Click to view photos from the WVU-Rutgers game

MORGANTOWN - West Virginia began the season ranked No. 8 in the country and then plummeted all but into oblivion following a 1-2 start. Back-to-back wins over Marshall and Rutgers the past two weeks, understandably, have done little to restore the Mountaineers' standing among the nation's elite.

Bill Stewart understands that as well as anyone. But if the Mountaineers are to begin climbing back into the conversation about the best programs in the country, he's not quite sure what the timetable will be.

"We're not No. 8 in the country. I don't know if we ever will be,'' Stewart said Sunday. "But I sure know we are working in that direction. I'm not sure what to think of us right now.''

Nor do most people. West Virginia has, indeed, won two straight games and it can be argued that in neither was it not obvious who was the best team on the field. The Mountaineers outgained Marshall roughly 500 yards to 150 and won 27-3. Rutgers kept things closer, losing 24-17, but West Virginia had more than a few opportunities to put the hammer down and just didn't do it.

And in both games, the Mountaineers played the final quarter and a half without their best player. Quarterback Pat White left the Marshall game with a bruised thumb and was held out against Rutgers after he took a blow to the head.

Again, though, Stewart understands that expectations are higher. A team trying to gain respect needs to do more than beat a one-win Rutgers team by a touchdown, no matter what the personnel are on the field.

"It was a good win and a solid win, but maybe not a very convincing win, at least to people who like to see a lot of scoring,'' Stewart said. "I wish we could have scored one more and held them to one less, but a win is a win and I'm not complaining. I think we're getting better and that's all that matters.''

Short of a complete blowout, attitudes aren't likely to be swayed this week, either. West Virginia (3-2, 1-0 Big East) plays host to pitiful Syracuse (1-4, 0-1) in a noon game on Saturday at Mountaineer Field. The contest, WVU's homecoming, will be televised by ESPNU.

But there are at least a few signs that the Mountaineers are getting better. A defense that wasn't very good at all during the first two games of the season has surrendered only two touchdowns and as many field goals since the opening five minutes of a loss at Colorado, virtually three full games. Even without linebacker Reed Williams, apparently out for the season because his surgically repaired shoulders have not responded well, it is a young group with promise.

 Click to view photos from the WVU-Rutgers game

MORGANTOWN - West Virginia began the season ranked No. 8 in the country and then plummeted all but into oblivion following a 1-2 start. Back-to-back wins over Marshall and Rutgers the past two weeks, understandably, have done little to restore the Mountaineers' standing among the nation's elite.

Bill Stewart understands that as well as anyone. But if the Mountaineers are to begin climbing back into the conversation about the best programs in the country, he's not quite sure what the timetable will be.

"We're not No. 8 in the country. I don't know if we ever will be,'' Stewart said Sunday. "But I sure know we are working in that direction. I'm not sure what to think of us right now.''

Nor do most people. West Virginia has, indeed, won two straight games and it can be argued that in neither was it not obvious who was the best team on the field. The Mountaineers outgained Marshall roughly 500 yards to 150 and won 27-3. Rutgers kept things closer, losing 24-17, but West Virginia had more than a few opportunities to put the hammer down and just didn't do it.

And in both games, the Mountaineers played the final quarter and a half without their best player. Quarterback Pat White left the Marshall game with a bruised thumb and was held out against Rutgers after he took a blow to the head.

Again, though, Stewart understands that expectations are higher. A team trying to gain respect needs to do more than beat a one-win Rutgers team by a touchdown, no matter what the personnel are on the field.

"It was a good win and a solid win, but maybe not a very convincing win, at least to people who like to see a lot of scoring,'' Stewart said. "I wish we could have scored one more and held them to one less, but a win is a win and I'm not complaining. I think we're getting better and that's all that matters.''

Short of a complete blowout, attitudes aren't likely to be swayed this week, either. West Virginia (3-2, 1-0 Big East) plays host to pitiful Syracuse (1-4, 0-1) in a noon game on Saturday at Mountaineer Field. The contest, WVU's homecoming, will be televised by ESPNU.

But there are at least a few signs that the Mountaineers are getting better. A defense that wasn't very good at all during the first two games of the season has surrendered only two touchdowns and as many field goals since the opening five minutes of a loss at Colorado, virtually three full games. Even without linebacker Reed Williams, apparently out for the season because his surgically repaired shoulders have not responded well, it is a young group with promise.

"It was brought to my attention that we're starting seven sophomores or freshman on defense,'' Stewart said. "I didn't even realize that. I don't look at that stuff. We have a young defense, but they're getting better.''

Offensively the Mountaineers have run hot and cold the past three weeks, alternately running and throwing the ball well, but seldom putting the two together.

"Offensively we were doing pretty good stuff,'' Stewart said. "We came very close to springing Noel Devine about three times and that was good to see. He had some nice runs and he made some good plays. And the offensive line really pass blocked well and we were tickled about that. Rutgers gave us some twists and blitzes and I thought our guys picked up on that pretty well.''

Perhaps the most important question regarding the Mountaineers as they approach the midpoint of the season is the health of White. His bruised thumb is still an issue, but he made it through the game against Rutgers without a problem on that front. His hit to the head is being downplayed by Stewart.

"He got dinged up and we held him out for precautionary reasons,'' Stewart said. "It's a wait and see thing. He'll practice [Sunday], but I'm going to make sure he's doing OK. He was on top of the passing game and his throws and I was really pleased to see that. He should be fine by this weekend.''

Stewart said he spent much of Saturday night in contact with White's family to make sure he was doing OK.

"He's just a little woozy. He does not have a concussion. He got hit in the head,'' Stewart said. "When he came over, they took him in and he had his strength, his wits about him for the most part. But that worried me and it worried our trainers. His memory is good, short term and long term, and he's answering questions. His eyes were not dilated, he didn't get sick.''

BRIEFLY: Syracuse was off over the weekend, the only team the Mountaineers face this season with substantially more time to prepare for a game than WVU. Syracuse lost 34-24 at home to Pitt in its last game and has beaten only Northeastern (30-21) this season.

"I think they played with tremendous effort against Pitt,'' Stewart said of the Orange, who led Pitt 24-13 in the third quarter. "I thought that they had a chance to win that football game and it just didn't happen for them.''

Reach Dave Hickman at 348-1734 or dphickm...@aol.com.