Fiesta Bowl Notes
December 14, 2007 10:10 AM | General
December 12, 2007
THE GAME
BIG EAST Champion West Virginia (No. 9 USA Today Coaches Poll/No. 11 AP) (10-2, 5-2) travels to Glendale, Ariz., to face Big XII champion, Oklahoma (11-2, 6-2), in the 37th Annual Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium (73,000) on Jan. 2, 2008, at 8 p.m., ET. The game will televised on Fox.
This will be the fourth meeting between the two teams with the Sooners holding a 2-1 advantage in the series dating back to 1958. All three meetings have been in Norman, Okla. The Sooners won the first two games, 47-14, in 1958, and 52-10, in 1978, and the Mountaineers won the last meeting, 41-27, in 1982.
MOUNTAINEER QUICK HITTERS
AGAINST OKLAHOMA
This will be the fourth meeting all-time between West Virginia and Oklahoma with the Sooners holding a 2-1 advantage in the series.
Oklahoma won the first meeting between the two teams in 1958 by a 47-14 score, and followed that up with a 52-10 win over the Mountaineers in 1978. West Virginia’s lone win came when Don Nehlen’s 1982 club surprised the country with a 41-27 victory over Barry Switzer’s Sooners. All three games were played in Norman.
AGAINST THE BIG 12
West Virginia holds a 9-8 record against teams from the Big 12 and has not played a Big 12 team since dropping a 34-31 decision to Missouri in the 1998 Insight.com Bowl.
WVU’s series records against teams from the Big 12 are: Kansas (1-0), Missouri (2-3), Kansas St. (1-1), Oklahoma (1-2), Texas (1-0), Texas Tech (1-0) and Oklahoma St. (2-1). The Mountaineers have not faced Baylor, Iowa State, Texas A&M and Colorado, but that will change with a two-game series with the Buffaloes starting in 2008 in Boulder and 2009 in Morgantown.
IN BOWLS
West Virginia holds an 11-15 all-time record in bowl games, dating back to the 1922 East-West Game. The 2007 Toyota Gator Bowl was WVU’s 26th bowl appearance and the fifth since 2002.
WVU is going to a bowl game for the sixth consecutive year for the first time in school history. The previous best stretch was five in a row from 2002-07 when the Mountaineers made trips to the Continental Tire Bowl, three Gator Bowls and a Sugar Bowl.
The Mountaineers are 4-5 in New Year’s bowl games. West Virginia won the 1938 and 1949 Sun Bowls, the 2006 Sugar Bowl and the 2007 Gator Bowl, while dropping the 1954 and 1994 Sugar Bowls and the 1997, 2004 and 2005 Gator Bowl.
West Virginia is appearing in its fifth straight New Year’s bowl game, which is a school record.
NEW YEAR'S BOWLS
With its appearance in the 2008 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, West Virginia is just one of two teams in the country to make five-straight New Year’s bowl games. The Mountaineers have played in the Gator three times, the Sugar and now the Fiesta Bowl in the last five years. The only other team to make five-straight New Year’s bowl appearances is Southern Cal.
IN ARIZONA
The 2008 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl marks West Virginia’s fourth-ever football contest in the state of Arizona, and the Mountaineers are 0-3 all-time in the state.
In 1989, WVU faced Notre Dame in the Sunkist Fiesta Bowl for the national championship in Tempe; the Fighting Irish prevailed in that game 34-21. The Mountaineers were back in Arizona in 1998 for the Insight.com Bowl and despite 429 yards passing from quarterback Marc Bulger, the Mountaineers dropped a 34-31 decision to the Tigers. WVU’s only other visit to Arizona came at the end of the 1979 season, when the Mountaineers lost 42-7 at Arizona State.
BIG EAST BESTS
The Mountaineers posted another winning league record in 2007 with a 5-2 mark. West Virginia’s undefeated 7-0 BIG EAST record in 2005 matched the best league record by the Mountaineers since entering the conference in 1991. In 1993, West Virginia also posted a perfect 7-0 mark in BIG EAST play. Next in line is a 6-1 record in 2002 and 2003. The Mountaineers have been crowned league champions in four of the last five years.
West Virginia’s third-best league record is a 5-2 mark, posted in 2007, 2006 and also in 1998. WVU has now posted 12 winning conference seasons in 17 years of BIG EAST action starting in 1993 (7-0), 1994 (4-3), 1995 (4-3), 1996 (4-3), 1997 (4-3), 1998 (5-2), 2002 (6-1), 2003 (6-1), 2004 (4-2), 2005 (7-0), 2006 (5-2) and 2007 (5-2).
West Virginia is 73-43-1 in all-time BIG EAST play and is 38-19-1 in BIG EAST home games followed by a 35-24 mark in conference road games. The Mountaineers are 33-8 in BIG EAST games since the start of the 2002 season, and 17-4 in their last 21 conference games. WVU has won league championships in 1993, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007.
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| Patrick White |
BIG EAST HONORS
West Virginia led the BIG EAST in selections to the all-conference team with 10. Leading the way was quarterback Pat White, who was unanimously named the league’s offense player of the year for the second-straight season. White became the first player to repeat BIG EAST offensive player of the year honors since Donovan McNabb of Syracuse won the award three times from 1996-98. White’s selection marks the third time in four years that a West Virginia player has won offensive player of the year honors in the league.
Other first team selections were defensive lineman Keilen Dykes, offensive lineman Greg Isdaner and safety Eric Wicks. Second team selections were center Mike Dent, defensive lineman Johnny Dingle, linebacker Marc Magro, receiver Darius Reynaud, tailback Steve Slaton and kicker Pat McAfee.
ALL-AMERICAN MOUNTAINEERS
West Virginia offensive lineman Ryan Stanchek was selected on five different All-American teams, including FWAA (first), rivals.com (second), Walter Camp Football Foundation (second), Sporting News (second) and the Associated Press (third). Johnny Dingle (DL), Marc Magro (LB) and Patrick White (QB) were named honorable-mention All-American by SI.com.
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| Reed Williams |
AVID REEDER
West Virginia junior linebacker Reed Williams was named a first-team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American for his outstanding performance on and off the field.
He has a 3.86 GPA in accounting and has been a mainstay on the Dean’s List and the BIG EAST Commissioner’s Honor Roll since he started at WVU several years ago.
On the field of play, he leads the defense with 98 tackles, including 41 solo tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss. He also has an interception, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles and recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown against Connecticut.
SALUTE TO THE SENIORS
With the end of the regular season, the 2007 seniors are the all-time winningest senior class in school history passing the 2006 class. The 2006 seniors finished with a four-year mark of 38-12 while the 2007 seniors have compiled a 40-8 four-year record.
The 2007 senior class includes Adam Bednarik (QB), Tom Contraguerro (LB), Keilen Dykes (DL), Andy Emery (LB), Chris Glenn (K), Markell Harrison (QB), Bobby Hathaway (LB), Antonio Lewis (DB), Marc Magro (LB), Ridwan Malik (DB), Ryan Mundy (DB), Vaughn Rivers (DB), Owen Schmitt (RB), Michael Villagrana (TE), Eric Wicks (DB) and Larry Williams (DB).
THE CAPTAINS
At the end of the year, the team votes on permanent captains, who also represent the team in the bowl game. The 2007 captains are Keilen Dykes (DL), Marc Magro (LB), Owen Schmitt (RB) and Vaughn Rivers (DB).
FOR STARTERS
When West Virginia kicks off on Jan. 2 against Oklahoma, the Mountaineers will have a total of 42 players with at least one game of starting experience. Seven first-time starters made an appearance against Western Michigan, one at Marshall, East Carolina and at Syracuse and two at USF and against Mississippi State. Tops on that list are senior defensive lineman Keilen Dykes (43), senior safety Eric Wicks (37), junior offensive lineman Ryan Stanchek (33), junior running back Steve Slaton (32) and senior receiver Darius Reynaud (31).
TRUE FRESHMAN PLAYERS
Six true freshmen have registered time on the field this season. Those players include Noel Devine (RB), Sidney Glover (SS), Brandon Hogan (WR), Will Johnson (WR), Pat Lazear (LB) and Jock Sanders (RB).
FIRST-TIME PLAYERS
There are 18 players who have seen their first action on the field as a Mountaineer this season. The list includes Scooter Berry (DE), Noel Devine (RB), Sidney Glover (SS), Trippe Hale (SS), Derek Hayes (OL), Brandon Hogan (WR), Eric Jobe (OL), Will Johnson (WR), Jeremy Kash (H), Ellis Lankster (DB), Pat Lazear (LB), Stephen Maw (OL), Ryan Mundy (FS), Chris Neild (DT), Eric Rodemoyer (OL), Jock Sanders (RB), Archie Sims (LB) and J.T. Thomas (LB).
FIRST-TIME STARTERS
There are 15 Mountaineer players who received the starting nod for the first time in their career this season. That list includes Scooter Berry (DE), Selvish Capers (OL), Mike Dent (C), Noel Devine (RB), Derek Hayes (RG), Brandon Hogan (WR), Mortty Ivy (WLB), Wes Lyons (WR), Ryan Mundy (FS), Chris Neild (DL), Kent Richardson (CB), Eric Rodemoyer (OL), Jock Sanders (RB/WR), Doug Slavonic (DL) and Reed Williams (MLB).
MOUNTAINEEERS IN PRO STADIUMS
Since 1980, the Mountaineers hold a 21-16 mark in stadiums that also housed professional football teams at the time. West Virginia is 0-1 in professional stadiums this season, having dropped a 21-13 decision to USF back on September 28 in Raymond James Stadium.
The record includes games played at Atlanta’s Georgia Dome, Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field, Giants Stadium, Veterans Stadium, Atlanta/Fulton County Stadium, the Houston Astrodome, Miami’s Orange Bowl, then Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, Tempe’s Sun Devil Stadium, the Louisiana Superdome, Jacksonville’s Alltel Stadium, Dolphins Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Adelphia Coliseum in Nashville, Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium, and Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh.
ON GRASS
Since 1980, West Virginia is 38-47 in games played on natural grass surfaces. WVU is 1-1 on grass surfaces this season after winning a 31-14 contest at Maryland, before dropping a 21-13 decision at USF. Under Rich Rodriguez, the Mountaineers are 14-11 on natural grass.
AGAINST RANKED TEAMS
Beginning with a 27-0 loss to Fordham on October 18, 1941, West Virginia has played 128 against nationally ranked teams. Of those 35 have been Mountaineer victories.
THE NUMBERS FROM TWO, THREE FOUR AND FIVE
The West Virginia Mountaineers have been one of the best teams in college football in the last five years.
West Virginia’s two year record (2006-07) of 21-4 is tied for seventh-best in college football behind only Ohio State (23-2), Boise State (23-2), Hawaii (23-3), Florida (22-4), LSU (22-4) and Oklahoma (22-5). The Mountaineers are tied with Wisconsin, USC and BYU.
West Virginia’s three year record (2005-07) of 32-5 is third-best in college football behind only Ohio State (33-4) and USC (33-5).
West Virginia’s four-year record of 40-9 is seventh-best in college football behind only USC (46-5), Boise St. (43-7), Texas (43-7), Ohio State (41-8), LSU (42-9), and Auburn (41-9).
And finally, West Virginia’s five-year record of 48-14 is 10th-best in college football. In the five-year time span, West Virginia has the fifth best road record (22-8) and 12th-best home record (26-6) in college football.
GOOD FOR THREE
With the end of the 2007 regular season, West Virginia has won 32 football games in the last three years to set the best three-year win mark in school history. In fact, the Mountaineers hold the third best three-year mark in the nation at 32-5 behind only Ohio State (33-4) and USC (33-5).
This year's team breaks the previous best three-year win mark that he set at the end of 2006 when his 2004-06 teams compiled a 30-6 record. Until last year, the best three-win win total for West Virginia football was 27 victories set by the 2003-05 teams and the 1981-83 clubs.
BETTER FROM FOUR
With the end of 2007 regular season, West Virginia has won 40 football games in the last four years to set the best four-year win mark in school history. Standing at 10-2 currently in 2007, West Virginia’s four year record (2004-07) is 40-9.
This breaks the previous best four-year win mark in school history that he set at the end of the 2006 season when his 2003-06 teams compiled a 38-12 record. Prior to that, it was the 2002-05 teams that held the best four-year win total in school history with 36 victories.
Before this year, West Virginia won 35 games from 1981-84, and 33 victories from 1969-72 and 1922-25.
EIGHT BALL
2007 marks the 31st time West Virginia has won at least eight games in a season, and the 15th time it has happened since 1980. WVU has gone to bowl games in 22 of the 31 seasons that it has recorded at least eight wins.
NINE TIMES
When West Virginia collected its ninth win in 2007, it marked just the fourth time in WVU history where the Mountaineers have posted back-to-back nine-win seasons. The other back-to-back nine-win seasons were 1981-1982 and 1982-83 followed by 2005-2006 and now 2006-2007.
The 2007 season also marks just the second time in school history, and first time since 1981-83, that West Virginia has recorded at least nine wins in three straight seasons.
TEN WINS
With a 10-2 record in 2007, West Virginia has recorded three straight 10-win seasons for the first time in school history. With 11-win seasons in 2005 and 2006, the Mountaineers recorded back-to-back 10-win seasons for the first time ever and added a third season to that string this year. West Virginia has recorded six 10-win seasons now in school history with three coming in in the last three years.
ROLLING AFTER BOWLING
In the 25 seasons after going to a bowl, the Mountaineers have compiled a 181-98-5 record. WVU has earned back-to-back bowl berths 13 times, including six straight, currently a school record.
NATIONAL POLLS
This is the 40th consecutive week West Virginia has been nationally ranked. The Mountaineers have been ranked in the Top 10 in 28 of the last 31 weeks. West Virginia has been ranked in the Top 25 for 56 weeks, including 30 weeks in the Top 10. In the Nov. 25 poll, the No. 1 ranking in the USA Today Coaches’ Poll marks the first time in the school’s history that the Mountaineers have received a No. 1 ranking. The highest ranking before that was No. 2 in the 1993 season.
ROAD WARRIORS
West Virginia finished the regular season with a 5-1 road record, defeating Marshall, 48-23, and Maryland, 31-14, before dropping a 21-13 decision at USF and then a 55-14 win at Syracuse, a 31-3 victory at Rutgers and a 28-23 win at Cincinnati. The Mountaineers have outscored their opponents in the six road games, 206-98. WVU won the five games by an average margin of 21.6 points a contest.
WVU is 26-7 on the road since 2002.
