Mountaineers still searching for offense
By Jack Bogaczyk
Daily Mail Sports Editor
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Does anybody have the number for the Muffler Bowl?
When you consider that not so long ago West Virginia had an offense that some considered out of this world, it seems strange to think that the Mountaineers might be playing a bowl game out of the country.
That would be the International in Toronto, Big East 3 (if the Gator Bowl takes the low road and a 7-5 Notre Dame) against Mid-American 3, probably a directional Michigan.
Actually, whatever happens to WVU in its hopes to still land a Bowl Championship Series berth — that remains very possible in a competitive and down Big East — I don’t see the “Stew Crew” falling past a trip to the Meineke.
Those bowl folks in Charlotte still figure many disheartened Mountaineers still will drive down I-77 for a game against ACC 6. That doesn’t mean the WVU offense will arrive, however.
Where is it? On the side of a road between here and Ann Arbor? At Rich Rodriguez’s financial advisor’s office in Toledo? Or, was that what the coach shredded in his old office?
That brings us to Saturday’s 26-23 overtime, poll-dashing upset of WVU by tough and veteran (and newly ranked 22nd) Cincinnati. It was a game that never should have reached the extra period, considering how the Bearcats dominated.
The game should have been played on Sunday night on CBS. West Virginia never led until after 60 minutes.
It was a game that began with some history and one that ended in a bit of hysteria — safety, late drive, two-point conversion, successful onside kick, big-time, long distance field goal by Pat McAfee — and then overtime disappointment for WVU, which honestly didn’t play well enough to expect to win.
First things first.
When Mardy Gilyard took back the game’s opening kickoff from his own end zone — 100 yards officially — for a Bearcat touchdown, it not only was the longest kick return by an opponent in 29 years at the current Mountaineer Field.
It was the first kick return for a TD by a WVU foe anywhere since Ricky Turner went 100 in a 1990 Mountaineer win at Pitt Stadium. It was the first at Mountaineer Field since Pineville legend Curt Warner went 88 for Penn State in 1980 — the fifth game in stadium history.
And it was the first kick return for a touchdown against WVU to start a game since only the third date in new Mountaineer Field history, when Richmond’s Jesse Williams went 94 yards to score to start a Sept. 27, 1980 WVU edging of the Spiders.
OK, now that that’s out of the way, how about West Virginia’s 12-yard third quarter? How about 10-0 first-quarter and 20-7 halftime deficits? Do the Mountaineer training table supplements include Sominex?
The Bearcats were so gritty, so attacking, so aggressive, you had to wonder if Bob Huggins may have gone back to coach them. Now one of the Big East’s tri-leaders with the two Backyard Brawlers, Cincinnati (7-2, 3-1) starts 10 seniors and a junior on defense.
The Bearcats’ offense is one in which Coach Brian Kelly — he can’t be long for Nippertland with the way he’s taken a solid program a step or two higher — asks the quarterback to manage the game. And that’s what junior Tony Pike did.
“We know we still have some big games left, but doing this, it’s kind of like we just won the Big East,” the UC QB said.
It was a Pike’s peak, of sorts.
“This is one that we knew we had to win, if we wanted to talk about being a Big East contender,” Kelly said.
When you don’t turn it over, play defense like you’re playing your last game and have stellar specialists like punter Kevin Huber and kicker Jake Rogers, you can say and do that.
As for WVU (6-3, 3-1), it has a weekend off to try and figure out how to get started quicker — or get started period. Again, the Mountaineer defense (only one TD allowed in regulation) played well enough to win.
It’s reached the point where I don’t think Coach Amos Alonzo “Bill” Stewart can figure out the lack of offense, either. He told everyone in preseason the Mountaineers would produce a vertical passing game and the fullback and tight end would be more involved in catching the ball.
WVU has no fullback. It rarely looks to throw to the tight end, much less does it. The vertical passing game really isn’t much deeper than an Olympic diving pool and is no flight of fancy, believe me.
Offensively, WVU’s best and most consistent ways of producing something good sound like a restaurant customer asking for butter — two Pats please.
There are quarterback Pat White’s legs and head. There’s McAfee’s right leg (on deep and field-position punting and field goals).
Stewart has a team where in two straight victories (Auburn, Connecticut), veteran Dorrell Jalloh catches nine passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns. Against Cincinnati, Jalloh barely touched the ball until the hurry-up rally late.
Play-calling seems to be as difficult as covering kickoffs for this team.
The Bearcats still must visit 21st-ranked Pitt, as must WVU. Each in the Big East-leading trio has three conference games left. As an 8-9 record by favorites in Big East games this season shows, anything can happen.
However, if the Mountaineers lose again, we may have an International incident on our hands, and WVU may have to double that Cover Two state trooper sideline protection for Stewart.
