Post by cviller on Oct 6, 2007 8:48:27 GMT -5
By John Antonik for MSNsportsNET.com
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia travels to Syracuse for a Saturday afternoon Big East game at the Carrier Dome. ESPN Regional (Dave Sims, John Congemi and Quint Kessenich) will televise the game to markets throughout the Northeast and Midwest.
MSN’s radio coverage begins at 11:30 am with the Mountaineers Today followed by live game action at noon. Internet listeners can follow the game through CSTV All-Access and the broadcast will also be available through Sirius Satellite Radio channel 122.
Here is Saturday’s Countdown to Kickoff:
10 – West Virginia has had eight scoring drives lasting TEN plays or longer. West Virginia’s longest scoring drive this season was a 15-play, 6:09 drive against South Florida that ended in a Pat McAfee 36-yard field goal.
9 – The Mountaineers are ranked NINTH in the country in total offense averaging 507.4 yards per game.
8 – WVU has had EIGHT touchdown plays scoring 22 yards or longer this season. West Virginia’s longest touchdown was a 58-yard run by Steve Slaton in the season opener against Western Michigan.
7 – West Virginia owns a perfect SEVEN and zero record when wearing the uniform combination of white jerseys and blue pants. The Mountaineers last wore that combination at Maryland on Sept. 13, when WVU registered a 31-14 victory.
6 – This week marks the first time in the last SIX college football polls dating back to last year that West Virginia was not ranked in the Top 10. The Mountaineers have been ranked in 32 straight polls dating back to 2005.
5 – West Virginia had FIVE rushing touchdowns in last year’s 41-17 victory over Syracuse at Milan Puskar Stadium. Quarterback Patrick White ran for a career-high 247 yards and four touchdowns, and running back Steve Slaton finished with 163 yards on 20 carries.
4 – The Mountaineers have lost only FOUR of their last 30 games dating back to 2005. West Virginia has won its last three contests following a loss.
3 – West Virginia has had THREE games of 500 yards of total offense more this year including 599 yards in a 48-7 victory over East Carolina at Milan Puskar Stadium. WVU’s other 500-yard games came against Western Michigan (542) and Marshall (511).
2 – Steve Slaton ranks SECOND to Arkansas’ Darren McFaddden among active all-purpose runners averaging 143.2 yards per game. McFadden is tops among all college backs averaging 150.9 yards per game.
1 – Running back Steve Slaton needs ONE rushing touchdown to surpass the great Ira Errett Rodgers’ 88-year record of 42 touchdowns achieved in 1919. Also, WVU coach Rich Rodriguez needs ONE more victory to reach 100 for his coaching career.
Enjoy the game