Welcome to the Friday Feedback, which never puts all its eggs in one basket. Can the same be said about West Virginia? Not so sure.

Look, I get the message: Last year has nothing to do with this year, last week has nothing to do with this week. I just wonder if those are words or beliefs. There’s a difference and it can be a big one. Kids have good memories and hurt can last longer than joy.

Greenville, N.C., hurt last year. Still does today. So much has been made of what happened to WVU at ECU last year that this could very well be a fulcrum point already this season. Allow me to explain.

What was the story back then? WVU showed up in week one and won, thought it could show up in week two but lost and, apparently, learned a lesson that the old gold and blue, as well as No. 5, were not simply enough.

Now I will say I don’t think WVU carried the same sense of … entitlement? … the rest of the year. I also think the team has really focused on this game this week as some sort of barometer for who they are and what the’ve since become. They do believe they’re better this year — and because of last year — and that they can win and a win will prove it to everyone.

Sometimes that’s dangerous. If WVU loses, there have to be some side effects, yes? Will people wonder, and perhaps with good reason, where and who they are or what the past year has been for and about? Can they get up for Auburn after being down again against ECU? It’s a young team still and young players wander when it’s not as urgent for them as it is for others — and don’t get mad at me; this was a point being made by WVU early last season, so it can’t be ignored this season.

And, let’s be honest, virtually everyone who cares about the team is very curious about the outcome. What happens Saturday goes a long way toward how fans react the next time they see the Mountaineers in person.

Granted, WVU did gradually improve after last year’s loss, so there’s no reason to shut down the season if things don’t go well Saturday, but, clearly, the Mountaineers would rather not deal with that. And yes, I’ll also be the guy who brings up a high from a win against ECU can last long into the preparation for Auburn. Like I said, circling one game can be dangerous.

Very physical and emotional game. Possession and points will be at a premium and don’t you think it’s going to come down to one play somewhere in the second half? And if it’s a kick for WVU, don’t you feel a little better about Tyler BIT-en-kurt? And would you say that had you known this?

“A few weeks before the game I was, well, I wasn’t freaking out, but at night I was imagining myself on the field and my heart would just beat really, really hard,” he said. “Some nights my bed would shake from my heart beating because I was just so anxious and excited about the opportunity.”

Onto the Feedback. As always, comments appear as posted. In other words, make up your mind.

Bill said:

I’m not a Stew hater, but I am extremely p*ssed. A few points:

1. Our kickoff coverage. Not only is he the special teams coach, he is the Head Coach. Special teams isn’t as important as the offense, or the defense. Hence, why should I be confident that he can handle all three phases? He is starting to remind me of Bobby Bowden in recent years…..just stands on the sidelines and lets his assistants do all the work. One thing that scared the heck out of me was a recent comment by Stew. Something to the effect of… he didn’t want to practice kick return coverage yet until he was pleased with where the kickers were putting the ball. WHAT!?!??!? You need to practice kick coverage NO MATTER where the ball is going, AND, you need to practice kick coverage because we were sooooooo awful last year. Making a “few personnel changes” during the game isn’t going to cut it either.

2. Our players again didn’t look very fired up. I’m sorry but we HAVE to have that mentality to be an uper echelon team. Our defense should have been better.

3. The score. Take a look around the country and see how many REALLY good teams blew their competition out of the water. If you are that prepared this early in the season then you are probably going to be good. It doesn’t mean we won’t get better….in fact I am sure we will. However, I don’t like what I’m seeing so far in terms of intangibles.

Bill, I wish you would step back from the ledge, my friend. Let’s talk: 1) I’m going to go out on a twig here, but I do think kickoff defense will get better and actually be pretty good this year. They’ve got good players out there and if it doesn’t work, you’ll probably see better players. The days of the through-the-end zone kickoff are gone, for now, and a lot of teams bring the ball out of the end zone. What WVU’s trying to do actually makes some sense. Hang it up, sacrifice some yardage, but have your guys there to make a tackle. That worked better in the second half Saturday and Lider is OK with the hangtimes. And as silly as it may sound, you have to be good at putting the ball in a spot first so your coverage team can then consistently practice getting to that spot. If I’m wrong, we never had this conversation. 2) Now that is a concern, especially in a season opener. It hurt them a lot last year and if it happens tomorrow, it’ll hurt them again. 3) You’re implying WVU is a REALLY good team. It’s not. Not yet, at least. And don’t overlook the gamesmanship aspect. WVU was very bland on defense — doesn’t explain why no one could would cover Mike Brown — and somewhat limited on offense. Had they kicked one field goal inside the red zone instead of three, it’s a very different story.

Mack said:

I watched most of the Big East’s games this week. I would rank them as follows:

1. Cincy
2. Pitt
3A. WVU
3B. USF
5. Syracuse
6. UConn
7A. Rutgers
7B. Louisville

Syracuse gets a big upgrade at quarterback, which at least makes you worry a little bit when you have to play them. Schiano’s teams are just too predictable and when they don’t have good talent, then they are too easy to play.

Louisville stinks. UConn stinks (though UConn is the only team I couldn’t watch). USF didn’t look any good either, but every year they are a team of tremendous peaks and valleys.

There isn’t much difference from second place to dead last right now. Cincinnati is the best team because they have, by far, the best coach in the Big East. A case could be made that WVU has the worst one… though Kragthorpe probably has to take that title right now. Randy Edsel seems content to have his team as solidly mediocre every single year. Hey, in this conference, that can get you a co-championship every so often.

You could definitely jumble Nos. 2-6 without much argument, I suppose, and keep Rutgers and Louisville Nos. 7-8. I just wonder if this Syracuse thing was the product of prepping an extended amount of time for one game and a great debut or the start of something solid. I also wonder if the wheels completely fall off for Louisville.

roopoo said:

Mack have you seen Leavitt coach? The guy is a maniac and his teams implode EVERY season. Each off season his assisstants RUN away from that program. His players don’t develop either (simply look at Grothe’s year to year stats and it proves my point). To even suggest that he is a better coach than Edsell is wrong on so many levels.

Just chock it up to the USF program being VASTLY over rated as a whole.  

Uh oh, here come the USF fans in 5, 4, 3, … 

Foul Shot said:

Pitt has beat us the last two years by loading the box.
I am interested in seeing the newly developing Air Brown attack against ECU.
At least it gives the offense a level of un-predictability.
Not so sure about being a TD favorite this weekend.

Yeah, the line seems strange, but WVU is 17-3 all-time in the series and ECU has never won in Morgantown. No secret, if ECU plays the ECU defense and forces WVU to pass, WVU will pass. The Pirates are without a starting safety and a third cornerback due to injury, so it’s something to keep an eye on Saturday. 

NCMountaineer said:

I used this space a few weeks back to question all the preseason love for Rutgers. Thank you, Cincy, for proving that Rutgers is once again Rutgers.

Rutgers Football: Turning the corner since 1869!

I remember that. Anyone else think Cincy could have picked the score but decided to, well, be polite?

Gordo said:

Even with the loss, I think Syracuse deserves to be above Louisville. I understand why you put them at the bottom, but I really believe by the end of the year they could be 2 to 3 spots up, right there in the middle of the pack. We cannot sleep on those guys at the Dome.

Hmmm, this sounds familiar, too. Someone here said Syracuse might win some games and surprise some people and that this Paulus thing wasn’t so cooky. Who was it? Anyone?

rekterx said:

That description of the ECU crowd last year sounds like the way Mountaineer Field used to be. Electricity would crackle and you knew that the crowd was going to make something happen.

I guess it’s not so much that way anymore.  

I’d say it was the easily most hostile place they played last season. This would be a good time to return the favor and return to yesteryear, yes? Is it bad or great that I was blown away by the crowd at the men’s soccer game last Friday and completely indifferent when asked about the crowd at the football game?

Country Roads said:

I certainly hope that our crowd will be riled up for this one. 3:30 is a good time to kick off, so fans won’t have the “early game” excuse. Plus we owe them. But for some reason, I’m not feeling the “big game buzz” surrounding this game. Hopefully the feeling in Morgantown is different?

Hard to say, but everything is lining up for a big day and a big crowd.

Bill said:

Yeah if our fans and our players aren’t going bonkers for this game, I’m going to surrender my Bill Stewart Fan Club card. We better go out there and hit them in their frigging mouths. And I hope that 10th yr senior QB Pinkney gets his clock cleaned.

Again, if they don’t get off to a hot start, there’s going to be trouble. 

Erinn said:

I’m sorry, but what does that have to do with Special Teams? I would absolutely love to hear about some improvement there.  

Um, yeah, Oll Twitter’s seemingly harmless tweet about Beyonce raised quite a fuss, which was not my intention. I found it absolutely funny. These, too:

Sam said:

Well Erinn, it’ll obviously take the intervention of an army of angels before we’ll tackle a returner at the 20. Well, at their 20 anyway. We have no problem getting them when they reach our 20.

Oh, come on! … There’d be an illegal participation flag, I’m sure. 

JJ said:

Well, it used to have something to do with special teams:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2003/writers/stewart_mandel/09/24/mandel.punts/index.html  

Clever! And a first contribution, no less. Do stick around, please. 

drlove said:

It does not surprise me that Coach Stewart is a an admirer R&B and other delicious booty shaking music. He was a well known booty shaking afficianado from his Wetzel County days.  

Wetz-n-Effect? 

StraightOuttaNorthCentral said:

Can we get a ruling on the pronunciation of Bitancurt’s last name? Looks pretty clear to me that it should be “Bit-an-kert” but John Sanders used about as many different pronuncations as he had pregame cocktails.

A while back, I did the thing on media guide tidbits and included pronunciations. Bitancurt was not included because it “looks pretty clear to me that it should be ‘Bit-an-kert.'” John Sanders apparently does not read this blog. Good thing …

Mack said:

Can we get a ruling on John Sanders’ career? I know that criticizing the local guys isn’t a great habit to get into… but Sanders is the single worst play-by-play guy that isn’t located in the deep south. Every single game, Sanders says something that shows he isn’t paying attention at all.

A texter noticed him going on and on about, “Wow! I can’t believe they’re going for it!” Hey Sanders, it’s third down!

Sanders has no personality and doesn’t seem to even enjoy watching the games.

Do you think Sanders was upset when he learned he was teaming with Rene Nadeau and then met Rene Nadeau and found out she was a he? I ask not because I’d be mean enough to suggest such a thing, but because someone emailed me that this week.

oklahoma mountaineer said:

I hope that he not only got Pat’s number, but his ability to be a great interview and personality.

He has been one of the most interesting quote sources in the last 10 years @ WVU.

BIT-en-kurt is an underrated interview. He’s not nearly as funny and admits he never will be, but he’s sharp, insightful and honest. Who really tells strangers he was so nervous his exaggerated heartbeats shook the bed?

HailDubVee said:

Sanders was awful!! How bout Tlyer Urban was from Huntington,WV(really from Huntingdon,PA) and how many times did he get Jock,Noel and T.Austin confused?

To be fair, it Urban’s a tight end and prep for WVU games hasn’t often included the tight end. And to think, people are upset this game is on ESPN360.com.

StraightOuttaNorthCentral said:

Surprised he didn’t find an opportunity to use “bending, bending, good!” on one of Bitancurt’s field goals…

Sanders used to be great as a sportscaster on KDKA Pittsburgh back in the day. He seems to have hit the skids a bit. Although I will admit to watching a small portion of a few Pittsburgh Passion (women’s football) games over the summer, for which Sanders did the color (!) commentary, and he was actually not too bad.

I’m not sure which is sadder: Sanders working women’s football on FSN or me watching it.

I’d say it’s a push basically because you didn’t include “me evaluating Sanders’ peformance.”

Jeff in Akron said:

Have you ever stood beside a 6′4″, 250lb guy? It’s almost surreal to refer to that guy as “small”. I guess it’s all relative. I find it hard to believe a 6′4″, 295lb guy has 45 more lbs of muscle.

J. Miller seems like the kind of player that has found his ideal playing weight. He’s gained 40lbs. since arriving in Morgantown. I can’t say for sure, but it certainly appears he didn’t gain those lbs. at the local pizza joint.

There’s going to be some opposing off. linemen losing sleep this year. I’ve got a picture in my head of Dingle in the Fiesta Bowl. If J. Miller can do that for the WVU defense. I’ll sleep like a baby.

I don’t think Miller’s going away. He was sometimes unblockable late last year. He needed consistency and conditioning and he has both now, despite his apprehension about climbing stairs.

ccteam said:

Finaully we can talk about a defensive end who is actually on the team!

Refreshing!

John Sanders said:

Julian Lennon has lost 40 pounds since arriving in Morgantown from Columbus, Georgia. When I spoke with WVU defensive line coach Bill Casteel, he told me how impressed he was with how Julian held off the challenge of Henry Ford in the preseason.

Enjoy the weekend!