Post by cviller on Aug 22, 2007 13:25:40 GMT -5
By JIM BUTTA, Sports Writer
MORGANTOWN — How do you improve upon back-to-back New Year’s Day bowl victories and back-to-back Top 10 finishes in the Associated Press poll?
That’s the question for seventh year head coach Rich Rodriguez and his West Virginia University Mountaineers when they open the season at Milan Puskar Stadium against visiting Western Michigan at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 1.
A No. 6 preseason ranking by the USA Today Coaches Poll assures the gold and blue will begin 2007 with a huge target on its back — one which it has had to deal with over the last two seasons.
However, two preseason Heisman Trophy candidates and a defense which has shown steady improvement during spring drills and summer camp make the Mountaineers a legitimate contender for the national title.
To become more than just a contender WVU must overcome a 12-game regular season slate of games which include seven teams that played in bowls and road games at Maryland, South Florida and Rutgers.
Saturday, Sept. 1:
Western Michigan at WVU
Legendary head coach Don Nehlen made a career out of scheduling, and beating, teams from the Mid American Conference (MAC).
The Broncos, however, aren’t just any team from the MAC.
WMU makes its first visit to Mountaineer Field since absorbing a 34-10 setback during the 1996 season.
As openers go this one appears to be a blowout on paper. But, coach-speak reminds us that games aren’t played on paper so you can expect anything when the Broncos ride into Morgantown.
Anything, but a WMU win.
Saturday, Sept. 8: WVU at Marshall
The last time the gold and blue paid a visit to Huntington the Mountaineers laid a 92-6 thumping on their instate rivals.
Don’t expect the score to hit that mark, but a Thundering Herd victory would represent the biggest upset in Mountain State history.
West Virginia won last year’s meeting by a 42-10 count and the major components of that victory — aka Pat White and Steve Slaton — return and the loss of preseason C-USA Defensive Player of the Year Albert McClelland should do nothing but hurt the Herd’s chances for a first-ever win in the series.
Thursday, Sept. 13: WVU at Maryland
A series that dates back to 1950 will take a two-year hiatus following West Virginia’s trek to Byrd Stadium.
Rodriguez and the Terrapins’ Ralph Friedgen took over the reigns of the respective alma maters the same year. Friedgen built a 4-0 mark over the first three seasons, but Rodriguez and the Mountaineers have owned the last three, winning by a 45-28 count last year.
This game has danger written all over it for several reasons.
First, it is the last conceivable time WVU will visit College Park. Then, there is the fact that the Mountaineers will have just played five days earlier against their instate rivals.
Add in the fact that this is a Maryland squad that returns a host of players from a 9-4 squad a year ago and fans will have to admit this one has all the trappings of an upset.
A victory on national television, however, and talk of a legitimate national championship game run will really begin to take off.
Saturday, Sept. 22: East Carolina at WVU
Here’s another game that, on paper, appears to be a yawner for Mountaineer fans. A 16-2 overall advantage for the Mountaineers in the series which includes an 11-0 mark in the friendly confines of Mountaineer Field will make it that way.
But, this isn’t your normal ECU Pirates. Since taking over the program two seasons ago head coach Skip Holtz has made a habit of making Rodriguez and WVU work hard for their victories.
A better returning cast of characters on offense might make this one a little more difficult to predict. But playing in front of the home crowd for just the second time this season against a middle-of-the-pack C-USA member just isn’t enough to cause the warning flags to appear.
Friday, Sept. 28: WVU at South Florida
Rumor has it that the Mountaineer coaching staff will turn on the scoreboard every day at practice the week prior to WVU’s trip to Tampa. The only information that will be visible to the players will be last year’s score—USF 24, WVU 19.
This is the second contest on the schedule that will go a long way in determining whether or not WVU will be playing for a national title in January or settling for a fourth trip in five years to Jacksonville (for the Toyota Gator Bowl).
The Bulls should be loaded with Big East Rookie of the Year Matt Grothe back at quarterback and a defense which returns all, but one starter.
Unlike a year ago, however, USF should receive the Mountaineers best shot, especially if the gold and blue are still unbeaten for their second-ever visit to Raymond James Stadium.
Saturday, Oct. 6: WVU at Syracuse
The mid-point of the 2007 season finds the gold and blue back on the road in conference play as WVU travels to the Carrier Dome to take on Syracuse.
SU owns a 24-30 margin in the overall series, but Rodriguez and the Mountaineers own a 5-0 streak, including last year’s 41-17 blowout in Morgantown.
This is simply a story of two teams headed in opposite directions. The once feared Orange are picked to finish near the bottom of the Big East while WVU is the league’s preseason favorite.
It’s football and any can happen. But not this year with this Syracuse team.
Saturday, Oct. 20: Mississippi State at WVU
When was the last time West Virginia has played only one home game in the month of October? That’s the case in ’07 and the only team to visit Milan Puskar Stadium will be the Bulldogs from the SEC.
MSU head coach Sylvester Croom has an impressive coaching resume. Problem is none of it is as the coach of the Bulldogs. A 9-25 overall mark coupled with a 42-14 thumping at the hands of WVU a year ago makes this one another yawner for Mountaineer fans.
Saturday, Oct. 27: WVU at Rutgers
It’s hard to imagine a more important two-game stretch in Mountaineer football history and this one begins in Piscataway, N.J.
Last year’s contest drew one of the largest television audience in ESPN history. Millions of fans were treated to a three-overtime thriller that wasn’t decided until a Vaughn Rivers pass breakup in the end zone on the Scarlet Knight’s two-point conversion attempt in the final extra period.
A quick perusal of both teams’ schedules reveals a strong possibility that this meeting could very well be between a pair of unbeaten squads looking for that ticket to New Orleans in January.
Thursday, Nov. 8: Louisville at WVU
The most watched contest in ESPN history returns to WVU
A victory over Rutgers could again pit a pair of nationally ranked, title-contending opponents in front of a huge audience on ESPN’s version of ’Thursday Night Fights.’
The previous two meetings have been offensive showcases and this one appears ready to follow suit with Louisville’s Brian Brohm leading the pass-happy Cardinals against the WVU secondary while the Mountaineers’ Steve Slaton and Patrick White headline one of the country’s top rushing attacks.
Should be another ’couch’ burner in Morgantown.
Saturday, Nov. 17: WVU at Cincinnati
This game has red flags flying all around it.
No, the Bearcats haven’t all of a sudden become a national power. But, this could be that ’letdown game’ that follows two hard fought, emotionally draining victories.
However should the Mountaineers enter the contest with a 9-0 mark, it would hard to believe that Rodriguez and his staff would not have them emotionally prepared to go 10-0 on the season.
Saturday, Nov. 24: Connecticut at WVU
If there is a perfect time for an opposing team to visit Mountaineer Field it is the weekend when the university’s student body has left for a holiday break.
That’s the case when the Huskies slip into Morgantown looking for their first victory in a short-lived series owned by the Mountaineers (3-0).
About the only thing the visitors can hope for, however, is a matchup with a WVU squad that has suffered through a pair of tough losses and seen its dreams of a national title slip away.
Saturday, Dec. 1: Pitt at WVU
The 100th edition of the ’Backyard Brawl’ could very well be the most historic in Mountaineer history.
An 11-0 mark at this point in the season would unquestionably make this a contest with national championship game implications. That will be all the impetus White and Company will need to make it three in a row over their rivals from the north.
2007 Outlook
Perfection isn’t easy in any sport. It doesn’t happen often and when it does it is an event which will live on forever.
West Virginia has a legitimate shot at attaining perfection in 2007. It won’t be easy and some luck will have to be on the Mountaineers’ side during the season.
But, if it is ever going to happen, 2007 appears to be the season in which it will.
Contact Jim Butta at jbutta@newsandsentinel.com