Well, I can finally say I have something in common with those who play football at West Virginia — none of us slept last night.

Their nocturnal nature obviously had different roots, though. They were celebrating the Fiesta Bowl and I was feverishly writing (in some cases, rewriting), pursuing rumor to turn it into fact and rearranging my travel plans so I might cover the press conference this morning that introduced Bill Stewart as head football coach.

So now I’m in the Phoenix airort for another three hours and firing through some e-mails, voicemails, text messages, blog comments and early reports on the reaction to Stewart’s hiring.

Let’s agree right now to drop the fact he was 8-25 as a head coach. That was at Virginia Military Institute. Not Virginia Tech. Different worlds and he’s a different man and a better coach today. Moving on…The common concern is this is a “knee jerk” reaction and I can understand that sentiment, but WVU’s administration said Stewart was a candidate from the very beginning and that he wasn’t interviewed (considered?) until after the game so that he might focus solely on preparations. Can’t argue with that, can we?

It’s my opinion, though, that everyone is so suddenly siked about the team again that they want the very best. Basically, they don’t trust the search committee and feel this was a hire based purely on emotion. Perhaps there is something to that.

Would everyone have felt better if WVU flaunted the Fiesta Bowl a little? Certainly. Who knows who might have surfaced as a candidate knowing they could coach the team that throttled Oklahoma. That Stew was hired hours after the game seems rushed because it allowed no time to look around and search for any new interest, but, really, how could you not hire Stew? Consider, too, there may have been a revolt if someone else came in.

His first job is to battle Rich Rodriguez and maintain as much continuity on the staff as he can. Offensive coordinator Calvin Magee is almost certainly gone to Michigan and he was critical last night. Defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel was also key and he’s probably on the fence right now. Stew is only making $800,000 so WVU has some money to throw around to not only keep coaches, but attract some good ones. I wouldn’t doubt Stew’s Roladex.

Feel free to share your thoughts on this. I’ve got nothing but time here. So much time, in fact, that I’ll toss out my favorite Stew story. Everyone who knows him has one. Here’s mine:

I got engaged in June 2006 and this was something Stew was inexplicably interested in. Whenever we spoke, he asked about plans, progress, my “future bride” and whatever else sparked his curiosity.

Well, the place I used to work for had a Christmas party at Lakeview that December and the team was staying there the night before the Rutgers game. Stew was roving around the resort when he popped his head in, looked around and apparently got a look at me and my fiancee.

The next day, Stew was out doing interviews following the triple-overtime win and made a point to ask me if the woman I was with was my fiancee. I said it was and his reply lives on today in normal conversation with me and people I know.

“Looks like you out-kicked your coverage…”