I think if we're honest with ourselves, we can say that South Florida lost that game. Or at the very least blew every opportunity they had to win.
I can't count the number of times Grothe missed on sure touchdown passes. I also can't count the number of times a South Florida receiver got open for a first down when West Virginia was dropping eight in coverage.
As has been the case for South Florida in most of their losses this year, they turned the ball over and gave their opponent way too many chances. You have to take your hat off to the Bulls defense for only giving up six points on three turnovers.
White and the offense had difficulty at times moving the ball. Devine, despite not playing in the first quarter, had 90 yards on 17 carries. Whatever the reason, it seemed to motivate him. Although there is still a bowl game to play, the coaches have to find a way to get the ball in Devine's hands next year. He's just too dynamic a player to not touch the ball 20-25 times a game.
Speaking of bowl games, we are headed to the Car Care Bowl. Most likely, we will play North Carolina. But we'll have to wait on that call tonight.
Not so much fun for either team this year. Big expectations and disappointing results. Both are 7-4. West Virginia has done fair inside the Big East, but a couple losses OOC that no one could imagine them losing before the beginning of the year. Surprisingly, South Florida has lost four of six against Big East teams.
Somehow, South Florida is first in total offense and second in total defense in the Big East. Their negative turnover margin explains a lot of how they lost this year as well as the second highest penalty yards per game.
West Virginia is only 6th in total offense and fifth in total defense. Their saving graces have been being first in turnover margin and middle of the pack in penalties. The defense has been better than expected. Especially being first in scoring defense. Thanks to CFB Stats.
Part of the reason the Big East is being bashed this year is the failure of these teams to live up to expectations. I wish there was a nice way to say that, but there isn't. Pitt and Cincinnati have both improved. It would be respectable if those two teams were 3rd and 4th in the conference, but they are one and two.
The Game
For West Virginia to win, they absolutely have to be able to run the ball. It's going to be cold and most likely snowing Saturday night. The weather should be a huge advantage for the Mountaineers if they can run the ball and get on the board first. South Florida has fallen behind early in all their losses, and playing against a warm weather team in the cold is a good way to make them want to quit early if you jump on them and run the ball. Sorry about all the running of the ball stuff, but I just want to make sure understands where I'm coming from. I think USF is pretty much locked into the St. Pete bowl, so there really isn't anything to play for.
Grothe will be back next year. Even though he is having his best year statistically, I never really have thought of him as NFL material. He's a great college quarterback, but I would think NFL teams would be weary of his improvising ways.
It should be an electric atmosphere for Pat White's last game. Unfortunately, the game is going to be on at the same time as the Big 12 championship game. So it won't get the national coverage you'd like to see for someone that means as much to WVU football as Pat does. Most of you, like me, don't care about that game as much as our own, though. So tune into ESPN2 about 8pm and try to imagine what Jack Fleming would put together for his pregame intro. Starting out in a docile tone going through all the awards White has gathered in his time at WVU. Slowly building towards climax as he gets down to the things that inspire. Like the games he put the team on his back and willed them to victory, how he came out of nowhere on that faithful night against Louisville in 2005 to take West Virginia to new heights....Sorry Tony Caridi, I'd like to hear what that would sound like.
Damn! You drink too much and you wake up with a coal tattoo.
Bad news for the Big East, George Selvie is planning on coming back for his senior season. He had a blast at the sausage party we call the Playboy All-American photo shoot.
Q: How many of your teammates asked if you saw any Playboy playmates?
A: “A lot of them. They thought I was at the [Playboy] mansion. I told them it wasn’t at the mansion, it was at a resort [in Phoenix]. They were like, “Man, what kind of Playboy All-America team is it if you don’t get to see the playmates?”
Really? You mean losing a shot at the national title upset him? Hmmmm. Rodriguez's agent was threatening to shop Rodriguez around from the moment Garrison took office.
Garrison testified that during his first meeting with Brown in July 2007, Brown admitted to him that he had pushed Rodriguez toward the Alabama job he eventually turned down and that he would continue to push him toward other jobs.
According to Garrison, “Brown did not believe West Virginia University was up to keeping, what he called — and I was surprised when he said this — ‘Product Rodriguez’ and that there were other jobs. He wanted me to be aware that he would continue to ‘shop,’ as he put it, ‘Product Rodriguez’ on the open market.”
Skip the first few paragraphs of that story if you click the link. It is one of the worst openings to an article I have ever read.
Big East men's basketball opponents schedule has been released (pdf). West Virginia avoids playing any of the big boys more than once. You should have come back Joe. What the hell are you going to do with all that money anyway?
WVU finishes 30th in the director's cup. Marshall does so bad they aren't ranked. Seems about right.
I think if we're honest with ourselves, we can say that South Florida lost that game. Or at the very least blew every opportunity they had to win.
