WVU Sports » WVU Football

Former Mountaineers Cut

Jay Dee — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 04:54:07 +0000

NFL teams had to reduce their rosters to 53 players by 4 p.m. Saturday. Two Mountaineers fell victim to the axe on the day before the deadline as the San Francisco 49ers cute 22 players to reach teh 53 player limit a day early.

Former Mountaineer Jarrett Brown was among them. Brown will likely find a place on the 49ers practice squad after losing the third string quarterback job to Nate Davis. Alex Smith is the starter and David Carr the backup.

One of Brown’s favorite targets while at West Virginia, Alric Arnett, was also cut by the Denver Broncos on Friday. Arnett was one of six players released by the Broncos Friday, but the only wide receiver. He also hopes to land on the practice squad. The news came just a day after Arnett caught a 14-yard touchdown pass in Denver’s preseason finale.

The Broncos will keep eight receivers on the roster in Brandon Lloyd, Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, Eddie Royal, Brandon Stokely, Jabar Gaffney, Britt Davisand Matthew Willis.

NFL veteran tight end Anthony Becht was also released by the Arizona Cardinals on Friday.

An 11-year veteran, Becht wa primarily used as a blocking tight end, and it was thought he would play a similar role this year. But Jim Dray, the seventh-round pick, improved as the preseason progressed, and that was one reason the Cardinals released Becht.

“It’s hard for a player like Jim to overtake a player like Anthony because of the body of work Anthony has done,” coach Ken Whisenhunt told The Arizona Republic. “What it really came down to was contributions onteams, and I think Jim gave us something there that Anthony wasn’t as well-versed in. That’s what it came down to.”

Former WVU receiver Darius Reynaud was not cut Friday, but was traded from the Minnesota Vikings to the New York Giants as part of a package deal including Sage Rosenfels who will become the Giants backup quarterback after Jim Sorgi suffered an injury in a preseason game.

The Giants acquired the 32-year-old signal caller, 10th-year veteran and Reynaud who served as a running back and return man for the Vikings. Minnesota will get an undisclosed pick in the 2011 draft and a conditional draft pick in 2012 in exchange.

Reynaud,was the Vikings’ main punt returner last year, averaging 10.5 yards per return. He also returned four kickoffs for an average 22.5 yards per return.

Quarterback Pat White was on the bubble with the Miami Dolphins, playing as the Dolphins fourth quarterback in the preseason. He was cut on Saturday.

“It’s a necessary evil,” Sparano told the Palm Beach Post of roster cuts. “I don’t like it, but I do have excitement in that in a short while here, I’m going to be working with 53 players that we’re trying to get ready to go for the season opener.”

White missed the first day of training camp to deal with personal issues and then played sparingly in the pre-season and did not play at all in the first or fourth games. He said Friday that he would not be upset if he was cut and is grateful for the opportunity given to him by the Dolphins.

“It’s not life or death,” White told the Palm Beach Post, who earned $2.4 million guaranteed on his rookie contract. “Whatever happens is meant to be. I’ve been blessed so far.”

via West Virginia Sports News, Scores and Coverage.

WVU opens with 31-0 victory

Jay Dee — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 04:42:49 +0000

West Virginia's Noel Devine looks for running room against Coastal Carolina in an NCAA college football game Saturday in Morgantown. Devine finished the day with 111 yards and one touchdown in the Mountaineers' 31-0 victory.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia scored twice in 65 seconds in the middle of the second half and quarterback Geno Smith passed for 216 yards and two touchdowns in his first start as the 25th-ranked Mountaineers defeated Coastal Carolina, 31-0, before 57,862 at Mountaineer Field Saturday.

The crowd was the smallest for a home-opener since 2005 when the Mountaineers defeated Wofford, 35-7, before 54,360. WVU’s last shutout came later that season, a 38-0 win at Cincinnati. The last shutout at home was a 48-0 win against Rutgers in 1997.

“I was very pleased with the way our defense adjusted, reacted and took control of the football game,” Coach Bill Stewart said.

The Mountaineers finished with 400 yards and held the Chanticleers, from the Football Championship Subdivision’s Big South Conference, to 186. WVU converted 9 of 17 third downs — 9 of 14 with the starters. Eight players caught a pass and seven had at least one carry.

WVU took control on the first drive of the second half, even though it kicked off to CCU. Safety Robert Sands forced a fumble on the kickoff and Darwin Cook recovered at the 19-yard line. Smith completed a 17-yard pass to Jock Sanders on third-and-8 to go up 17-0.

It was a quick change for the Chanticleers, who thought they’d forced a turnover on second down when defensive end Chris Thomas stripped Noel Devine. The officials ruled Devine’s forward progress had been stopped and said the play could not be reviewed.

Devine eventually fumbled away possession, but in between missed CCU field goals. WVU followed the second with a 75-yard drive. Smith completed passes for 19 yards to Sanders and 33 yards to Tavon Austin on the drive and fullback Ryan Clarke’s 1-yard run put the Mountaineers ahead 24-0 with 1:44 remaining in the third quarter.

The Chanticleers promptly punted and Devine covered the final 55 yards of another touchdown drive on three carries – one yard fewer than he had in the first three quarters. A 39-yard run put him over 100 for the 16th time in his career. His 4-yard touchdown made it 31-0 with 14:11 left.

Smith sat the rest of the way as freshman Barry Brunetti finished. Smith completed 20 of 27 passes and was intercepted once.

“I never feel satisfied,” Smith said. “I feel like we could have done a lot of things better on offense, so I’m not satisfied with the effort we gave. We have to be focused on every play. That’s something we have to do in order to be great.”

Devine carried 23 times for 111 yards and a touchdown. Sanders had a 31-yard run and caught eight passes for 71 yards and a touchdown. Both declined interview requests after the game. Austin had 90 yards on five receptions and carried twice for 11 yards.

via Charleston Daily Mail.

Another NCAA violation for WVU football

Jay Dee — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 22:00:22 +0000

Freshman safety Travis Bell (26) and defensive back Nick Cadwell (39) are shown wearing light shoulder pads during Saturday's opening West Virginia University football practice at Mountaineer Field

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University’s football program opened practice Saturday and has admitted it was in violation of another NCAA rule at the workout.

Just 48 hours after WVU received a Notice of Allegations from the NCAA in which the Mountaineers were accused of five major violations and one secondary violation, the Charleston Daily Mail has learned WVU will self-report a secondary violation after some players wore equipment prohibited by the NCAA during the first two days of practice.

The Daily Mail also learned Tuesday at least one school was looking into the possibility of reporting WVU. The Mountaineer program has decided to self-report itself.

NCAA rule 17.9.2.3 concerns the “five-day acclimatization period,” which begins with the first practice, and how it is to proceed.

Specifically, subsection (d) states:

“During the first two days of the acclimatization period, helmets shall be the only piece of protective equipment student-athletes may wear. During the third and fourth days of the acclimatization period, helmets and shoulder pads shall be the only pieces of protective equipment student-athletes may wear. During the final day of the five-day period and on any days thereafter, student-athletes may practice in full pads.”

Multiple photos and videos taken during practice Saturday and Sunday and published in print or on the Internet show various WVU players in lightweight shoulder pads known as “vests” or “spider pads.”

The Mountaineers were in helmets and full shoulder pads Monday and again on Tuesday.

Coach Bill Stewart was leading practice Tuesday afternoon and could not comment. He has a regularly scheduled press conference at 5:45 p.m.

WVU’s assistant athletic director for communications, Michael Fragale, told the Daily Mail the school is aware of the issue and has started an investigation.

via Charleston Daily Mail

NCAA allegations not on WVU players’ minds

Jay Dee — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 03:26:39 +0000

MORGANTOWN – If West Virginia’s troubles with the NCAA are going to affect the way the Mountaineers prepare for the 2010 season, there was no indication of it Saturday when practice opened.

And why should it be any other way?

“I addressed it with the football team and the staff very briefly [Friday] night,” coach Bill Stewart said after the first of 29 preseason practices leading up to the season opener Sept. 4 against Coastal Carolina. “That is not on our mind.”

Stewart, who along with former coach Rich Rodriguez is accused by the NCAA of allowing non-coaching personnel to perform coaching duties, did not address specifics of the charges because he’s not permitted to by the NCAA.

But he stressed that beyond his comments to the team the night before the first practice the issue would be dropped as far as the football team is concerned.

“It’s not what we’re thinking right now,” Stewart said. “This football team … is going to concentrate on the 2010 season with full effort in that regard. We will not talk about it anymore because it’s been addressed by [athletic director Oliver] Luck and it’s over.”

And so it was. While the players are aware of the charges against the program, to a man they said it wasn’t a consideration.

“They talked to us about it and that was it,” said defensive lineman Scooter Berry. “There’s nothing we can do about it, so we won’t even think about it.”

Instead, Stewart and the Mountaineers concentrated on the first day of practice, held under bright sunshine and with nearly everyone expected to be there on hand.

That included a couple of freshmen whose status had been in doubt leading up to the weekend. Offensive lineman Marquis Wallace and running back Trey Johnson both practiced Saturday and appear fully eligible for the season.

Still, there are three members of the class who aren’t here because of academic issues. Offensive tackle Quinton Spain is still awaiting the results of a test score, and the eligibility of receiver Dante Chambers is still being investigated. Neither has been ruled out.

The only freshman who has been scratched is defensive back Avery Williams, who Stewart said will likely enroll in January.

As for the position with the highest profile during the preseason camp, freshmen Barry Brunetti and Jeremy Johnson split the second-team reps at quarterback almost down the middle. They are expected to battle for the backup job behind sophomore Geno Smith.

“We have to go slow with those two, spoon feed them,” said offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen. “And then we’ll see where they are in seven to 10 days.”

As expected, Coley White was working with the receivers and not the quarterbacks. Despite White’s encouraging performance in the spring, that was the plan all along because there aren’t enough reps to go around for Smith and the true freshmen, much less a fourth quarterback. Until one or both of the freshmen prove they can or cannot handle the job right away, White will take reps at receiver.

Stewart was encouraged by White’s play out there.

“I thought he did a great job,” Stewart said of White. “He made some nice catches.”

As for Smith, who sat out all contact drills in the spring because of a broken foot, Stewart said he was satisfied with what he saw from his starting quarterback on the first day.

via NCAA allegations not on WVU players’ minds – Sports – The Charleston Gazette – West Virginia News and Sports -.

NCAA had reason to pay WVU a visit

Jay Dee — Thu, 27 May 2010 10:52:10 +0000

by Mike Casazza

MORGANTOWN – Just because the University of Michigan admits its guilt – and for the first time ever of major NCAA violations – doesn’t mean West Virginia University is also guilty.

Or does it?

It’s hard to say. Really, it’s no easier now than it was when we learned last month the NCAA had paid the Mountaineers a visit.

The common thread is Rich Rodriguez. It’s a thread that seems to fray every time the Wolverines make news that is more often bad than good. Rodriguez coached the Mountaineers before leaving for Michigan. Apparently that was enough for the NCAA to knock on WVU’s door in February to ask a few questions.

You can trust that it wasn’t just curiosity. There was a clear purpose. If you didn’t believe it before, do so now.

Maybe there wasn’t any news in Michigan’s admission Tuesday.

Still, there is something significant to college football’s winningest program and its supposed pristine image coming forth to say that, yes, it has done a few things the wrong way.

What was black and white before has some color as the Wolverines, Rodriguez and a few others he dragged under the bus confessed guilt for four major violations.

Remarkably, they’re contesting the fifth accusation and, despite the admitted faults, would beg to differ with the NCAA’s insistence that Michigan “failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance.” How you can be guilty of four matters related to compliance and claim you do, in fact, comply is something the NCAA will now interpret.

Whatever the outcome of that fifth allegation, it doesn’t matter to WVU. What’s of concern to the athletic department is there are four marks against Rodriguez and the way he runs his shop.

It’s not fair to say he did it the same way at WVU, although it’s fair to assume the NCAA is wondering. If it believes he and his cronies did wrong back in West Virginia, it will not only be used against him to prove he does eschew a compliant atmosphere, but also will be held against WVU for not keeping a tight grasp on things.

Again, this was suspected before.

But until now there was a chance Rodriguez and others could prove innocence or inaccuracies, and that would extend back to WVU. That’s not the case now. It’s possible WVU can emerge innocent, but that’s just not as likely as it was before.

Not when you see things like the defense crafted by Rodriguez’s lawyer, who, sadly, is not his erstwhile attorney Marv Robon.

“Rodriguez was not aware that NCAA legislation prohibits sport-specific noncoaching staff members from being involved with voluntary summer workouts,” Scott Tompsett wrote. “Rodriguez did not knowingly or deliberately ignore the bylaw, he simply overlooked it and believed it was permissible for the quality control staff to be involved in summer workouts because they were assigned to work with the strength staff.”

Now let’s be honest for a moment. Rodriguez was and probably still is an innovator.

He’s not so innovative that you can believe he started simply overlooking rules when he accepted the job at one of the game’s finest and purest institutions. Not with the baggage he was carrying there.

No, he probably developed that little habit somewhere else. You just wonder where. And so does the NCAA.

Then again, you’ll remember one of the most contentious issues at the end of Rodriguez’s time at WVU was his desire to add to his staff and create positions for these “quality control” coaches. WVU wouldn’t give into the demand. Rodriguez got them at Michigan, and their cloudy job descriptions seem to have gotten everyone up there in some trouble.

Of course, it’s not just WVU that should be worrying about implications. Every school should.

If you’re naive enough to think Rodriguez can’t get WVU in trouble retroactively, please don’t think what Rodriguez and Michigan are accused of doing and condoning doesn’t happen everywhere. And don’t think the NCAA isn’t looking to crush people on this.

It happens because, in a sense, the NCAA allows it to happen. New Michigan Athletic Director Dave Brandon said his school and his people “made the wrong call based on the interpretation of a rule that in some cases was somewhat ambiguous.” There are ways to bend the rules and still be within them much the same as there are ways to break the rules and not get caught.

And there’s also a way for the NCAA to discourage such behavior in the future. It involves coming down harder on Michigan than Michigan did on itself but also developing a consistency in policing and adjudicating these matters.

And so you ask yourself again, “Why was the NCAA at WVU?”

NCAA had reason to pay WVU a visit – WVU Sports – Charleston Daily Mail – West Virginia News and Sports -.

WVU’s Hogan cited for disorderly conduct

Jay Dee — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 15:12:30 +0000

Brandon Hogan is in hot water again.

West Virginia’s senior starting cornerback was cited over the weekend for disorderly conduct and public urination in Morgantown. He was not arrested after the incident early Sunday morning.

“I am looking into the situation, gathering facts and will take appropriate action once all the facts are in,” said WVU coach Bill Stewart.

Hogan has missed of much of spring practice because he was out of shape and falling behind in some of his class work. He recently was on the field for Friday and Saturday practices for the first time this spring, but when the team

West Virginia football program investigated by NCAA

Jay Dee — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:31:31 +0000

By Colin Dunlap, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

West Virginia University officials confirmed today that NCAA investigators recently interviewed some university officials about potential rules violations involving the school’s football program. West Virginia’s assistant athletics director for communications, Michael Fragale, would not comment on the specifics of the investigation, but issued the following statement to the Post-Gazette:

“The NCAA has met with individuals involved with the West Virginia University football program to identify any potential rules violations,” the statement said. “The university has fully cooperated with the NCAA during this process. West Virginia University and its Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is committed to operating its athletic program in conformance with the legislation and policy of the NCAA and the Big East Conference.”

Sources close to the situation confirmed the investigation centers around former coach Rich Rodriguez’s time in Morgantown, when he coached the Mountaineers from 2001-2007 before leaving for Michigan.

On Feb. 23, Michigan officials announced the NCAA had accused its football program of five potentially major rules violations.

West Virginia media relations director for football Mike Montoro said current head coach Bill Stewart will not comment on the matter, nor will athletic director Ed Pastilong.

Via West Virginia football program investigated by NCAA.

The Rich Rodriguez stink continues to linger.

Jay Dee — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:24:49 +0000

NCAA investigators visit West Virginia

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) – NCAA investigators have met with West Virginia officials regarding possible rules violations within the football program.

WVU athletics spokesman Michael Fragale said Tuesday the university is cooperating with the NCAA during the investigation. He declined to say what prompted the investigators’ visit or when it took place.

Bill Stewart has been the West Virginia head football coach since 2007, taking over for Rich Rodriguez, who left for Michigan after that season. Under Rodriguez, the Wolverines are being investigated by the NCAA for five potentially major rules violations, including those limiting the time spent on practice and football-related activities.

Schmitt trades gridiron for guitar

Jay Dee — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 16:36:29 +0000

Former West Virginia fullback Owen Schmitt, now with the Seattle Seahawks, watches the Friends of Coal Bowl against Marshall Sept. 27, 2008, in Morgantown.

By Jim Workman
It’s difficult to shake that image of the bloodied face of Owen Schmitt as he paced the sidelines in Morgantown.
He had either just drilled an opponent with a head-on collision, claiming yet another broken facemask, or bashed his helmet against his own forehead in an attempt to motivate or admonish himself.

Despite that, Schmitt is a head-banger no more.

Not that he’s gone soft since joining the Seattle Seahawks after a successful stint as fullback for the West Virginia Mountaineers.

No, ol’ No. 35 has gone country.

Recruit ranks don’t always matter

Jay Dee — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:20:00 +0000

By Bob Hertzel
MORGANTOWN — Funny isn’t it, how much time and money and effort is spent on recruiting a class of 19 freshmen football players by West Virginia University when, in reality, no matter how good the class turns out, it doesn’t include their best two recruits.

No less an expert on the matter of recruiting than the Mountaineers’ head coach Bill Stewart said as much on Wednesday as he introduced a class that includes a couple of high profile quarterbacks and a whole bunch of promising receivers, maybe even enough to actually allow Jeff Mullen to throw the ball something like he wants to throw it.

But as good as Barry Brunetti and Co. may be, he being the Parade All-American quarterback out of Memphis’ University High, he can’t match the two recruits that stand head and shoulders above this class, even though they are shorter than anyone in the class.

“The best two recruits we had this year were No. 7 and No. 9,” Stewart said, smiling about it.

For those of you with short memories, No. 7 is a fellow named Noel Devine, a running back with rather startling credentials, and No. 9 is his running mate, slotback Jock Sanders.

When this past football season came to a rather disappointing conclusion, a .500 Florida State outfit winning one last game for the old coach, Bobby Bowden, in the Gator Bowl, it was widely believed that we all had seen the last of both of them and the combined 2,505 yards and 18 touchdowns they accounted for running and receiving.

The NFL seemed to be beckoning and who ever would have believed that they would turn down a chance to move in that direction.