Post by cviller on Sept 14, 2007 8:56:43 GMT -5
WVU notebook: All agree: WVU-Terp rivalry should resume
By Dave Hickman
Staff writer
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Count Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen among those who hope West Virginia and Maryland are able to extend their football series.
The two teams have played 46 times, including every season since 1980 and twice in the 2003 season with the Gator Bowl. But Maryland asked out of the series the next two years in order to schedule California. WVU and Maryland play again in 2010 and 2011, but nothing is signed beyond that.
“It’s a border state and it’s going to be a rivalry,’’ Friedgen said.
“When we went to the Gator Bowl, the Gator Bowl was concerned about the fact that we had played each other during the regular season and how that would draw. Talking to [Gator Bowl president] Rick Catlett, they really haven’t sold the Gator Bowl out since we played. I told him if we played three times a week they’d probably sell the game out. They have tremendous fans and so do we and they like watching us play.
“It’s a great game. It’s a great college football game. And I think Rich [Rodriguez] would probably agree with that.’’
The most encouraging thing about West Virginia’s 31-14 win over Maryland Thursday night was not the performance of Noel Devine or Steve Slaton.
For the first time this season it was the job done by the Mountaineers’ defense.
“Confidence-wise, we felt we were an OK defense,’’ said safety Eric Wicks, who had two interceptions. “I think now we know if we continue to work hard, we can be a great defense.’’
The Mountaineers held a big, strong Maryland team to just 89 yards rushing and 269 yards total. With the exception of Maryland’s first real possession of the game — the first actual possession resulted in a fumbled snap on the first play — the Terps did no damage.
And for the first time this season, the Mountaineers got a consistent pass rush that helped out the much-maligned secondary.
“That’s big for the secondary,’’ Wicks said. “We were sending three guys sometimes and still getting a lot of pressure.’’
West Virginia is still giving up less than 90 yards per game rushing, but now the pass defense is joining in the party.
“I think we’re getting better each week,’’ said linebacker Reed Williams. “We had some things to fix each week and we have.’’
Maryland, though perhaps helped out by playing rather conservatively. With the exception of a halfback pass early in the game (that failed) the Terps didn’t really surprise West Virginia with much and didn’t take a lot of shots down the field. Darrius Heyward-Bey, the Terps’ best receiver, caught just three passes.
“I was surprised about No. 8, Heyward-Bey. He’s a playmaker,’’ Williams said. “I thought they’d take some more shots down the field with him.’’
It’s likely to take Devine a while to live down the jokes about being caught twice on the 1-yard line. He seems to have gotten over it quickly, though.
Devine was caught at the 1 at the end of 31- and 76-yard runs, the second of which surprised even him.
“I thought I was going to make it. I saw [cornerback Kevin Barnes] out of the corner of my eye and I guess I just ran out of gas,’’ said Devine, who gained 136 yards on just five carries. “But it is what it is. We made it in. That’s all that matters.’’
Briefly
• Believe it or not, Devine’s 76-yard run in the third quarter tied for the longest non-scoring rush in school history. Jim Moss had a 76-yard run in 1967 against William & Mary.
• West Virginia missed a golden opportunity to score early in the second quarter after driving to a first down at the Maryland 2-yard line. The drive included a 44-yard run by fullback Owen Schmitt and a 21-yarder by Slaton to the 2, but in the open field he couldn’t get around blocking wide receiver Dorrell Jalloh. After White was thrown for a 6-yard loss on the first play from the 2, the Mountaineers bogged down and Pat McAfee missed a chip-shot 22-yard field goal.
• Despite a sore foot that he had in a walking cast most of the week, Keilen Dykes started at nose guard for West Virginia and played on and off all night. Backup Thor Merrow was on the field by Maryland’s second full drive, but Dykes returned after that. He didn’t play extensively in the second half after West Virginia began taking a comfortable lead.
“We were just trying to get him in and out of there as much as we could,’’ said defensive line coach Bill Kirelawich. “We wanted to give him as much rest as we could and see how far he could go.’’
• West Virginia’s captains Thursday night were defensive backs Antonio Lewis, Eric Wicks and Larry Williams and Schmitt.
To contact staff writer Dave Hickman, use e-mail or call 348-1734.
By Dave Hickman
Staff writer
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Count Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen among those who hope West Virginia and Maryland are able to extend their football series.
The two teams have played 46 times, including every season since 1980 and twice in the 2003 season with the Gator Bowl. But Maryland asked out of the series the next two years in order to schedule California. WVU and Maryland play again in 2010 and 2011, but nothing is signed beyond that.
“It’s a border state and it’s going to be a rivalry,’’ Friedgen said.
“When we went to the Gator Bowl, the Gator Bowl was concerned about the fact that we had played each other during the regular season and how that would draw. Talking to [Gator Bowl president] Rick Catlett, they really haven’t sold the Gator Bowl out since we played. I told him if we played three times a week they’d probably sell the game out. They have tremendous fans and so do we and they like watching us play.
“It’s a great game. It’s a great college football game. And I think Rich [Rodriguez] would probably agree with that.’’
The most encouraging thing about West Virginia’s 31-14 win over Maryland Thursday night was not the performance of Noel Devine or Steve Slaton.
For the first time this season it was the job done by the Mountaineers’ defense.
“Confidence-wise, we felt we were an OK defense,’’ said safety Eric Wicks, who had two interceptions. “I think now we know if we continue to work hard, we can be a great defense.’’
The Mountaineers held a big, strong Maryland team to just 89 yards rushing and 269 yards total. With the exception of Maryland’s first real possession of the game — the first actual possession resulted in a fumbled snap on the first play — the Terps did no damage.
And for the first time this season, the Mountaineers got a consistent pass rush that helped out the much-maligned secondary.
“That’s big for the secondary,’’ Wicks said. “We were sending three guys sometimes and still getting a lot of pressure.’’
West Virginia is still giving up less than 90 yards per game rushing, but now the pass defense is joining in the party.
“I think we’re getting better each week,’’ said linebacker Reed Williams. “We had some things to fix each week and we have.’’
Maryland, though perhaps helped out by playing rather conservatively. With the exception of a halfback pass early in the game (that failed) the Terps didn’t really surprise West Virginia with much and didn’t take a lot of shots down the field. Darrius Heyward-Bey, the Terps’ best receiver, caught just three passes.
“I was surprised about No. 8, Heyward-Bey. He’s a playmaker,’’ Williams said. “I thought they’d take some more shots down the field with him.’’
It’s likely to take Devine a while to live down the jokes about being caught twice on the 1-yard line. He seems to have gotten over it quickly, though.
Devine was caught at the 1 at the end of 31- and 76-yard runs, the second of which surprised even him.
“I thought I was going to make it. I saw [cornerback Kevin Barnes] out of the corner of my eye and I guess I just ran out of gas,’’ said Devine, who gained 136 yards on just five carries. “But it is what it is. We made it in. That’s all that matters.’’
Briefly
• Believe it or not, Devine’s 76-yard run in the third quarter tied for the longest non-scoring rush in school history. Jim Moss had a 76-yard run in 1967 against William & Mary.
• West Virginia missed a golden opportunity to score early in the second quarter after driving to a first down at the Maryland 2-yard line. The drive included a 44-yard run by fullback Owen Schmitt and a 21-yarder by Slaton to the 2, but in the open field he couldn’t get around blocking wide receiver Dorrell Jalloh. After White was thrown for a 6-yard loss on the first play from the 2, the Mountaineers bogged down and Pat McAfee missed a chip-shot 22-yard field goal.
• Despite a sore foot that he had in a walking cast most of the week, Keilen Dykes started at nose guard for West Virginia and played on and off all night. Backup Thor Merrow was on the field by Maryland’s second full drive, but Dykes returned after that. He didn’t play extensively in the second half after West Virginia began taking a comfortable lead.
“We were just trying to get him in and out of there as much as we could,’’ said defensive line coach Bill Kirelawich. “We wanted to give him as much rest as we could and see how far he could go.’’
• West Virginia’s captains Thursday night were defensive backs Antonio Lewis, Eric Wicks and Larry Williams and Schmitt.
To contact staff writer Dave Hickman, use e-mail or call 348-1734.