An Early Look At The 2010 West Virginia Football Season
Jason A Forthofer
March 25, 2010
From 2005 to 2007 the West Virginia Mountaineer football program enjoyed three consecutive seasons of finishing in the top 10 nationally, including wins in both of its BCS bowl appearances. The past two years the team has come back down to earth a bit; of course coming back down to earth means winning 9 games and still finishing in the top 25 nationally.
It´d be fair to say that the past two seasons have been somewhat of a transition period for the Mountaineer football program. Following 2007, they lost both coach Rich Rodriguez and All American running back Steve Slaton. Quarterback Pat White remained for his senior year in 2008, but was not quite as effective without his backfield partner of the past three years. In 2009 5th year senior Jarrett Brown took charge of the offense, but was unable to replicate White´s speed and playmaking ability. Despite losing the team´s best offensive play maker in consecutive years, new coach Bill Stewart was able to stabilize the program and lead the team to 9 wins and a tie for runner-up in the Big East with arch-rival Pittsburgh in his first two seasons at the helm.
Stewart has successfully guided West Virginia through this transition period, and he now has the opportunity to bring the Mountaineer football program back to national prominence, perhaps even with a chance to compete for a national championship in the not too distant future. This will make WVU football tickets a hot item in West Virginia over the next few years.
For the 2010 season, West Virginia will return its top two offensive threats: Noel Devine and Jock Sanders. Although they are diminutive in size, both possess incredible speed and talent with the unique ability to put 6 points on the board every time they touch the ball. Their speed will be a steep challenge for any defense in the Big East to contain, and could be comparable to any 1-2 punch in the country.
Adding to the offensive power will be Running back Ryan Clarke and Quarterback Geno Smith. Clarke is a big back who could be used as or fullback or as a change of pace to Devine´s speed. Smith saw some time last year playing behind Brown, and while he may experience some growing pains, he has the talent to lead a dynamic offense in Morgantown.
In addition to a wealth of offensive talent coming back, the Mountaineer defense will also return 9 starters on the defensive side of the ball. They will also have the benefit of four Big East home games, as well as a chance to make a statement in a road game at LSU the last weekend in September, all of which should make for an interesting and promising year for West Virginia football in 2010.
It´d be fair to say that the past two seasons have been somewhat of a transition period for the Mountaineer football program. Following 2007, they lost both coach Rich Rodriguez and All American running back Steve Slaton. Quarterback Pat White remained for his senior year in 2008, but was not quite as effective without his backfield partner of the past three years. In 2009 5th year senior Jarrett Brown took charge of the offense, but was unable to replicate White´s speed and playmaking ability. Despite losing the team´s best offensive play maker in consecutive years, new coach Bill Stewart was able to stabilize the program and lead the team to 9 wins and a tie for runner-up in the Big East with arch-rival Pittsburgh in his first two seasons at the helm.
Stewart has successfully guided West Virginia through this transition period, and he now has the opportunity to bring the Mountaineer football program back to national prominence, perhaps even with a chance to compete for a national championship in the not too distant future. This will make WVU football tickets a hot item in West Virginia over the next few years.
For the 2010 season, West Virginia will return its top two offensive threats: Noel Devine and Jock Sanders. Although they are diminutive in size, both possess incredible speed and talent with the unique ability to put 6 points on the board every time they touch the ball. Their speed will be a steep challenge for any defense in the Big East to contain, and could be comparable to any 1-2 punch in the country.
Adding to the offensive power will be Running back Ryan Clarke and Quarterback Geno Smith. Clarke is a big back who could be used as or fullback or as a change of pace to Devine´s speed. Smith saw some time last year playing behind Brown, and while he may experience some growing pains, he has the talent to lead a dynamic offense in Morgantown.
In addition to a wealth of offensive talent coming back, the Mountaineer defense will also return 9 starters on the defensive side of the ball. They will also have the benefit of four Big East home games, as well as a chance to make a statement in a road game at LSU the last weekend in September, all of which should make for an interesting and promising year for West Virginia football in 2010.
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