MORGANTOWN - Geno Smith didn't need Dana Holgorsen's rather pointed review of last year's West Virginia-Marshall game tape to know what almost went so terribly wrong for the Mountaineers in Huntington.
"It really wasn't about the excitement factor. You can't measure how hard a guy is going,'' Smith said. "My anger is just from losing. I hate to lose. I hate to be down. I want perfection, even though it's impossible. So if I'm angry it's not at anyone or about any specific thing. It's just my competitive nature.''
The next time the Mountaineers got the ball, Smith fumbled on the first play, seemingly setting up Marshall for a close-the-door score. But after Herd freshman Tron Martinez fumbled on first-and-goal from the WVU 6, Smith began engineering the comeback. In those last two drives he completed 17-of-20 passes, ran twice for big gains and threw the tying TD pass and conversion.
Talk about your confidence builders. Or, maybe not.
"I don't think it helped my confidence as much as it helped my understanding of the game and knowing that you're never out of it no matter how much time's left or how many points are on the scoreboard,'' Smith said. "You can always come back. You just have to fight back and believe.''
And, of course, play with a little bit of enthusiasm. Smith has never been accused of being too stoic. In fact, Holgorsen has said repeatedly that there are times when he has to try to dial back Smith's enthusiasm.
Smith, though, prefers to think of it as just having fun.
"I never go crazy. A lot of times I just go out there and have fun,'' Smith said. "I love playing football. I have fun. I enjoy it. Sometimes Coach tells me to calm down a little bit, that I might be showing off a little bit, but I'm just having fun.''
When the teams meet Sunday, perhaps the best place for the Mountaineers to land is somewhere in the middle of the lack of enthusiasm shown in last year's game and the sometimes over-the-top zeal of Smith.
Smith, though, prefers to think of it as business as usual against an opponent that took the Mountaineers to the brink last year.
"Rivalry or not, it's a game we have to go out and win,'' Smith said. "We can't look at the history or whatever because they can come out and beat us. They showed that last year, aside from those two last-minute drives.''
Reach Dave Hickman at 304-348-1734 or dphickm...@aol.com.
MORGANTOWN - Geno Smith didn't need Dana Holgorsen's rather pointed review of last year's West Virginia-Marshall game tape to know what almost went so terribly wrong for the Mountaineers in Huntington.
Holgorsen said this week that the one thing that stood out to him while watching the video was how much more enthusiastically Marshall's players seemed to approach the game as opposed to the Mountaineers.
Smith knew that as it was happening.
"It was clear to see. If you look at the game, we came out a little bit flat and they made plays early,'' Smith said. "But we fought back and that's really all that matters.''
Indeed, West Virginia finally recovered and won the game 24-21 in overtime. But it took two Smith-led scoring drives of 96 and 98 yards and his 2-point conversion pass to Jock Sanders in the final 81/2 minutes to salvage WVU's 10th win in as many games against the Herd.
While there seems little chance of a repeat of those doldrums when No. 24 West Virginia plays host to Marshall Sunday at Mountaineer Field - there was a lesson to be learned there, right? - Smith is taking no chances.
West Virginia's junior quarterback has taken personal charge of enthusiasm and preparedness.
"That's 100 percent a part of my job, to make sure guys come out and we're prepared and we're ready and we're focused,'' Smith said. "My job is always to be the facilitator and make sure guys are doing what they're supposed to do. That's something I take pride in and it's something I'm going to do better at this year.''
In truth, he did a pretty good job last year, even in that Marshall game.
As the fourth quarter began and West Virginia trailed 21-6, the Mountaineers began a series on their own 24-yard line. A holding penalty, two fumbles and a sack later, WVU was punting from its own 4.
When Smith got to the sideline he slammed his helmet to the ground and screamed at anyone and everyone within earshot.
He swears now it wasn't because of a lack of effort, but because he simply hates to lose. In reality, it was probably a bit of both.
"It really wasn't about the excitement factor. You can't measure how hard a guy is going,'' Smith said. "My anger is just from losing. I hate to lose. I hate to be down. I want perfection, even though it's impossible. So if I'm angry it's not at anyone or about any specific thing. It's just my competitive nature.''
The next time the Mountaineers got the ball, Smith fumbled on the first play, seemingly setting up Marshall for a close-the-door score. But after Herd freshman Tron Martinez fumbled on first-and-goal from the WVU 6, Smith began engineering the comeback. In those last two drives he completed 17-of-20 passes, ran twice for big gains and threw the tying TD pass and conversion.
Talk about your confidence builders. Or, maybe not.
"I don't think it helped my confidence as much as it helped my understanding of the game and knowing that you're never out of it no matter how much time's left or how many points are on the scoreboard,'' Smith said. "You can always come back. You just have to fight back and believe.''
And, of course, play with a little bit of enthusiasm. Smith has never been accused of being too stoic. In fact, Holgorsen has said repeatedly that there are times when he has to try to dial back Smith's enthusiasm.
Smith, though, prefers to think of it as just having fun.
"I never go crazy. A lot of times I just go out there and have fun,'' Smith said. "I love playing football. I have fun. I enjoy it. Sometimes Coach tells me to calm down a little bit, that I might be showing off a little bit, but I'm just having fun.''
When the teams meet Sunday, perhaps the best place for the Mountaineers to land is somewhere in the middle of the lack of enthusiasm shown in last year's game and the sometimes over-the-top zeal of Smith.
Smith, though, prefers to think of it as business as usual against an opponent that took the Mountaineers to the brink last year.
"Rivalry or not, it's a game we have to go out and win,'' Smith said. "We can't look at the history or whatever because they can come out and beat us. They showed that last year, aside from those two last-minute drives.''
Reach Dave Hickman at 304-348-1734 or dphickm...@aol.com.
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