A fine performance in the regular-season finale to cap a strong conclusion to the season.

Texts From Game Day, that is.

Along the way, WVU beat Rutgers, 35-14, and, don’t look now, but the offense is putting up some brow-arching numbers while Bill Stewart is putting on a T-shirt.

WVU started 1-2 in conference play and scored just 42 points. The first conference losing streak since 2004 made the worst conference record since 2001 very possible. Yet the Mountaineers are 9-3 overall and 5-2 in the Big East, co-conference champions with UConn and Pitt and ranked No. 21 in the coaches’ poll and No. 22 in the Associated Press poll.

“It’s been a fabulous four weeks, the ride of my life, and I’m so grateful we’ve come out the way we have,” WVU Coach Bill Stewart said.

He began his postgame press conference by brandishing a blue T-shirt declaring WVU conference champions.

“Not many people thought that shirt right there would have been handed out,” he said.

The shirt was about as unexpected as the cause. WVU has scored 35 or more points in three of the past four games after doing it five times in Stewart’s first 34 games. The offense is averaging 31 points and 390 yards of offense during the winning streak. The Mountaineers even managed to beat Rutgers on Saturday, 35-14, in spite of three turnovers inside the Rutgers 15-yard line.

WVU won early-season games with at least three turnovers against Coastal Carolina and Maryland, but lost consecutive games with at least three turnovers against Syracuse and UConn.

“This says a tremendous amount about us and a lot about the head football coach and the job he’s done the entire season,” WVU offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen said. “When you see a team get better, I think that’s a really good indication of a guy doing things right. I’m really proud of the staff, but even more so the football team and the fact we were able to face some adversity, take ownership of it and get better from it.”

You think about that as you enjoy the Texts From Game Day. Now let’s pretend likeI’m on the stage and when my texts drop everybody goes insane.

(11:18 AM):
Actually excited about this game. Havent felt that way too often this year…

(11:30 AM):
Does rutgers fist pump after tds and sacks

(11:51 AM):
Nice crowd … So sad

(12:00 PM):
Just saw a pic of the Stadium and all the empty seats. Further proof WVU football (and their average fan) STILL arent ready for primetime. Pathetic.

(12:01 PM):
Senior day always makes me cry

(12:03 PM):
Late crowd or no crowd???

(12:08 PM):
Thank goodness for these unis. So much better

(12:12 PM):
The 23 people in the stadium today (not including media and the players/coaches) are having UCONN flashbacks already. Damnit, Clark!

(12:16 PM):
Is this sad senior video necessary? Geez!

(12:17 PM):
Clarke strikes again

(12:17 PM):
Admit it, given the weather you’ve gotta be wishing you’d taken your talents to South Beach today? (Oof! Too soon??)

(12:19 PM):
Bubble screen works!

(12:20 PM):
Our Tavon, hallowed be thy name…

(12:21 PM):
Rodriguez might play Josh groban but would not play Ryan Clarke

(12:31 PM):
Just realized sweet tea vodka, raspberry vodka and coke combo is gawdawful

(12:47 PM):
Holy schmidtt!

(1:01 PM):
Ok, so adding pear vodka to the raspberry vodka, sweet tea vodka and coke was NOT a good idea.

(1:14 PM):
This crowd blows. Was everyone fist pumping at the Lizard last night or what?

(1:16 PM):
Use a TO Bill – give yourself a chance to score

(1:17 PM):
Wow, what happened to the D there? Wide freaking open into the endzome. Fistpumps all around.

(1:20 PM):
I do not like the feel of this

(1:22 PM):
The peach vodka has gotten to me. Need a pepperoni roll. Good thing i stuffed one up my coat sleeve.

(1:22 PM):
Geno didn’t slide…YES! First down!!!!!

(1:23 PM):
Maybe next year when he’s off. coord. for a Conf USA team, Mullen will realize that you PASS to establish the RUN and not vice versa.

(1:26 PM):
Well [shoot]. Lets just hope rutgers cant score in 20 sec.

(1:26 PM):
How did Bitancurt make today’s game after being in Arizona on Thursday night??!!

(1:27 PM):
This first half is like a microcosm of the bill stewart era. Flashes of brilliance overshadowed by sloppy play

(1:30 PM):
Why cant we score there? Three first downs in a row like nothing. Then THAT.

(1:30 PM):
I know you make a deal out of it but enough hasnt been made of Stewart’s ridiculous use of TOs

(1:32 PM):
Just makes me grumpy

(1:33 PM):
HT of Rutgers: WVU fans of good conscience should root for UConn tonight, so that UConn can fumble and low-kick their way to a lopsided BCS spanking on nat’l TV.

(1:40 PM):
We’re bout to match some mountains

(1:52 PM):
Bruce Irving…OMG!!!!!

(1:54 PM):
Damnit. Thats twice the sec beside me has won lotto tix this season!!! Wtf?

(2:03 PM):
Did Jeff Mullen finally get the memo that his days are numbered?? Hmm…Offense looking much better.

(2:03 PM):
If they give this to Clarke I’m leaving on principal

(2:06 PM):
People are doing the Dougie. Errbody Dougie!!

(2:16 PM):
Uh oh -but I dont think Rutgers can score 15 more

(2:17 PM):
I blame Craig James and Mike Patric for talking about our lack of QB depth

(2:18 PM):
He had no idea about the rule there?!? Guy has to sit one play if the trainers come out. I knew that.

(2:18 PM):
And please PLEASE make a big deal out of his timeout usage

(2:20 PM):
What a downfield block!

(2:20 PM):
Note to ABC announcers…his name is Geno Smith…not Pat Smith…Pat White is in Kansas City now.

(2:21 PM):
We were just saying “What happened to sticks this year?” Then that happened.

(2:24 PM):
Out of words

(2:25 PM):
I like Eus intent there, but, man, these guys will never learn.

(2:25 PM):
Seriously…fumble more

(2:25 PM):
Tv just called Geno “Pat Smith”. Geno plumber crack on tv!!!!

(2:26 PM):
Hey Mike, ask Geno why he smiled after fumbling, see if he goes Derek Anderson ape [spit] on you.

(2:33 PM):
In Tavon we trust!!

(2:39 PM):
“Great [freaking’] play” — Coach Beatty to Tavon on national tv.

(2:40 PM):
So is this the way Penn State felt all those years when they beat us time and time again?

(2:45 PM):
Okay THAT’S roughing ! Wow!

(2:47 PM):
Big East video coordinator of the year better splice that into pugnettis career highlight reel

(2:58 PM):
Could’ve played game minus 20.5 but nooooooooo – I play first half minus 13.

(2:52 PM):
Get devine in the end zone!

(2:53 PM):
Our redzone offense is tremendous.

(2:54 PM):
Throw it to Devine! Get him in the end zone!

(3:01 PM):
THANK YOU SENIORS

(3:09 PM):
Brunetti’s last snaps in Morgantown??

(4:10 PM):
Devine played like he needed someone to sing “you raise me up” to him.