke. Watch out Pac-10. You're next.
On the Mark
Big East. In the second season of Big East Lite, the depleted conference is proving to be better than expected. Six of its eight teams have unblemished records. West Virginia is ranked No. 5, Louisville No. 12. Rutgers and Pittsburgh are knocking on the door of the Top 25. The Big East can bolster its reputation further in three big matchups this week: Maryland at West Virginia on Thursday (ESPN, 7:30 p.m. ET), and Miami at Louisville (ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET) and Michigan State at Pittsburgh on Saturday (ESPN2, noon ET).
Off the Mark
ACC. We're going to start charging ACC commissioner John Swofford rent for this space. A week after I wrote the ACC race would come down to three teams, Florida State, Miami and Virginia Tech, the Seminoles nearly lost to Troy. At least Clemson confirmed my belief that the Tigers aren't ready to challenge for the league championship. As for the rest of the ACC, Boston College is pretty good, Georgia Tech is OK, Maryland is mediocre, North Carolina is below-average, NC State is worse, Wake Forest is struggling, Virginia is bad and Duke is, well, Duke. Watch out Pac-10. You're next.
Mark my words, we have to enjoy this Big East lovefest while we can, because after the meat and potatos of the conferance schedule arrives I can only think of one word to best describe the Big East: cannibalism. What? What! What?
Thats right, the Big East will devour itself. It always has and it, likely, always will. Unfotunately, the reputation will suffer if my prognostication is correct. The Big East is not a league of superstars. It is a league of competitors. Yes, WVU and Louisville are seen as the top dogs. But anyone who follows Big East Football knows that any team can be defeated, particularly from within.
Monday, September 11, 2006
WVU v. Eastern Washington
What did I think of the game?
The Mountaineers won 53 to 3 over the Eagles. For the Gold and Blue 82 different players, including four quarterbacks and eight running backs, saw action.
Enough said.
Move along, nothing more to see here. Next up the Maryland Terrapins on Thursday.
The Mountaineers won 53 to 3 over the Eagles. For the Gold and Blue 82 different players, including four quarterbacks and eight running backs, saw action.
Enough said.
Move along, nothing more to see here. Next up the Maryland Terrapins on Thursday.
Friday, September 08, 2006
A tip of the Coonskin Cap...
This is the Trailer (aka "the preview") of the movie titled WE ARE MARSHALL. The film stars Matthew McConaughey and Matthew Fox. This movie is about the rebuilding process that followed the tragic November 14, 1970 plane crash that took the lives of seventy-five members of the Marshall football team, coaches, university staff, and community members.
This will air at halftime of Marshall's home opener tomorrow against Hofstra. I don't think the players will have any trouble getting motivated for the second half. What do you think?
This will air at halftime of Marshall's home opener tomorrow against Hofstra. I don't think the players will have any trouble getting motivated for the second half. What do you think?
Thursday, September 07, 2006
"We just want to win — period."
All-America center Dan Mozes was quoted in a column written by Mickey Furfari for The Register-Herald. His comments were very grounded and echoed my philosophy of "one game at a time."
What I took away from the article was the statistic that WVU had 29 first-downs against Marshall. Wow! No wonder my arms were tired on Sunday. (referring to the first-down cheer)
That total was the biggest against an NCAA Division I-A opponent in Rich Rodriguez’s five-plus seasons as head coach. WVU had 30 on Aug. 31, 2002, in a 56-7 win over Division I-AA Tennessee-Chattanooga.
Needless to say, if we had 29 against Marshall, how many can we get against I-AA Eastern Washington? 36?
The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia - WVU lineman Mozes says O-line liked 29 first downs vs. Marshall: “We have high expectations, but for every game — not just one,” he said. “We want to rush for at least 200 yards in every game.
“It doesn’t make any difference who we’re playing. It could be the best team in America or a I-AA team. We just want to execute.
“If we dominate a team, so be it. We just want to win — period.”
What I took away from the article was the statistic that WVU had 29 first-downs against Marshall. Wow! No wonder my arms were tired on Sunday. (referring to the first-down cheer)
That total was the biggest against an NCAA Division I-A opponent in Rich Rodriguez’s five-plus seasons as head coach. WVU had 30 on Aug. 31, 2002, in a 56-7 win over Division I-AA Tennessee-Chattanooga.
Needless to say, if we had 29 against Marshall, how many can we get against I-AA Eastern Washington? 36?
The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia - WVU lineman Mozes says O-line liked 29 first downs vs. Marshall: “We have high expectations, but for every game — not just one,” he said. “We want to rush for at least 200 yards in every game.
“It doesn’t make any difference who we’re playing. It could be the best team in America or a I-AA team. We just want to execute.
“If we dominate a team, so be it. We just want to win — period.”
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Keep It Coming
I just can't get enough of the gushing commentary surrounding the Mountaineers this year:
ESPN.com - NCF - Big East notebook: Pretty soon -- like, by Saturday evening -- people are going to be talking about West Virginia tailback Steve Slaton as a serious Heisman Trophy candidate, if they're not already.
The Mountaineers aren't into printing T-shirts or putting faces on billboards in an effort to promote players for awards. Coach Rich Rodriguez wouldn't allow it. But Slaton's numbers are going to be impossible to ignore.
The 5-foot-10, 190-pound sophomore rushed for a national-best 203 yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries Saturday in a 42-10 romp over Marshall -- and he figures to run wild again this weekend against Division I-AA Eastern Washington.
For the record, Slaton has 407 yards rushing in his past two games, including 204 in the Sugar Bowl. Rodriguez has expressed concern about overusing Slaton.
Slaton has no such concern. 'I think I can sustain that for 12 games,' he said.
ESPN.com - NCF - Big East notebook: Pretty soon -- like, by Saturday evening -- people are going to be talking about West Virginia tailback Steve Slaton as a serious Heisman Trophy candidate, if they're not already.
The Mountaineers aren't into printing T-shirts or putting faces on billboards in an effort to promote players for awards. Coach Rich Rodriguez wouldn't allow it. But Slaton's numbers are going to be impossible to ignore.
The 5-foot-10, 190-pound sophomore rushed for a national-best 203 yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries Saturday in a 42-10 romp over Marshall -- and he figures to run wild again this weekend against Division I-AA Eastern Washington.
For the record, Slaton has 407 yards rushing in his past two games, including 204 in the Sugar Bowl. Rodriguez has expressed concern about overusing Slaton.
Slaton has no such concern. 'I think I can sustain that for 12 games,' he said.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Great Start to a Long Season
WVU and the rest of the Big East have received the memos, they've read the headlines. To sum it all up, "show up or ship out."
Ever since the ACC raided the Big East pantry, everyone, and I do mean EVERYONE, has been questioning the legitimacy of the Big East. Much like Coach Rod's mantra, "Stay Hungry, Stay Humble," the Big East has been punching the clock and doing everything it can to earn, scratch that, to maintain its reputation as a big time conference.
This past weekend, all but one of the teams carrying the Big East banner came out on top. Not to mention some tremendous individual efforts that should be noted.
Kudos to all.
Scout.com: Changing Landscape:
The 2006 NCAA's rushing leaders are ... a couple of no-names from the Big East:
Steve Slaton 203-(total) yards 6.2ypc 2TDs
Raymell Rice 201-(total) yards 6.5ypc 3TDs
The NCAA kicked off this week with a number of out of conference games. The highlight for those in the east featured the Big East and ACC. The Big East won the round, 2-1, with the only loss coming on the road.
The Big East went 7-1 as a conference to open up 2006. 3-1 over BCS teams.
Ever since the ACC raided the Big East pantry, everyone, and I do mean EVERYONE, has been questioning the legitimacy of the Big East. Much like Coach Rod's mantra, "Stay Hungry, Stay Humble," the Big East has been punching the clock and doing everything it can to earn, scratch that, to maintain its reputation as a big time conference.
This past weekend, all but one of the teams carrying the Big East banner came out on top. Not to mention some tremendous individual efforts that should be noted.
Kudos to all.
Scout.com: Changing Landscape:
The 2006 NCAA's rushing leaders are ... a couple of no-names from the Big East:
Steve Slaton 203-(total) yards 6.2ypc 2TDs
Raymell Rice 201-(total) yards 6.5ypc 3TDs
The NCAA kicked off this week with a number of out of conference games. The highlight for those in the east featured the Big East and ACC. The Big East won the round, 2-1, with the only loss coming on the road.
The Big East went 7-1 as a conference to open up 2006. 3-1 over BCS teams.
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Friday, September 01, 2006
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