By Dave Morrison
West Virginia defensive end Julian Miller set the tone late last season, registering 3.5 sacks in the final four games of the season.
The redshirt sophomore actually had those sacks in two games — against Cincinnati and Louisville, in games nine and 10.
He has continued that trend of play in last week’s 33-20 win over Liberty with 1.5 sacks and seven tackles, three for a loss of 10 yards.
All this from a guy considered undersized at 6-foot-4, 248 pounds.
He credits longtime Mountaineer assistant coach Bill Kirelawich.
“With coach Kirelawich, he always teaches technique and I think that helps me deal with my size,” Miller, a Columbus, Ohio, native, said. “I may be a little bit underweight compared to some of the defensive ends or defensive lineman (who) have been on this team in the past, but for the most part, as long as I have good technique, good hands and stay low, coach Kirelawich says I’ll be all right.”
He also has a natural dislike for quarterbacks.
“I don’t like them,” he said. “I try to let them know it with my pads rather than my mouth.”
If he continues his current trend, he’ll be letting them know with his name on all-conference teams.
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Cornerback Brandon Hogan can’t block from his mind the scene of thousands of ECU students rushing the field after last year’s 24-3 loss. It was a scene that got ugly when police started using Mace and force to bring some students down.
“It was just crazy,” Hogan said. “Fans were rushing the field, everybody was running around and we were all down because we lost. It was hectic even getting off the field.”
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Coach Bill Stewart on the play of his offensive line, which didn’t allow a sack last Saturday: “They handled all the stunts and twists (Liberty attempted),” Stewart said.
“Some of the stuff they hadn’t seen before and our guys blocked it pretty well.”
This week the young line, which includes a left side of tackle Don Barclay (sophomore), guard Josh Jenkins (sophomore) and center Joe Madsen (redshirt freshman), along with veterans Slevish Capers and Eric Jobe, will be tested against ECU. And they can expect a full complement of blitzes from the Pirates.
“If we do our job, the assignments will take care of the blitz,” Stewart said.
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It’s Hall of Fame weekend in Morgantown and six former WVU athletes will be inducted into the West Virginia University Sports Hall of Fame.
Festivities begin at noon Saturday at the Caperton Indoor Practice Facility adjacent to Milan Puskar Stadium.
Included in the inductees are football’s Aaron Beasley and Jeff “Bone” Merrow.
Also inducted will be outstanding gymnast Kristin Quackenbush, basketball’s Bob Smith, two-sport standout Fred Graham and administrator Lowry Stoops.
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The game will be broadcast on ESPN 360 and can be heard on the radio on several local Mountaineer Sports Network affiliates.
— E-mail: demorrison@
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