The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

College Sports

December 6, 2012

Holgorsen seeing steady improvement

By Mickey Furfari For The Register-Herald

MORGANTOWN — West Virginia’s bowl-bound football team was spotty at times and lacking consistency, especially during the five-game-losing streak, while posting a 7-5 record.

But head coach Dana Holgorsen believes the Mountaineers were a “pretty good football team in the last four or five games.”

That is his opinion, and he admits that some people might differ with that. He cited steady improvement after the second bye week of the season.

That peaked obviously in the 59-10 blowout against Kansas in last week’s regular-season finale. But the Jayhawks wound up with a pitiful 1-11 record.

“Our guys didn’t quit,” Holgorsen said. “They finished strong. These kids played very well. We wanted to finish strong and did.”

West Virginia expects to get even better against Syracuse (7-5) on Dec. 29 in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl at New York City’s Yankee Stadium.

That postseason contest is scheduled for 3 p.m.

While most of the WVU coaches are beating the bushes for new talent to recruit this week, the players are preparing for final examinations in the classrooms coming up next week.

After that, they will start preparing for the bowl game. Tickets on sale at WVU cost $90.

Holgorsen said, “When we have all the pieces of the puzzle (together), I think we’re pretty good on offense and rushing with Shawnee Alston and Tavon Austin.

“I think Geno Smith is as good a quarterback passing as I’ve ever seen. Absolutely!”

And the coach thinks Austin and Stedman Bailey are two of the best receivers he has ever seen.

“But when you’re 7-5, you’re not going to get (considered for the Heisman Trophy).” But (Smith) will be remembered here for a long time.”

When WVU gets the running game going, Holgorsen thinks it allevates a lot of pressure from Smith.

He recalled that Austin’s amazing performace against Oklahoma was one of the greatest he’s ever seen. The Baltimore native rushed for 344 yards and finished with 572 all-purpose yards.

Both are all-time records for WVU and the Big 12 Conference. The total yardage also was within six yards of the NCAA record.

“But we lost the game (50-49), so he doesn’t get the notoriety that he deserves,” Holgorsen said.

“It’s a team game. Those three guys are tremendous players, though, and they have had great careers here.”

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