2011 WVU Football Thread

[WVRed]

Thought this was an interesting read by Bruce Feldman from ESPN.com on WVU possibly being in a national title chase this year:

http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/blog?...od_ncf_xxx_xxx

This is free material, but in summary, expect a big jump offensively under Holgorsen. What is going to be interesting is the WVU-LSU, with LSU a possible no 1 team if they can knock Oregon off to start the season.

Then again, I remember that while Holgorsen is in Morgantown, Bill Stewart is still the head coach for one more year.

[will5979]

Bill Stewart is still the head coach for one more year.

Ugh, after watching the Reds lose today and then reading this I just barfed in the back of my throat.

My early 2011 prediction, 11-1, they'll find a way to lose a game. Finish regular season winning the Big East being ranked in the top 10 and play in a BCS Bowl where they belong.

[WVRed]

Ugh, after watching the Reds lose today and then reading this I just barfed in the back of my throat.

My early 2011 prediction, 11-1, they'll find a way to lose a game. Finish regular season winning the Big East being ranked in the top 10 and play in a BCS Bowl where they belong.

I see the potential for them to go undefeated, but I am with you in that I think they will lose at least one game. Here's the schedule:

Sep. 3 Marshall 3:30pm

The only way WVU has any problem with the Herd is if they are still working out the kinks of the new offense. The game is in Morgantown so I'd say it will be more like two years ago, close game first half, WVU pulls away in the second when Marshall runs out of gas.

Sep. 10 Norfolk St. TBA

Should be getting everything straightened out before the real games begin. WVU wins easily.

Sep. 17 at Maryland 12:00pm

Probably one of the most difficult to gauge. Randy Edsall is the new coach at Maryland and he has given WVU fits the past two years, including winning one at Connecticut. WVU wins a close one.

Sep. 24 LSU TBA

Game of the year. LSU will be a top 3 team and could possibly be no 1 if they beat Oregon heading into Morgantown. This is a must win game for WVU to have any credibility to playing for a national championship.

Oct. 1 Bowling Green TBA

Don't know much about Bowling Green, but should be an easy win.

Oct. 8 Connecticut TBA

Revenge game for WVU at home, new coach for UConn. WVU wins.

Oct. 21 at Syracuse 8:00pm

Another revenge game. WVU lost last year thanks to Stewarts ineptitude. Won't happen with Holgorsen running the offense. WVU wins.

Oct. 29 at Rutgers TBA

Saw WVU play Rutgers last season and while WVU turned the ball over numerous times, they still outmanned Rutgers considerably. WVU wins.

Nov. 5 Louisville TBA

Potential upset game. Charlie Strong is in his second season and this will be a game where his defense tests Holgorsen's offense. WVU wins based on home field advantage.

Nov. 12 at Cincinnati TBA

Cincinnati is going in the wrong direction under Butch Jones. WVU wins easily.

Nov. 25 Pittsburgh TBA

New coach for Pitt as they screwed up twice. Shouldn't be a problem for WVU.

Dec. 1 at South Florida 8:00pm

This is the trap game of all trap games and if I had to call an upset, this would be it. Skip Holtz has had WVU's number ever since he has been at ECU and is starting to turn it around in South Beach. The game is at USF and WVU could have a lot to close out.

Maryland, LSU, Louisville, and South Florida would be the games to watch. If WVU wins those four, they should be in discussion for a national championship game. I have to think the overall quality of the Big East will have a say though, as this is the weakest the Big East has been in awhile.

[WVRed]

Looks like Holgoritaville (as someone I saw on facebook called it) is off to a good start:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6589966

[Homer Bailey]

If anyone thought "Holgorsen drunk, kicked out of casino" wasn't a possibility when he was hired, you were way off.

[reds1869]

If anyone thought "Holgorsen drunk, kicked out of casino" wasn't a possibility when he was hired, you were way off.

No doubt. If Morgantown likes Huggins, it should be right at home with Holgorsen.

[WVRed]

No doubt. If Morgantown likes Huggins, it should be right at home with Holgorsen.

With WVU fans, Huggins DUI is in the past because it happened at UC. If it had happened while he was coaching, I think the fan reaction would have been different. That's just me though.

It's like when we had Billy Gillispie at Kentucky. He had an incident similar to this when he first came to Lexington and was brought in and reminded that he is a popular figure in the state.

I've got a different view on Holgorsen than most. I believe he will either return WVU to prominence as a stepping stone or have them on probation within the next five years. There is no in-between. The reason I say that is the coaches that he comes from the Mike Leach-Hal Mumme family tree.

What burned WVU fans over Rich Rodriguez leaving in addition to how he left was that he was a West Virginia native. Holgorsen doesn't have those ties and is rooted in the Big 12 (notably in Texas). I could see him leaving WVU for a top tier Big 12 job if the right opportunity comes along.

[Homer Bailey]

Wow. @colin_dunlap dropped a major bomb on @937lateshift about @coachstewart. Stew called Dunlap asking for dirt on Holgorsen. #byebyestew

Oh. My. God.

[WVRed]

Oh. My. God.

I was about to post something about that last night. This is getting ugly real quick.

Here's a little bit more detailed article:

http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/e...56338/29855310

At first I thought the coach-in-waiting idea would work. Stewart is not a popular coach among WVU fans and attendance has suffered accordingly, but I do believe he genuinely loves the program (unlike Rich Rodriguez) and this would have worked.

At the same time, I'm not high on Holgorsen and the more that is coming out (You can shoot the messenger in Stewart), it's seeming like he is more of a liability.

There is even speculation that BOTH could be shown the door. Stewart for his smear tactics. Holgorsen for the alcohol.

[Homer Bailey]

I was about to post something about that last night. This is getting ugly real quick.

Here's a little bit more detailed article:

http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/e...56338/29855310

At first I thought the coach-in-waiting idea would work. Stewart is not a popular coach among WVU fans and attendance has suffered accordingly, but I do believe he genuinely loves the program (unlike Rich Rodriguez) and this would have worked.

At the same time, I'm not high on Holgorsen and the more that is coming out (You can shoot the messenger in Stewart), it's seeming like he is more of a liability.

There is even speculation that BOTH could be shown the door. Stewart for his smear tactics. Holgorsen for the alcohol.

I don't see how they could get rid of both. I think Stew is DONE-SO at some point this week, and Holgorsen will take over.

[WVRed]

I don't see how they could get rid of both. I think Stew is DONE-SO at some point this week, and Holgorsen will take over.

Agree on Stewart, I think he is gone regardless.

If there is any truth to the alcohol claims, and given the Mardi Gras incident a couple weeks ago, WVU might cut their losses on both. It's not entirely outside of the realm of possibility, especially if Holgorsen's a full blown alkie. Get rid of both, make Jeff Casteel the interim HC, and see who is available next offseason.

I know people like to point out Huggins past with the bottle, but that is exactly that. The Past. It's pretty damning in this case when Holgorsen is already creating negative publicity in the state before he has even coached in one game. If Holgorsen is retained and he ends up flaming out in three years, then Oliver Luck's job is on the line.

For some reason I keep thinking this situation belongs on a playground.

[IslandRed]

I don't see how they could get rid of both. I think Stew is DONE-SO at some point this week, and Holgorsen will take over.

Agree on Stewart, I think he is gone regardless.

If there is any truth to the alcohol claims, and given the Mardi Gras incident a couple weeks ago, WVU might cut their losses on both. It's not entirely outside of the realm of possibility, especially if Holgorsen's a full blown alkie. Get rid of both, make Jeff Casteel the interim HC, and see who is available next offseason.

I don't have a dog in the fight so feel free to disregard, but if I was a WVU fan, I have to admit I'd be concerned about Holgorsen. I don't question his cred as an offensive coordinator, but head coach is an entirely different job description, and this sort of thing doesn't bode well for making that transition.

Does Holgorsen's contract dictate that he takes over for Stewart whenever Stewart leaves, or does it not guarantee him the job until 2012? Wondering if it's contractually possible that Stewart hits the road but Casteel takes over as interim HC while Holgorsen remains OC and cools his heels as a punishment/probationary period of sorts.

[Homer Bailey]

I don't have a dog in the fight so feel free to disregard, but if I was a WVU fan, I have to admit I'd be concerned about Holgorsen. I don't question his cred as an offensive coordinator, but head coach is an entirely different job description, and this sort of thing doesn't bode well for making that transition.

Does Holgorsen's contract dictate that he takes over for Stewart whenever Stewart leaves, or does it not guarantee him the job until 2012? Wondering if it's contractually possible that Stewart hits the road but Casteel takes over as interim HC while Holgorsen remains OC and cools his heels as a punishment/probationary period of sorts.

If Holgorsen has a drinking problem, the severity is not known yet to the public, as its incredibly clear that Landon's "column" can not be trusted. We can only hope that Holgorsen has learned his lesson from the bad press he's gotten, and it hopefully it won't be a problem going forward.

[IslandRed]

If Holgorsen has a drinking problem, the severity is not known yet to the public, as its incredibly clear that Landon's "column" can not be trusted. We can only hope that Holgorsen has learned his lesson from the bad press he's gotten, and it hopefully it won't be a problem going forward.

Thanks. You'd hope so, for his sake if no one else's.

[WVRed]

This article pretty much sums it up:

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoot...-will-be-weird

Pretty bad when Mike Leach calls the move by Stewart "underhanded and hillbilly".