On a Saturday morning, exactly one year and nine days ago, West Virginia's football team was ranked No. 1.
WHAT A year.
On a Saturday morning, exactly one year and nine days ago, West Virginia's football team was ranked No. 1.
Not by the media, mind you, but by the nation's coaches. They had that much respect for the Mountaineer program heading into the fatal Pitt game.
Today, after one season under Bill Stewart, with most of the offensive players back from a team that dismantled Oklahoma, the Mountaineers are unranked. (The Sooners, you may know, are going for a national title.) Despite an 8-4 record, not one coach voted for WVU in the final regular season USA Today Top 25 poll. Not one vote from 61 coaches.
Matt Hayes of the Sporting News already has Stewart on the hot seat to start next season. "Four losses with a championship-ready team is shocking,'' wrote Hayes.
Indeed, the oddsmakers, who make uncannily accurate point spreads, agreed in kind by making the Mountaineers the favorite in every single regular-season game. And forget us media types who cover these teams week in and week out and vote on the Associated Press poll. The nation's coaches ranked West Virginia No. 8 before the season.
Maybe WVU will defeat North Carolina in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. Would be a nice ending to the season for the Mountaineers.
But it will not erase the disappointment of this season. WVU lost a third of its games. Perhaps only the 1989 Mountaineer team with Major Harris was close to being as disappointing. But, really, that isn't so close.
You can point to WVU offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen and line coach Dave Johnson for falling down as well. But the buck stops at Stewart.
He simply did not get the job done.
Perhaps as disturbing is he hasn't taken responsibility. He hasn't figuratively raised his hand and said, "Hey, this is on me. Blame me.'' Instead, he's "fired back'' - and burned whatever good will remained from the Fiesta Bowl.
Yes, Stewart looked better along the sidelines as the season progressed. He looked more the part.
But this isn't about showmanship. This isn't about passion. This is about coaching.
Specifically, head coaching.
On camera, Stewart seemed to improve, although many times during press conferences he slipped a la George Bush. He took a big step backward in that area after the South Florida game by oddly talking about our state's oil supply, which could "lubricate the world.'' He stormed off in a manner suggesting, "take that!''
What he must start to understand is WVU fans and donors don't need bravado. They don't need their coach strutting and talking about fossil fuels. They need a guy who will right a sinking ship. To lead.
WHAT A year.
On a Saturday morning, exactly one year and nine days ago, West Virginia's football team was ranked No. 1.
Not by the media, mind you, but by the nation's coaches. They had that much respect for the Mountaineer program heading into the fatal Pitt game.
Today, after one season under Bill Stewart, with most of the offensive players back from a team that dismantled Oklahoma, the Mountaineers are unranked. (The Sooners, you may know, are going for a national title.) Despite an 8-4 record, not one coach voted for WVU in the final regular season USA Today Top 25 poll. Not one vote from 61 coaches.
Matt Hayes of the Sporting News already has Stewart on the hot seat to start next season. "Four losses with a championship-ready team is shocking,'' wrote Hayes.
Indeed, the oddsmakers, who make uncannily accurate point spreads, agreed in kind by making the Mountaineers the favorite in every single regular-season game. And forget us media types who cover these teams week in and week out and vote on the Associated Press poll. The nation's coaches ranked West Virginia No. 8 before the season.
Maybe WVU will defeat North Carolina in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. Would be a nice ending to the season for the Mountaineers.
But it will not erase the disappointment of this season. WVU lost a third of its games. Perhaps only the 1989 Mountaineer team with Major Harris was close to being as disappointing. But, really, that isn't so close.
You can point to WVU offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen and line coach Dave Johnson for falling down as well. But the buck stops at Stewart.
He simply did not get the job done.
Perhaps as disturbing is he hasn't taken responsibility. He hasn't figuratively raised his hand and said, "Hey, this is on me. Blame me.'' Instead, he's "fired back'' - and burned whatever good will remained from the Fiesta Bowl.
Yes, Stewart looked better along the sidelines as the season progressed. He looked more the part.
But this isn't about showmanship. This isn't about passion. This is about coaching.
Specifically, head coaching.
On camera, Stewart seemed to improve, although many times during press conferences he slipped a la George Bush. He took a big step backward in that area after the South Florida game by oddly talking about our state's oil supply, which could "lubricate the world.'' He stormed off in a manner suggesting, "take that!''
What he must start to understand is WVU fans and donors don't need bravado. They don't need their coach strutting and talking about fossil fuels. They need a guy who will right a sinking ship. To lead.
He can start with his public image, which is severely damaged these days. By overusing terms like "great'' or "terrific'' or "fantastic,'' one isn't taken seriously. At all. Some fans, in fact, have called Stewart's pressers insulting to their intelligence. (It's OK, coach, to call a team or player "good'' or "above average.'' "Great'' is Bo Jackson. It's the 1995 Nebraska team.)
Also, the word is Stewart must show more substance to his team. The players at times have looked to him for answers. He's disappointed.
So, can he grow into a good head coach?
Maybe. Hopefully. He's a good man and I'd sincerely like to see him succeed. He'll certainly have the chance with a six-year deal in hand. One insider said WVU doesn't have the money to buy him out anyway.
It's just tough to say, yes, he can succeed based on what we've seen.
He's not shown us enough.
Also, there are questions.
Will tailback Noel Devine be back next season? Can Stewart's staff hold on to their better recruits? Even if it can, will the 2009 team prove worth a darn? Will any of the better coaches flee?
We shall see.
Maybe Stewart will shock us all by indeed landing blue-chip quarterback Eugene Smith, adequately prepping him and starting him next season.
That would provide some excitement.
Short of that, though, the immediate future looks anything but bright.
Times are tough. And, next season, many WVU fans are going to balk at shelling out big bucks for this act.
Unless, that is, the head coach gets his act together.
Reach Mitch Vingle at 304-348-4827 or mitchvin...@wvgazette.com.
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The defense certainly did come along and should be even stronger next season, perhaps even top ten nationally. Mabye Casteel can coach up Stewart, Mullen and Johnson.
As far as blame, I see nothing to be gained from placing it anywhere. I would certainly call Pastilong and Manchin out for their role in the very unprofessional hiring process, but, like Stewart, they are who they are.
Going forward, I would be very interested to hear from some donors about their plan to support (or not) the program in the future. Anyone hear any comments from Mr Kendrick? That would be interesting.