Coach Stew

[WVUMntneerJim]

Am I the only one here that thinks Bill Stewart is not fit to be our head coach?

Don't get me wrong, he's a nice guy. However, the nice guy gimmick can only go so far... unfortunately, it does not transform into winning big games.

At the Gator Bowl, we were up 14-3 after the first quarter. We SHOULD HAVE and COULD HAVE curb-stomped Florida State. However, this is where we get f*cked yet again, Stew will NOT make adjustments in between the quarters and at halftime; Bowden did. Jeff Mullen also couldn't call a shotgun play in backyard football to save his life.

I'm having flashbacks to the Nehlen years (which, growing up during those years, were NOT my favorites) where we'd have "decent" seasons, go to a "decent" bowl, yet choke! It truly got weary on me.

I know Rich Rodriguez was a big douchebag as a person... I'll concede that. But, at least we were winning (and winning big) when he finally got everything together. I loved those days, and I miss them.

I was talking with a dude at one of the many bars at Jacksonville Landing after the game, and keep in mind he knows and likes Stew personally, but hates him as a coach. He posed the following question to me and my friend: "If you were in a foxhole, who would you rather have in there with you, Rich Rodriguez or Bill Stewart?" I told him right away, "Rodriguez. The guy may be a dick, and I may not like him, but he and I both have a common goal: get the fuck out alive! Stew would leave you hanging out to dry."

We need a young, brash, arrogant head coach, a Rich-Rod or a Josh McDaniels type of coach that's not afraid to come in and ruffle a few feathers the minute he comes in the door.

I think we just need to blow the whole thing up and start over... I heard Mike Leach is looking for a job these days... give him a call.

[elp525]

I was in Jacksonville at the game and I couldn't believe we laid down. There was adjustments at halftime - to throw the game so Bowden could win. The offense went in the tank and the defense - which Casteel had adjusted impressively in every game we played this season - did nothing. I know Brown got hurt but why did we go away from Devine in the second half. They could not stop his runs. I'd almost bet that WVU is getting a new line of weight lifting equipment as well as some new shoes from FSU for letting Bowden shine one final time.

I like Stew for the morals he stands for, but I agree his desire and fire to win the big games seems to be nonexistent since the Oklahoma game. He doesn't get the most from the talent we have. We have returned to mediocracy due to coaching.

[smurph]

Mediocracy? Not really disagreeing here. However, I have said all along, let's give this coaching staff 3 years, then make a judgement. The big question is, of course, are we 1. Treading water 2. advancing, Or 3. Declining, as a football program?

I will give them one more year. There are obvious problems that absolutely need to be corrected next season. If not I will join the Fire Stew crew.

1. The team does not play with emotion. It seems they are just going through the motions, waiting for the opponent to make the plays that will win the game.
2. Two years of having one of the worst kickoff coverage teams in the country is not acceptable to me. The excuse that the problem is the fault of the kicker is also not acceptable.
3. I like the offense that we run. However, this offense will never work if our linemen do not learn how to pass-block, especially when the other team blitzes.

These are the 3 issues that I see for this team. Thexcuse for the offensive line is - in 2008 we brought in a new offense, so they had to learn new blocking techniques. In 2009 , we had a very young offensive line.

2010 - No more excuses.

1. Players should motivate themselves. If not, the coaches need to light a fire under their asses.
2. Either give Special team coaching to an assistant coach, or expect to pay the price (your job)
3. Ever since Trickett went to FSU, our O-line has sucked. Again, either get an O-line coach who gets results or lose your job.

Mike Leach will not be coaching next season. He will be dealing with a lawsuit against Texas Tech and is probably too much of a loose cannon. You will probably see him get an offensive coordinator job somewhere in 2011. I am not satisfied with 9-4 for two straight years. However, if we blow this up and start from scratch, we deal with the same thing we are now dealing with - players recruited for one coaching staff with one philosophy, now playing for a different coaching staff with a different offense and defense. You always have one lost recruiting class when you change coaching staffs. If you change now, you have two in the last 3 years.

Let's see what happens next season when our coaching staff is using their own recruits. Am I satisfied with 9-4? No. Is this better than when Frank Cignetti was the coach? Yes, by miles and miles.