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The Daily OrangeWest Virginia's Stewart to rely on multiple weapons
By Meredith Galante
Posted: 8/27/08, 12:23 AM EST Section: Sports
Bill Stewart, an eight-year member of the West Virginia coaching staff, was faced with the challenge of being named interim head coach a week before the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. The Mountaineers ran over Oklahoma, 42-28. One day later, West Virginia locked Stewart up with a five-year contract.
With the coach that led the Mountaineers to a bowl win, Heisman-hopeful Pat White and most of the offensive and defensive line, a No. 1 preseason Big East ranking was expected.
What wasn't expected was a possible change in offensive philosophy.
It was the second straight season West Virginia came out on top in the preseason poll to win the conference title. But this time, the Mountaineers' may put the ball in the air more frequently.
West Virginia's first challenge will come, Aug. 30, at home, against Villanova.
Stewart, who served as the associate head coach in 2007, has focused more on the passing game during training camp and getting the ball to freshmen Marquel Ali and D.J. Thomas, and sophomore Jock Sanders, following the loss of top backs Steve Slaton and Owen Schmitt to the NFL.
Now the offense will take on more of a committee-approach - through the air. Stewart called Sanders "one of the team's most valuable players," because of his ability to play almost any position.
"Coach's offensive plan is for me to find the open space, get the ball in my hands and then let me go and run," Sanders said.
Sanders should be receiving the ball accurately as his quarterback led the Big East in completion percentage. White, a senior three-year starter, will be an intricate part of the pass-more philosophy Stewart is trying to implement. Stewart said he does not doubt White's propensity to run, but feels the team could be more successful if the ball is passed more.
"I tried to make them pass the ball to other men in the offense and that was accomplished pretty well in training camp," Stewart said. "I feel like the defensive team won the Fiesta Bowl for us, so to see them start training camp off aggressively made me happy."
With the coach that led the Mountaineers to a bowl win, Heisman-hopeful Pat White and most of the offensive and defensive line, a No. 1 preseason Big East ranking was expected.
What wasn't expected was a possible change in offensive philosophy.
It was the second straight season West Virginia came out on top in the preseason poll to win the conference title. But this time, the Mountaineers' may put the ball in the air more frequently.
West Virginia's first challenge will come, Aug. 30, at home, against Villanova.
Stewart, who served as the associate head coach in 2007, has focused more on the passing game during training camp and getting the ball to freshmen Marquel Ali and D.J. Thomas, and sophomore Jock Sanders, following the loss of top backs Steve Slaton and Owen Schmitt to the NFL.
Now the offense will take on more of a committee-approach - through the air. Stewart called Sanders "one of the team's most valuable players," because of his ability to play almost any position.
"Coach's offensive plan is for me to find the open space, get the ball in my hands and then let me go and run," Sanders said.
Sanders should be receiving the ball accurately as his quarterback led the Big East in completion percentage. White, a senior three-year starter, will be an intricate part of the pass-more philosophy Stewart is trying to implement. Stewart said he does not doubt White's propensity to run, but feels the team could be more successful if the ball is passed more.
"I tried to make them pass the ball to other men in the offense and that was accomplished pretty well in training camp," Stewart said. "I feel like the defensive team won the Fiesta Bowl for us, so to see them start training camp off aggressively made me happy."
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Aaron Maloney
posted 8/27/08 @ 3:50 PM EST
We beat Oklahoma 48-28.
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