Post by rainman on Oct 5, 2007 5:47:42 GMT -5
WVU’s Bednarik ready to play at Syracuse if needed
By Mickey Furfari
For the Times West Virginian
MORGANTOWN— Adam Bednarik, who won his first start as a Mountaineer quarterback in the 2005 season’s opener at Syracuse, said he is ready for Saturday’s Big East game in the Carrier Dome if needed.
“It all depends on how things go with Pat (White) and Jarrett (Brown),” said the 6-2, 225-pound senior from Bethlehem, Pa. “If I’m called, I’ll be ready.”
All three signal-callers have been taking snaps in practice each day, including White, whose bruised thigh apparently is on the mend. But coach Rich Rodriguez has said a decision on a starter won’t be made until game day.
Bednarik, who has seen spot duty as a wide receiver, said it’s a luxury to have three quarterbacks with game experience, and all three have started and won.
He has appeared in 12 games, nine in starting roles, before being sidelined all of last year recovering from a shoulder injury. He has completed 55 of 75 passes for 532 yards and four touchdowns.
Bednarik also has netted 176 yards rushing.
“I feel all there of us can go in and get the job done,” he said. “I do think Syracuse is better than it was the past two years.”
o As many as 37,000 tickets reportedly have been sold for the game, but one Syracuse source estimated that only about 25,000 are expected to show up for Saturday’s noon kickoff in the Carrier Dome.
It is the Big East Game of the Week and will be televised by ESPN Regional. Dave Sims, John Congemi and Quint Kessenich are the announcers.
Carrying the telecast in West Virginia will be WVFX (Clarksburg), WTAP (Parkersburg), WTOV (Wheeling), WCHS (Charleston), and WTAE (Pittsburgh).
o WVU cornerback Antonio Lewis is impressed by Syracuse quarterback Andrew Robinson and a fine group of wide receivers.
“They’ve got some guys that can go get the ball,” he noted. “They’re playing to their strength (passing), but they also have a couple good running backs.
“Those guys play hard and they block well. Eventually, they will probably be able to play with anybody.”
o This will be the 55th meeting between WVU (4-1, 0-1) and Syracuse (1-4, 1-0) in a series that the Orange lead by a 30-24 margin.
The Mountaineers have won the last five meetings in a row, including 34-23 in 2003 and 15-7 in 2005 in the Carrier Dome.
Winner of the annual battle will receive the Floyd “Ben” Schwartzwalder Trophy in memory of a former WVU athlete and Syracuse coaching legend.
o Mike Dent, WVU’s regular center, said he’s confident the offense will return to its moral production pace.
“This is the week we’ve got to get down to business again, work hard to get better,” he reasoned. “Syracuse comes off the ball very well.
“Their guys up front on defense are big and physical. “I’m comfortable that we’ll be ready.”
o WVU Coach Rich Rodriguez, who’s 5-1 against Syracuse, is still seeking the 100th victory of his coaching career.
His lone loss in the series came his first season as Mountaineer mentor, 24-13, in the Carrier Dome.
o Reed Williams, who's tied for sixth in the Big East with 42 tackles, is the man who calls out the formations for the WVU defense.
“The coaches send me the signals for each play, and I translate them to all the guys," the veteran linebacker said. “It’s helpful mostly to the guys up front.
“Those guys in the secondary are used to seeing the signals (from coach Tony Gibson).”
o Tale of the Tape:
The Mountaineers are averaging 40.4 points and 507.4 yards per game, the Orange 16.8 points and 272.6 ypg.
Defensively, WVU is allowing 17.8 points and 273.4 yards per game and SU 34.0 points and 484.8 ypg.
The biggest difference on offense is that the Mountaineers are averaging 323.2 yards rushing to just 40.6, but only 184.2 passing to 232.0.
By Mickey Furfari
For the Times West Virginian
MORGANTOWN— Adam Bednarik, who won his first start as a Mountaineer quarterback in the 2005 season’s opener at Syracuse, said he is ready for Saturday’s Big East game in the Carrier Dome if needed.
“It all depends on how things go with Pat (White) and Jarrett (Brown),” said the 6-2, 225-pound senior from Bethlehem, Pa. “If I’m called, I’ll be ready.”
All three signal-callers have been taking snaps in practice each day, including White, whose bruised thigh apparently is on the mend. But coach Rich Rodriguez has said a decision on a starter won’t be made until game day.
Bednarik, who has seen spot duty as a wide receiver, said it’s a luxury to have three quarterbacks with game experience, and all three have started and won.
He has appeared in 12 games, nine in starting roles, before being sidelined all of last year recovering from a shoulder injury. He has completed 55 of 75 passes for 532 yards and four touchdowns.
Bednarik also has netted 176 yards rushing.
“I feel all there of us can go in and get the job done,” he said. “I do think Syracuse is better than it was the past two years.”
o As many as 37,000 tickets reportedly have been sold for the game, but one Syracuse source estimated that only about 25,000 are expected to show up for Saturday’s noon kickoff in the Carrier Dome.
It is the Big East Game of the Week and will be televised by ESPN Regional. Dave Sims, John Congemi and Quint Kessenich are the announcers.
Carrying the telecast in West Virginia will be WVFX (Clarksburg), WTAP (Parkersburg), WTOV (Wheeling), WCHS (Charleston), and WTAE (Pittsburgh).
o WVU cornerback Antonio Lewis is impressed by Syracuse quarterback Andrew Robinson and a fine group of wide receivers.
“They’ve got some guys that can go get the ball,” he noted. “They’re playing to their strength (passing), but they also have a couple good running backs.
“Those guys play hard and they block well. Eventually, they will probably be able to play with anybody.”
o This will be the 55th meeting between WVU (4-1, 0-1) and Syracuse (1-4, 1-0) in a series that the Orange lead by a 30-24 margin.
The Mountaineers have won the last five meetings in a row, including 34-23 in 2003 and 15-7 in 2005 in the Carrier Dome.
Winner of the annual battle will receive the Floyd “Ben” Schwartzwalder Trophy in memory of a former WVU athlete and Syracuse coaching legend.
o Mike Dent, WVU’s regular center, said he’s confident the offense will return to its moral production pace.
“This is the week we’ve got to get down to business again, work hard to get better,” he reasoned. “Syracuse comes off the ball very well.
“Their guys up front on defense are big and physical. “I’m comfortable that we’ll be ready.”
o WVU Coach Rich Rodriguez, who’s 5-1 against Syracuse, is still seeking the 100th victory of his coaching career.
His lone loss in the series came his first season as Mountaineer mentor, 24-13, in the Carrier Dome.
o Reed Williams, who's tied for sixth in the Big East with 42 tackles, is the man who calls out the formations for the WVU defense.
“The coaches send me the signals for each play, and I translate them to all the guys," the veteran linebacker said. “It’s helpful mostly to the guys up front.
“Those guys in the secondary are used to seeing the signals (from coach Tony Gibson).”
o Tale of the Tape:
The Mountaineers are averaging 40.4 points and 507.4 yards per game, the Orange 16.8 points and 272.6 ypg.
Defensively, WVU is allowing 17.8 points and 273.4 yards per game and SU 34.0 points and 484.8 ypg.
The biggest difference on offense is that the Mountaineers are averaging 323.2 yards rushing to just 40.6, but only 184.2 passing to 232.0.
