I'm not the only one...

SI.com - Writers - Monday Morning QB (cont.) - Monday October 23, 2006 12:14PM:
Rutgers is 7-0. Let's play fantasy football for a minute. UConn next week at home: 8-0. Louisville on a Thursday night, Nov. 9, at home. Since we're fantasizing, give Rutgers the upset win over the Cardinals: 9-0. At Cincinnati (not a gimme) and Syracuse at home the next two weeks: 11-0. Then Dec. 2, at West Virginia. Follow me for a minute. Let's say Ohio State beats Michigan, and either Oregon, Cal or Notre Dame beat USC in November. Let's say West Virginia gets to the end of November 11-0. Imagine, as December dawns, there are three unbeaten, untied teams in college football: Ohio State, West Virginia and Rutgers. Rutgers and West Virginia could be -- could be -- playing in Morgantown for the right to play for the national championship.

Further explanation...

ESPN.com - COLUMNIST/FORDE - Forde: A Dash of kickers, No. 2s and midseason reviews:
West Virginia (15): If anyone says they know how good the Mountaineers truly are, they're lying. The combined record of their four I-A opponents to date is 7-14. The one thing we know for sure is that West Virginia is practiced at the art of power football (second in the nation in rushing offense) and downright averse to airing it out (just 16.2 pass attempts per game). Predictable? Yes. Stoppable? Not yet.

Statement game: Jumping out 28-0 on Maryland and sloppily cruising home with a 45-24 win comes closest.

Blah games: The Mountaineers haven't been very impressive in their two road contests. They were up only a touchdown in the fourth quarter at East Carolina before pulling away, and they needed two scores in the final three minutes to make their 42-14 win at Mississippi State look authoritative.

Next game: Home against an improved Syracuse team Saturday. It hardly qualifies as a test, but at least it's not Eastern Washington.

What the computers say: They hate the Mountaineers so far. One ranks them 29th, another 24th. Maryland and Marshall blew fourth-quarter leads last week against Georgia Tech and Central Florida, respectively, two games that could have helped WVU's strength of schedule.

Leap Frog

This week is the Big East opener against the Orange of Syracuse. It has been a roller coaster of a year for the 'Cuse. They started out at the bottom, losing a record number of games in a row. (one of which was a nailbiter in overtime against a highly ranked Iowa) Just like the Big East, lately, the Orange have proven that they are much better than folks originally thought. No doubt, they are coming to Morgantown with absolutely nothing to lose. That makes them very very dangerous.

* * *

Why are they dangerous? Because there is one thing Syracuse has been doing very well, getting to the QB. Their defense is referred to as the "Sack Attack" or something along those lines. They currently lead the nation in sacks. So Patrick White is going to have to bring his A-game and live up to the ESPN dubbed nickname "the Escape Artist."

* * *

Speaking of sacks. They aren't just for putting groceries in anymore. WVU's defense recorded it's first of the season in Starkville last Saturday.

* * *

So I'm setting at my office at a little after quitting time this evening and I hear that familiar "ding." It's my instant message program of choice letting me know that someone wants to chat it up. Literally.

SJB:

can you believe Michigan jumped us in the polls?

I can understand Florida

MT.ESQ.:
didn't you read my post at beatpitt.com?

Apparently, not. Bottom line, lot's of WVU fans are shaking their heads trying to figure out what happened. Afterall, visions of #2 and #3 rankings were dancing through our heads when the Razorbacks took Auburn to task in a SEC game that will be remembered until next week's SEC game to remember.

But seriously, it's time we reevaluate where we are and where we are headed...

We are WVU. The West Virginia Mountaineers. The perrenial "high expecation, lower than expected results" team from the (in some people's mind the "not so") Big East. We are currently ranked #4/#5 in the polls. (for those living in a cave, we were consensus #4 last week) What have we done to deserve this drop? The better question, what have we done to deserve the current ranking?

We beat Georgia in the Sugar Bowl (last year). We beat Marshall, Eastern Washington, Maryland, East Carolina, and Mississippi State. All and all, that's not a very impressive resume. Fortunately, we did win the Sugar Bowl. I firmly believe that if not for that victory, we would be lucky to be in the top 10. Think I'm wrong? Just wait and see what happens if (heaven forbid) we lose a game. There are a lot of very good "one loss" teams rounding out the top 10. A loss will seal our fate, we will drop so far, so fast that the state of WV will have whiplash.

In my humble opinion, we have peaked in the polls. Our "goodwill" or "capital" that we earned last season and/or in the preseason have taken the Mountaineers as high as it can. In order to achieve that #2 or #3, we must remain undefeated and we must look good doing it.

As for Michigan, its simple math... they've won 6 games and we've only won 5.

* * *

Chew on this: Louisville may be ranked higher than WVU when they face off on November 2 in Papa John's Stadium.

* * *

I have heard some rumblings that WVU may have to face off against two undefeated teams before claiming its 4th Big East title. Rutgers over Louiville on November 9?

"we may win and still drop in the poles"

ESPN.com - 2006 College Football Rankings - Week 7:

Week 7 AP Top 25
1. Ohio State (63) 6-0 1,623
2. Florida 6-0 1,516
3. USC 5-0 1,451
4. Michigan 6-0 1,429
5. West Virginia (2) 5-0 1,416
6. Texas 5-1 1,294
7. Louisville 5-0 1,247

Week 7 USA Today Poll
1. Ohio State (62) 6-0 1,574
2. USC 5-0 1,461
3. Florida (1) 6-0 1,412
4. West Virginia 5-0 1,398
5. Michigan 6-0 1,358
6. Texas 5-1 1,240
7. Louisville 5-0 1,207

More Cowbell

This saturday I expect a lot of cowbell. No, I'm not talking about a rerun of Saturday Night Live, I'm talking about the clanging that is synonomous with Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field in Starkville, Mississippi.

No doubt everyone knows that consensus ranked No. 4 WVU travels to the deep south and faces Southern Mississippi of the SEC in a midafternoon matchup this weekend. What everyone does not know is that the loyal Bulldog fans in Starkville greet visiting teams with a resounding clang. Apparantly, this rich tradition dates back to the late 1930's and 40's and despite numerous attempts to stop it, it lives on.

* * *

It's a road trip. It's going to be hot. It's going to be humid. It's going to be annoyingly loud. Unfortunately, it's only Mississippi State with a current record of only 1-4; therefore, it's not on television for the masses.

This can't be what Coach Rod had in mind when they scheduled this game. Logic would dictate that you go to the SEC for a 2 game series to beef up your schedule, not deflate it.

* * *

WVU is treading water in the polls. I strongly believe that a domination by WVU over State is needed to maintain our current rankings.

Ideally, three things will happen this Saturday in Starkville. Slaton gets back on track and leaves the strongest facet of the Bulldog team, its rush defense, in a daze by rushing for 200 yds. Additionally, Patrick White duplicates his ECU performance and airs it out minus the three interceptions. Finally, the young bend-but-don't-break defense comes of age, records a couple of sacks, and proves to the sports pundits that WVU does indeed have a defense to compliment its offense.

If we don't achieve these lofty goals this week, we may win and still drop in the poles.

The WVU lovefest may soon be over if we don't pony-up.