Dana Holgorsen said McCartney should have redshirted last season … and without those exact words, the ones that would serve as a confession he wasted 2010 with just one reception, he pretty much agrees. Yet McCartney is WVU’s third-leading receiver, which would make him Roy Oswalt for the Phillies or Chris Bosh for the Heat. He keeps good company, which keeps a lid on his profile.

Reason being? McCartney might not know more about this offense than he did about last year’s offense, but he’s out there running around and making plays with his ability and his energy, to say nothing of what he actually has learned. He’s been granted a chance and he’s having some fun and some success with it, which seems symbolic of Holgorsen’s regime.

“There was more tension on the team (last year). Everybody was uptight and we didn’t have fun,” said sophomore wide receiver Ivan McCartney. “That’s something coach Holgorsen has changed this year. He just told us to loosen up and go out there and have fun playing.”

Not everyone is getting it quite as quickly, but the beauty, if that is the right word, of Holgorsen’s approach is that it presents no mysteries. There is no uncertainty about where you stand with the staff. Asked why Cole Bowers, who started a bit and played a bunch last year, hasn’t been dressing, Holgorsen said Bowers isn’t good enough.

Asked about how Quinton Spain did at right tackle in what looked like a laborious stint that many have instead deemed  gloroius, Holgorsen said this: “Lazy. Much like he is in practice. He’s a big, massive guy with good feet who could be a really good player, but right now he does things on his time and not our time. We’ll keep trying to get him on our time.”