Post by rainman on Aug 31, 2007 6:20:18 GMT -5
White looking forward to opener against WMU
By Mickey Furfari
For the Times West Virginian
MORGANTOWN— Asked whether he’s ready for the No. 3-ranked Mountaineers’ opener on Saturday, junior quarterback Patrick White replied: “I’ve been ready all summer to play a game. I’m looking forward to taking my first hit.”
Despite the fact Western Michigan is rated a 23 1/3-point underdog, the 2006 Big East Offensive Player of the Year admittedly doesn’t take anybody lightly.
“They’re going to play ball and earn your respect,” he said.
White thinks Western Michigan ranked sixth in NCAA rushing defense last year (76.1 ypg) because “they loaded up the box and that helped them a lot.”
He likes the Broncos’ personnel. “They’ve got 11 juniors on defense,” he noted.
“So they’ve got the experience.”
Told that he seems to light up more when on the field than he does for media interviews, White had a ready answer. “I love football,” he said. “Too bad you guys are not my teammates. We’re like a family on the field.”
o A crowd of about 60,000 is expected for the 3:30 p.m. kickoff at Mountaineer Field/Milan Puskar Stadium. The weather forecast is for mostly sunny and a high of 80 degrees.
The action will be televised statewide on ESPN regional, with John Sanders announcing the play-by-play and Rene Nadeau serving as analyst.
This is only the second football meeting between the two schools. WVU won the first by 34-9 on Sept. 7, 1996, thanks to a 17-0 fourth quarter.
o Marc Magro said a veteran linebacker is the equivalent on defense to a quarterback calling the signals on offense.
“All three linebackers know everything that’s going on defensively — not just what they do,” said the senior from Morgantown. “You know what everyone is doing at the other positions.”
Magro admittedly feels better with his hair cut shorter than it had been. “I feel different. But I won’t have a Mohawk like (fullback) Owen Schmitt.”
Like others, he believes the defense has more depth this year. “Guys are smarter and they know their surroundings better,” he said. “I think we’ve got more playmakers stepping up.”
o WVU, 22-3 over the past two seasons, has won 35 of its last 41 regular-season games and 37 of the last 45 overall.
The Mountaineers are 15-2 with junior Patrick White as the starting quarterback and 18-2 with junior Steve Slaton as a starting tailback. They’re 15-2 with both superstars in the opening lineup.
In finishing in the Top 10 in both 2005 and 2006, WVU set a school record for back-to-back final rankings.
o Eric Wicks, senior bandit safety, is high on free safety Ryan Mundy, the transfer graduate student with three years of experience at the University of Michigan.
“He has stepped into a leadership role,” Wicks said. “He’s not an outspoken guy.
“Basically, he leads by example. So when he came in, he just worked hard.
“Ryan is going to be a great player for us.”
o Tale of the tape (2006 stats):
WVU averaged 38.8 points and 461.4 yards per game, WMU 23.0 and 319.5. The yardage breakdown: 303.0 to 134.7 rushing and 158.4 to 184.8 passing.
Defensively, the Mountaineers allowed 21.7 points and 336.6 yards and the Broncos 19.9 and 275.4. Both teams limited foes to fewer than 100 yards per game rushing, 93.3 and 76.1
o Coach Rich Rodriguez is pleased with the play of Adam Hughes, WVU’s new long snapper.
“I’m really proud of Adam,” he said. “He’s in great shape, and he has more velocity and speed on his snaps.”
Tim Lindsey of Bridgeport excelled as the long snapper the past two years. So much so, he was rewarded by being named one of the team captains.
o Rodriguez’s .760 winning percentage (38-12) for 2003-06 is the best four-year mark in school history. His .833 winning percentage (30-6) for 2004-06 also is the best three-year mark.
Under his guidance, WVU also has put together five consecutive bowl appearances for the first time in history — including four on New Year’s Day.
His record for 15 years as a head coach at the college level is 95-60-2.
By Mickey Furfari
For the Times West Virginian
MORGANTOWN— Asked whether he’s ready for the No. 3-ranked Mountaineers’ opener on Saturday, junior quarterback Patrick White replied: “I’ve been ready all summer to play a game. I’m looking forward to taking my first hit.”
Despite the fact Western Michigan is rated a 23 1/3-point underdog, the 2006 Big East Offensive Player of the Year admittedly doesn’t take anybody lightly.
“They’re going to play ball and earn your respect,” he said.
White thinks Western Michigan ranked sixth in NCAA rushing defense last year (76.1 ypg) because “they loaded up the box and that helped them a lot.”
He likes the Broncos’ personnel. “They’ve got 11 juniors on defense,” he noted.
“So they’ve got the experience.”
Told that he seems to light up more when on the field than he does for media interviews, White had a ready answer. “I love football,” he said. “Too bad you guys are not my teammates. We’re like a family on the field.”
o A crowd of about 60,000 is expected for the 3:30 p.m. kickoff at Mountaineer Field/Milan Puskar Stadium. The weather forecast is for mostly sunny and a high of 80 degrees.
The action will be televised statewide on ESPN regional, with John Sanders announcing the play-by-play and Rene Nadeau serving as analyst.
This is only the second football meeting between the two schools. WVU won the first by 34-9 on Sept. 7, 1996, thanks to a 17-0 fourth quarter.
o Marc Magro said a veteran linebacker is the equivalent on defense to a quarterback calling the signals on offense.
“All three linebackers know everything that’s going on defensively — not just what they do,” said the senior from Morgantown. “You know what everyone is doing at the other positions.”
Magro admittedly feels better with his hair cut shorter than it had been. “I feel different. But I won’t have a Mohawk like (fullback) Owen Schmitt.”
Like others, he believes the defense has more depth this year. “Guys are smarter and they know their surroundings better,” he said. “I think we’ve got more playmakers stepping up.”
o WVU, 22-3 over the past two seasons, has won 35 of its last 41 regular-season games and 37 of the last 45 overall.
The Mountaineers are 15-2 with junior Patrick White as the starting quarterback and 18-2 with junior Steve Slaton as a starting tailback. They’re 15-2 with both superstars in the opening lineup.
In finishing in the Top 10 in both 2005 and 2006, WVU set a school record for back-to-back final rankings.
o Eric Wicks, senior bandit safety, is high on free safety Ryan Mundy, the transfer graduate student with three years of experience at the University of Michigan.
“He has stepped into a leadership role,” Wicks said. “He’s not an outspoken guy.
“Basically, he leads by example. So when he came in, he just worked hard.
“Ryan is going to be a great player for us.”
o Tale of the tape (2006 stats):
WVU averaged 38.8 points and 461.4 yards per game, WMU 23.0 and 319.5. The yardage breakdown: 303.0 to 134.7 rushing and 158.4 to 184.8 passing.
Defensively, the Mountaineers allowed 21.7 points and 336.6 yards and the Broncos 19.9 and 275.4. Both teams limited foes to fewer than 100 yards per game rushing, 93.3 and 76.1
o Coach Rich Rodriguez is pleased with the play of Adam Hughes, WVU’s new long snapper.
“I’m really proud of Adam,” he said. “He’s in great shape, and he has more velocity and speed on his snaps.”
Tim Lindsey of Bridgeport excelled as the long snapper the past two years. So much so, he was rewarded by being named one of the team captains.
o Rodriguez’s .760 winning percentage (38-12) for 2003-06 is the best four-year mark in school history. His .833 winning percentage (30-6) for 2004-06 also is the best three-year mark.
Under his guidance, WVU also has put together five consecutive bowl appearances for the first time in history — including four on New Year’s Day.
His record for 15 years as a head coach at the college level is 95-60-2.
