Post by WVUfanPHILLY on Aug 22, 2007 19:35:14 GMT -5
By JIM BUTTA
MORGANTOWN—Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano, the Scarlet Knights players and their thousands of fans heartbroken following West Virginia’s stunning 41-39 triple-overtime victory last December weren’t the only people at Mountaineer Field leaving with a feeling of disappointment.
“I actually didn’t play as well as I can play,” then-freshman quarterback Jarrett Brown explained. “I was disappointed, really.”
If you think the West Palm Beach, Florida-native was disappointed imagine how Rutgers felt when it realized that its last second loss to the Mountaineers cost them an invitation to a New Year’s Day bowl.
“I go back and look at the film and I go ‘dang’ I should have done this,” continued Brown. “I’ve watched it (the game film) many times. I just don’t know the number.”
Confused? Join the rest of the Mountaineer faithful that let out a collective moan when it was announced the first year player would receive his first career start in WVU’s must win, nationally televised contest.
“I knew there was a possibility because of Pat’s ankles,” Brown said. “I really didn’t know until right before kickoff.”
Nearly four hours later the country discovered what head coach Rich Rodriguez and his assistants knew the first time they watched film of the 6-foot-4 signal caller.
The final numbers were ‘White-like’ 73 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries and 14-of-29 passing for 244 yards and one touchdown.
Numbers that have garnered the 220-pounder some national notice in at least one poll which lists the Mountaineer quarterback as the No. 2 backup signal caller in the country.
“Naw,” exclaimed the quarterback. “No, I haven’t seen it (the poll). I don’t know what to say, but thank you.”
Fans of the gold and blue are saying thanks as well these days as Brown’s emergence gives the Mountaineers three quarterbacks on their roster which have started, and won, football games on the Division One level.
A fact that doesn’t escape first-year quarterbacks coach Rod Smith.
“I don’t know of any other D-I school in the country that can say they have that,” said the former Glenville State College quarterback.
“It makes my job a whole lot easier, but at the same time hard because I don’t want to do anything to mess this up.”
Of course chances of Brown seeing considerable playing time this fall aren’t the best in the world as White, who joins teammate Steve Slaton as preseason Heisman Trophy candidates, may be in the best health of his career.
“I know Pat is a great player so I just stay motivated. I just stay patient, that’s all you can do.”
That doesn’t mean the former Palm Beach Lakes High School standout is giving up on seeing any action in 2007.
“Pat plays hard. He gives it 100 percent on every down. For that reason I know that at any time I could go in.”
And, Mountaineer fans understand that should that unlikely event prove likely, they have a No. 2 quarterback that is as good as many No. 1s at any other D-I school.
Contact Jim Butta at
jbutta@newsandsentinel.com
Copyright © 2007— The Parkersburg News and The Parkersburg Sentinel
MORGANTOWN—Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano, the Scarlet Knights players and their thousands of fans heartbroken following West Virginia’s stunning 41-39 triple-overtime victory last December weren’t the only people at Mountaineer Field leaving with a feeling of disappointment.
“I actually didn’t play as well as I can play,” then-freshman quarterback Jarrett Brown explained. “I was disappointed, really.”
If you think the West Palm Beach, Florida-native was disappointed imagine how Rutgers felt when it realized that its last second loss to the Mountaineers cost them an invitation to a New Year’s Day bowl.
“I go back and look at the film and I go ‘dang’ I should have done this,” continued Brown. “I’ve watched it (the game film) many times. I just don’t know the number.”
Confused? Join the rest of the Mountaineer faithful that let out a collective moan when it was announced the first year player would receive his first career start in WVU’s must win, nationally televised contest.
“I knew there was a possibility because of Pat’s ankles,” Brown said. “I really didn’t know until right before kickoff.”
Nearly four hours later the country discovered what head coach Rich Rodriguez and his assistants knew the first time they watched film of the 6-foot-4 signal caller.
The final numbers were ‘White-like’ 73 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries and 14-of-29 passing for 244 yards and one touchdown.
Numbers that have garnered the 220-pounder some national notice in at least one poll which lists the Mountaineer quarterback as the No. 2 backup signal caller in the country.
“Naw,” exclaimed the quarterback. “No, I haven’t seen it (the poll). I don’t know what to say, but thank you.”
Fans of the gold and blue are saying thanks as well these days as Brown’s emergence gives the Mountaineers three quarterbacks on their roster which have started, and won, football games on the Division One level.
A fact that doesn’t escape first-year quarterbacks coach Rod Smith.
“I don’t know of any other D-I school in the country that can say they have that,” said the former Glenville State College quarterback.
“It makes my job a whole lot easier, but at the same time hard because I don’t want to do anything to mess this up.”
Of course chances of Brown seeing considerable playing time this fall aren’t the best in the world as White, who joins teammate Steve Slaton as preseason Heisman Trophy candidates, may be in the best health of his career.
“I know Pat is a great player so I just stay motivated. I just stay patient, that’s all you can do.”
That doesn’t mean the former Palm Beach Lakes High School standout is giving up on seeing any action in 2007.
“Pat plays hard. He gives it 100 percent on every down. For that reason I know that at any time I could go in.”
And, Mountaineer fans understand that should that unlikely event prove likely, they have a No. 2 quarterback that is as good as many No. 1s at any other D-I school.
Contact Jim Butta at
jbutta@newsandsentinel.com
Copyright © 2007— The Parkersburg News and The Parkersburg Sentinel
