Welcome to the Friday Feedback, which doesn’t think this is part of the plan. Two weeks ago, Dana Holgorsen went on his radio show and said he was benching Paul Millard in favor of Ford Childress. And I thought, at that time, maybe that was all choreographed. I suspect this may be part of a plan that they were hoping, willing and eventually ready to execute.
It made sense, if only between these ears. I though it was a more calculated move than watching Paul Millard flick footballs around Norman and go, “Notuh. Gimme Ford.” I may have everything wrong this season. Fair warning.
Anyhow, Dana had his radio show last night and said he was starting Clint Trickett Saturday against Oklahoma State and that Ford Childress, fresh off a Millardian showing against Maryland, has a torn pectoral muscle … and will be out for a week or so?
Childress didn’t practice all week and Holgorsen knew Sunday that Childress wouldn’t play. He nevertheless used every provided opportunity Monday and Tuesday to reaffirm his commitment to Childress, though, to be fair, maybe we know why Childress struggled Saturday and couldn’t and wouldn’t push the ball down the field.
No, the protection wasn’t great and, yes, the coverage was constructed in a way to take those throws away, but not on every possible occasion. I didn’t buy that explanation, but I thought that was a shield for a young QB having a bad day.
But now, with a torn pectoral muscle, you have to wonder many things. You have to believe there was a physical problem that prevented some of those throws. But when did it occur? In the first quarter? In the fourth? Should he have been in the game? Did he need to come out? Did Childress disclose it? All questions we could have asked had we known and not been made to believe that writing about finding Childress’ comfort zone was a good idea.
So what of Trickett? Well, I had Jed Drenning on “Scoop & Score” last night and that was one of a few WVU topics we covered. He believes, like Dana apparently suggested on his radio show last night, that it’s temporarily a temporary thing and that Childress will have a chance to get his job back when his torn pectoral muscle heals in a week or so, but that Trickett has a chance to take the job, win a game and run and hide.
What a weird week.
Onto the Feedback. As always, comments appear as posted. In other words, know with whom you’re messing.
JPWVURFL said:
I have to say that the lack of toughness throughout is discouraging. Last year we saw no fight in the defense. This year we see no fight in the offense. The defense has improved, but how can you compare? I am still puzzled by the decision to stick with Ford after the competition seemed to clearly be between Millard and Trickett. I really feel Trickett, even with his lack of experience with the offense, should be given some time. What’s sad is that all three put together probably still do not add up to Geno.
I also think the team takes after it’s coach. Holgs said it himself that he’s not a big “rah rah” kind of guy. I think we can tell. When was the last game we came out looking excited and dominating? We have yet to do so this year, which is sad against the competition we have faced and won against. I wish T.E.A.M. really stood for something, but it’s just words if there are no actions.
There were also coaching changes in the off-season, but there was a spring and fall with these coaches.
Question of the week: Are we where Maryland was this time last year? And is there hope for next year?
I don’t want to give up on this year, but seeing how little improvement we’ve seen within the seasons, along with the downward trend since the Texas game last year, I can’t be hopeful. Ever since the departure of that core group of Rod/Stew players who knew what WVU was supposed to be, the identity has been lost. If you look at this on a graph, it’s not promising. We are on the downside of the bell curve. Not sure we’ve hit the bottom yet.
We have to question whether these guys know what they’re doing in their current high-paid positions. WVU fans will not pay to see this crap, not at $55/$60 a pop. They won’t subscribe to internet broadcasts either.
How much is the buyout? It won’t be this year, but the questions do have to start ramping up. Why was Holgs brought to Motown…remember that? “To win championships!”
Table. Set.
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