Sports
Back on the WVU bandwagon
MORGANTOWN — Impatient, spoiled Mountaineer football fans can put away the Greyhound bus for another week.
On a crisp October evening in Morgantown with Auburn, the Heisman Trophy, Lou Holtz and a standing-room-only crowd all present and accounted for, WVU stepped back onto the national football stage with yet another victory over a Southeastern Conference opponent.
WVU is now 5-2, still squarely in the hunt for a Big East title, and the critics of head coach Bill Stewart and offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen — yes, those thousands of our neighbors and you all know who you are — should stick a dirty, smelly sock in their mouths.
If the usually reliable Pat White doesn’t come out and uncharacteristically toss two early interceptions, the Mountaineers conceivably would have beaten the visiting Tigers and their highly touted defense by four touchdowns.
I’ve heard about all of the griping and moaning I can handle. Incessant whining since the beginning of this season. If they don’t beat Auburn …
So now what? Everybody back on the bandwagon.
West Virginia faithful need to step back, pull out a dictionary and look up what faithful means.
Sure, 2008 Mountaineer football didn’t start out the way anybody wanted or expected, but there is a bowl game in the future and a legitimate shot at a BCS bowl is still within reach.
Not many moons ago, West Virginia fans would have signed on immediately for such prospects.
But the expectations have changed, and maybe not for the better.
Sleep well, coach Stewart, your detractors have been put back into their doghouses. The bus they’ve been trying to throw you under is out of gas. Flattened by a Gold Rush.
There is nothing, absolutely nothing, wrong with a record of 10-2, 9-3, 8-4, whatever it may be.
If you don’t think so, get rid of your gold and blue and go root for Marshall or Virginia Tech.
— E-mail:
bantolini@register-herald.com
- Sports
-
-
Flying Eagles rebound
Coaches often remark that they don’t want a tough loss to beat their teams twice.
-
Hounds do enough to eliminate Fayetteville
SMITHERS — It wasn’t quite a gold-medal performance, but Valley coach Marshall Murray will settle for it. For now.
-
Huggs ejected late in WVU loss to UConn
HARTFORD, Conn. — Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun opened the game with a technical foul and West Virginia’s Bob Huggins ended it with two.
-
No. 2 Red Devils rout Bluefield
OAK HILL — A little high-low was a little too much for Bluefield.
-
Local Roundup: MSU loses for first time
Lee 92, Mountain State 89
-
Locals set to compete in Class AAA states
This area will be well represented in the Class AAA portion of this week’s state wrestling tournament.
-
Season ticket success could lead to more seats
Prospective fans of the West Virginia Miners have a say in the growth of Linda K. Epling Stadium.
-
Shuffle on down to the state tournament this weekend
With the 63rd annual West Virginia state wrestling tournament beginning Thursday, there are a lot of reasons to liken this competition to a poker match.
-
WVU’s Miles would like to end season in her hometown
MORGANTOWN — If the West Virginia University women’s basketball team reaches the NCAA Final Four this year, it would be a “dream come true” for Sarah Miles.
-
Oak Hill roughed up by PikeView
GARDNER — Class AA No. 2 Oak Hill started its weekend on a high note Friday night, narrowly defeating its nemesis, No. 1 Wyoming East.
- More Sports Headlines
-
