Football scheduling. So formulaic.It’s a little like performing an operation. There’s nothing surgical about it, but there are certain things you just have to do, rules you have to follow every time.

TV wants you here and there. An non-conference opponent signs for a specific date years in advance. Home against a Big East team one year, on the road the next. There aren’t many surprises in that business.

But, wow, this looks familiar. Rutgers in the finale. Pitt the day after Thanksgiving. Multiple television opportunities. Two Friday games. A made-for-TV event with South Florida. It all seems very familiar.

I thought, “Maybe it’s just me,” until I was tipped off that, no, it’s not me. Cue 2009, please.

“We are pleased with this year’s schedule,” Pastilong says. “We have seven home games, which always is good for our fan base. We have five national television games, which gives our football program outstanding exposure. It will be a very challenging non-conference schedule once again, but gives our team a chance to compete against teams from the SEC, the Big 12 and Conference USA.”

And in 2010?

“We are pleased with this year’s schedule,” Pastilong says. “There are seven home games, which always is good for our fan base. We have four national television games already slated, which gives our football program outstanding exposure. The non-conference schedule will be very challenging once again, but it gives our team a chance to compete against teams from the ACC, Conference USA, Mountain West and SEC.”

Well, to be fair, what more can the guy say about this? I just told you how bland this business can be. Yet I wonder what Bill Stewart has to say about this season.

“I really like the way our schedule is put together,” WVU Football Coach Bill Stewart says. “The mix of road and home games makes it an attractive schedule and gives our fans two home games in September, three in October and two in November. There are many challenges ahead of us with our schedule, but I think our fans and supporters will enjoy it.”

My bad, that was last season. Here’s what the head coach has to say about his third schedule.

“I really like the way our schedule is put together,” WVU football coach Bill Stewart says. “The mix of road and home games makes it an attractive schedule and gives our fans two home games in September, three in October and one in November and December. Our schedule is very challenging, but I believe our fans will enjoy it.”