Post by cviller on Sept 28, 2007 16:37:39 GMT -5
Countdown to Kickoff
By John Antonik for MSNsportsNET.com
September 28, 2007
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia faces South Florida tonight in a Big East showdown of nationally ranked teams. The No. 5-rated Mountaineers are looking to avenge last year’s 24-19 loss to the Bulls in an 8 pm game that will be televised nationally on ESPN2 (Sean McDonough, Chris Speilman and Rob Stone).
No. 18 South Florida is enjoying its first national ranking in the 11-year history of the football program and the school is also expecting its first sell out at 65,000-seat Raymond James Stadium.
Here is tonight’s Countdown to Kickoff:
10 – The Mountaineers have been ranked among the nation’s Top TEN football teams for 20 out of the last 22 weeks. This week represents the 31st consecutive week West Virginia has been in the national polls and the 48th week overall under Coach Rich Rodriguez.
9 – West Virginia is ranked NINTH in scoring offense averaging 47.2 points per game. South Florida is 13th in scoring defense giving up 15.3 points per game.
8 – The Mountaineers have won EIGHT games in a row on natural grass surfaces under Coach Rich Rodriguez. Overall, WVU is 14-10 on grass under Rodriguez and 38-46 since 1980.
7 – WVU had SEVEN first-time starters in the season opener against Western Michigan and nine so far for the season. Thirty six different players now have at least one game’s worth of starting experience for West Virginia.
6 – West Virginia has only lost SIX times in its last 45 regular season games dating back to 2004. WVU has won 41 of its last 49 games overall and is 26-3 since the start of the 2005 campaign.
5 – South Florida’s FIVE-point victory at West Virginia last year snapped the Mountaineers eight-game home winning streak. West Virginia trailed 14-6 at halftime before mounting a furious comeback. Patrick White hit Brandon Myles on a 44-yard touchdown pass with 5:15 remaining and forced the Bulls to give the football back with 3:05 left. Cornerback Trae Williams sealed West Virginia’s fate by intercepting a White pass.
4 – Coach Rich Rodriguez’s West Virginia football teams have had FOUR games of more than 599 yards of offense including three 600-yard games against Pitt in 2006 (641), against Rutgers in 2001 (627) and against East Carolina in 2004 (621).
3 – Tonight’s game at South Florida is West Virginia’s THIRD road game this month. The Mountaineers have already won at Marshall (48-23) and at Maryland (31-14).
2 – West Virginia’s rush offense is ranked SECOND nationally averaging 357 yards per game. The Mountaineers have achieved the 300-yard mark in rushing in all four games this season.
1 – The Mountaineers have lost only ONCE in 48 games since 2000 when scoring 30 or more points in a game. That lone loss came at Louisville last year.
Enjoy the game and be sure to stop back afterward for game highlights and complete post-game coverage.
By John Antonik for MSNsportsNET.com
September 28, 2007
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia faces South Florida tonight in a Big East showdown of nationally ranked teams. The No. 5-rated Mountaineers are looking to avenge last year’s 24-19 loss to the Bulls in an 8 pm game that will be televised nationally on ESPN2 (Sean McDonough, Chris Speilman and Rob Stone).
No. 18 South Florida is enjoying its first national ranking in the 11-year history of the football program and the school is also expecting its first sell out at 65,000-seat Raymond James Stadium.
Here is tonight’s Countdown to Kickoff:
10 – The Mountaineers have been ranked among the nation’s Top TEN football teams for 20 out of the last 22 weeks. This week represents the 31st consecutive week West Virginia has been in the national polls and the 48th week overall under Coach Rich Rodriguez.
9 – West Virginia is ranked NINTH in scoring offense averaging 47.2 points per game. South Florida is 13th in scoring defense giving up 15.3 points per game.
8 – The Mountaineers have won EIGHT games in a row on natural grass surfaces under Coach Rich Rodriguez. Overall, WVU is 14-10 on grass under Rodriguez and 38-46 since 1980.
7 – WVU had SEVEN first-time starters in the season opener against Western Michigan and nine so far for the season. Thirty six different players now have at least one game’s worth of starting experience for West Virginia.
6 – West Virginia has only lost SIX times in its last 45 regular season games dating back to 2004. WVU has won 41 of its last 49 games overall and is 26-3 since the start of the 2005 campaign.
5 – South Florida’s FIVE-point victory at West Virginia last year snapped the Mountaineers eight-game home winning streak. West Virginia trailed 14-6 at halftime before mounting a furious comeback. Patrick White hit Brandon Myles on a 44-yard touchdown pass with 5:15 remaining and forced the Bulls to give the football back with 3:05 left. Cornerback Trae Williams sealed West Virginia’s fate by intercepting a White pass.
4 – Coach Rich Rodriguez’s West Virginia football teams have had FOUR games of more than 599 yards of offense including three 600-yard games against Pitt in 2006 (641), against Rutgers in 2001 (627) and against East Carolina in 2004 (621).
3 – Tonight’s game at South Florida is West Virginia’s THIRD road game this month. The Mountaineers have already won at Marshall (48-23) and at Maryland (31-14).
2 – West Virginia’s rush offense is ranked SECOND nationally averaging 357 yards per game. The Mountaineers have achieved the 300-yard mark in rushing in all four games this season.
1 – The Mountaineers have lost only ONCE in 48 games since 2000 when scoring 30 or more points in a game. That lone loss came at Louisville last year.
Enjoy the game and be sure to stop back afterward for game highlights and complete post-game coverage.