Welcome to the Friday Feedback, blah, blah,blah. Third quarter, 10:45 to go, Auburn ahead 17-13. Television timeout before Auburn takes possession. Cue Y.M.C.A. and Ryan J. Boyd. You know what happened next, but let’s be honest. You knew what was going to happen next. I’m this close to asking Stewart about the phenom during a press conference.

This was perhaps the best RJB yet. The Tigers were at WVU’s 38-yard line following another long kickoff return and this game was nowhere near where it ultimately ended. The music hits, the camera is on RJB from the start and actually catches the very moment when he realizes what’s happening. He tears off the jacket and then tears down the house.

See you in Connecticut, Mr. Boyd.

Still trying to sort through what happened and what it all means, but a few things are clear:

1) Not to dampen the mood, but Auburn isn’t that good — I put a star next to the field goal that ended the 20-play, 81-yard drive to start the game — and had no answers once the lead turned into a deficit. It was how the Tigers played with a lead that seemed most unusual. I cannot get past the importance of the the seven-yard loss on the reverse immediately following the onside kick. WVU’s season was o-ver if it went down 24-3 and that seemed likely since the Tigers were running forward at will. Seemed like a silly time to go outside the box with a trick and let WVU’s speed on defense make a play. Second quarter, I know, but when Bill Stewart calls that one play colossal and Mortty Ivy admits it was the turning point, I think it deserves mentioning. That said, WVU’s offense made a very good defense look very ordinary. Credit where it’s due, to be sure.

2) The Mountaineers need to make sure Dorrell Jalloh gets X touches per game. He’s too versatile, too capable.

3) The offensive line was very impressive and I don’t recall one substitution the entire game. A lot of that has to do with running the plays it loves to run.

4) Pat White had eight yards rushing. Eight! Normally, one might say that’s ridiculous and he needs more than 11 carries — two of which were sacks — but I thought he was used pretty well. Take away the two picks, both of which were “acceptable” errors, and he passed just fine. He picked his spots on runs and remained a very real threat. The touchdown pass to Alric Arnett and a couple of the option plays were successful because the defense rallied to or focused on White. Auburn’s speed was detrimental at times.

5) 8-2?

Onto the Feedback. As always comments appear as posted.

overtheSEC said:

That sound you hear is Dave Wannstedt chomping his gum and suddenly not feeling so good about Nov 28

I don’t doubt that for a second.

thacker said:

Yeah. That was a show. Defense, offense … even with 3 turnovers. This game demonstrates what staff had been talking about during pre-season. What other QB gets its on down field to plow the road for a running back. Hell of a ball game.

It appeared to me the players, the coaches and the fans were enjoying themselves, if not for the first time all season, then the most they have all season. On one hand, that’s a bad sign six games into the season. On the other hand, that’s a dangerous sign. Your call.

Kneeb0ne said:

Last night renewed my faith Jeff Mullen can run an offense and Bill Stewart can motivate . . . now Stewart just needs to keep his nose out of the play calling.

I’ve been a Stewart hater from the get go but if those guys can jive like they did last night this thing might be able to work for awhile.

Winning never hurts. Nor does 12 days of prep. Or a Thursday night home game on ESPN. They did look ready to go, though, and the slow start was almost entirely because of the interceptions. As for Mullen, he had a plan and he didn’t waver, not even when down 17-3. It takes time, I guess, not only within a game, but within a season.

thacker:

I believe it was one of Mike’s articles that described Beatty and Devine, maximizing personnel skill levels [referencing Devine’s downhill skill out of the I and Slaton’s cut skill out of the Spread] and understanding a player’s [and a coach’s] skill level — pulling it all together as one unit. Magee, along with Casteel, were able to do that in that win. Too many changes in personnel, perhaps … just haven’t been able, as of yet, to pull all those things together as one unit. The thing about doing a 48-28, it becomes addictive to a fan base, see it happen once and just gotta see it happen over and over, again.  

A pretty good point, but I’m not sure it was too much to ask the players to do what coaches already knew, or should have know, they could and liked to do. In the meantime, work on and figure out new stuff. What it means for the rest of the season is intriguing. Will fans, for example, look back and regret those two losses because the Mountaineers were so totally out of character when the solutions were already in place?

Mack said:

All the offense did last night is what we were hoping/expecting they would do all year. They stretched the field just enough with the passing game that it opened up the run. Hell, it even opened up the bubble screens.

They also got the ball in the hands of the receivers where the receivers could make something happen. If a receiver catches a pass in a button hook type of route, meaning he is completely standing still when he catches it, he cannot make a play. When you’re doing slants and crossing routes, you give him the opportunity to make a Dorrel Jalloh play.

Is a Thursday night home game against Auburn the best test of how well a guy can motivate a team?

We’ll see how motivated they are next Saturday. That’ll be interesting. As for the offense, it sure looked familiar, didn’t it? Hurry to the line of scrimmage. Call a play. Look at the sideline. Call another play. Snap the ball. Gain a big chunk of yards. I think you could count on one hand how often the offense did that this year, whereas it was regular the past seven years. All in all, it was a pretty good result. It reinforced what everyone was saying: WVU has a set of plays it’s very good at and should run those again and again. It also reinforced what Mullen and Stewart were saying: You need to pass to loosen up the defense. The point about the bubble screens is a great one. Those do not work if defensive backs are crowding the line of scrimmage. If they’re back a little and receivers can get a block, the play works pretty well. I also can’t remember the last time receivers got open quite as well or quite as consistently against a team not named Villanova. Jalloh ran great routes all night. Speaking of Jalloh, this was from Monday …

jmbwvu said:

He’s been one of my favorite players for a while. HIGHLY underutilized! Catches balls, runs after the catch, blocks well, etc. What does he have to do to get the ball thrown his way more?? I guess when you only complete 5 passes a game and 4 of those are bubble screens it’s hard to do anything significant

Also from earlier in the week … 

All:

I know the players are going to come out fired up. My question is, what about the fans? Will Mountaineer Field feel like the old days again? I just hope this crowd, no matter what their feelings are about the staff, come out and scream their heads off for these seniors and this team. I just want the players to play physical. If we go out there on offensive looking to smack some people in the mouth, we could win this one.

The crowd was pretty good last night — though, to be honest, it’s hard for me to tell. Coaches and players were impressed,  so I’ll follow their lead. I’d like to mention that fans were encouraged to support the Gold Rush … and WVU wore blue on blue. 

oklahoma mountaineer:

I don’t know why, but I feel this may be the game where we turn the corner. Pat’s been banged up since CO and the coaches, hopefully, have figured out better means of using the great talent that we are blessed with.

Listening to Statewide, Stew has made a point of taking the conservative play calling upon himself; implying that he is overriding some of the more aggressive play calls. Maybe the boos are slightly misdirected……

In retrospect, all the signs pointed to something like this. We talked last week about how the offensive line was starting to click. The extra prep was coming at an ideal time. This team almost likes to be doubted. Most important, WVU has No. 5 and the other team does not. After scoring to take a 20-17 lead, Stewart huddled to coach his kickoff coverage team and White jumped into the mix and started screaming at people. “Did you see that? My God, I thought he was going to punch me. He told us not to let them come out again,” Stewart said. After giving up 69- and 62-yard returns, WVU made the tackle after 22 yards.

Karl said:

This one obviously means something special to Pat White, who is still, in my book, one of the most exciting college football players of all time. That’s a problem for the team from Alabama.

I have a feeling White is due to put on a show … and not Stew, Auburn or Mullen are getting in his way this time.  

One more from earlier in the week, but White — or a White-led team — probably shouldn’t be surprising anyone anymore.

overtheSEC said:

I think it’s good to be the home team in defensive battles. When Travis Jones goes “Iiiiiiiit’s third down!” and the students get all riled up and the Mark Snyder-artificial noise starts playing and the season ticket holders slowly rise, careful not to block the person behind them…makes me wish I was there in person. (Of course Erin Andrews will be bringing us sideline reports, so don’t feel too sorry for us out-of-staters)

Pretty darned accurate description.

Erinn said:

overtheSEC,
I like this from you, “and the season ticket holders slowly rise, careful not to block the person behind them…”

I’m a season ticket holder who wants to stand, scream, jump and act like a fool. However, since I’ve had my tickets for about 6 years and the ol guy behind me has had his for 20+, he over rules me. Sometimes I yearn for the student section days — last night was one of those times. It makes me sad that a Thursday night game like that one couldn’t get the guy out of his seat.

Did anyone notice how the crowd was REALLY into it, but was killed a few times by the “Mark Snyder artificial noise.” One would think the dude up top could have more sensitivity to that. But there was a loooooong TV timeout where the “Let’s Go — Mountaineers!” stadium-rocking chant sustained until the ball was once again snapped. That was fantastic!

OK, it is hard for me to rate the crowd, but I can’t ignore the stadium sounds. It’s startling and I do think it catches people off guard. I move to officially name it “Mark Snyder Artificial Noise.” It’s perfect. As for the environment, it’s up to WVU now to give the crowd a reason to come to the remaining homes games with similar motivation.

linds said:

Long-time reader, first-time poster. First, let me say that I really love what you’ve put together here, Mike. I look forward to reading the posts and comments every day. As for the game, I think the convincing win last night was needed by many – coaches, players and fans. I’m still on a high this morning. Hopefully this momentum can carry the team through the rest of the season. As an aside, Don’t Stop Believin’ was the perfect song choice to follow Country Roads. Kudos to whomever made that selection.

Don’t stop reading. Hold on to the feeling. Enjoy the weekend!