The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Sports

December 16, 2008

Mountaineers’ Meineke Bowl practices going well

By Mickey Furfari

MORGANTOWN — Coach Bill Stewart said Tuesday that West Virginia University’s football team has been having some good practices for the Meineke Car Care Bowl game against North Carolina Saturday, Dec. 27, at Charlotte, N.C.

“Practices are never as well as you’d like,” he explained. “But they give good effort. I think we need to pay attention to detail even more when we have a break to go home and then reconvene at the bowl site.”

The Mountaineers will have more practice sessions in Charlotte next week before tapering off with a walk-through the day before the game.

They have been forced to work out inside the Caperton Facility Building both Monday and Tuesday this week.

“Our men are working hard and I am proud of that,” Stewart said. “We are going to play a real tough opponent in North Carolina.”

Stewart believes the players are bonding well and will be heading to their homes for an early Christmas with family after Thursday’s practice. They will reassemble in Charlotte early next week.

Of the Tar Heels, the first-year Mountaineer mentor said, “The things they do, whatever the scheme, they are going to give us absolute fits. We are really going to have our hands full. They’ve got it rolling.”

Stewart said UNC will start one of two quarterbacks and he doesn’t know which one. He noted that one is a very, very accurate passer, while the other is smaller and very, very athletic and likes to run.

“The wide receivers are outstanding and the fullback and tailback are outstanding runners,” he continued. “Defensively, they have an All-America end in E.J. Wilson, a great linebacker, two safeties that are very, very active and cornerbacks that are sure tacklers.

“Their special teams are sound and solid.”

He compares UNC’s wideouts and speed to those of Big East champion Cincinnati and its big, strong, strapping players to those at Pitt. The quarterbacks remind Stewart of Mike Teel at Rutgers, the linebacking crew a lot like that at Pitt.

Three Mountaineers have accepted invitations to play in the prestigious Senior Bowl all-star game at Mobile, Ala. in late January. They are quarterback Patrick White, defensive back Ellis Lankster and kicker/punter Pat McAfee.

Stewart said student-athlete grades for the first semester still are being compiled but he hopes that none of his players will be ineligible for the game.

Some of the coaches are out recruiting part of this week.

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