FanNation

     The Mountaineers were going all the way last season. They were no. 2 and en route to a national championship bid, probably against Ohio State. Then came the Backyard Brawl. How does a team go from riding high and KILLING UConn 66-21, to losing their head coach, missing several field goals, only scoring 7 points, and losing to archrival Pittsburgh? They ended 11-2.

     Well, the story should be the same this year, only without the losses. Their redemption season will start with a home game against div. 1-AA Villanova and end with a home game against rival South Florida. The Backyard Brawl will take place on November 28 at Pitt. They play 7 home games and 5 away. They have added an October 23 home game versus the Auburn Tigers. It is a tough schedule, but should be highly enjoyable for us fans. 

      Pat White should be coming back as the starting QB after putting up 1,724 passing yards and 14 touchdown throws, 1,335 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, only 4 interceptions, and a QB rating of 151.4 in this past season. He will return with his fantastic receivers in Darius Reynaud (733 receiving yards with 12 TDs), Jock Sanders, Dorell Jalloh, and Tito Gonzales. He will for sure be handing off to Noel Devine (73 rushes for 627 yards and 6 TDs), but I doubt if Steve Slaton, who lead the team with 17 rushing TDs, will be returning. If he does, WV will once again have the duet of Devine and Slaton. If he doesn't, WV will have a 4-star caliber prospect, 6' 1" 225 lb. RB, Terence Kerns, coming in. Most importantly, though, they will lose their face-mask breakin' FB, Owen Schmitt. (Gosh I love how that man ran the football.  The Offensive Line will stay the same, including Mike Dent who will be a senior). There's your offense. Hopefully they can do even better than last year's 415.8 yards per game (36th in NCAA, 3rd in Big East) and 48 points per game (8th in NCAA, 2nd in Big East). 

       Now onto the defense. WV will lose 2 of last year's three defensive lineman. That is Johnny Dingle and Keilen ****. They will, however, keep their beast, Scooter Berry. They will be bringing in a 4-star caliber prospect, 6' 5" 275 DE, Tevita Finau, who ran a 4.8 in the 40-yard dash. Their linebacking corps will return all from last year, including Mortty Ivy. They will lose 4 of their defensive backs. Ridwan Malik, Eric Wicks, special teamer Vaughn Rivers, and Ryan Mundy. They will, however, be bringing in 3 freshman DBs. Hopefully their new defense can at least get to their 296.5 yards allowed per game (4th in NCAA, 1st in Big East), and only 17.3 points allowed per game (21st in NCAA, 1st in Big East). 

        Pat McAfee will return as the kicker. I'm certain he has put the Pitt game behind him and looked to help his team in one of the most important aspects in the game.

        West Virginia will come in as an underdog. However, I think they will become the top team. Let's just hope they hold that title though.