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11 October 2010
Before the start of the game between the West Virginia University Mountaineers and the Rebels of the University of Nevada Las Vegas, there was much angst about the performance of the Mountaineer offense.
By the time the game was three minutes old, that anxiety had disappeared. The Mountaineers were up 14-0, and essentially the game was over.
WVU paid the UNLV Rebels $740,000 to travel east to play at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mountaineer Nation should consider that money well spent.
Bill Stewart’s charges would go on to win the game by the score of 49-10. The final score does not reflect just how overmatched the Rebels were in this game.
Geno Smith’s stat line for the game was 12 completions on 16 attempts for 220 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Smith’s quarterback rating for the game was an astounding 252.38, with a completion percentage of 75.
Seven different receivers caught passes for the Mountaineers against UNLV.
Noel Devine’s injury to his big toe in the LSU game reduced the number of carries Devine would get against UNLV. Devine amassed 84 yards on three carries with two touchdown runs, the first was a 28 yard run, the second a 48 yard run.
The UNLV football team has to be asking itself, “What could Devine do if he was healthy“? Devine averaged 28 yards per carry for the game.
Eleven different Mountaineers ran the ball for Bill Stewart, as he chose to rest Devine in preparation for the University of South Florida Bulls on Thursday.
By far the most shocking performance of the day was rendered by wide receiver Brad Starks. Starks had been nursing a hip injury until the UNLV game.
Starks first catch of the season went for a 48 yard touchdown. Starks had four catches on the day, for 100 yards and three touchdown receptions.
Suddenly, the Mountaineer offense can extend the field. Starks is a 6’3”, 190lb, junior from Unionville, Virginia. Stewart has referenced Starks as one of the fastest players on the team.
The lopsided score allowed Stewart and his staff to substitute extensively. Players that often do not get quality game reps did so against UNLV. That experience should pay dividends later in the season when the injuries to players begin to mount.
The most important aspect of this game for Stewart and his staff was the emergence of the offense’s identity. For possibly the first time in his tenure, Jeff Mullen’s offense hit on all cylinders for an extended period.
With the short turnaround to the USF game, Mullen does not have to wait long to prove the UNLV game was not a fluke. The Bulls own a 3-2 edge in games played against the Mountaineers.
USF also represents a far better and faster team than UNLV.
Last year at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, Florida, the bulls embarrassed the Mountaineers 30-19. Actually, the game was not as close as the score might indicate.
Stewart recently showed media and fans alike how deep his competitive fire burns. After the LSU loss, Stewart spent two days belittling any reporter that dared ask a question.
It is no doubt safe to say that Stewart has had the USF game circled since the end of the game last year. Stewart does not like to have his team humiliated on national television.
The WVU vs. USF game is becoming a rivalry game, the record of both teams entering the game should be thrown out the window. All that will matter Thursday night is that the Mountaineers and Bulls will be lining up to go at it.
Stewart and his coaches will have the WVU football team ready to play on Thursday. So too will Skip Holtz the head coach at USF.
In his post game press conference, Stewart stated that the preseason is now over for the Mountaineers, the real season starts Thursday against USF. Stewart was referencing that UNLV represented the final out of conference game for WVU.
By that Statement, rest assured, Stewart will have his team ready for the task.
WVU has become the prohibitive favorite to win the Big East conference in 2010; Stewart recognizes the gravity of the situation facing his team.
Win out, win the Big East Conference, and claim the associated BCS bowl bid. All that is left is for the Mountaineers to do just that.
Stewart and Company control their destiny. Do not expect them to relinquish that destiny easily. USF will not take it from them; the Bulls do not have that much ability.
Only the Mountaineer players can give up that destiny, anticipate a strong showing by the Mountaineers on Thursday. Stewart’s charges will follow where he leads, at the end of the day that is all a fan base can ask of its head coach, leadership.
