MORGANTOWN - As West Virginia wrapped up its first week of spring football practice Saturday afternoon, the offense gathered on one side of the field and the defense on the other. It's really a matter of routine.
MORGANTOWN - As West Virginia wrapped up its first week of spring football practice Saturday afternoon, the offense gathered on one side of the field and the defense on the other. It's really a matter of routine.
The two groups might say something among themselves, but for the most part that's just a formality. The idea is to simply gather and then cross the field in a line and shake hands or slap palms or whatever. It's an end-of-practice ritual the same as one sees between two teams at the end of a basketball game.
On Saturday, though, the whole process was delayed. Because on the defensive side, linebacker J.T. Thomas was in the middle of the group. The defense had slipped up more than a few times late in the just-completed practice and Thomas was letting them know about it.
And he was doing it in no uncertain - and hardly G-rated - terms.
It was just the kind of thing Bill Stewart has been looking for as he tries to find players who will establish themselves as leaders.
"Leadership is a funny thing. It takes guts to be a leader,'' Stewart said later. "We're not looking for rah-rah guys or guys who tell their buddies how well they're doing. We're looking for leaders.
"It's tough. It's tough to be a leader. You have to stay the course, remember the plan and go in the direction you know you're supposed to go. For the first week, it seems to be moving in the right direction. I really like our intensity. And these guys like to compete against each other, which is fun to watch.''
There is no shortage of candidates for leadership roles among West Virginia's offensive unit. Noel Devine and Jock Sanders, a pair of seniors, have already begun to assume that role. Sophomore quarterback Geno Smith is developing a take-charge attitude. The offensive line is now full of veterans.
But on defense, tackle Scooter Berry is always vocal, but he's not practicing this spring because of shoulder surgery. Nose guard Chris Neild is a veteran, as are safeties like Robert Sands and Sidney Glover. Cornerback Brandon Hogan might fire up some people if he's ever allowed to come down out of the stands where he and fullback Ryan Clarke are running steps throughout practice as penance for not working hard enough during winter conditioning.
But for the time being, perhaps the logical vocal leader of the defense is Thomas, the veteran linebacker. If Saturday's post-practice huddle was any indication, he won't be shy about letting his feelings be known.
"You don't script or prescribe that. You really can't promote that,'' Stewart said. "It takes guts to be a leader. Guys who don't have guts aren't successful in life. They're the guys who are telling people how they should be doing things.
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Thomas becoming team leader
MORGANTOWN - As West Virginia wrapped up its first week of spring football practice Saturday afternoon, the offense gathered on one side of the field and the defense on the other. It's really a matter of routine.
The two groups might say something among themselves, but for the most part that's just a formality. The idea is to simply gather and then cross the field in a line and shake hands or slap palms or whatever. It's an end-of-practice ritual the same as one sees between two teams at the end of a basketball game.
On Saturday, though, the whole process was delayed. Because on the defensive side, linebacker J.T. Thomas was in the middle of the group. The defense had slipped up more than a few times late in the just-completed practice and Thomas was letting them know about it.
And he was doing it in no uncertain - and hardly G-rated - terms.
It was just the kind of thing Bill Stewart has been looking for as he tries to find players who will establish themselves as leaders.
"Leadership is a funny thing. It takes guts to be a leader,'' Stewart said later. "We're not looking for rah-rah guys or guys who tell their buddies how well they're doing. We're looking for leaders.
"It's tough. It's tough to be a leader. You have to stay the course, remember the plan and go in the direction you know you're supposed to go. For the first week, it seems to be moving in the right direction. I really like our intensity. And these guys like to compete against each other, which is fun to watch.''
There is no shortage of candidates for leadership roles among West Virginia's offensive unit. Noel Devine and Jock Sanders, a pair of seniors, have already begun to assume that role. Sophomore quarterback Geno Smith is developing a take-charge attitude. The offensive line is now full of veterans.
But on defense, tackle Scooter Berry is always vocal, but he's not practicing this spring because of shoulder surgery. Nose guard Chris Neild is a veteran, as are safeties like Robert Sands and Sidney Glover. Cornerback Brandon Hogan might fire up some people if he's ever allowed to come down out of the stands where he and fullback Ryan Clarke are running steps throughout practice as penance for not working hard enough during winter conditioning.
But for the time being, perhaps the logical vocal leader of the defense is Thomas, the veteran linebacker. If Saturday's post-practice huddle was any indication, he won't be shy about letting his feelings be known.
"You don't script or prescribe that. You really can't promote that,'' Stewart said. "It takes guts to be a leader. Guys who don't have guts aren't successful in life. They're the guys who are telling people how they should be doing things.
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MORGANTOWN - As West Virginia wrapped up its first week of spring football practice Saturday afternoon, the offense gathered on one side of the field and the defense on the other. It's really a matter of routine.
The two groups might say something among themselves, but for the most part that's just a formality. The idea is to simply gather and then cross the field in a line and shake hands or slap palms or whatever. It's an end-of-practice ritual the same as one sees between two teams at the end of a basketball game.
On Saturday, though, the whole process was delayed. Because on the defensive side, linebacker J.T. Thomas was in the middle of the group. The defense had slipped up more than a few times late in the just-completed practice and Thomas was letting them know about it.
And he was doing it in no uncertain - and hardly G-rated - terms.
It was just the kind of thing Bill Stewart has been looking for as he tries to find players who will establish themselves as leaders.
"Leadership is a funny thing. It takes guts to be a leader,'' Stewart said later. "We're not looking for rah-rah guys or guys who tell their buddies how well they're doing. We're looking for leaders.
"It's tough. It's tough to be a leader. You have to stay the course, remember the plan and go in the direction you know you're supposed to go. For the first week, it seems to be moving in the right direction. I really like our intensity. And these guys like to compete against each other, which is fun to watch.''
There is no shortage of candidates for leadership roles among West Virginia's offensive unit. Noel Devine and Jock Sanders, a pair of seniors, have already begun to assume that role. Sophomore quarterback Geno Smith is developing a take-charge attitude. The offensive line is now full of veterans.
But on defense, tackle Scooter Berry is always vocal, but he's not practicing this spring because of shoulder surgery. Nose guard Chris Neild is a veteran, as are safeties like Robert Sands and Sidney Glover. Cornerback Brandon Hogan might fire up some people if he's ever allowed to come down out of the stands where he and fullback Ryan Clarke are running steps throughout practice as penance for not working hard enough during winter conditioning.
But for the time being, perhaps the logical vocal leader of the defense is Thomas, the veteran linebacker. If Saturday's post-practice huddle was any indication, he won't be shy about letting his feelings be known.
"You don't script or prescribe that. You really can't promote that,'' Stewart said. "It takes guts to be a leader. Guys who don't have guts aren't successful in life. They're the guys who are telling people how they should be doing things.
"You show me a guy who has guts, and I'll show you a man who is a good leader. I'll show you a guy that's a good husband, a good dad and a pretty good man in society. It doesn't take anything but guts to stay the plan. We've got to have leadership.''
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Stewart was none too pleased with the kicking game on Saturday, although he liked the punting.
"I really like Greg Pugnetti and Corey Smith,'' Stewart said. "I was really pleased with the way they were rolling to the right.''
Pugnetti is a walk-on and Smith, a Musselman grad, transferred from Alabama. They are vying to replace graduated Scott Kozlowski. Smith was also working as the primary kicker on placements.
"Place-kicking and field goal were awful. I'm going to have to watch a lot of film this week,'' Stewart said. "I'm pleased with our punting. We have put more emphasis on the punting, though.''
The kicking game is understandably hampered by the absence of regular kicker Tyler Bitancurt, who missed the first week of practice with an ankle injury.
nn
BRIEFLY: This week's schedule is pretty much the same as last week's - weight room work today, then practices on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Friday's practice, though, is at 6 a.m., and Saturday's workout will include the first real scrimmage of the spring.
This article is available only to our premium digital content subscribers.
Thomas becoming team leader
MORGANTOWN - As West Virginia wrapped up its first week of spring football practice Saturday afternoon, the offense gathered on one side of the field and the defense on the other. It's really a matter of routine.
The two groups might say something among themselves, but for the most part that's just a formality. The idea is to simply gather and then cross the field in a line and shake hands or slap palms or whatever. It's an end-of-practice ritual the same as one sees between two teams at the end of a basketball game.
On Saturday, though, the whole process was delayed. Because on the defensive side, linebacker J.T. Thomas was in the middle of the group. The defense had slipped up more than a few times late in the just-completed practice and Thomas was letting them know about it.
And he was doing it in no uncertain - and hardly G-rated - terms.
It was just the kind of thing Bill Stewart has been looking for as he tries to find players who will establish themselves as leaders.
"Leadership is a funny thing. It takes guts to be a leader,'' Stewart said later. "We're not looking for rah-rah guys or guys who tell their buddies how well they're doing. We're looking for leaders.
"It's tough. It's tough to be a leader. You have to stay the course, remember the plan and go in the direction you know you're supposed to go. For the first week, it seems to be moving in the right direction. I really like our intensity. And these guys like to compete against each other, which is fun to watch.''
There is no shortage of candidates for leadership roles among West Virginia's offensive unit. Noel Devine and Jock Sanders, a pair of seniors, have already begun to assume that role. Sophomore quarterback Geno Smith is developing a take-charge attitude. The offensive line is now full of veterans.
But on defense, tackle Scooter Berry is always vocal, but he's not practicing this spring because of shoulder surgery. Nose guard Chris Neild is a veteran, as are safeties like Robert Sands and Sidney Glover. Cornerback Brandon Hogan might fire up some people if he's ever allowed to come down out of the stands where he and fullback Ryan Clarke are running steps throughout practice as penance for not working hard enough during winter conditioning.
But for the time being, perhaps the logical vocal leader of the defense is Thomas, the veteran linebacker. If Saturday's post-practice huddle was any indication, he won't be shy about letting his feelings be known.
"You don't script or prescribe that. You really can't promote that,'' Stewart said. "It takes guts to be a leader. Guys who don't have guts aren't successful in life. They're the guys who are telling people how they should be doing things.
