AS YOU MAY know, I've been critical of Bill Stewart and his staff for their performance this past football season. The way I saw it, the West Virginia team was an A student that brought home a C+.
AS YOU MAY know, I've been critical of Bill Stewart and his staff for their performance this past football season. The way I saw it, the West Virginia team was an A student that brought home a C+.
Give the coaches attaboys if you like, but these eyes saw a team underachieve. One of the teams in last year's Fiesta Bowl - the loser, Oklahoma - played in Thursday night's BCS championship. The other - the winner, WVU - played in this season's Meineke Car Care Bowl.
I always give credit, however, when it's due, and this recruiting class being lined up by Stewart, associate head coach Doc Holliday and the rest of the WVU staff may be the most impressive in the school's history.
I say that for a few reasons.
First, of course, is the level of talent currently committed to WVU. Choose the recruiting Web site you most believe, but the consensus is the upcoming haul is well within the Top 25. Scout.com had the Mountaineers at No. 18 as of Thursday, ahead of every other Big East team. The service claims WVU has two five-star commitments (Logan Heastie and Tavon Austin) and four four-star kids, including junior college player Tevita Finau. Rivals.com has the Mountaineers with five four-star reruits, plus another in Finau.
Another reason the effort is impressive is it comes off last season's 9-4 showing after being ranked No. 8 in the preseason and favored in every game, including the Car bowl. Stewart was panned from coast to coast. We saw but glimpses of the team's offensive potential. Yet the staff pushed past that in fine fashion.
What may be as impressive, though, is WVU's ability to land high-quality athletes who are academically in good standing. According to those in the know, every commitment the Mountaineers have at this moment is good to go. Every single one.
That, of course, is a change from the Rich Rodriguez era. Yes, the situation is different. The Big East voted late in 2005 to bar non-qualifiers beginning in '06, so Stewart and company have had to fish for better students. But perhaps the biggest reason the conference voted for the change is because West Virginia and Louisville loaded up on non-qualifiers. Ex-Mountaineers like Chris Henry, Eric Wicks and Darius Reynaud were a few who got in under the wire.
Today, WVU can still sign iffy prospects to letters of intent and wait to see if they pan out, but that's not how the situation is being handled.
Which makes the incoming talent haul - especially considering the underlying circumstances - very impressive indeed.
nn
The news of Austin's commitment was understandably met with glee within WVU's fan base, but also with a dash of concern. One caller to this desk wondered how the Mountaineers could get better in short-yardage situations by continuing to recruit small backs like last year's starter, Noel Devine, then Austin and Daquan Hargrett. The latter two are listed at 5-foot-8.
AS YOU MAY know, I've been critical of Bill Stewart and his staff for their performance this past football season. The way I saw it, the West Virginia team was an A student that brought home a C+.
Give the coaches attaboys if you like, but these eyes saw a team underachieve. One of the teams in last year's Fiesta Bowl - the loser, Oklahoma - played in Thursday night's BCS championship. The other - the winner, WVU - played in this season's Meineke Car Care Bowl.
I always give credit, however, when it's due, and this recruiting class being lined up by Stewart, associate head coach Doc Holliday and the rest of the WVU staff may be the most impressive in the school's history.
I say that for a few reasons.
First, of course, is the level of talent currently committed to WVU. Choose the recruiting Web site you most believe, but the consensus is the upcoming haul is well within the Top 25. Scout.com had the Mountaineers at No. 18 as of Thursday, ahead of every other Big East team. The service claims WVU has two five-star commitments (Logan Heastie and Tavon Austin) and four four-star kids, including junior college player Tevita Finau. Rivals.com has the Mountaineers with five four-star reruits, plus another in Finau.
Another reason the effort is impressive is it comes off last season's 9-4 showing after being ranked No. 8 in the preseason and favored in every game, including the Car bowl. Stewart was panned from coast to coast. We saw but glimpses of the team's offensive potential. Yet the staff pushed past that in fine fashion.
What may be as impressive, though, is WVU's ability to land high-quality athletes who are academically in good standing. According to those in the know, every commitment the Mountaineers have at this moment is good to go. Every single one.
That, of course, is a change from the Rich Rodriguez era. Yes, the situation is different. The Big East voted late in 2005 to bar non-qualifiers beginning in '06, so Stewart and company have had to fish for better students. But perhaps the biggest reason the conference voted for the change is because West Virginia and Louisville loaded up on non-qualifiers. Ex-Mountaineers like Chris Henry, Eric Wicks and Darius Reynaud were a few who got in under the wire.
Today, WVU can still sign iffy prospects to letters of intent and wait to see if they pan out, but that's not how the situation is being handled.
Which makes the incoming talent haul - especially considering the underlying circumstances - very impressive indeed.
nn
The news of Austin's commitment was understandably met with glee within WVU's fan base, but also with a dash of concern. One caller to this desk wondered how the Mountaineers could get better in short-yardage situations by continuing to recruit small backs like last year's starter, Noel Devine, then Austin and Daquan Hargrett. The latter two are listed at 5-foot-8.
Well, the word is Hargrett may be 5-8, but he's now around 195 pounds. Second, many forget, but there's another running back committed to WVU by the name of Shawne Alston, a 6-2, 220-pound prospect from Hampton, Va.
And if you're wondering about the fullback situation, Chris Snook may be your man. He's a 6-3, 220-pound incoming standout. There are also options like current freshman Ryan Clarke (6-1, 235) and those currently listed as tight ends like Tyler Urban and Ricky Kovatch, the latter of which played fullback in the second half of the season.
Terence Kerns? Well, the latest is he remains in limbo and the Mountaineer coaches are moving forward. They haven't given up on the tailback, but they aren't counting on him either.
nn
And finally . . .
By the time many of you read this, the final polls will be out.
It should be interesting. Check out the Big East teams. See how many make the lists - because the number will be the final legacy of the conference's season.
Certainly Cincinnati will make the grade, despite falling in the Orange Bowl. But what about Pitt, which seemingly forgot to pack its offense for the Sun Bowl? Did West Virginia sneak in after the Car bowl victory?
If all three made the grade, it's OK in Big East Land, despite a shaky season. (UC as the BCS representative?) If only one or two made the cut, though, well, ouch. League reps may want to find some Kevlar vests.
I'll tell you I did give WVU a vote at No. 22. (Read the complete ballot in the Saturday Gazette-Mail.) I did so because of all the carnage within the Associated Press Top 25. Alabama and Penn State lost. Ditto Texas Tech and Boise State. And Ohio State and Cincy. And Georgia Tech, BYU, Oklahoma State, Pitt, Ball State, Michigan State and Northwestern. Phew.
In other words, lots of room was cleared. How much of that room is occupied by Big East teams today will say a lot.
Reach Mitch Vingle at 304-348-4827 or mitchvin...@wvgazette.com.
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