WVU Coach Bill Stewart was gushing about the physical toll felt from playing two of the first six games in the Big East. Two quarterbacks are hurting, an offensive lineman has a knee and a defensive lineman has a concussion. Yet Pat White, Jarrett Brown, Josh Jenkins and Pat Liebig should all play Thursday against Auburn.

Twelve days between games in the middle of the season can do wonders.

Well, the Tigers played three of their first seven games in the SEC, generally regarded as the biggest, fastest conference going. News is getting better for them, too. Late last week, healthy players were allowed to leave town while coaches hit the road for recruiting, but Coach Tommy Tuberville was surprised at one scene.

In between recruiting trips Friday, Tommy Tuberville popped into the Auburn training room.

“It looked like a hospital,” Tuberville said.

Players who were still nursing injuries after Thursday’s practice were not able to skip town Friday and Saturday.

Apparently, many of Auburn’s players fell into that category.