Post by rainman on Sept 27, 2007 5:42:08 GMT -5
Slaton wants to produce more
By Mickey Furfari
For the Times West Virginian
MORGANTOWN— All-America tailback Steve Slaton thinks losing to underdog South Florida 24-19 here last season doesn’t really add to the fifth-ranked Mountaineers’ motivation for Friday night’s Big East headliner at Tampa.
But the 5-10, 195-pound junior from Levittown, Pa., certainly is determined to be more productive against the 18th-ranked Bulls (3-0) than he was for that contest in Morgantown.
They limited Slaton to him to just 43 yards on 18 carries. What’s more, quarterback Patrick White was held to a mere 17 yards rushing on 15 keeper plays.
Team-wise, WVU had a net total of only 132 yards rushing – 171 yards below last year’s 303-yard average. Its current gait is 357.0 ypg rushing.
So both of the Heisman Trophy candidates probably will reach a high emotional pitch not for personal glory but to avenge that costly defeat and hand Rich Rodriguez win No. 100 for his 15-year head coaching career.
“They do a good job,” Slaton said of the USF defense. “That’s why they came in here and beat us. But I think we’ve had a good start this year and will be ready for them.”
He believes the No. 5-ranked Mountaineers “not only must play well but play smart.”
o A capacity crowd of more than 65,000 — largest ever to see a South Florida home game — is assured for Friday’s 8 p.m. kickoff at Raymond James Stadium.
ESPN2 will televise the Big East opener for both teams.
West Virginia (4-0) remains a seven-point favorite.
o WVU center Mike Dent said, “We’re treating this as another game and getting prepared to play hard and well. We’ll use our athletic ability to come off the ball.
“They have a good defensive line. They play hard and they get to the ball quickly. They’ve got tremendous speed everywhere.”
Dent said he has been most impressed with the Bulls’ quickness as well as speed and the way they come off the ball. He singled out defensive end George Selvie as a great pass rusher.
Selvie played great against WVU in 2006. He recovered a fumble and ran nine yards for USF’s first touchdown and a 7-6 lead.
o This is only the third meeting between the two schools. They split the first two. WVU posted a 28-13 victory at Tampa two years ago.
Nineteen of the Mountaineers are Florida imports. They are anxious to see family and friends and to perform well enough to win.
Coach Rodriguez said they will have an opportunity to say “hello” upon arrival on Thursday and then visit briefly in the hotel lobby around team and position meetings.
o Tito Gonzales, junior wide receiver and Tampa native, admittedly feels very good to be going home and starting the game.
He recalled that two years ago he didn’t even make the trip because he wasn’t playing as much as he is now.
“So it’s going to be a really good feeling to play against a lot of guys that I played against in high school,” he said.
Coach Rodriguez has praised Gonzales for his steady improvement.
“It’s just been hard work and determination,” Gonzales said. “Sometimes in life, things don’t work out how you want
“At the end of the day, you can get bitter or you can get better. I chose to get better. I’m fortunate.”
o Tale of the Tape:
WVU is averaging 47.2 points and 525.0 yards per game, USF 30.3 and 373.3.
Defensively, the Mountaineers are giving up 17.0 points and 273.2 yards per game compared to the Bulls’ 15.3 points and 237.7 yards.
While WVU ranks near the top in rushing offense (357.0 ypg), USF shows better offensive balance at 218.7 passing and 154.7 rushing.
o Keilen Dykes, leader of the Mountaineer defensive line, thinks the defense is getting better and better each day.
“Hopefully, we can keep doing that Friday and then the rest of the season,” he said. “I’m just motivated because this is a big game in the middle of the season.
“It’s a Friday night and the game is in national TV. So I hope a lot of people will be watching.”
Dykes attributes WVU’s No. 8 national ranking in quarterback sacks (3.75 per game) to the coaches calling blitzes at the right times.
“That, and players just doing everything right,” he said.
o The Mountaineers also are among national leaders in other statistical areas:
Rushing offense, No. 2; total offense, 10th; scoring offense, ninth; rushing defense, 19th; total defense 15th; and scoring defense, 20th.
Individually, Steve Slaton is third in the country in scoring and 12th in rushing yardage; Patrick White is ninth in passing efficiency and 17th in points responsible for; and linebackers Mortty Ivy, Johnny Dingle and Marc Magro are tied for 13th in sacks.
o Greg Isdaner, WVU sophomore offensive guard, isn’t sure whether any team has speed on defense comparable to that of South Florida
“Maybe Rutgers,” he suggested. “Maybe Louisville.”
But he believes “we are pretty fast and more athletic on offense” than last year’s team was.
“I think our speed on the edge is as good as anybody’s in the country,” Isdaner said.
By Mickey Furfari
For the Times West Virginian
MORGANTOWN— All-America tailback Steve Slaton thinks losing to underdog South Florida 24-19 here last season doesn’t really add to the fifth-ranked Mountaineers’ motivation for Friday night’s Big East headliner at Tampa.
But the 5-10, 195-pound junior from Levittown, Pa., certainly is determined to be more productive against the 18th-ranked Bulls (3-0) than he was for that contest in Morgantown.
They limited Slaton to him to just 43 yards on 18 carries. What’s more, quarterback Patrick White was held to a mere 17 yards rushing on 15 keeper plays.
Team-wise, WVU had a net total of only 132 yards rushing – 171 yards below last year’s 303-yard average. Its current gait is 357.0 ypg rushing.
So both of the Heisman Trophy candidates probably will reach a high emotional pitch not for personal glory but to avenge that costly defeat and hand Rich Rodriguez win No. 100 for his 15-year head coaching career.
“They do a good job,” Slaton said of the USF defense. “That’s why they came in here and beat us. But I think we’ve had a good start this year and will be ready for them.”
He believes the No. 5-ranked Mountaineers “not only must play well but play smart.”
o A capacity crowd of more than 65,000 — largest ever to see a South Florida home game — is assured for Friday’s 8 p.m. kickoff at Raymond James Stadium.
ESPN2 will televise the Big East opener for both teams.
West Virginia (4-0) remains a seven-point favorite.
o WVU center Mike Dent said, “We’re treating this as another game and getting prepared to play hard and well. We’ll use our athletic ability to come off the ball.
“They have a good defensive line. They play hard and they get to the ball quickly. They’ve got tremendous speed everywhere.”
Dent said he has been most impressed with the Bulls’ quickness as well as speed and the way they come off the ball. He singled out defensive end George Selvie as a great pass rusher.
Selvie played great against WVU in 2006. He recovered a fumble and ran nine yards for USF’s first touchdown and a 7-6 lead.
o This is only the third meeting between the two schools. They split the first two. WVU posted a 28-13 victory at Tampa two years ago.
Nineteen of the Mountaineers are Florida imports. They are anxious to see family and friends and to perform well enough to win.
Coach Rodriguez said they will have an opportunity to say “hello” upon arrival on Thursday and then visit briefly in the hotel lobby around team and position meetings.
o Tito Gonzales, junior wide receiver and Tampa native, admittedly feels very good to be going home and starting the game.
He recalled that two years ago he didn’t even make the trip because he wasn’t playing as much as he is now.
“So it’s going to be a really good feeling to play against a lot of guys that I played against in high school,” he said.
Coach Rodriguez has praised Gonzales for his steady improvement.
“It’s just been hard work and determination,” Gonzales said. “Sometimes in life, things don’t work out how you want
“At the end of the day, you can get bitter or you can get better. I chose to get better. I’m fortunate.”
o Tale of the Tape:
WVU is averaging 47.2 points and 525.0 yards per game, USF 30.3 and 373.3.
Defensively, the Mountaineers are giving up 17.0 points and 273.2 yards per game compared to the Bulls’ 15.3 points and 237.7 yards.
While WVU ranks near the top in rushing offense (357.0 ypg), USF shows better offensive balance at 218.7 passing and 154.7 rushing.
o Keilen Dykes, leader of the Mountaineer defensive line, thinks the defense is getting better and better each day.
“Hopefully, we can keep doing that Friday and then the rest of the season,” he said. “I’m just motivated because this is a big game in the middle of the season.
“It’s a Friday night and the game is in national TV. So I hope a lot of people will be watching.”
Dykes attributes WVU’s No. 8 national ranking in quarterback sacks (3.75 per game) to the coaches calling blitzes at the right times.
“That, and players just doing everything right,” he said.
o The Mountaineers also are among national leaders in other statistical areas:
Rushing offense, No. 2; total offense, 10th; scoring offense, ninth; rushing defense, 19th; total defense 15th; and scoring defense, 20th.
Individually, Steve Slaton is third in the country in scoring and 12th in rushing yardage; Patrick White is ninth in passing efficiency and 17th in points responsible for; and linebackers Mortty Ivy, Johnny Dingle and Marc Magro are tied for 13th in sacks.
o Greg Isdaner, WVU sophomore offensive guard, isn’t sure whether any team has speed on defense comparable to that of South Florida
“Maybe Rutgers,” he suggested. “Maybe Louisville.”
But he believes “we are pretty fast and more athletic on offense” than last year’s team was.
“I think our speed on the edge is as good as anybody’s in the country,” Isdaner said.
