Published: August 28, 2008 11:25 pm         

WVU's Sowers grasps defense

MORGANTOWN — Friday football fodder:

Nate Sowers, who has spent most of his football life playing offense, thinks he finally has developed a mean streak he believes one needs to play defense.

“I had some trouble adjusting over there,” the 6-2, 215-pound junior from Martinsburg said. He will be backing up returning regular Quinton Andrews at bandit safety in West Virginia’s opening game against visiting Villanova Saturday.

Sowers, a converted quarterback, played wide receiver in 2007 before switching to safety in mid-season.

“I knew where to go, but I think maybe I was thinking too much,” he said.

“I’m probably a little behind, but I’m trying to stay positive. Playing defense, you’ve got to have a bit of a mean streak, and I believe I have that now. They told me you have to have confidence out there and I do.

“Maybe still thinking about offense is a big portion of my problems. I think you’ve got to reset your whole mindset. I’m trying.”

Saturday’s kickoff at Mountaineer Field/Milan Puskar Stadium is 3:30 p.m. with a sellout crowd of 60,000 assured.

The weather forecast is for partly sunny skies and a high of 83 degrees with a thunderstorm possible.

ESPN Regional will televise the action, with four West Virginia channels among those carrying the action. John Sanders will be the play-by-announcer with Rene Nadeau the analyst.

Is West Virginia’s highly rated offensive line ready to go?

“Yes, I think it is,” senior right guard Jake Figner said in mid-week. “I think we’re looking forward to hitting someone other than teammates.”

“We’re itching to go, and I think (the Wildcats) are going to come in here fired up.

“I think (center) Mike Dent does a great job of taking charge and calling out what’s going on. He has great leadership qualities, etc. He’s sort of the cohesion in the middle of the road.

“Then the other four (starters) up front have experience. So we know what the tackle and guard tandems are supposed to do. That helps bring all four together for us.”

West Virginia’s record for season openers is 92-29-4 all-time. That includes 90-18-6 for home openers.

The last time the Mountaineers started a season with a loss was 2003 when Wisconsin came to Morgantown and emerged with a 24-17 victory.

Two years before that, Boston College prevailed 34-10 on Sept. 1, 2001, spoiling Rich Rodriguez’s debut as WVU’s new head coach at Chestnut Hill, Mass.

Pat McAfee, senior place-kicker and punter, doesn’t think there is any chance the Mountaineers will be taking Villanova lightly.

“Our guys have been working hard the past 35 days or so, and they have done pretty well,” he said. “So now we’re all prepared to play a game.

“Nobody has even mentioned East Carolina, next week’s opponent on the road. We’re going to come out fired up Saturday. Count on it. I think it’s going to be fun to watch.”

Tale of the Tape:

For last season, WVU (11-2) averaged 39.6 points and 456.2 yards in total offense per game, while Villanova (7-4) averaged 26.2 points and 326.1 yards per game.

The Mountaineers’ net rushing was 297.2 per game and net passing 159.0 and the Wildcats’ averages were 154.0 rushing and 172.1 yards per game.

Defensively, WVU allowed 18.1 points and 301.7 yards per game and Villanova 23.7 points and 373.7. Both teams were stingiest against the rush, the Mountaineers limiting opponents to 112.9 ypg and the Wildcats 133.7.

Tailback Noel Devine had this to say about coach Bill Stewart:

“He has been the same. He’s always making jokes, and he brings us up every time we’re down. He is a lot quieter than the last head coach (Rodriguez), and that’s a positive.

“It’s an easy adjustment, especially because we had him in the bowl game. Since he’s been here, he has always been the same.”

West Virginia, ranked No. 8 preseason by both major national polls, has been among the most successful teams the past five years.

Its two-year record of 22-4 is tied for fifth-best in the country behind only Ohio State (23-3), Boise State (23-3), Hawaii (23-3) and LSU (23-4). The Mountaineers are tied with USC and BYU.

The three-year mark of 33-5 is second-best behind USC (34-5) and is tied with Ohio State. WVU’s four-year record is 41-9 ranks sixth in college football, while the five-year aggregate of 49-14 is the 10th-best.