WVU "sending a message to the nation" tonight

[ralphwaldoemerson]

Because Maryland is a major program, right?

Here are Maryland's first two games:

William & Mary 27-14
Middle Tennessee 24-10


In those two close wins over terrible opponents, here were the yardage stats:

Maryland: 320 yds offense, 146 yds passing, 174 yds rushing
opponent: 315 yds offense, 221 yds passing, 94.5 yds rushing


In other words, Maryland sucks. They probably won't win an ACC game until they host Wake Forest to end the season, and even that isn't a sure thing. They were 5-6 last year, and have only gotten worse. But don't expect ESPN to tell you any of this. WVU is "making a statement" against a big-time program, after all.

 

[maison bleu]

You're right, they can beat Mary-land 100-0 and I won't be impressed.

UWV = posers

 

[maison bleu]

From what I'm seeing, Maryland has the worst defense east of the Mississippi.

 

[ralphwaldoemerson]

Agreed. They don't play D.

I also like Herbstreit with all the talk about "What kind of team can stop this offense?" All I could think was, "Plenty could, but WVU doesn't schedule any of them."

Their next games are against (I kid you not) East Carolina and Mississippi State.

I hope they go unbeaten and finish 3rd. There are about 20 teams that could go unbeaten with WVU's schedule.

 

[ralphwaldoemerson]

Chris Fowler with disingenous, ill-informed garbage:

"A lot of people have them ranked highly because, let's face it, they play an easier schedule than a lot of other contenders. But tonight they're proving they can play with anyone."


Just offensive.

 

[maison bleu]

I also like Herbstreit with all the talk about "What kind of team can stop this offense?" All I could think was, "Plenty could, but WVU doesn't schedule any of them."

Their next games are against (I kid you not) East Carolina and Mississippi State.

I hope they go unbeaten and finish 3rd. There are about 20 teams that could go unbeaten with WVU's schedule.

What kind of team can stop that offense? Any one with an above average defense.

I could not agree with you more. Just spot on. My nightmare is they'll finish unbeaten and ranked second, just above a one-loss team that's infinitely superior to them. Take your pick: a one-loss ND, Michigan, LSU, Auburn, OSU, USC, Texas, Florida team etc, etc....

 

[Irish Envy]

All I know is that Benn is absolutely bonkers if he is really even thinking about Maryland.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

MD was 5-6 the last two years. They have struggled early and look like crap.

They are one of the better teams in WVU's schedule.

What a friggin joke.

 

[lattedatte]

WOW... I cannot believe how blind you guys are. WVU is a legit top 5 team, I don't care what anyone says on this board. Steve Slaton and Adrian Pet. are the two best backs in the country. Hands down. They beat Ga. in Ga.

But saying all of this... they will not win the NC unless their defense improves.

As for their non-conference schedule, I agree it is putred this year and next year.. But its not their fault that A) when they sceduled with Maryland they were a BCS team and have struggled they last couple years B) was forced by the governor to play the coal bowl C) Va Tech said we don't want to play you anymore D) the defection of the other Big East teams. By the way after next year, Auburn is on the scedule for 2 years, Mich St for the two after that and Florida St the two after that.

 

[lattedatte]

All I know is that Benn is absolutely bonkers if he is really even thinking about Maryland.

Agreed 100%..

 

[KMac151993]

I think WVU is a quality team but like Herbie pointed out their defense is not up to snuff and when they play a team with any sort of offensive firepower (ie. Louisville) they will get torn to shreads just like they rip up opposing defenses. Their offense is legit though and could score points on most anyone, its their defense that will keep them on the outside looking in all season.

 

[lattedatte]

I think WVU is a quality team but like Herbie pointed out their defense is not up to snuff and when they play a team with any sort of offensive firepower (ie. Louisville) they will get torn to shreads just like they rip up opposing defenses. Their offense is legit though and could score points on most anyone, its their defense that will keep them on the outside looking in all season.

Thank god somebody with reason on this subject, rep point all the way Kmac.. It just cracks me up how people cannot give teams that do not get 5 star players coming out high school credit. The team they had last year could have beaten anybody by the end of the year, anyone. Unfortunately, the losses on defense are hurting this team, but they are young and have a chance to improve. So we'll see.

 

[maison bleu]

Thank god somebody with reason on this subject, rep point all the way Kmac.. It just cracks me up how people cannot give teams that do not get 5 star players coming out high school credit. The team they had last year could have beaten anybody by the end of the year, anyone. Unfortunately, the losses on defense are hurting this team, but they are young and have a chance to improve. So we'll see.

Lack of respect has nothing to do with how many 5 star players they have. The problem is their schedule. It's chock full of marshmallows, cream puffs, and chocolate eclairs. The negativism you hear comes from this: it will be a travesty if a one-loss ND team is excluded from the national championship game by an undefeated and untried UWV team. Ditto for Auburn, LSU, USC, &c.

 

[lattedatte]

Lack of respect has nothing to do with how many 5 star players they have. The problem is their schedule. It's chock full of marshmallows, cream puffs, and chocolate eclairs. The negativism you hear comes from this: it will be a travesty if a one-loss ND team is excluded from the national championship game by an undefeated and untried UWV team. Ditto for Auburn, LSU, USC, &c.

Their schedules is what it is, all you can do is play the teams that are on it. If they beat every team on it by at least three touchdowns and win at louisville they have as much claim to play for a NC as any other team. Trust me it's not becuase they wanted a cream puff schedule. The win in Altanta over Ga. has to count for something(albeit last year). Our schedule didn't turn out to be that hard last year, should we have been penelized for that? No I don't think so, it just so happens that Pitt, Tenn, MSU, Purdue and Co. had down years. What happens this year if PSU, Mich, Mich. St and Co. all have down years? Should we be penelized against a team like Auburn or LSU or Florida State? I just look at WVU since Slaton and White have been starting, they are undefeated and beating the teams they should beat by the amounts they should, no squeakers. So for that they should go to the NC if they are undefeated and no other team is, now if they struggle in Starkville or against any other team, I agree a 1 loss ND team should go ahead of them. But until i see that, they deserve credit.

 

[ShivaIrish]

A part of me wants WVu to go undefeated. Then there is a chance we will see another logjam at the top of the rankings, and perhaps a number of teams will get "screwed." I think it might take a bigger controversy like that to get the NCAA to finally legitimately consider implementing a playoff, something that would be good for the game. Otherwise, I agree, WVu and any good team from the Big East has a huge advantage over other BCS teams. Why is it that they get way more credit than the TCUs?

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

WOW... I cannot believe how blind you guys are. WVU is a legit top 5 team, I don't care what anyone says on this board. Steve Slaton and Adrian Pet. are the two best backs in the country. Hands down. They beat Ga. in Ga.

They beat GA in GA last year. In 1994 you would not talk about how great the team was based on 1993 results.

The world will NEVER know if WVU is a top5 team. They simply have no way to prove it. They play people that any top25 team would pound 40-0.

Louisville will be their first real test.

WVU could be #1. They could be #25.

We simply will never know because their schedule is so crappy and easy that they are guaranteed 10 wins. If they get anything less than 10, they should fall out of the top25.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

Trust me it's not becuase they wanted a cream puff schedule

Are you kidding me here? They not only wanted it...they meticulously PLANNED it.

Here are ther non-conf teams:
Marshall
Eastern Washington (I did not know they HAD a team until this year)
Maryland
East Carolina
Mississippi State

Only Maryland has had real success in the last 5 years.

Did you realize that Miss State has won 11 games TOTAL in the previous 4 seasons? Marshall had one good season back in 2002. But, even since 2002 they have not beaten a ranked team (that includes 2002).

So, if you want to say "they are good, but their schedule blows." Fine. I simply say "we will never know how good they are."

But don't for ONE INSTANT pretend that they do not PURPOSEFULLY schedule the most LAME teams intentionally. They scheduled cream-puffs, period. I don't see one really good team on here at all.

They made sure Miami was off their schedule so fast its not even funny.

 

[marv81s]

You are 1000000% right LOVEMYIRISH!! That schedule was put together for the sole purpose of making a run at the title. Louisville is their only test this year, I don't even consider Maryland a true test because of all the reasons mentioned earlier. Where is their rival this year on the schedule? NO VIRGINIA TECH this year, huh, isn't that a mystery. They could go undefeated, still wouldn't be impressed.

 

[onenybrother]

Thank god somebody with reason on this subject, rep point all the way Kmac.. It just cracks me up how people cannot give teams that do not get 5 star players coming out high school credit. The team they had last year could have beaten anybody by the end of the year, anyone. Unfortunately, the losses on defense are hurting this team, but they are young and have a chance to improve. So we'll see.

I agree West Virginia and Marshall both play good football. And have good talent.,

 

[lattedatte]

Are you kidding me here? They not only wanted it...they meticulously PLANNED it.

Here are ther non-conf teams:
Marshall
Eastern Washington (I did not know they HAD a team until this year)
Maryland
East Carolina
Mississippi State

Only Maryland has had real success in the last 5 years.

Did you realize that Miss State has won 11 games TOTAL in the previous 4 seasons? Marshall had one good season back in 2002. But, even since 2002 they have not beaten a ranked team (that includes 2002).

So, if you want to say "they are good, but their schedule blows." Fine. I simply say "we will never know how good they are."

But don't for ONE INSTANT pretend that they do not PURPOSEFULLY schedule the most LAME teams intentionally. They scheduled cream-puffs, period. I don't see one really good team on here at all.

They made sure Miami was off their schedule so fast its not even funny.

You simply just don't understand the way college football scheduling works, especially in the case of WVU. Schedules are not booked year to year, they are booked well in advance, most are booked 5/6 yrs in advance. That is the first point. Second, the defection of Miami, BC and Va tech was not able to be forecasted by anyone. Third, they were forced into playing Marshall by the state politicians and last time I checked state schools rely on appropriations to operate. Fourth, at the last minute last year Va Tech backed out of re-upping the contract becuase they thought the ACC schedule was tough enough. Since BCS teams are booked well in advance you have to pick up teams like Eastern Wash so they get the revenue from a 7th home game. Fifth, when they signed a muti-year deal with Maryland, Maryland had seasons of 10-2, 9-3 and 11-1(or close). No one could have thought they would be this bad. Sixth, now that they know what is going on with the BE, their future schedules include the likes of Auburn, Mich St and Florida St.

I hope you now better understand they way college football scheduling works.

Listen, all I'm saying is that this team has talent, great talent at RB, QB and C, are well coached, proven the could top teams like Ga. and becuase of that deserve to be ranked high and if they continue to beat teams the way they are and beat louisville in louisville. They have as much claim to play for a NC as anyone else. If their are multiple unbeatens, becuase of their schedule they don't deserve to go ahead of them but if teams falter I have no problem with WVU playing in the NC.

 

[marv81s]

You always come back to Georgia, what other quality teams did they beat? Louisville last year with that monumental collapse last year. That is it! Slaton, White are great players, but they play a team that has defensive speed, they are in trouble. Like Virg Tech last year. Georgia in the Sugar Bowl last year was a little full of themselves and listened to the "experts" and thought all they had to do was show up and the game would be over. Once the they woke up, they were down by 28. There is no question that Slaton is a great RB, once they find a team that shuts down that rushing attack, lets see how good the QB can throw the ball and when they play a team that has a decent offense, lets see how well the D plays.

By the way, I tried searching for future WV football schedules, didn't have much luck. I don't believe all Div 1 schools put together complete schedules in advance like ND does. Most schools don't release a final schedule for the upcoming schedules till April when their schedule is finalized. Maybe WV doesn't release theirs like ND does, but I didn't have any luck finding a future schedule.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

You simply just don't understand the way college football scheduling works, especially in the case of WVU. Schedules are not booked year to year, they are booked well in advance, most are booked 5/6 yrs in advance. That is the first point.

That was MY POINT too...so your point is MOOT. I looked at the W/L for each of the teams listed below for the last 5 seasons. I am not talking about last year's production levels.

Maryland was the ONE team that had success in the last 5 years. Marshall did not beat a ranked team in that time.

Second, the defection of Miami, BC and Va tech was not able to be forecasted by anyone.

They did not summarily remove Miami from their schedule. And if you look at their schedule they made no effort to replace Miami with any talented team.

Third, they were forced into playing Marshall by the state politicians and last time I checked state schools rely on appropriations to operate.

OK, so that's ONE team they had no choice but to play...

Fourth, at the last minute last year Va Tech backed out of re-upping the contract becuase they thought the ACC schedule was tough enough. Since BCS teams are booked well in advance you have to pick up teams like Eastern Wash so they get the revenue from a 7th home game.

Yet again, WVU picked a complete patsy...there were always other options.

Fifth, when they signed a muti-year deal with Maryland, Maryland had seasons of 10-2, 9-3 and 11-1(or close). No one could have thought they would be this bad.

In my post, I indicated that Maryland was the one team with success...and it was at the time of scheduling.

Sixth, now that they know what is going on with the BE, their future schedules include the likes of Auburn, Mich St and Florida St.

Here's their future schedule...
http://westvirginia.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=21645

Auburn never played with MSU. Maybe they will sneak FSU in their somewhere.

However, say what you want, but this is a crappy schedule anyway you slice it.

I hope you now better understand they way college football scheduling works.

I am fully aware. I am fully aware this was intentional stacking as well.
Again, I refer you to their schedule:
http://westvirginia.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=21645

Listen, all I'm saying is that this team has talent, great talent at RB, QB and C, are well coached, proven the could top teams like Ga. and becuase of that deserve to be ranked high and if they continue to beat teams the way they are and beat louisville in louisville. They have as much claim to play for a NC as anyone else. If their are multiple unbeatens, becuase of their schedule they don't deserve to go ahead of them but if teams falter I have no problem with WVU playing in the NC.

You have no claim if you play a crappy schedule.

If OSU, ND, Forida, or USC (ugh) have one loss...they ALL deserve to play ahead of unbeaten WVU.

 

[ralphwaldoemerson]

Sorry, but WVU had the responsibility to schedule one, at least one, real non-conference team, considering how weak their conference schedule is. And they didn't do it. Didn't even come close. Maryland will be lucky to win 1 game in the ACC. That's their toughest out of conference game? A team that would lose to Purdue? And it's at home? Give me a break.

I hope Miami beats Louisville, then Louisville smokes WVU. It would serve them right. They are the prime reason why the Big East should be stripped of its BCS status. It's still possible in that conference, if you've got a top 15 team, to set it up so that you have 1 tough game all year, and not a REALLY tough game, just against another borderline top 15 team, and then you're in the title game possibly. Say what you will about the Pac-10, but everyone in that conference has USC, Oregon, Cal, and ASU on their schedule. And USC has ND, Nebraska. Oregon has Oklahoma, Fresno State. And on and on. Those teams play real teams. WVU doesn't. They're a disgrace and every good college football fan should be rooting against them. This isn't Utah overcoming obstacles from a couple years ago. This is a team deliberately taking advantage of a flaw in the system to cheat better teams out of opportunities they'll actually have earned through playing meaningful games.

 

[lattedatte]

For the last time, they were relying on VA TECH to re up their contract LAST YEAR, Beamer said no and no other team was available, at least at the level you guys expect to play only one year in advance. All of the other teams were already under contract except Marshall. So coming into this year they had two open spots, one was forced on them by asshole politicians and the other they just had to fill. Why is this so hard, WVU has never been a team to run away from anyone, ever, as evidence by auburn, mich st and Florida St on their future schedules. If you think its the administration or the SID, you are wrong again, go look at their non-conference hoops scedule last year. It was the toughest in CBB. They couldn't do anything about this year or next. Is it putred, yes, of course it is but you cannot knock them for intentionally doing it. If they go undefeated and beat every team handily and beat Louis. I still say its fine if they go to BCS champ over any one loss team. Agree to disagree???

 

[ralphwaldoemerson]

No. You're just wrong. What would their record be if they had the schedule of any other top 5 team? That's the question they can't dodge. What's their strength of schedule going to look like by the end of the year (especially if Louisville loses a game or two other than WVU, which is entirely possible since their RB is out)? They can't dodge that one either. It'd be a farce if this team went to the BCS title game playing that schedule. It'd be a robbery of a legitimate team's right to play for the title, and of the right of the fans to see a competitive and meaningful championship game. I don't want to see a team whose toughest game will be against a top20ish team, and whose second toughest game will be against Pitt or somebody, getting beat by 50 against Ohio State.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

For the last time, they were relying on VA TECH to re up their contract LAST YEAR, Beamer said no and no other team was available, at least at the level you guys expect to play only one year in advance. All of the other teams were already under contract except Marshall. So coming into this year they had two open spots, one was forced on them by asshole politicians and the other they just had to fill.

This destroy's your argument. So VaTech did not re-up? That means they were planning on only having ONE tough opponent. And that opponent bailed. How lame is that?

Heck, Oregon scheduled Oklahoma out of conference...when Oklahoma was a POWERHOUSE. On top of a previously tough PAC-10 schedule. USC scheduled Nebraska. Michigan scheduled us.

Plenty of teams schedule decently. But the Big-East was always fairly weak...and to avoid all but ONE tough team? Lame.

 

[lattedatte]

Ralph you are always correct and articulate...

 

[ralphwaldoemerson]

Too bad it's not just me you're arguing with. Try using your ad hominem crap against the other 8 people.

 

[maison bleu]

"It'd be a farce if this team went to the BCS title game playing that schedule. It'd be a robbery of a legitimate team's right to play for the title, and of the right of the fans to see a competitive and meaningful championship game. I don't want to see a team whose toughest game will be against a top20ish team, and whose second toughest game will be against Pitt or somebody, getting beat by 50 against Ohio State."

Spot on again, RWE. I'd only make one change, at the very end. Instead of saying "getting beat by 50 against Ohio State," I'd say "getting beat by 50 against the winner of the Michigan-Ohio State game."

Otherwise, I couldn't agree more.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

Spot on again, RWE. I'd only make one change, at the very end. Instead of saying "getting beat by 50 against Ohio State," I'd say "getting beat by 50 against the winner of the Michigan-Ohio State game."

hahahahahahaha...love it!!!

(my two closest football confidants are tOSU and Iowa fans...I love the BigTen smack talk)