NCAA Football

Rich Rodriguez was the Problem All Along

Posted Jan 02, 2008 8:24PM By John Radcliff (RSS feed)

Filed Under: Oklahoma Football, West Virginia Football, Big 12, Big East, Bowl Games, The Word

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Win or lose, this is probably the best half of football West Virginia has played all year if you consider the competition. By far, this is the most dynamic the Mountaineer offense has been all year. Even though they have had to settle for field goals mostly, the passing over the middle and runs that went between the tackles have already surpassed anything the team did during the regular season.

More importantly, this is also the best the defense has looked all year. I think it's pretty safe to say that interim head coach Bill Stewart has given this team new focus and allowed them to play. Too many times this year, the Mountaineers looked tight and unsure of themselves. Like if someone was standing over them screaming and complaining about every miscue. Yes, I'm looking at you Rich Rodriguez. But tonight, the team is loose and is executing the way we all expected them to this year.

I got the feeling when #19 Vaughn Rivers was running his mouth during the coin toss (something I never thought I would see) that the Mountaineers might not be able to back it up. But nothing could be further from the truth.

With Steve Slaton most likely out for the rest of the game you might think that the Mountaineers would be in trouble. But West Virginia has seen this movie before in last years Gator Bowl. Pat White and company haven't missed a beat with Noel Devine and Owen Schmitt taking over for Slaton. The only question is if they can keep it up through the second half.

Halftime stats worth noting:

Rushing: WVU 159, OU 10
Passing: WVU 96, OU 90
Kick Return Yards: WVU 2/41 yards, OU 5/167

Tags: Fiesta+Bowl, FiestaBowl, Pat+White, PatWhite, Rich+Rodriguez, RichRodriguez

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