The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

College Sports

October 12, 2012

Holgorsen says Tech tricky, tough

By Mickey Furfari For The Register-Herald

MORGANTOWN — West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen thinks Texas Tech (4-1, 1-1 Big 12) is one of the best teams in the conference as the Mountaineers visit the Red Raiders for a game Saturday.

WVU (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) is a 3 1/2-point favorite to extend its winning streak to 10, dating back to last year. The Mountaineers are ranked No. 5.

Holgorsen said of the Red Raiders: “They’re very tricky. They’re very, very sound, and are never out of position. They blitz eight percent of the time.

“They’re not a gimmick defense.

They’re a sound, effective defense. They play hard, and their guys always are in position.”

He said that poses problems when guys don’t know what they’re going to do and that aggravates you from a gameplan standpoint.

Texas Tech’s defense is ranked No. 2 statistically in the nation.

“We can come up with a bunch of plays, but it’s hard to execute against them,” Holgorsen pointed out. “I’ve only gone against (Tech coach Tommy Tuberville) once, so I can only go on what I see on film this year.”

And what he claims to see is that they play hard, sound defense.

“They’re not used to giving up many points and yards,” he continued. “Offensively, they’re going to tempo you, run the ball, and get the ball in space.”

Asked whether the Big 12 schedule takes a physical or mental toll, Holgorsen replied:

“From a coach’s standpoint, you have to have a routine and these guys have to understand what’s at stake.

“You have to have seniors that understand it and can handle it. I think we have a bunch of seniors who can handle it. The game is physical; every game you play is physical.

“You need to try to stay healthy to keep your body in shape by going to treatment, eating well, lifting well, recover and sleep at night.

“From a mental standpoint, you need to stay focused. You need to handle all of your business away from here, but when you come in here at 2:30 p.m., you have to be focused and ready to go.”

Holgorsen said players must create a sense of urgency while creating energy on the sideline during games on the road.

 

Text Only
College Sports
  • 051913 KWarriors.jpg King’s Warriors take down Chaos 3-1

    Southern West Virginia King’s Warriors head coach Scott Reitnour had a busy day Saturday.

    May 19, 2013 1 Photo

  • McCartney says he’s returning to Mountaineers

    The Twitter world was full of West Virginia University sports news Saturday, beginning with the revelation that Ivan McCartney will likely be returning to the Mountaineer football team.

    May 19, 2013

  • Harrick was greatest 2-sport coach at WVU

    The late Steve Harrick was the longest serving, most successful two-sport head coach in West Virginia University’s athletic history.

    May 18, 2013

  • Concord wastes 2-run lead in 9th, eliminated from regional

    Concord University lost a two-run lead in the ninth inning and was eliminated from the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region baseball playoffs by the Winston-Salem State Rams, 7-5 on Friday afternoon at Gene Hooks Field.

    May 18, 2013

  • Musgrave named Pitcher of the Year Finalist

    May 16, 2013

  • Concord drops NCAA Tournament opener to Millersville 5-4 in Winston-Salem

    May 16, 2013

  • Crutchfield talks about his system, recruiting, focus

    Jim Crutchfield, whose basketball program at West Liberty University is the nation’s best in NCAA Division II, insists that there’s really no secret to his team’s soaring success.
    The Hilltoppers not only lead the collegiate basketball world in scoring with an incredible 103-point average but also are No. 1 in marginal victory at 25-plus.
    “I try to stay as local as I can in recruiting,” the 57-year-old Clarksburg native said. Most of his players come from West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.

    May 16, 2013

  • 051613 wvu marshall ‘It’s been great for the state’

    West Virginia and Marshall are going to continue to meet on the baseball diamond. After a nearly 15-year break in the series, all involved agreed that rekindling the rivalry between the state’s two biggest schools — a series that culminated with a 6-5 Marshall victory Tuesday at Linda K. Epling Stadium — was a solid idea.

    May 15, 2013 1 Photo

  • WVU closes season against OSU

    The West Virginia University baseball team will close out the regular season this weekend against Big 12 foe Oklahoma State at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., and there will be a great deal on the line.

    May 15, 2013

  • Brett Morris will walk on at WVU

    The West Virginia University basketball team will be filled with southern West Virginia flavor next season after Brett Morris announced this week that he’ll be joining head coach Bob Huggins’ program as a preferred walk-on. Morris, the Class AA all-state captain, will join Shady Spring’s Chase Connor, who will also be walking on for the Mountaineers, and Greenbrier East’s Richard Romeo, who is already a walk-on in the program.

    May 15, 2013