By Dave Morrison
It’s not easy coaching against a legend.
Even harder when that legend is a is one of your heroes and he is coaching in his final game.
That’s the predicament for West Virginia coach Bill Stewart, who will go up against Florida State on New Year’s Day in the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla.
“I can only tell you how proud I am to coach against coach Bowden,” Stewart said. “He was my first collegiate football coach. I came here as a skinny little kid from high school in 1970 and it was coach Bowden’s first year here at West Virginia. I was honored to be in his presence in those days. He is one of my heroes, he is one of my idols and an icon in college football.”
Suffice to say, Stewart knows that Florida State (6-6) will be fired up to win one for a coach just this side of The Gipper.
“It will be tough. You know how he gets those guys ready to play,” Stewart said. “I saw it first-hand as a player here. I was only a freshman and didn’t play on the varsity. I just saw how the players here loved coach Bowden and how revered he was by his coaches and players. He will have them ready as only he can do, and it will be a real challenge because they are going to want to go out with a real bang for coach Bowden.”
Stewart, though, added that West Virginia (9-3) shouldn’t be counted out.
“All of the attention is going to go to Florida State and coach Bowden, but they cannot forget our team,” the coach said. “Our team better not be overlooked. That would be a mistake on anyone’s part to overlook the Mountaineers. Our team has a good history of playing pretty well.
“I’m just a drop in a bucket compared to him, and everyone knows that. That doesn’t bother me. He was my coach and I love the man. All of the accolades he gets, he deserves, and I will be right there on the podium clapping louder than anyone.
“But I would caution anyone not to overlook the Mountaineers. These old country boys are going to go down there and get after it and play hard.”
The Mountaineers won their final two games, after falling 24-21 to unbeaten Cincinnati, and ended up second in the Big East, thanks to the Bearcats’ 45-44 come-from-behind win over Pitt.
“I did not know what was going on with the Pitt-Cincinnati game,” Stewart said. “It is a real compliment to our players and our school. We are a heck of a good football team. People love West Virginia and we are going to go fight our hearts out.”
Stewart saw the turnaround happen after a frustrating 30-19 loss to South Florida. WVU rebounded to win three of its last four, including the loss to Cincinnati.
“A lot of teams would have been written off this season, but not these kids. We got tougher and tighter,” Stewart said. “We bonded and it made us better. That night in Tampa when I looked in those young men’s eyes, I saw the hurt and we vowed that we would make people remember the month of November. That wasn’t just talk. That was from the heart.”
While the cards indeed seem stacked for Florida State, Stewart is confident.
“I’m sure that all of those coaches are going to coach for him and those boys are going to play hard for him,” Stewart said.
“I just tell our team that there is going to be a lot of passion and love for coach Bowden, but don’t forget who we are. We have a slogan here at West Virginia football. We will respect all and fear none.
“I gave them another slogan last week. Never trust anyone who doesn’t stand to lose or gain as much as you do. It means you are going on the field with your brothers, arm and arm.”
— E-mail: demorrison@
register-herald.com
