The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Sports

July 31, 2008

‘Same ol’ Billy’ as WVU football camp opens

By Mickey Furfari

MORGANTOWN — With West Virginia’s greatest football victory and a spring practice behind him, Bill Stewart gets into the meat of his first season as the coach with today’s opening of the 2008 preseason football practice camp.

Asked whether he felt any different than he did a year ago as associate head coach, the New Martinsville native replied:

“First and foremost, I’m the same ol’ Billy Stewart as they called me when I was growing up. I’m not going to change. Just because your title changes, that should never change a person.

“My mom and dad raised me that way. My hometown raised me that way. My years at WVU and Fairmont State raised me that way. You’ve got to be who you are.

“My title in employment has changed. But I’m not going to change. I’m going to be the same guy. I’m in charge of my attitude. That’s my right. And, by golly, I’m going to stick to it.”

Since being named last Jan. 4 to succeed Rich Rodriguez, now at Michigan, Stewart has proved he can be a tough disciplinarian when necessary as well as the nice guy and leader for which he was noted his previous seven years as a WVU assistant coach.

Forty-five lettermen, including 17 holdover starters, will be among the nearly 100 players who will be checking into Puskar Center before 6:30 p.m. today.

Mike Montoro, director of communications for football, said that’s when the coaches will go over team rules and other information during a squad meeting.

While most of the players have been spending most of the week home with family and friends, Montoro said he has not heard whether any might be unable to report on time.

The first practice will be Saturday in shorts.

In all, the Mountaineers will be in camp 14 days. The first five will be in light gear. Six practice sessions will be closed completely to the media. A scrimmage is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 16.

Fan Day is slated for Sunday, Aug. 17. WVU starts its fall semester of classes Aug. 18.

West Virginia, which won 11 games each of the last three years, has been selected overwhelmingly to capture the 2008 Big East championship. The Mountaineers are picked to finish in the Top 10 again by most national publications.

They will open the season on Saturday, Aug. 30, against Villanova at home.

Stewart, who served as head coach at Virginia Military Institute three years in the mid-1990s, admittedly gets up every morning with the feeling that he’s the luckiest guy in the world.

“I know what it means because how could it get any better than this, job-wise,” he exclaimed.

“My job changed and that’s great. I’m very, very honored and very, very humbled and very, very proud. Whether I’m really deserving, I hope so. Time will tell.”

Text Only
Sports
  • Woodrow holds off Huntington

     It took Woodrow Wilson’s boys basketball team nearly three quarters to figure out that the backside lob was open in Huntington High’s zone.

    January 10, 2012

  • MSU hosts Rio Grande

    For the first time since 1995, Mountain State stands a little past the half-way point at the season with five losses.

    January 10, 2012

  • OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE - WVU to join Big 12 Conference

    The Big 12 Conference Board of Directors have voted unanimously to accept West Virginia University as a full conference member effective July 1, 2012.  The Mountaineers will begin competing in the Big 12 beginning with the 2012-13 athletic season.

    October 28, 2011

  • Friday update: Big East notified WVU leaving for Big 12

    The Big East says it has been notified that West Virginia is leaving the conference and joining the Big 12.

    October 28, 2011

  • Cardinals force Game 7 in World Series

    After one of the greatest games in baseball history, a 10-9, 11-inning victory over Texas in Game 6 in which the Cardinals were twice within one strike of elimination.

    October 28, 2011

  • Schiano sings WVU’s praises

    It hasn’t been the year that Rutgers coach Greg Schiano envisioned.
    Not close.

    December 1, 2010

  • BNI will usher in mat season

    This time around, the Beckley Newspapers Invitational will have a decidedly more local flavor.

    December 1, 2010

  • Huggs likes looks of young Noreen

    Perhaps it was the season. Whatever it was, West Virginia coach Bob Huggins went straight to the pie.
    Well, the figurative pie.
    Huggins had just watched his team beat Virginia Military Institute 82-66 in front of 12,367 fans at the Charleston Civic Center Saturday.

    December 1, 2010

  • Oak Hill places 3 on AA

    Whether it was opposing defenses or illness, nothing stopped Charleston Catholic’s Tom Trupo for long.

    December 1, 2010

  • Spartans open with victory

    Turnovers produce points and the Greenbrier East girls basketball team collected plenty of each en route to an 81-43 season-opening victory against Bluefield on Tuesday night.

    December 1, 2010