Welcome to the Friday Feedback, which asked the aptly named Shaky Smithson to stay away today.
I hadn’t mentioned this at all, but now seems like a pretty good time. On Monday Bill Stewart was doing his part on the Big East teleconference and seemed alarmingly alarmed by whatever threat it is the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (SHAWN-tuh-cleers) may provide tomorrow.
“People who think this is a walk in the park have no idea what college football is about.”
Eh, I thought that was a reach. Grandstanding, of course, and probably being a little polite to his friend and counterpart, David Bennett. Stewart likes to point out he respects all and fears none, and this is as good an occasion as any for that.
In truth, WVU should have, if not a walk in the park, then a bounce on the moon jump. Little trouble, lots of fun. Right? CCU is not Appalachian State. It’s not even Liberty, which gave WVU a light headache last year and then later eased by the Chanticleers.
You can expect WVU to be creative enough to get a lead and give Marshall and Maryland the toss-and-turns, but also bland enough to keep the repertoire under wraps. Then again, I’m not sure another 33-21 game is going to appease season-opening appetites this time. But I don’t think it’ll happen again, either.
Three housekeeping items before we jump into the F2:
1) Can men’s soccer get to 4,000 tonight? Hurricane Earl might have a say in all of this.
2) Texts From Game Day. It’s back. Are you?
3) This happened.
Final thought: I was watching the unwatchable Versus broadcast of Pitt-Utah last night and one of the major talking points was how Pitt had a new quarterback and a new segment of its offensive line. Good enough defense, sure, but a good amount of concern on offense.
Sound familiar?
You saw what happens when an OL is targeted and can’t block and when a coach tries to ease his QB into a warm bath. Add to that the fact the Panthers have a stud at receiver that Eu Smith does not have and you do begin to wonder. Utah, of course, is not CCU and opening at home is not opening in front of the Mighty Utah Student Section, but walks in the part are still hard to come by for several reasons.
(P.S. I’m not getting into the uniform/politics thing and there isn’t much more to say about Mazzulla and Pepper beyond this: A) Cops don’t set up stings or target athletes for public urination B) Lots of people do it and those two can do it all they want but, but everyone can get in trouble for it and those two (and especially Mazzulla) probably shouldn’t have to be told their mistakes will be and should be treated differently. It’s part of that whole privilege/responsibility thing.)
Onto the Feedback. As always, comments appear as posted. In other words, press all the right keys.
The 25314 said:
The only things I’m sure of are death, taxes, and reading about a “vanilla offense” after the first game.
… and now before the game. Sorry.
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