Playing Catch up
December 26, 2002 07:00 PM | General
December 26, 2002
CHARLOTTE – West Virginia had to play catch up today in preparation for Saturday’s Continental Tire Bowl game against Virginia.
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| West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez moved his team's practice Thursday to the Carolina Panthers practice facility. (All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks) |
A Tuesday morning rainstorm forced West Virginia’s full-scale workout at Charlotte Catholic High School indoors. Despite the inconvenience, Mountaineer coach Rich Rodriguez says his team will be ready for the game against the Cavaliers on Saturday.
“We basically missed one day because of the rain and the weather we’ve had. But we’ve had some adversity in the past and we’ll overcome it,” he said.
The poor field field conditions forced WVU to move its practice Thursday morning to the Carolina Panthers practice facility. Because the Panthers were scheduled to work out at 10 a.m., West Virginia had to begin its two-hour session at 8 a.m.
The coach believes the early workout will help his team get ready for its 11 a.m. kickoff.
“We’ve had a couple of them – some by design and some by necessity. First of all it’s been hard to get a field with the weather and secondly, we wanted to get them a little bit used to getting up in the morning,” he said.
The coach was pleased with his team’s effort and focus before arriving in Charlotte last Saturday, and he believes the work they got in Morgantown provided a good base for this weekend’s game.
“I’m glad we went four days in pads because I felt that was good work. Had we not gotten those four days in I’d really be concerned,” he said.
Another thing the coach has to contend with is his team’s focus as fans begin filtering into Charlotte tonight and Friday.
“I mentioned to them that a lot of people are starting to come into town,” said Rodriguez. “They’re down here to hang out, party and have a good time where as we’ve got to concentrate and focus and put our minds totally on a football game.
“We’re going to keep them busy enough that I don’t think the distractions will bother us,” he added.
That being said, does he believe his team is ready to play?
“I think so. If they’re not it is too late now anyway,” he admitted. “The only thing I’m disappointed in is the weather and you can’t do anything about that.”
After Thursday’s practice, West Virginia will have a brief afternoon walk-through at Ericsson Stadium Friday.
“Now it’s all mental. It’s your assignments -- what you do in all three phases -- making sure they are concentrating and focusing on the game,” he said.
The team is scheduled to watch the Charlotte Checkers minor league hockey team play tonight at the Old Charlotte Coliseum.
