Post by mountaineer501 on Oct 8, 2009 7:09:52 GMT -5
‘Coach, give me the rock’
By John Raby
The Associated Press
West Virginia coach Bill Stewart was hopping mad about four first-half fumbles against Colorado and was going to let his players hear about it in the lockerroom.
Running back Noel Devine quickly stepped in with a proposal.
“‘Coach, give me the rock,”’ Stewart recalled Devine saying. “‘Give me the ball. Just keep it calm. Everyone knows we’re goofing up.”’
Stewart didn’t take much time to think about it. The offense was sloppy, except for Devine, who already had 142 yards rushing on just eight carries by halftime. Besides, none of the fumbles were his.
“I said, ‘OK, big fella. I’m going to put the ball in your hands when the time’s right,”’ Stewart said.
Devine got 14 more carries and finished with a career-high 220 yards in the 35-24 win.
More than just the yards, that moment of coming forward left an imprint with Stewart, another example of how Devine has become a leader this season for the Mountaineers.
“That is something a coach cannot manufacture,” Stewart said. “It has to come from within. And I’m glad he’s doing it.”
Just two years ago, Devine was a second-string freshman whose life already was filled with personal setbacks and changes. He lost his parents to AIDS, witnessed a friend’s murder, rejected Deion Sanders’ attempts to adopt him and became a father of two before his career at North Fort Myers (Fla.) High turned him into an Internet sensation.
Things have fallen into place nicely since.
Steve Slaton left West Virginia a year early for the NFL after the 2007 season and Devine responded with 1,289 rushing yards a year ago.
Pat White, the top rushing quarterback in college football history, used up his eligibility in 2008. Now Devine is the focal point of the running game. He’s the nation’s third-leading rusher at 135 yards per game and has scored a career-high six touchdowns.
Devine will get a chance to add to those numbers Saturday when West Virginia (3-1) plays at Syracuse (2-3). He had 188 yards against the Orange last year, including a 92-yard TD run with 4:16 left that sealed a 17-6 win.
“I’d rather my play do the talking than be a vocal leader, but when I need to speak up, I’m going to speak up,” Devine said.
It wouldn’t have been his role to do that a year ago, but Devine didn’t hesitate to get Stewart’s attention at halftime against Colorado.
“I was just trying to make something happen for our team the best way I can,” Devine said. “It just came naturally, just me being a natural leader. It was just me being myself and speaking when I have to speak.”
Devine is the latest in a tradition of undersized backs at West Virginia, although defenders looking to stop the 5-foot-8, 175-pound junior often get plowed under.
Where Devine once was ridiculed for improvising on his runs, he now relies on patience and improved strength — he can benchpress 435 pounds.
His desire is a carryover from practice, where Stewart said Devine wins every team sprint while pushing others to improve, and races screaming to the end zone when he has the ball on individual drills.
“And everyone looks around says ‘wow, this guy’s on a mission,”’ Stewart said. “I’m just the fortunate one that happens to be his head football coach. I don’t have to say a word to him.”
Of course, Devine’s progress doesn’t surprise his high school coach, James Iandoli, who last talked to Devine at the start of the season.
“I tell you what, the maturation is just like it was in high school,” Iandoli said. “You knew you had this talent, and coming into his junior and senior year in high school, he was so impressive. And you’re seeing it again at the college level. It’s showing now
By John Raby
The Associated Press
West Virginia coach Bill Stewart was hopping mad about four first-half fumbles against Colorado and was going to let his players hear about it in the lockerroom.
Running back Noel Devine quickly stepped in with a proposal.
“‘Coach, give me the rock,”’ Stewart recalled Devine saying. “‘Give me the ball. Just keep it calm. Everyone knows we’re goofing up.”’
Stewart didn’t take much time to think about it. The offense was sloppy, except for Devine, who already had 142 yards rushing on just eight carries by halftime. Besides, none of the fumbles were his.
“I said, ‘OK, big fella. I’m going to put the ball in your hands when the time’s right,”’ Stewart said.
Devine got 14 more carries and finished with a career-high 220 yards in the 35-24 win.
More than just the yards, that moment of coming forward left an imprint with Stewart, another example of how Devine has become a leader this season for the Mountaineers.
“That is something a coach cannot manufacture,” Stewart said. “It has to come from within. And I’m glad he’s doing it.”
Just two years ago, Devine was a second-string freshman whose life already was filled with personal setbacks and changes. He lost his parents to AIDS, witnessed a friend’s murder, rejected Deion Sanders’ attempts to adopt him and became a father of two before his career at North Fort Myers (Fla.) High turned him into an Internet sensation.
Things have fallen into place nicely since.
Steve Slaton left West Virginia a year early for the NFL after the 2007 season and Devine responded with 1,289 rushing yards a year ago.
Pat White, the top rushing quarterback in college football history, used up his eligibility in 2008. Now Devine is the focal point of the running game. He’s the nation’s third-leading rusher at 135 yards per game and has scored a career-high six touchdowns.
Devine will get a chance to add to those numbers Saturday when West Virginia (3-1) plays at Syracuse (2-3). He had 188 yards against the Orange last year, including a 92-yard TD run with 4:16 left that sealed a 17-6 win.
“I’d rather my play do the talking than be a vocal leader, but when I need to speak up, I’m going to speak up,” Devine said.
It wouldn’t have been his role to do that a year ago, but Devine didn’t hesitate to get Stewart’s attention at halftime against Colorado.
“I was just trying to make something happen for our team the best way I can,” Devine said. “It just came naturally, just me being a natural leader. It was just me being myself and speaking when I have to speak.”
Devine is the latest in a tradition of undersized backs at West Virginia, although defenders looking to stop the 5-foot-8, 175-pound junior often get plowed under.
Where Devine once was ridiculed for improvising on his runs, he now relies on patience and improved strength — he can benchpress 435 pounds.
His desire is a carryover from practice, where Stewart said Devine wins every team sprint while pushing others to improve, and races screaming to the end zone when he has the ball on individual drills.
“And everyone looks around says ‘wow, this guy’s on a mission,”’ Stewart said. “I’m just the fortunate one that happens to be his head football coach. I don’t have to say a word to him.”
Of course, Devine’s progress doesn’t surprise his high school coach, James Iandoli, who last talked to Devine at the start of the season.
“I tell you what, the maturation is just like it was in high school,” Iandoli said. “You knew you had this talent, and coming into his junior and senior year in high school, he was so impressive. And you’re seeing it again at the college level. It’s showing now