Welcome to a baton-down-the-hatches, head-for-the-hills version of the Friday Feedback. The RVs are already rolling into town, couches seem more nervous than usual and the collective sound of undergrads ditching school for beer pong has me particularly delighted this morning. Hard to believe, but all that’s happened since Dec. 1 is about to become a memory in the most official way possible. There will be events written atop of that chapter of our history and it begins with a good old home opener. WVU gets out early, shows a little to build a big lead and then plays coy the rest of the way, so don’t be disappointed if the second half resembles a scrimmage. Villanova seems like a veteran team with a good coach and a good plan and the Wildcats will try hard, but it won’t be enough.

Some prediction, huh?

Onto the Feedback. As always, comments appear as posted. In other words, some of you haven’t met the spaghetti cat.

Alli said:

I just hope Reed really is ready and he’s not just telling the coaches/trainers what they want to hear. He’s too good of a player and teammate to lose to further injury if he comes back to early.

However, this is great to hear.

Best news of the week … if not for Brantwon Bowser. I’m still having a hard time believing Reed made it back, but I just can’t wrap my mind around Bowser’s recovery. And you know he’s going to do something big in the game, too. That stuff always happens.

Rob W. said:

You gotta be kidding me! Is this real?

That was the general response to the Bowser news. It was entirely understandable, too. 

X-Rayted said:

Um, coming from someone still recovering from his second ACL Reconstruction, this boggles my mind. I mean I realize these guys have a much more dedicated and intense rehab program then we do, but damn! I mean I basically missed my 2nd entire softball season from this injury which was repaired on November 9th. I was told in each post-op situation that I rehabbed extremely fast. I would love to know what this guy is getting, because I need some. Whether it be the putty from Billy May, or Criss Angel magically repairing the ligament as he does after he tears newspaper in half, this is incredible. I also think it is a horrible idea for him to try and play because no matter how fast or strong the graft appears to be, it’s only takes one cut or hit and his career could easily be over.  

 I’m speechless. Moving on…

Sam said:

I’m terribly nervous about the “bad” loss. We played Oklahoma on a high, and eviscerated them. But some of the soul of that team has left, and Pat White, though the best player to ever suit up at WVU, is quiet. Who takes the Owen Schmitt roll? And who carries us if we’re down in the third quarter?

The flipside is that we can’t possibly have a coach/offensive coordinator combo worse than P-Rod and Magee, who insisted on calling the same ineffective plays, over and over and over and over and over again, even when they clearly weren’t working. With a more varied offense, we have the ability to fight back if staring down the “bad” loss.

Also, the Auburn game is putting knots in my stomach. That one could be complicated.  

I think there’s a support group for the Auburn game. I’m not sure WVU has played a team quite like the Tigers in the regular season in a long time. The coaching is the great unknown, but Stewart seems hell-bent on learning from the past. The initial point, though, is the best. White may be quiet, but that’s off the field and he seems to have the comprehensive respect of the entire team.

thacker said:

Every ball club needs at least one of those pissed-off neanderthal who can think types — the guy who no matter what gets in and does what needs done. That is part of the 48-28 mindset — every one of them. I hope the ability to correctly adapt has carried over.

By the way, are there any box cutter, ice pick, switchblade wielding types on the squad? If so, do a job on that damn inflated “Rita” helmet if its still there.

Let’s elaborate on the Owen Schmitt role. I wouldn’t underestimate Ryan Stanchek. He’s a little crazy, but in a good way, and Dorrell Jalloh seems like the guy who’d make the tough catch across the middle on third-and-six and go absolutely wild to celebrate the key first down. Defensively, it’s Mortty Ivy and Reed Williams, for sure, and quite possibly Quinton Andrews. Give it some time. It’s fun to watch these characters develop.

glibglub said:

I am concerned that the new Mountaineer doesn’t look grizzled and backwoodsy enough. I’m afraid he may even smell nice. Also, I must admit living in fear of the possibility of catching even the slightest glimpse of Lou Holtz giving one of those gawd-awful pep talks. Is there one single person in the viewing public who actually enjoys watching that circus of inappropriateness? Last season when he wore his old Notre Dame windshirt and trucker hat, it looked like the little old retired gas station attendent from down the street had wandered into the ESPN studio and just started yammering at the camera. :::shudder:::

Otherwise, it’s the first day of CFB season and I feel pretty good, thanks for asking.  

The pep talk is no more, replaced by an equally uncomfortable Ask Dr. Lou segment. I share your concerns about the Mountaineer. I plan on, um, sniffing around Saturday.  

Homer said:

No depth at tailback. Nobody who’s caught more than about 20 passes in a season. The re-introduction of the tight end. An offensive line failed to show up for a couple games last year (excepting Stanchek). Lack of experience on the d-line. Injury prone at linebacker. Corners who’ve never played there before. A freshman free safety. A harder schedule than P-Rod ever played in his 7 years. That about cover it all?

That’ll work. 

jay2wvu said:

Im scared that we wont win the national championship this year… no seriously im a pharmacy student at WVU and this is my 6th and final year and my last chance to win a NC as a student… for at least 5 years we have been in the NC talk and have so far not done so

I kinda set my goals high lol  

Here’s to you, Jay. Once more, with feeling! 

overtheSEC said:

I worry about execution during big games. I think scheme and talent-wise we’re the best in the league and among the best in the nation. Three of our four losses the past two seasons were due mostly to miscues against teams that were closer to our level of talent (8 fumbles, 5 INT against UL ‘06, USF ‘06, ‘07). Though we have faith in Pat White who has singlehandedly won games for us when others were struggling (GT ‘06, UL ‘07), I’m concerned about our young or inexperienced players getting caught up in the pressure of a game versus talented teams (@Colorado, Auburn, @Pitt, USF, @UConn, and even @ECU makes me a bit nervous). While a slip up against Auburn or Colorado remove NC hopes, at least they don’t affect our BE championship plans.  

Turnovers are always a concern. Can WVU complete the short pass on third-and-six or move the chains in short yardage situations or work the clock when ahead or behind? The schedule is tough early and while ECU and Colorado are not to be confused with powerhouses, they’ll provide challenges and opportunities for WVU to sink or swim in the questionable areas.

Alli said:

Most of my concerns have been mentioned.

However, I worry about whether or not the D-line can put pressure on the QB. If so, life will be easier on our young secondary. Which leads me to…

Worrying about our very young, but talented secondary.

I worry about depth at WR, especially since we’ll be throwing more.

I worry that the new changes in the offense will result in more motion penalties and interceptions.

I worry about trying to pay off my student loans in this economy. 

Good point about the defensive line. I think it’s deeper and better than people — including me — know right now, but there are five or six guys who can play there. Combine that with great depth and talent at linebacker and that front six can make life a lot easier on the secondary. We have to wait and see with those guys. WVU has at least four receivers it trusts, but Jalloh is a wild card because he can play all four positions. He has to be good. Pat hasn’t thrown many interceptions or made many bad decisions in the past, but, yes, this is new territory.

Rob W. said:

I think that this is a 10-2 football team, that could go 12-0 with the right breaks (no major injuries, good turnover margin, etc.) or 8-4 if everything went wrong.

My concerns rest primarily with the defensive losses on the D-Line and the secondary.

Secondly, I’m concerned about the running back depth.

I’m very curious to see if the receiving corps has the ability to get separation and perform (i.e. were they held back by the last staff) or is there truly a lack of talent there.

Finally, as good as I feel about this coaching staff the question has to be answered as to how they perform as a staff.  

Running back depth is a major concern. Mark Rodgers has a chance, but I still think Hulce emerges with Kerns to follow. Rodgers seems a lot like a Jock Sanders … versatile. As for the staff, pressure under fire is the only way to answer your question. It will be interesting to see how they work in concert to make adjustments, whether they’re ahead or behind. 

Shannon said:

I’m worried we may not have as many fireworks as Barack Obama’s after party last night. 

McCain can buy you some on eBay! 

glibglub said:

Someone should point out to P-Rod that it was in the past that he saw the Lion King, and therefore, the Lion King doesn’t matter. Then watch smoke start pouring from his ears. Possibly his head would explode.

How do you think he got the idea for the smoking helmet? 

OB1 said:

The Godfather would make Rich’s head explode…if he could grasp the concept.

P-Rod is Peter Griffin?

glibglub said:

You recall how someone made a show of giving a copy of Bo Schembechler’s book to P-Rod when he was hired? Somehow, I can’t imagine Michigan’s next coach being gifted with “All I Need to Know I Learned from the Lion King,” by Rich Rodriguez.

Utopia. 

oklahoma mountaineer said:

The sad part…..he may hear something like the following in the not too distant future…….when he has problems beating OSU and another good coach, Mr. SweaterVest himself….”You used to be considered a great coach…..”

“It doesnt matter because it’s in the past.

He was, and is, a pretty good coach — and we are better for his being at WVU. But let’s face it, players play, and coaches prepare. I don’t want to be mellow dramatic, but there aren’t many Pat White’s out there and I don’t know that we will EVER see a QB in PRod (or Stew’s) system that will run this style of offense any better….

I was in school when Major Harris came through and Pat makes him look like he’s in slow motion and he was (and is) one of the best to run this style of wide open, run-throw offense in a college setting.  

Very well put. I often marvel at how bad of a coach he became once he went to Michigan, as if all the great things he did here were completely erased by his defection, as disgraceful as it was, and I often wonder if he’ll ever be as good without a player like Patrick White. Time will tell. How often has the point been raised that White’s greatest obstacle is his own success? Couldn’t we similarly assume P-Rod will be judged by his past success as well as Pat’s?

Erinn said:

I like how Coach Stew was able to say, “It happened. Now let’s get over it,” without any reference to the Lion King’s Rafiki.  

It warrants mentioning Stewart inspired Bowser’s comeback by telling him, in so many words, to stop pouting and get to work with rehab. 

Shannon said:

To use Rodriguez’s own line of thinking, Rodriguez was in the past and there it doesn’t matter what he thinks.

Amen. 

Alli said:

Thanks for posting that. So if Bowser goes out there in the 4th quarter Saturday, and his knee gives out, he can still be redshirted. Same thing if Reed’s arms fall off, though considering how tough he is, he’d probably give his best impression of the Black Knight.

The medical redshirt explained properly … on all counts.

oklahoma mountaineer said:

This may sound like sour grapes, but how many teams finishing in the top 10 the past 3 seasons have NEVER been the home for College GameDay at least once….

We are still fighting for the respectability of the “bluebloods”……look at how PRod is now the best thing since sliced bread. He did have some coverage, but nothing like it is at Michigan and most of it is NOT because of his stupidity in the lawsuit.

I thought it was odd WVU didn’t get a chance to play host to the circus, but never to the point of a conspiracy. It’s over now and you can hope a positive experience with basketball might facilitate a date for a future football game.  

kool aid man said:

Does anyone know when they are coming to marshall?

Enjoy the weekend!