New York Yankees misanthrope Wally Burnham is no longer the great and grizzled defensive coordinator at South Florida. I’m told that’s a sign of the camaraderie of the USF coaching staff — it’s musical headsets there — and that that state of coexistence perhaps explains how a team with that much talent is picked to finish fourth in the Big East.

Maybe WVU started to remove the thorn from its side with last year’s home win against the Bulls, but Burnham pulled it all the way out when he headed to Iowa State in the offseason. What’s bad news for USF is great news for WVU. 

“Wally’s been a great friend, I’m a big admirer of him,” Stewart said. “But I’m glad he’s out west.”

Under Burnham, USF’s defense throttled WVU the past three seasons. WVU averaged 12.7 points and 153 yards rushing vs. USF, compared to 36 points and 284 yards rushing the past three years against every other opponent.