Well, that was a wasted nine-hour round trip.
Everything about my drive into Tropical Storm Hanna from D.C. went perfectly (drove to Emporia, Va., just as the rain started and by the time the game started at 4:30, the sun was out) except for the game.
I have been thinking hard about comparably awful losses and had to go back a long way. For the record, it was the first time since a 45-3 loss to Miami in 2001 that WVU failed to score a touchdown.
The Pitt loss comes to mind last year, as does last year’s South Florida loss, but at least WVU was competitive in those games. I had to go back to WVU’s 41-7 loss to Florida in the Sugar Bowl following the 1993 season for a loss that was as complete, as dominant by the other team and as wholly unexpected following such a run of success.
The credit in Saturday’s loss goes to ECU. They dominated WVU in every aspect of the game. ECU’s offensive line controlled WVU’s defensive line and WVU’s vaunted and experienced offensive line looked muddled against the pressure applied by ECU’s rush.
Further, I am not convinced Saturday’s loss was an aberration. If these two teams played 10 times, I think ECU would win the majority.
This loss exposed major structural problems with WVU on offense and defense.
I will readily admit that I bought into the “reload, not rebuild” idea. The loss of so many starters on defense has been devastating. They may gel this year, but they may not.
There was plenty of blame to go around in Saturday’s loss:
The offense
It doesn’t matter how many new wrinkles and motion and H-backs and gimmicks you have, if you don’t control the line of scrimmage, it doesn’t matter. ECU disrupted WVU’s offense from the snap.
The offense never looked in control and often looked confused. Everyone wondered if Pat White could pick up the new offense, but what about the offensive line? For years, they’ve been used to doing one thing: zone-block for the run. Now, they’re asked to pass-block, as well. On Saturday, they did neither well.
For the past couple of years, I have been thinking that WVU’s offense has two speeds: sail and stall. When it gets going (against ECU, UConn and Oklahoma last year) it seems to take on a life of its own and everything works. When it stalls (Pitt and South Florida last year, ECU Saturday) it seems like nothing can get it started. It looks horizontal, weak and inspires no faith that a first down is achievable.
White bears some blame, as well, for killing a second-quarter drive that would have brought the game to 10-7. He had just hit Tito Gonzalez on a drag route that produced a first down and it looked like WVU’s offense was starting to click.
Noel Devine had just ripped off a 34-yard run to take the ball down to ECU’s 17-yard line. But then White took a seven-yard sack (Selvish Capers just whiffed on the ECU pass rusher), making it 2nd and 17, something a senior shouldn’t do. On the next play, ECU blew up a screen pass to Devine, making it 3rd and 18. Amazingly, White scrambled for 17 yards, leaving WVU one yard short of the first down. It was that kind of day.
The defense
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2 months ago
I was worried about Bill Stewart as a HC. Still worried.
2 months ago
-SIGH- Man you hit it right on the nose. This sums up pretty much how it went down. WVU didn't Out hit em. They didn't Out tackle em. They didn't Out Block em. They LEFT DOUBT that night. And there is a guy on the team by the name of NOEL DEVINE. Give him the ball EVERY SINGLE TIME!!! Yet he still averaged almost 8 yards a carry with that poor O-line
2 months ago
It was a sad , sad day. Lets hope that they can figure out how to play football again.
from 2 months ago
Shawn,
We talked last week and I told you my WVU friends saw signs this was coming by how the defense gave up so much yardage to 'Nova but, fortunately for WVU, they couldn't punch it in often. I think the rose-colored glasses must come off now. Bill Stewart was an emotional hire that should have never happened. WVU is top notch enough and her fans are loyal enough to deserve to have gone after a PROVEN coach or PROVEN coordinator. Stewart wasn't even the coordinator but just a position coach. WVU has more clout than to be hiring a position coach. That is not a knock on Stewart but a compliment of WVU. Stewart, nice guy he may be, did not deserve the HC spot at WVU based on his resume'. Terry Bowden had an undefeated year in the SEC no less. He wanted the job badly. I just don't get that one. Skip Holtz wanted the job too and was prepared to leave but instead he is now leading America's new favorite Cinderella instead of prowling the WVU sidelines where he maybe should be. I just don't get the powers-that-be at WVU. But I think it is time for some WVU fans that have been mouthing to admit that they were drinking the kool-aid. I'm not talking about you here but rather opining out loud.
from 2 months ago
Hey Donald. You may very well be right about Stewart, but I'm not ready to throw him out just yet. One game shouldn't get him fired. We have a long way to go yet this season, lets see what happens. Remember WVU was more favored over PITT last year and ECU this year and they lost to PITT. Was Stewart the coach against PITT last year? Nope. Even Rodriguez can lose a game here or there in which his team is the clear favorite. It can happen to anybody anywhere at any time, regardless of coaching experience.
As the season continues we will find out how bad or good the hire of Stewart was. We will also find out how good this ECU team is. If the Pirates continue racking up wins and end up being a BCS buster team, then it is hard to hold too much against WVU for the loss. If ECU has just an average year and WVU loses games in bunches then I will be the first to conclude as you have said, that Bill Stewart isn't qualified.
I still wouldn't say it was a bad hire though, because of what Stewart means to the people of West Virginia, and the fans of Mountaineer football. Even if he is one and done, I still think he was who we needed at that point in time.
from 2 months ago
*That should have been "than ECU this year"
from 2 months ago
Shawn,
ECU won't lose again because, unfortunately, they don't play anybody. If Va Tech and WVU both have 3 losses or more, then an undefeated ECU will not make a BCS game (especially if Utah or BYU is undefeated because they draw more fans). However, if Va Tech and WVU have records better than that, they we will all be treated to agonizingly large doses of ESPN showing Lou Holtz's son and pumping that team. It will be sickening. I do think though that, given Va Tech and WVU both already have one loss each, that both will lose the requisite 3 times I'm talking about...especially if Va Tech somehow makes it to the ACC champ. game.
Also, I don't think Stewart should be fired for this game or for anything he's done or not done to this point. It's just that to now go do what WVU should have done in the first place (which was to hire someone proven), he will have to be fired to clear the way in the process.
2 months ago
WVU played below their capabilities, but ECU is for real. I think I have a new favorite Cinderella.
2 months ago
ECU is a giant killer that was their 3rd straight win over a ranked opponent. They are a giant killer, and they are better than many top 25 teams. Also WVU was way overrated!
2 months ago
Check at Virginia Military Institute to find out whether Stewart is qualified as a head coach. Or ask ... what's his name? Oh, yeah, Rich Rodriguez.
2 months ago
ECU must be ranked in the top 20 this week, it would be a travesty otherwise.
from 2 months ago
14 in the AP
2 months ago
I'll admit, the PI call on Lankster was a really terrible one, but the fumble was questionable. It's not like the WVU coaches weren't upstairs looking at it. They too must have felt that way and decided it wasn't worth the risk to ask for a challenge. And I'm not saying the 4th down spot was or wasn't good, but it too was questionable. You can't say that those last two calls were wrong for sure. And I know you didn't really say that it was the officiating crews fault, but ECU was penalized 9 times to only 4 for WVU, and they were at home.
from 2 months ago
You cannot complain about officiating unless it is a close game.
from 2 months ago
They were penalized more because they had the ball the whole game.
from 2 months ago
The calls did build momentum for ECU, and yes they were bad calls, but they didn't cause WVU to play like a high school team. The PI call was horrible. The Pat White fumble should have been reviewed by the booth at least. And the 4th down, he was stopped behind the line. This drive ended up being a scoring drive. The PI call led to a score. And The White fumble, probably took WVU points off the board. Could have changed this game, or atleast the momentum!
from 2 months ago
I agree, the fumble should have been reviewed by the booth at least, but that doesn't mean it would have been overturned. It was too close to call one way or another. And you can't assume that the fumble took points off the board for WVU. They didnt score any other time, what makes you think they would have scored then? And you cant say the 4th down was a wrong call either. It appeared he was stopped short, but if you look closely, he got a little extra push at the end and it looked like he did get the first down. But once again, too close to call. The PI was the only definitely wrong call
2 months ago
WVU looked awful, maybe next time.
2 months ago
Wow... it didn't take long for the Mountaineer faithful to turn on Bill Stewart. I just got my haircut on Wiley street and all the Barbershop experts were talking about what a terrible hire Coach Stewart was... these are the same guys, mind you, that were ecstatic in January about the wonderful return to real West Virginia values. Sheesh. Upsets happen folks, that's why they play the game.
Don't be so quick to sell out Stewart et al. The problem was not schemes or game planning. As Frank points out, the problem was in the execution. This team has the athletes and execution can be improved. I suppose that will be the test of this new coaching staff. Can they coach up they athletes on the execution? [For the record, at the time I thought the way that Stewart was hired reflected poor judgment and leadership at the University; but I think since he has been installed, he has gone about building the program in the right way. He has surrounded himself with coaching talent and is letting the coaches coach. Give them a season or two and they'll be just fine. Then again, I'm a sociologist... not a football analyst, so what do I know?]
Substantively, this football team has a serious problem on the defensive side of the ball (which was demonstrated in week one when they gave up repeated extended drives to Villanova). This past week we saw the consequence of a soft defense against a quality opponent. (I would not at all be surprised to see ECU playing in one of the BCS games in January). I see the lack of offensive production as an atypical hiccup. The defensive problems appear to me to be endemic.
2 months ago
I just don't understand the defense. Stewart has said all preseason that they would not lay back and let teams catch the ball. Well, they have been doing this for the first two weeks! Why not press the receivers? So what if you get burned a couple of times, atleast your offense can get on the field. Trust me, I am as sick as anybody over this loss, and I am still not sure about Stewart, but I think WVU can still win the Big East and somewhat salvage their season. They better improve fast! And quit trying to make Pat White a pocket passer. This guy looks really uncomfortable. They really need to focus on the running game.
2 months ago
ECU! ECU! ECU! I love to see a team like this dominate W.V. As they say at the beginning of Madden 08 Its not who is stronger or better, its who wants it more. ECU wanted it more. Go Pirates
2 months ago
Don't cry for me, Rich Rod Riguezzzzzzz...
Coupled with the Mee-chee-gan loss to Utah, it couldn't happen to a nicer pair of programs.
Smash the BCS, y'all.
East Carolina: Should be the 12th ACC member (Boston College just doesn't belong... back to the Big East with them).
2 months ago
I think ECU will go undefeated this year. Their only challenge will be @ UCF in my mind. Patrick Pinkney is playing great completing 80% of his passes so far.
2 months ago
By the way Utah and BYU will not out draw ECU. They brought 30,000 to thier first game in Charlotte, NC.
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