Countdown to Kickoff
September 16, 2005 10:11 AM | General
September 16, 2005
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia puts its 2-0 record on the line Saturday playing Maryland (1-1) in a noon game at Byrd Stadium (51,500). The contest will be televised as the ACC game of the week (Steve Martin, Rick Walker and Mike Hogewood). Stations carrying the game in West Virginia markets include WVFX (Clarksburg), WCHS (Charleston), WTAE (Pittsburgh), WVNS (Beckley) and WHAG (Hagerstown, Md.).
Those outside the viewing area can access Saturday’s game on Sirius satellite radio channel 102. MSN’s radio coverage can be accessed on the Internet through CSTV.
The Mountaineers will bus to Maryland on Friday in time for an afternoon workout. Here is Saturday’s Countdown to Kickoff:
10 – Pat White became the TENTH different quarterback in WVU history to run for more than 100 yards in a game last week against Wofford. The Daphne, Ala., resident finished the game with 107 yards on just 11 carries.
9 – NINE different receivers have caught at least one pass from WVU quarterbacks Adam Bednarik and Pat White this year. Senior Brandon Myles leads the group with eight catches for 133 yards.
8 – The last 16 games of the West Virginia-Maryland series show the two teams winning EIGHT times each. However, the Terps have won four of the last five.
7 – West Virginia has won SEVEN of its last eight games against Maryland when entering the game with an undefeated record. The only loss was a 14-10 setback in 1990 after the Mountaineers began the season with a 35-24 victory over Kent State.
6 – Mountaineer opponents have managed to convert just SIX of 29 third-down tries for 20.6 percent.
5 – West Virginia played FIVE times on natural grass surfaces last year, producing a 2-3 record.
4 – West Virginia’s offense has been successful on FOUR of nine red-zone opportunities this year for a 44.4 percent success rate.
3 – Before West Virginia defeated Maryland 19-16 last year in Morgantown, the average score of the prior THREE meetings was 46-10 in favor of Maryland.
2 – Fifteen times West Virginia has won its first TWO games of the season and of the previous 14, all but one (1986) failed to have a winning record and only three (1980, 1985 and1986) failed to make a bowl game.
1 – West Virginia has the nation’s number ONE ranked defense allowing 128.5 yards per game in victories over Syracuse and Wofford.
Enjoy Saturday’s game and be sure to stop back afterward for complete post-game coverage.
