By Mickey Furfari
MORGANTOWN — “We have to find our own identity, and that’s what we’re trying to do,” coach Bill Stewart said Monday of the struggling 2008 West Virginia University football squad.
“It’s a different team from 2007. I reminded our players it’s their responsibility to go out and play harder. They have to don the gold and blue and play with a passion.”
Speaking on the Big East’s weekly teleconference, Stewart said the Mountaineers must learn from last Saturday’s shocking 24-3 loss at East Carolina. That dropped West Virginia from eighth to 25th place in The Associated Press and propelled the Pirates out of nowhere to 14th.
“We’re putting that game behind us and have started preparing a game plan for the game at Colorado (Sept. 18),” he continued. “The Buffaloes are a very good football team and hitting on all cylinders.”
Colorado is 2-0 after beating Colorado State 38-17 and Eastern Washington 31-24.
Stewart said his coaches and players got a lot done on Sunday. They studied tapes of the East Carolina game, reviewed mistakes made, and discussed correcting those while also trying to make a few changes.
He again gave ECU coach Skip Holtz’s staff and players credit for building the program the past three years into Top 25 status. The Pirates now own victories over ranked opponents in their last three games, dating back to last year’s bowl win against Boise State.
“We played a very solid, sound football team,” Stewart stressed. “I compliment them.
“Now we’ve got a big challenge ahead of us. It looks like (the Buffaloes) are trying to find out their identity. Colorado has big backs, fine wide receivers and good players on defense.”
Stewart said the lack of passion by the Mountaineers against East Carolina did not surprise him, but did frustrate him a little bit. “You have to go out and make plays,” he added. “We told our players not to get stressed but just to go out and play.”
Blocking and tackling will get considerable attention in this week’s practice sessions. He pointed out that there are seven new starters on defense this season and the offense misses fullback Owen Schmitt as well as All-America running back Steve Slaton, both of whom now are playing in the National Football League.
Stewart said he is not overly alarmed by reports that some fans are jumping off the bandwagon. He explained that the team must take each game as it comes up in order to qualify for a 13th game in a postseason bowl.
“You’ve got to play 1, 2, 3, 4 and so on to reach 13,” he said. “It still goes back to making plays. When they block you longer than you want to be blocked, they’re going to make plays.”
Asked how senior quarterback Patrick White is taking to the new wrinkles in the WVU spread offense, Stewart replied: “Good. We like to put the ball in his hands and spread the wealth. Patrick has done a great job.
“He gets better and better each day. And the wide receivers have to continue to get better catching the ball. We had some drops again Saturday.”
