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2008 Mountaineer game previews
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2008 Mountaineer game previews
2008 Mountaineer game previews... 04-cheers

I've compiled all the Mountaineer game preview articles from the Charleston Gazette here in one thread. I've been archiving them, so they could be in one concise thread for easy reference. Enjoy...

Game 1 preview... [Image: mountie-guidon.gif]
The Charleston Gazette Wrote:Opponent preview: Villanova
June 30, 2008

NOTE: This is the first in a series of previews on West Virginia and Marshall football opponents.

Date with West Virginia: Aug. 30, time TBA
Site: Mountaineer Field (60,000, FieldTurf), Morgantown
Coach: Andy Talley (24th year, 155-98-1; 29th year overall, 183-116-2)

Checking them out

Villanova returns 17 starters and both specialists from a team that was 7-4 last season and didn't take too kindly to being left out of the Division I-AA playoffs - the Wildcats were 5-3 in the Colonial Athletic Association and fellow CAA member New Hampshire made it with a 4-4 league mark, largely on the strength of a win at Marshall. In other words, while this is clearly expected to be a bought-and-paid-for win for the Mountaineers, these guys are still pretty good, at least for a Division I-AA (sorry, Football Championship Series) team. Last year Villanova trailed Maryland 10-7 at halftime before being worn down in a 31-14 loss to the Terps. The Wildcats are ranked 17th in something called the AnyGivenSaturday.com preseason poll.

Offensively, the Wildcats return their entire respectably-sized offensive line and two starting receivers, but the questions are in the backfield, where workhorse tailback Matt Dicken is gone, no one else rushed for even 250 yards and standout quarterback Antwon Young is trying to come back after missing the last five games of 2007 after blowing out a knee. When Young did play last season he was terrific, the 6-foot-4, 215-pound junior from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., completed 65 percent of his passes for just under 200 yards a game with 14 touchdowns and only four picks. Villanova's other best weapons on offense are little (both 5-11, 190) receivers Phil Atkinson and Matt Szczur, who both catch the ball and run it on handoffs or pitches. Also absent is tight end Matt Sherry, who was drafted in the sixth round by the Cincinnati Bengals.

Defense, though, is expected to be Villanova's strength, where the top four tacklers and eight of the top 10 are back. The top tacklers are Osayi Osunde and Darrel Young, both 240-pound linebackers, but the best defender might be 6-3, 255-pound junior defensive lineman Tim Kukucka, who had seven sacks and 12 tackles for loss last year. The secondary got a real workout last season when opponents threw an average of 36 passes and gained an average 240 yards (373.7 total). But the Wildcats did manage to intercept 17 passes.

All-conference candidates
Offense:
QB Antwon Young, WR Phil Atkinson, WR Matt Szczur
Defense: DL Tim Kukucka, LB Osayi Osunde
Special teams: K Joe Marcoux, P Zach Ugarte

Notes

Here's one of the reasons Frank Cignetti didn't last more than four years as West Virginia's coach in the late 1970s: In his second season, 1977, his Mountaineers lost to Villanova. Ouch. It was the only time the Wildcats beat WVU (a series that began in 1913 is 5-1 in WVU's favor, with all six games in Morgantown) and the last time the teams played. . . . That loss to the Wildcats came the year before Division I-AA was created. Since then, Villanova is 2-10 against I-A teams, beating Rutgers in 2002 and Temple in 2003. . . . Villanova's total home attendance last season was 45,997, which would be a bad single-game crowd for WVU.

2008 schedule
Date Opponent 2007
Aug. 30 @West Virginia DNP

Sept. 13 Lehigh W 30-20
Sept. 20 @Penn W 34-14
Sept. 27 Richmond* L 27-35
Oct. 4 @William & Mary* W 63-24
Oct. 18 @Rhode Island* DNP
Oct. 25 James Madison* L 7-35
Nov. 1 @Northeastern* DNP
Nov. 8 New Hampshire* DNP
Nov. 15 Towson* W 14-12
Nov. 22 @Delaware* W 16-10
* Colonial Athletic Conference games

2007 record: 7-4 overall, 5-3 CAA
Dropped: Maryland (L 14-31), Maine (W 24-17 ot), UMass (L 24-32 ot), Hofstra (W 35-31)

* * *

Game 2 preview... [Image: mountie-guidon.gif]
The Charleston Gazette Wrote:Opponent preview: East Carolina
By Dave Hickman
Staff writer
July 2, 2008


NOTE: This is the third in a series of previews on West Virginia and Marshall football opponents.

Date with West Virginia: Saturday, Sept. 6, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Date with Marshall: Saturday, Nov. 8, 3:30 p.m.
Site (both games): Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium (43,000, grass), Greenville, N.C.
Coach: Skip Holtz (4th year, 20-17; 9th year overall, 54-40)

Checking them out

There is little that jumps out about East Carolina in 2008 and says this is a powerhouse football team, but there are also no glaring weaknesses. The bottom line is that the Pirates are going to be pretty good because Holtz has recruited well and gotten a ton of players some valuable experience in his first three years on the job, the last two of which ended in bowl games.

Fifteen starters and both kickers return from a team that was 8-5 and knocked off No. 24 Boise State 41-38 in the Hawaii Bowl, and not even the loss of star running back Chris Johnson (a first-round NFL draft choice) is insurmountable because the offense is so versatile. Nowhere is that more apparent than at quarterback, where Patrick Pinkney and Rob Kass provide polar opposite looks. Pinkney, who started four games near the beginning of the season and then the bowl game, is the modern-day athletic QB who can improvise, use his feet and also completed 60 percent of his passes with 11 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He threw for 406 yards in a win over North Carolina as a junior and goes into the fall as the starter. Kass, a 6-foot-4, 255-pound junior, started seven games in the middle of the season after Pinkney struggled, completed 55 percent of his throws for nine TDs and four picks and is the better pure pocket passer, although he lacks mobility.

No matter who plays at quarterback, the surrounding cast is solid. No less than eight linemen have starting experience, top wide receiver Jamar Bryant (48 catches for 704 yards) is back and while no one will replace Johnson's nearly 3,000 all-purpose yards, there are five backs with a variety of skill sets ranging from bullish to bullet-like.

On defense, nine players who started last season return, but only six were full-time starters. Again, not a ton of those guys stand out - although end Zack Slate and safety Van Eskridge are two potential stars - but the Pirates are deep almost everywhere and have a terrific front line and experience at linebacker.

All-conference candidates
Offense:
WR Jamar Bryant, OG Doug Palmer
Defense: DE Zack Slate, DE C.J. Wilson, S Van Eskridge, DT Jay Ross, LB Pierre Bell
Special teams: P Matt Dodge

Notes

ECU's non-conference schedule is wicked - Virginia Tech and West Virginia back-to-back at the start, then N.C. State and Virginia later. ... The Pirates had to end their spring game at halftime on April 12 because of storm warnings. ... East Carolina is one of the few programs in the country that has improved its win total in each of the past four years, although that statistic was helped along by the Pirates' atrociousness before Holtz arrived. After winning one game in 2003, the Pirates have since won two, five, seven and eight games.

Date Opponent 2007
Aug. 30 Virginia Tech (in Charlotte) L 7-17
Sept. 6 West Virginia L 7-48
Sept. 13 @Tulane* W 35-12
Sept. 20 @N.C. State L 20-34
Sept. 27 Houston* W 37-35
Oct. 11 @Virginia DNP
Oct. 18 Memphis* W 56-40
Nov. 2 @Central Florida* (Sun) W 52-38
Nov. 8 Marshall* L 7-26
Nov. 15 @Southern Mississippi* L 21-28
Nov. 22 @Alabama-Birmingham* W 41-6
Nov. 28 Texas-El Paso* (Fri) W 45-42 (ot)
* Conference USA games

2007 record: 8-5 overall, 6-2 C-USA
Dropped: North Carolina (W 34-31)

* * *

Game 3 preview... [Image: mountie-guidon.gif]
The Charleston Gazette Wrote:Opponent preview: Colorado
July 4, 2008

NOTE: This is the fifth in a series of previews on West Virginia and Marshall football opponents.


Date with West Virginia: Thursday, Sept. 18, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Site: Folsom Field (53,750, grass), Boulder, Colo.
Coach: Dan Hawkins (3rd year, 8-17; 8th year overall, 61-28)

Checking them out

Dan Hawkins spent his first two seasons at Colorado rebuilding the recruiting base and just trying to tread water while he did so. Now, after 2-10 and 6-7 seasons, it seems he is ready to unveil the real Buffaloes team he was trying to mold - a take-no-prisoners offense and active defense in the mold of his old Boise State teams, only with better talent.

What that means offensively is a balanced, no-huddle offense that Hawkins toyed with in the spring. Colorado didn't use any no-huddle during Hawkins' first two seasons because he lacked the talent and depth and he says he won't use it full time now, either, but given the altitude in Boulder it makes sense to employ the no-huddle as much as possible to wear teams down.

Hawkins is beginning to assemble the talent necessary to pull it off, too. His son, sophomore quarterback Cody Hawkins, set every major school freshman passing record while starting all 13 games last season and throwing for 2,693 yards and 19 touchdowns. He was also intercepted 14 times, but finished the season with 70 straight attempts without a pick. While the offensive line needs to replace three starters, top receiver Scotty McKnight (43 catches) is just a sophomore. Oh, and Colorado also needs to find a new tailback, but 6-foot, 205-pound true freshman Darrell Scott was regarded by some as the best high school running back in the country last year.

On defense, 6-1, 285-pound George Hypolite and 6-3, 290-pound Brandon Nicolas are rocks on the line and seven of the top eight tacklers return. But the loss of Butkus Award runner-up Jordan Dizon at linebacker makes that area a concern and while there is plenty of depth in the secondary most of the leadership is gone. Maybe some new blood is good, though, since the Buffaloes ranked No. 103 in the country in passing yards allowed.

All-conference candidates
Offense:
C Daniel Sanders, WR Scotty McKnight, QB Cody Hawkins, OT Ryan Miller
Defense: DT George Hypolite, NT Brandon Nicolas, FS Ryan Walters
Special teams: P Matt DiLallo

Notes

Colorado's schedule includes games against only two teams it defeated last season - Colorado State and Nebraska. The Buffaloes' other four wins came against Miami (Ohio) and three Big 12 teams that rotate off the schedule this season . . . Only four teams in the country have played more ranked opponents since 1989 than Colorado (95) - Florida (105), Florida State (99) and Michigan (98) . . . Colorado has scored in 235 straight games, the ninth-longest streak ever . . . The game with West Virginia is CU's first weeknight home game since 1990.
It wasn't included, but here's Colorado's 2008 schedule...

2008 schedule
Date Opponent 2007

Aug. 30 @Colorado State W 31-28
Sep. 6 E. Washington DNP
Sep. 18 West Virginia (Thu) DNP
Sep. 27 @Florida State L 6-16
Oct. 4 Texas* DNP
Oct. 11 @Kansas* L 14-19
Oct. 18 Kansas State* L 20-47
Oct. 25 @Missouri* L 10-55
Nov. 1 @Texas A&M* DNP
Nov. 8 Iowa State* L 28-31
Nov. 15 OK State* DNP
Nov. 28 @Nebraska* (Fri) W 65-51
* Big XII Conference games

* * *

Game 4 preview... [Image: mountie-guidon.gif]
The Charleston Gazette Wrote:Opponent preview: Marshall
July 7, 2008

NOTE: This is the seventh in a series of previews on West Virginia and Marshall football opponents.

Date with West Virginia: Saturday, Sept. 27, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN Regional Television)
Site: Mountaineer Field (60,000, FieldTurf), Morgantown
Coach: Mark Snyder (fourth year, 13-23)

Checking them out

There seems to be a cautious optimism that coach Mark Snyder can stem the Thundering Herd's string of four non-winning seasons and get back to a bowl game.

For all the disasters of 2007, the Herd did win three of the last five - and shipwrecked the championship hopes of East Carolina, in dominating fashion. But all in all, it was a long, painful season to watch, and it all started with Albert McClellan's torn ACL in the early days of August.

He is expected to be 100 percent, and that should produce a positive domino effect on the defense of new coordinator Rick Minter. Conceivably, the 2006 media pick for defensive player of the year could rack up more sacks than the entire team did in 2007 (13). And if not, McClellan should still help a reinforced defense improve from averaging 34.3 points and 451 yards per game.

That starts with a suddenly beefed-up line. Looking at it from a 4-3 perspective (remember, the ends could just as well play linebacker in a 3-4 setup, or something more exotic), McClellan's presence should mean bigger things for John Jacobs, with Antwan Booker, Ian Hoskins and possibly freshman John Youboty contributing. The ouster of Josh Johnson at linebacker could have no effect, as Maurice Kitchens, Mario Harvey and juco import Andre Portis looking solid there. Inside, Montel Glasco returns from injury and former walk-on James Burkes is back, but several newcomers will make things very interesting.

Marshall's pass defense was leaky and creaky, giving up a number of long touchdowns and ranking 110th in the country in efficiency rating. That almost has to improve this year - for one thing, opposing quarterbacks should feel more heat. And for another thing, the back-end personnel should be much better and deeper.

C.J. Spillman returns as the star at free safety, though he might not want to have to make 131 tackles again. Aaron Johnson is the probable strong safety and Ashton Hall will be a well-used nickel. Cornerback? Well, Zearrick Matthews and J.J. Johnson are the incumbents, but it may take 29 practices to shake out that suddenly stacked derby.

There are a number of questions about the offense, which has averaged 3.92 first-quarter points in the Snyder era. It took 11 games for the Herd to score a touchdown in the first 15 minutes in '07.

Those questions do not involve running back, where Darius Marshall and Chubb Small combined for 1,055 yards, Terrell Edwards had a promising spring and several well-touted newcomers arrive. Nor do they include tight end, where Cody Slate continues his brilliant career and two others could start for a lot of teams.

The most visible issue is quarterback, where redshirt freshman Mark Cann holds the lead. Wide receiver Darius Passmore (660 yds, 5 TDs) is expected back at full strength, and he'll lead a position perennially plagued with well-hyped newcomers who can't get eligible, stay healthy or otherwise don't pan out. Emmanuel Spann (90 career catches, 1,058 yards) returns for his senior year.

The O-line seems to be as deep as it has been in years, but how good are the first-stringers. Brian Leggett slides over to replace Doug Legursky at center, Josh Evans is back at LG and Daniel Baldridge should be back to battle for his RT spot. The interesting issues: (a) can Jimmy Rogers become dominant at RG after a summer in the MU weight room and (b) who will emerge at left tackle?

Placekicker carries a lot of suspense, but only in how Craig Ratanamorn adjusts from soccer to football. If he keeps his mechanics and his head together, watch out.

All-conference candidates
Offense:
RB Darius Marshall, WR Darius Passmore, TE Cody Slate.
Defense: DE Albert McClellan, LB Maurice Kitchens, FS C.J. Spillman.
Special teams: K Craig Ratanamorn, KR Darius Marshall.

Notes

A whopping 46 different players started for Marshall in 2007, a testament to the team's injury problems. As many as six defensive starters were out at times. ... Another stat that must improve: turnovers, particularly the defense's ability to force them. There were only four interceptions (two by defensive lineman Ryland Wilson!) and three recovered fumbles. All told, the Herd went minus-10 in turnover margin, continuing a longstanding trend - MU is minus-25 under Snyder and minus-49 in the last six years. ... The Herd defense didn't register a sack in five games, and had two or fewer tackles for loss in four. ... Snyder's Herd teams are 0-4 coming off a bye week, a stat that should improve when Marshall visits UAB after a 15-day lag. ... A good test of the Texas hex: The Herd plays at defensively challenged Rice. MU is 0-4 in the Lone Star State.
Hmmm... Didn't post Marshall's schedule either... 03-banghead

2008 schedule
Date Opponent 2007

Aug. 30 Illinois State DNP
Sep. 6 @Wisconsin DNP
Sep. 13 Memphis* L 21-24
Sep. 20 @Southern Miss* L 24-33
Sep. 27 @West Virginia L 23-48
Oct. 3 Cincinnati L 14-40

Oct. 18 @UAB* W 46-39
Oct. 28 Houston* L 28-35
Nov. 8 @East Carolina* W 26-7
Nov. 15 UCF* L 13-47
Nov. 22 @Rice* W 34-21
Nov. 29 Tulsa* L 31-38
* Conference USA games

* * *

Have a look at game 4 from a Marshall fan's viewpoint... 04-cheers
The Charleston Gazette Wrote:Opponent preview: West Virginia
July 10, 2008

NOTE: This is the 10th in a series of previews on West Virginia and Marshall football opponents.

[b]Date with Marshall:
Saturday, Sept. 27, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN Regional)
Site: Mountaineer Field (60,000, FieldTurf), Morgantown
Coach: Bill Stewart (1st full year, 1-0; 4th year overall, 9-25)

Checking out the Mountaineers

Even under normal circumstances, this would be a football team set to receive a lot of attention and publicity this season. Of course, these are anything but normal circumstances. The messy departure of Rich Rodriguez to Michigan and the speculation over how it will affect the Mountaineers is one of college football's hottest topics heading into the season.

It's premature to judge, but West Virginia certainly got off to a good start in the post-Rodriguez era with a surprising rout of Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. But that comes with an asterisk because it was engineered by many players and coaches who aren't around anymore. Seven new assistant coaches, including new offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen, will no doubt change things to some degree, and replacing seven defensive starters and running backs Steve Slaton and Owen Schmitt lends an air of mystery.

What remains in place, however, is formidable. Pat White is arguably the best quarterback in the country, a two-time Big East offensive player of the year who will become the nation's all-time quarterback rushing leader this season even if he has a bad year (he needs 784 yards; he's never run for less than 952). He will work behind an offensive line rated No. 1 in the country by Athlon. Mullen's tweaks in the offense might have White running less than his average of 15 times per game last season, but the offense could be better if he spreads the field with more of a passing game. The major questions are how 5-foot-8, 170-pound sophomore Noel Devine will fare as an every-down back and whether or not converted wide receiver Will Johnson (or someone else) can do half the job Schmitt did as a fullback-tight end.

Defensively, both the front and back are almost barren of last year's regulars, but there is reason for optimism. Scooter Berry returns along the line and the three positions there all could be three deep thanks to a few veteran backups, newcomers like Tevita Finau, Larry Ford and D.J. Shaw and the possible return of Pat Liebig. At linebacker, Mortty Ivy could be a star and Reed Williams was the defensive MVP of the Fiesta Bowl, although he is recovering from surgery on both shoulders. The real test will be replacing most of the secondary.

All-conference candidates
Offense:
QB Pat White, OT Ryan Stanchek, OG Greg Isdaner, RB Noel Devine
Defense: LB Mortty Ivy, LB Reed Williams, DL Scooter Berry
Special teams: K-P Pat McAfee

Notes

It is certainly not an easy schedule with the likes of road games at Colorado, Louisville and Pitt and home games with Auburn, Rutgers and South Florida, but WVU's schedule at least breaks well. There are almost two weeks to prepare for Thursday games against unfamiliar opponents Colorado and Auburn and two full weeks to get ready for Louisville. The only short week is for Pitt, and the Panthers have the same schedule. ... Stewart is on record as hoping WVU and Marshall extend their series after the current seven-year deal expires following the 2012 season. ... Under the unusual terms of that contract, this would have been the game that decided the site of next year's contest between the teams had West Virginia not won the first two meetings. The deal calls for the fourth game to be played at the site of the team that won two of the first three. That means it turns out to be a 5-for-2 deal in WVU's favor over the life of the contract.

2008 WVU schedule
Date Opponent 2007

Sept. 1 Fresno State (Mon) DNP
Aug. 30 Villanova DNP
Sept. 6 @East Carolina W 48-7
Sept. 18 @Colorado (Thu) DNP
Sept. 27 Marshall W 48-23
Oct. 4 Rutgers* W 31-3
Oct. 11 Syracuse* W 55-14
Oct. 23 Auburn (Thu) DNP
Nov. 1 @Connecticut* W 66-21
Nov. 8 Cincinnati* W 28-23
Nov. 22 @Louisville* W 38-31
Nov. 28 @Pitt* (Fri) L 9-13
Dec. 6 South Florida* L 13-21
* Big East Conference games


2007 record: 11-2 overall, 5-2 Big East (beat Oklahoma 48-28 in Fiesta Bowl)
Dropped: Western Michigan (W 62-24), Maryland (W 31-14), Mississippi State (W 38-14)

* * *

Game 5 preview... [Image: mountie-guidon.gif]
The Charleston Gazette Wrote:Opponent preview: Rutgers
July 9, 2008

NOTE: This is the ninth in a series of previews on West Virginia and Marshall football opponents.

Date with West Virginia: Saturday, Oct. 4, time TBA
Site: Mountaineer Field (60,000, FieldTurf), Morgantown
Coach: Greg Schiano (8th year, 38-46)

Checking out the Scarlet Knights

For all the strides Rutgers has made over the past three years, there is still a certain amount of skepticism where the Scarlet Knights are concerned. Was that magical 2006 season (11-2 and a three-overtime loss to West Virginia away from a BCS bowl) a portent of things to come or a peak? Last year's 8-5 record would suggest the latter, but it's just as unfair to judge Rutgers on that one season as it is to judge the Knights on 2006.

This much is certain: Greg Schiano lost probably his best player on offense (running back Ray Rice) and defense (lineman Eric Foster), so there is at least a bit of rebuilding to do. But the Knights have some of the pieces in place to have perhaps the best passing game in the Big East with quarterback Mike Teel (3,147 yards, 20 touchdowns) and the best 1-2 receiver punch in the league in Tiquan Underwood and Kenny Britt. The line, though, lost three starters, so protection could be an issue for Teel.

The biggest question mark, though, is how that line will block for the run and who will run the ball after Rice left early for the NFL. Kordell Young unquestionably has the talent, but he tore his ACL early last season and may or may not be the same back he once was. Sophomore Mason Robinson is the guy if Young has lost anything. Jourdan Brooks is also a factor as a 255-pound fullback.

On defense, the secondary is as solid as there is in the league, led by safety Courtney Greene, and the line will put pressure on every opposing quarterback. But as in the past, it's also an undersized line that could be vulnerable to teams pounding away between the tackles. Junior linebacker Ryan D'Imperio is a former five-star recruit who missed most of last season with a broken leg but has the potential to be really good if he stays healthy.

All-conference candidates
Offense:
WR Tiquan Underwood, WR Kenny Britt, OT Anthony Davis, QB Mike Teel
Defense: S Courtney Greene, DL Jamaal Westerman, CB Jason McCourty

Notes

Hands down, the best new name in the Big East belongs to Rutgers' new kicker - San San Te. He has his work cut out for him, though, replacing Big East career scoring leader Jeremy Ito. ... The schedule does no favors for the Scarlet Knights, who found a really good Fresno State team as a late addition in the Labor Day opener. When Big East play starts, Rutgers plays WVU, Cincinnati and Pitt on the road among its first four league games and has its open date before playing Syracuse. ... Rutgers has sold out 10 straight home games, once unthinkable. Another 13,000 seats will be added to 43,500-seat Rutgers Stadium before the 2009 season.
I'm not putting up schedules for teams in The BEast... 04-cheers

* * *

Game 6 preview... [Image: mountie-guidon.gif]
The Charleston Gazette Wrote:Opponent preview: Syracuse
July 11, 2008

NOTE: This is the 11th in a series of previews on West Virginia and Marshall football opponents.

Date with West Virginia: Saturday, Oct. 11, time TBA
Site: Mountaineer Field (60,000, FieldTurf), Morgantown
Coach: Greg Robinson (4th year, 7-28)

Checking out the Orange

In order for Robinson to keep his job after this season, he might have to win as many games (seven) as he has during his first three years on the job. Unless he has a lot more up his sleeve than it appears, that doesn't seem likely.

The Orange was 2-10 a year ago and was pinning its hopes for better days in part on a more explosive offense led by quarterback Andrew Robinson and exciting receivers Mike Williams and Taj Smith. Well, guess what? Smith left school early for the NFL draft and Williams ignored the student part of student-athlete and it doesn't appear likely he'll be around at all this fall. Suddenly, a high-powered passing game has been reduced to one huge question mark with no experienced receivers.

If that was Syracuse's only issue it would be one thing. It is not. The offensive line returns three starters, but that's from a group that allowed a staggering 54 sacks and ranked No. 118 in the country in rushing yards. And while talented running backs Curtis Brinkley and Delone Carter have a tremendous up side, both suffered season-ending injuries in 2007 (Brinkley a broken leg, Carter a dislocated hip) and their health remains a question.

If the offense seems unsettled, wait until the defense hits the field. This is a group that allowed 35 points per game and ranked last in the Big East in every major defensive category. From the standpoint of experience, the line appeared to be a strength until end Brandon Gilbeaux suffered the same academic fate as Williams this month, so solid nose guard Arthur Jones is easily the best player on the unit. The secondary has some experience and linebacker Jake Flaherty is solid, but this was still a defense that ranked outside of the top 100 teams in the country (there are only 118) in rushing, passing and total yards allowed, scoring, turnovers gained and sacks.

All-conference candidates
Offense:
QB Andrew Robinson, OG Ryan Durand
Defense: DL Arthur Jones, LB Jake Flaherty, CB Mike Holmes
Special teams: K Patrick Shadle, P Rob Long, KR Max Suter

Notes

On one of the few bright notes for Syracuse, kicking and punting are pretty solid. Morgantown's Patrick Shadle ranks as the school's most accurate kicker ever (78.7 percent on career field goal attempts) and sophomore punter Rob Long averaged 42 yards and was second-team all-league. Max Suter is perhaps the best kickoff returner in the Big East, which is good for a team that could receive a lot of kickoffs.

* * *

Game 7 preview... [Image: mountie-guidon.gif]
The Charleston Gazette Wrote:Opponent preview: Cincinnati
July 12, 2008

NOTE: This is the 12th in a series of previews on West Virginia and Marshall football opponents.

Date with Marshall: Friday, Oct. 3, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
Site: Joan C. Edwards Stadium (38,019, FieldTurf), Huntington
Series vs. Marshall: Cincinnati leads 7-3
Last game vs. Marshall: Cincinnati 40, Marshall 14, Sept. 22, 2007 at Cincinnati


Date with West Virginia: Saturday, Nov. 9, time and TV TBA
Site vs. West Virginia: Mountaineer Field (60,000, FieldTurf), Morgantown
Series vs. West Virginia: WVU leads 14-1-1
Last game vs. West Virginia: WVU 28, Cincinnati 23, Nov. 17, 2007 at Cincinnati


Coach: Brian Kelly (second year, 11-3)

Checking out the Bearcats

It took just a few months for Brian Kelly to do what many previous Bearcats coaches couldn't: get the Queen City excited about college football. Average attendance hit 30,000 for the first time with three record crowds of 35,097.

Along the way, UC enjoyed its first 10-win season since 1951, and finished 17th in the AP poll. Can the Bearcats repeat that feat, or will they take a step back?

A few signs point toward the latter. Ben Mauk, who threw for 3,121 yards and 31 touchdowns, lost his bid for a sixth season, so the Bearcats need a new starting QB. Dustin Grutza, who has started 24 games and went 14-of-20 for 142 yards and two TDs against Marshall, has the apparent edge over Demetrius Jones, who started the 2007 opener for Notre Dame, fumbled twice, was benched and then defected. Even if Jones doesn't start, he figures to come in as a mobile change of pace.

The Bearcats were ordinary in the running game, and that trend figures to continue. One all-league blocker, Trevor Canfield, was suspended in February after an assault arrest. Defensively, they lost free safety Haruki Nakamura to the NFL and had to move tight end Connor Barwin over to fill a hole at defensive end.

And it's inconceivable that the Bearcats' defense, no matter how talented, can duplicate its 42-takeaway stat of a year ago.

But don't throw Kelly a pity party just yet. The defense still boasts two returning All-Americans in defensive tackle Terrill Byrd and cornerback Mike Mickens. The other corner, DeAngelo Smith, led the NCAA with eight interceptions.

Offensively, the receiving corps is just fine, with Dominick Goodman (869 yards, eight touchdowns), Marcus Barnett (862 yards, 13 TDs) and Marshwan Gilyard (536 yards, three TDs) all returning.

Punter Kevin Huber emerged as a major field-position weapon. His 46.9 average (39.6 net) earned him acclamation as the Big East special teams player of the year. Kicker Jake Rogers hit a field goal from 55 yards but went just 1-of-6 from 40-49 yards out.

All-conference candidates
Offense:
WR Dominick Goodman, WR Marcus Barnett, G Trevor Canfield (if he's reinstated), T Jeff Linkenbach, WR Marshwan Gilyard
Defense: DT Terrill Byrd, CB Mike Mickens, DT Adam Hoppel
Special teams: P Kevin Huber, PR Marshwan Gilyard, KR Dominick Goodman

Notes

The Bearcats set team records for points (472), touchdowns (63) and passing touchdowns (36). Jones transferred to UC before the school's fall quarter, meaning he could sit out his required time in 2007. ... Kelly's Big East Coach of the Year honor adds to his two AFCA Division II national honors he won while at Grand Valley State. ... The Bearcats now own three bowl victories in a row, a streak that began with the 32-14 win over Marshall in the 2004 Fort Worth Bowl. ... Barwin again served as a role player on the basketball squad, averaging 10.3 minutes in 23 games.

* * *

Game 8 preview... [Image: mountie-guidon.gif]
The Charleston Gazette Wrote:Opponent preview: Auburn
July 14, 2008

NOTE: This is the 13th in a series of previews on West Virginia and Marshall football opponents.

Date with West Virginia: Thursday, Oct. 23, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Site: Mountaineer Field (60,000, FieldTurf), Morgantown
Coach: Tommy Tuberville (9th year, 80-33; 13th year overall, 105-53)

Checking them out

Both offensively and defensively, the Tigers are full of question marks. But the questions aren't about whether or not the Tigers will be any good on either side of the ball, but how good. That's what happens when both coordinators change. The talent is certainly in place.

Let's take the offense first. Auburn was pretty awful much of the time in 2007, barely finishing among the Top 100 teams in the country in total offense and scoring. There seems to be talent enough to turn the Tigers into an overpowering rushing team with one of the country's best offensive lines and a deep stable of running backs, but new coordinator Tony Franklin (from Troy) brings a spread attack and has to figure out which way to go with it.

The first challenge is deciding on a new quarterback. Kodi Burns is the better runner and was a star in a win over Clemson in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, but junior college transfer Chris Todd is a big guy with a strong arm who might be a lot of fun to watch throwing the ball around all over the place. There's always the chance the two could split the job, working behind a line that includes 6-foot-8, 300-pound Lee Ziemba and 6-2, 307-pound Tyronne Green. Among Brad Lester, Ben Tate and Tristan Davis the running back corps has a little bit of everything from power to speed.

As for the defense, well, coordinator Will Muschamp moved on to Texas and that's a huge loss for the Tigers. His replacement, though, is no second-stringer, at least as far as West Virginia is concerned. Paul Rhoads was the coordinator who helped shut down WVU's offense when Pitt won 13-9 in Morgantown last December and he has even more talent to work with now. Defensive linemen Sen'Derrick Marks and Antonio Coleman could help the Tigers produce more of a pass rush than last year and that was really the only shortcoming in an Auburn defense that allowed less than 300 yards of total offense per game.

All-conference candidates
Offense:
OG Tyronne Green, OT Lee Ziemba
Defense: DL Sen'Derrick Marks, LB Tray Blackmon, DE Antonio Coleman, CB Jerraud Powers
Special teams: K Wes Byrum, P Ryan Shoemaker

Notes

Auburn's schedule couldn't get much better, at least as far as playing and SEC schedule is concerned. LSU, Tennessee, Georgia and Arkansas all play at Auburn and the most difficult road games would appear to be at West Virginia (a non-conference game) and Alabama (a team the Tigers have dominated recently). ... Todd, the transfer quarterback, spent two years at Texas Tech before going to junior college. He committed to Troy after finishing junior college and followed Franklin to Auburn.
Auburn's 2008 schedule
Date Opponent 2007

Aug. 30 La.-Monroe DNP
Sep. 6 Southern Miss. DNP
Sep. 13 @Miss. State* L 14-19
Sep. 20 LSU* L 24-30
Sep. 27 Tennessee* DNP
Oct. 4 @Vanderbilt* W 35-7
Oct. 11 Arkansas* W 9-7
Oct. 23 @West Virginia DNP
Nov. 1 @Ole Miss* W 17-3
Nov. 8 Tennessee Martin DNP
Nov. 15 Georgia* L 20-45
Nov. 29 @Alabama* W 17-10
* SEC Conference games

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Game 9 preview... [Image: mountie-guidon.gif]
The Charleston Gazette Wrote:Opponent preview: Connecticut
July 16, 2008

NOTE: This is the 15th in a series of previews on West Virginia and Marshall football opponents.

Date with West Virginia: Saturday, Nov. 1, time TBA
Site: Rentschler Field (40,000, grass), Hartford, Conn.
Series: West Virginia leads 4-0
Last meeting: West Virginia 66, Connecticut 21, Nov. 24, 2007 at Mountaineer Field
Coach: Randy Edsall (10th year, 50-55)

Checking out the Huskies

Anyone who watched only one of UConn's games last season - the 66-21 pounding at the hands of West Virginia with a Big East title on the line - would find this hard to believe, but the Huskies' strength is defense. Really, it is. Save for that one game, Connecticut gave up 20 or more points only twice in its other 12 contests. But the embarrassment that was the WVU loss showed the Huskies that they need more of an emphasis on speed.

Eight starters return from that defense, the biggest loss being All-Big East linebacker Danny Lansanah. The front seven is the strength, led by sophomore middle linebacker Scott Lutrus, who has moved from the outside to replace Lansanah. Ends Cody Brown and Julius Williams give UConn a nice pass rush, but aside from outstanding cornerback Darius Butler the secondary is in transition.

The offense will again revolve around the running game with interchangeable tailbacks Andre Dixon and Donald Brown, who both ran for more than 800 yards in 2007. The offensive line has plenty of experience, although some shuffling was done in the spring.

The real question is the passing game. Quarterback Tyler Lorenzen had a pretty decent season and at 6-foot-5, 222 pounds is an imposing figure. But the Huskies were 97th in the country in passing, Lorenzen seems injury prone and the team's best receiver, Terence Jeffers, transferred. That former quarterback D.J. Hernandez might be the team's best receiver is a scary thought, although Butler, the cornerback, has pleaded to be allowed to play some offense and could make a difference if he's not overburdened.

All-conference candidates
Offense:
RB Andre Dixon, RB Donald Brown
Defense: CB Darius Butler, DE Cody Brown, LB Scott Lutrus

Notes

Connecticut's non-conference schedule is getting a little bit better each year. This season a home game with Virginia and a trip to North Carolina are challenges, but the other three games are with Hofstra, Temple and Baylor. ... The Huskies agreed to a six-game series with Notre Dame this spring, but none of the games will be played in Connecticut. UConn's three "home'' dates in the series will be played in Boston, New York or New Jersey. The schools were negotiating a 10-game deal with similar parameters, but Connecticut's legislature refused to sign off on it. In approving the six-game set, lawmakers stipulated that UConn must have at least six actual home games during the seasons in which the Irish "visit" the Huskies.

Connecticut schedule
Date Opponent 2007

Aug. 28 Hofstra (Thu) DNP
Sept. 6 @Temple W 22-17
Sept. 13 Virginia L 16-17
Sept. 19 Baylor (Fri) DNP
Sept. 26 @Louisville* (Fri) W 21-17
Oct. 4 at North Carolina DNP
Oct. 18 @Rutgers* W 38-19
Oct. 25 Cincinnati* L 3-27
Nov. 1 West Virginia* L 21-66
Nov. 15 @Syracuse* W 30-7
Nov. 23 @South Florida* (Sun) W 22-15
Dec. 6 Pitt* W 34-14
* Big East Conference games


2007 record: 9-4 overall, 5-2 Big East (Lost 10-24 to Wake Forest in Meineke Car Care Bowl)
Dropped: Duke (W 45-14), Maine (W 38-0), Akron (W 44-10)
All of a sudden, schedules are back in vogue? Be consistent gentlemen... 03-banghead


* * *

Game 10 preview... [Image: mountie-guidon.gif]
The Charleston Gazette Wrote:Opponent preview: Louisville
July 18, 2008

NOTE: This is the 17th in a series of previews on West Virginia and Marshall football opponents.


Date with West Virginia: Saturday, Nov. 22, time TBA
Site: Papa John's Cardinal Stadium (42,000, FieldTurf), Louisville, Ky.
Series: West Virginia leads 7-2
Last meeting: West Virginia 38, Louisville 31, Nov. 8, 2007 in Morgantown
Coach: Steve Kragthorpe (2nd year, 6-6; 6th year overall, 35-28)

Checking out the Cardinals

If not for Syracuse, this would seem to be the most desperate team in the Big East this season. Both have so many holes to fill that it's hard even to count them, but the difference is that Louisville has recruited a whole lot better in recent years so the potential exists that the patchwork can be successfully done.

Steve Kragthorpe's honeymoon is already over, too. His first team after replacing Bobby Petrino went just 6-6 and missed a bowl game for the first time in 10 years. And then he lost quarterback Brian Brohm to the NFL, along with tailback Anthony Allen, the four top receivers and all three linebackers. Defensive end Peanut White's career ended because of injury, cornerback Rod Council's because of an armed robbery charge and most of the defensive coaching staff was fired.

The only really good news is that new quarterback Hunter Cantwell has already proven himself. Like West Virginia's Jarrett Brown behind Pat White, the 6-foot-5, 236-pound Cantwell has proven himself a few times and has been patient enough to wait for a chance as a senior and he'll do fine.

The hope for Louisville is that there has been enough talent forced to sit behind guys like receiver Harry Douglas and Allen that it is merely a matter of plugging in the new pieces. Wide receiver Scott Long and tailbacks Bilal Powell and Victor Anderson have a chance to be those new pieces.

On defense, the new coordinator is Ron English, not retained by Rich Rodriguez at Michigan. He's really got his work cut out for him considering the Louisville defense gave up 38 or more points seven times last season. The front line is pretty solid, led by Earl Heyman, and Miami transfer James Bryant is expected to plug one of the big holes at linebacker. But the secondary situation is really scary.

All-conference candidates
Offense:
C Eric Wood, OT George Bussey, QB Hunter Cantwell
Defense: DT Earl Heyman, LB James Bryant

Notes

Get your calendar out and try to keep track of Louisville's games this season. The Cardinals play on a Sunday, a Wednesday, a Thursday and three Fridays. It is Oct. 18 before Louisville plays its second Saturday game of the season. ... As if the Cardinals didn't have enough holes to fill, they also lost All-America kicker Art Carmody.


* * *

Game 11 preview... [Image: mountie-guidon.gif]
The Charleston Gazette Wrote:Opponent preview: Pittsburgh
July 21, 2008

NOTE: This is the 19th in a series of previews on West Virginia and Marshall football opponents.

Date with West Virginia: Friday, Nov. 28, noon (ABC)
Site: Heinz Field (65,050, grass), Pittsburgh
Coach: Dave Wannstedt (4th year, 16-19)

Checking them out

In a Big East that has all sorts of storylines this season, this one rivals West Virginia in the post-Rich Rodriguez era as perhaps the most intriguing: Is Pitt on the verge of something big, as seems possible in light of that 13-9 win over WVU last December, or was that just a fluke and the Panthers are no better than their 4-7 record up to that point?

If nothing else, the pieces seem to be falling into place. Pitt had another highly rated recruiting class, an offense built around a powerful tailback like LeSean McCoy is just what Wannstedt craves and that win over a national championship frontrunner at the time was huge for momentum and confidence. Still, there have been other great recruiting classes and other sizeable wins that led to nothing but unrealized expectations in recent seasons.

On offense, McCoy is the unquestioned centerpiece after rushing for 1,328 yards as a freshman, including 38 carries and 148 yards against West Virginia. There are issues around him, though. The offensive line that blocked for him lost three starters, two of them to the NFL. The quarterback situation is unsettled, although there are plenty of good candidates from which to choose: Bill Stull was the starter before missing virtually the entire season with a thumb injury, Pat Bostick was thrown into the fire as a true freshman, Kevan Smith has experience and junior college transfer Greg Cross is in the mix. Stull goes into the preseason as the frontrunner. No matter who plays the position, the wide receiver corps is athletic and deep, led by Derek Kinder (back from a knee injury) and Oderick Turner.

The defense that shut down West Virginia is pretty much back intact and will have a healthy tackle Gus Mustakas. Scott McKillop led the country in tackles as Pitt's middle linebacker.

All-conference candidates
Offense:
RB LeSean McCoy, WR Oderick Turner, WR Derek Kinder, OG C.J. Davis
Defense: LB Scott McKillop, CB Aaron Berry, DE Greg Romeus
Special teams: K Conner Lee

Notes

Here's the stretch of the schedule that makes or breaks the Panthers: Four road games in a five-game span in the middle of the season immediately after a tough home game with Iowa. Pitt begins the Big East season on the road at Syracuse and South Florida and plays at Navy and Notre Dame. The only home game stuck in there is against Rutgers. ... How will the loss of defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads to Auburn affect the Panthers? Remember, it was Rhoads who was in charge of the defense that held West Virginia to 183 yards of total offense.


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Game 12 preview... [Image: mountie-guidon.gif]
The Charleston Gazette Wrote:Opponent preview: USF
July 23, 2008

NOTE: This is the 21st in a series of previews on West Virginia and Marshall football opponents.

Date with West Virginia: Saturday, Dec. 6, time TBA (ESPN or ESPN2)
Site: Mountaineer Field (60,000, FieldTurf), Morgantown
Coach: Jim Leavitt (12th year, 79-47)

Checking them out

For anyone still wondering what the up side was to inviting South Florida into the Big East, wonder no more. In the three years the Bulls have been a member, they have accomplished exactly what the school and the league hoped for from the start, using the high profile of a BCS affiliation to improve recruiting, develop a fan base, attract national attention and, of course, become a player in the league.

And there's no reason to believe USF won't continue to improve in 2008. Junior quarterback Matt Grothe is more important to his team than perhaps any player in the Big East (yes, even more than West Virginia's Pat White, who has a proven backup and so much speed around him), but it would be nice if the Bulls could develop more of a running game this year with sophomore tailback Mike Ford. That way Grothe might not have to challenge the league record he set last year for most plays (392 passes, 198 rushes). It would also help if Grothe could cut down on the 28 interceptions he's thrown in two years. The offensive line is back almost intact and seven of the top eight receivers return, as well, meaning an offense that averaged just under 35 points per game might not miss a beat.

The defense is strong, too, but there are three glaring holes where middle linebacker Ben Moffitt and cornerbacks Mike Jenkins and Trae Williams used to be. The return of the best pass rusher in the country in end George Selvie helps, as do five other starters. But the middle of the line has to be rebuilt and there is so little depth there that USF is converting offensive linemen. Leading tackler Tyrone McKenzie is back at one of the linebacker spots and while both corners are gone the safeties return. And they're good ones in Nate Allen and Carlton Williams.

All-conference candidates
Offense:
QB Matt Grothe, OG Ryan Schmidt, RB Mike Ford
Defense: DE George Selvie, LB Tyrone McKenzie, S Nate Allen
Special teams: K Delbert Alvarado

Notes

South Florida has as many guaranteed national television broadcasts this season (6) as any team in the Big East. The Bulls also play five non-Saturdays - two Fridays, two Thursdays and a Sunday. ... Forget that one night at Auburn when he missed four field goals. Kicker Delbert Alvarado made 10 of his last 11 of the season, averaged 41.3 yards per punt and had 17 downed inside the 20-yard line. ... USF plays only three Big East road games this season, but two of them are five days apart (Louisville and Cincinnati) and the third is the Dec. 6 finale at West Virginia.
(This post was last modified: 07-23-2008 06:56 AM by bitcruncher.)
07-21-2008 06:45 AM
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bitcruncher Offline
pepperoni roll psycho...
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Posts: 61,859
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I Root For: West Virginia
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Post: #2
RE: 2008 Mountaineer game previews
All games posted now... 04-cheers
07-23-2008 06:57 AM
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