2011 WVU Football Thread

[WVRed]

Thought this was an interesting read by Bruce Feldman from ESPN.com on WVU possibly being in a national title chase this year:

http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/blog?...od_ncf_xxx_xxx

This is free material, but in summary, expect a big jump offensively under Holgorsen. What is going to be interesting is the WVU-LSU, with LSU a possible no 1 team if they can knock Oregon off to start the season.

Then again, I remember that while Holgorsen is in Morgantown, Bill Stewart is still the head coach for one more year.

[will5979]

Bill Stewart is still the head coach for one more year.

Ugh, after watching the Reds lose today and then reading this I just barfed in the back of my throat.

My early 2011 prediction, 11-1, they'll find a way to lose a game. Finish regular season winning the Big East being ranked in the top 10 and play in a BCS Bowl where they belong.

[WVRed]

Ugh, after watching the Reds lose today and then reading this I just barfed in the back of my throat.

My early 2011 prediction, 11-1, they'll find a way to lose a game. Finish regular season winning the Big East being ranked in the top 10 and play in a BCS Bowl where they belong.

I see the potential for them to go undefeated, but I am with you in that I think they will lose at least one game. Here's the schedule:

Sep. 3 Marshall 3:30pm

The only way WVU has any problem with the Herd is if they are still working out the kinks of the new offense. The game is in Morgantown so I'd say it will be more like two years ago, close game first half, WVU pulls away in the second when Marshall runs out of gas.

Sep. 10 Norfolk St. TBA

Should be getting everything straightened out before the real games begin. WVU wins easily.

Sep. 17 at Maryland 12:00pm

Probably one of the most difficult to gauge. Randy Edsall is the new coach at Maryland and he has given WVU fits the past two years, including winning one at Connecticut. WVU wins a close one.

Sep. 24 LSU TBA

Game of the year. LSU will be a top 3 team and could possibly be no 1 if they beat Oregon heading into Morgantown. This is a must win game for WVU to have any credibility to playing for a national championship.

Oct. 1 Bowling Green TBA

Don't know much about Bowling Green, but should be an easy win.

Oct. 8 Connecticut TBA

Revenge game for WVU at home, new coach for UConn. WVU wins.

Oct. 21 at Syracuse 8:00pm

Another revenge game. WVU lost last year thanks to Stewarts ineptitude. Won't happen with Holgorsen running the offense. WVU wins.

Oct. 29 at Rutgers TBA

Saw WVU play Rutgers last season and while WVU turned the ball over numerous times, they still outmanned Rutgers considerably. WVU wins.

Nov. 5 Louisville TBA

Potential upset game. Charlie Strong is in his second season and this will be a game where his defense tests Holgorsen's offense. WVU wins based on home field advantage.

Nov. 12 at Cincinnati TBA

Cincinnati is going in the wrong direction under Butch Jones. WVU wins easily.

Nov. 25 Pittsburgh TBA

New coach for Pitt as they screwed up twice. Shouldn't be a problem for WVU.

Dec. 1 at South Florida 8:00pm

This is the trap game of all trap games and if I had to call an upset, this would be it. Skip Holtz has had WVU's number ever since he has been at ECU and is starting to turn it around in South Beach. The game is at USF and WVU could have a lot to close out.

Maryland, LSU, Louisville, and South Florida would be the games to watch. If WVU wins those four, they should be in discussion for a national championship game. I have to think the overall quality of the Big East will have a say though, as this is the weakest the Big East has been in awhile.

[WVRed]

Looks like Holgoritaville (as someone I saw on facebook called it) is off to a good start:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6589966

[Homer Bailey]

If anyone thought "Holgorsen drunk, kicked out of casino" wasn't a possibility when he was hired, you were way off.

[reds1869]

If anyone thought "Holgorsen drunk, kicked out of casino" wasn't a possibility when he was hired, you were way off.

No doubt. If Morgantown likes Huggins, it should be right at home with Holgorsen.

[WVRed]

No doubt. If Morgantown likes Huggins, it should be right at home with Holgorsen.

With WVU fans, Huggins DUI is in the past because it happened at UC. If it had happened while he was coaching, I think the fan reaction would have been different. That's just me though.

It's like when we had Billy Gillispie at Kentucky. He had an incident similar to this when he first came to Lexington and was brought in and reminded that he is a popular figure in the state.

I've got a different view on Holgorsen than most. I believe he will either return WVU to prominence as a stepping stone or have them on probation within the next five years. There is no in-between. The reason I say that is the coaches that he comes from the Mike Leach-Hal Mumme family tree.

What burned WVU fans over Rich Rodriguez leaving in addition to how he left was that he was a West Virginia native. Holgorsen doesn't have those ties and is rooted in the Big 12 (notably in Texas). I could see him leaving WVU for a top tier Big 12 job if the right opportunity comes along.

[Homer Bailey]

Wow. @colin_dunlap dropped a major bomb on @937lateshift about @coachstewart. Stew called Dunlap asking for dirt on Holgorsen. #byebyestew

Oh. My. God.

[WVRed]

Oh. My. God.

I was about to post something about that last night. This is getting ugly real quick.

Here's a little bit more detailed article:

http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/e...56338/29855310

At first I thought the coach-in-waiting idea would work. Stewart is not a popular coach among WVU fans and attendance has suffered accordingly, but I do believe he genuinely loves the program (unlike Rich Rodriguez) and this would have worked.

At the same time, I'm not high on Holgorsen and the more that is coming out (You can shoot the messenger in Stewart), it's seeming like he is more of a liability.

There is even speculation that BOTH could be shown the door. Stewart for his smear tactics. Holgorsen for the alcohol.

[Homer Bailey]

Stewart’s attorney, David Hendrickson, has gone on the record to say he does not know of any contract negotiations with his client.

“There have been no negotiations,” Hendrickson told the Charleston Gazette Thursday evening. “I haven’t heard from the athletic department today.”

[WVRed]

And now this little gem from ESPN:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6647704

West Virginia football coach Bill Stewart's future with the university is in serious jeopardy, and the situation could come to a head as early as Friday, a source close to the program told ESPN's Joe Schad.

School leaders also are pondering whether terminating the coach-in-waiting scenario it created this year with offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen would be in the best interests of the program, the source said. Holgorsen is scheduled to succeed Stewart after the coming season.

[will5979]

Its time for WVU to literally cut its loses with the moron. He should have never been hired in the first place, however a bunch of drunks at 3 am hired him after the Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma where they really didn't even need a HC to earn a victory with all the talent that team had.

I realize Holgerson won't be in Mo-Town forever, but I'm all for a 5 year fix of blowing teams out! Just like I would be willing for the Reds organization to trade prospects for a win now mentality. I live in the moment, tomorrow we may be dead.

[Slyder]

Barney Fife is gone! He was in over his head the entire time he was at WVU.

[will5979]

Barney Fife is gone! He was in over his head the entire time he was at WVU.

Amen!

[Homer Bailey]

Five short days away from the Dana Holgorsen era, and I can hardly wait.

Here is a little preview on the WVU RB situation this year:

At the running back spot, four are in the mix for playing time. Trey Johnson, Vernard Roberts, Andrew Buie, and Dustin Garrison will all see the field Sunday. Johnson is the only one to have seen game action and the other three running backs are all true freshman. The fact that the unit is so young should be a positive in that it's probably a lot easier to get them to buy into the "by committee" approach. No one's been around long enough to feel like they own that spot. But they all want it, and if that kind of competition lasts throughout the year it will be a positive when injuries occur.

I can't wait to see what Geno does in this offense. I think Stedman Bailey and Tavon Austin are in for some really big years. The defense worries me a lot more than the offense does. A lot of guys to replace back there, and they will probably be on the field quite a bit.

I think we roll Marshall about 41-21. Close around halftime like it always is, and WVU pulls away late.