Saturday Bowl Notes

Posted by Tim Goodenow: December 29, 2007 (11:43 p.m.)


	Ryan Mundy talks to reporters Saturday morning at the media hotel in Scottsdale, Ariz. All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks

Members of the media were given interview access to West Virginia defensive personnel early Saturday morning at the media hotel. Defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel, defensive lineman Keilen Dykes, linebacker Marc Magro and safeties Ryan Mundy and Eric Wicks were available.

On Sunday West Virginia offensive personnel will be made available. Offensive coordinator Calvin Magee, running backs Owen Schmitt and Steve Slaton, offensive lineman Ryan Stanchek and quarterback Pat White will be in attendance.

The annual Fellowship of Christian Athletes Breakfast, 34th to be exact, was held Saturday morning at the Westin Kierland Resort. Several Mountaineers attended the event, including a prepared speech from junior wide receiver Tito Gonzales.

“They put on a wonderful event and had a tremendous turnout. The Fellowship of Christian Athletes in this state is alive and well,” said interim head coach Bill Stewart. “And our own Tito Gonzales represented our people back home very, very well.”

Schmitt was the first player out to the practice fields Saturday afternoon in day three in Scottsdale. The bruising fullback, complete with a fresh Mohawk, came out early for some extra stretching.

Saturday was the warmest since our arrival four days ago. The Mountaineers were in vests (helmets and vests only) for a less physical and more team-driven, up-tempo practice.

Several West Virginia and national media members have praised Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford this week. The freshman has posted impressive numbers this season: 216 of 308 for 2,879 yards with 34 touchdowns.

Simulating Bradford in practice this week for West Virginia has been two freshmen – Bradley Starks and Charlie Russell.

”Bradley is a runner, a mover, a shaker, all things that Bradford does,” described Stewart. “Charlie is a big, drop-back, strong arm kind of guy. Those two men have done a fine job as our defensive coaches have been pleased. I don’t know how you emulate that kid but I guess you do the best you can.”

Mountaineer signal-caller Pat White has also received plenty of praise this week. White, the Big East’s career rushing leader for a quarterback, has posted a 25-4 record as a starting QB.

An Oklahoma radio personality asked linebacker Marc Magro if he ever gets caught watching White do something special in practice.

“When you watch him run, it’s pretty amazing. Some of the things he does, even though I’ve seen him do it a hundred times, it never gets old,” said Magro of his teammate. “You can see five or six defenders coming at him and all of a sudden just miss him. It’s great to watch. It’s truly something special.”

The Fiesta Bowl continues to offer events to keep players, coaches and staff busy at night. On Friday night, more than 40 players attended the Phoenix Suns-Los Angeles Clippers game.

If they did not attend the NBA game, they were probably hanging out in the Players Lounge at the team hotel. The Players Lounge is a college student’s dream, complete with video games, pool tables, big screen televisions, couches, snacks and the largest supply of Gatorade and water I’ve ever seen.

Saturday, a players-only dinner was held at Mastro’s City Hall Steakhouse, one of Scottsdale’s premier steakhouses. The coaching staff and school administrators attended an elegant dinner party at the Arizona Biltmore, one of the state’s finest resorts.

WVU will be on the visiting sideline at the state-of-the-art University of Phoenix Stadium on Wednesday. And here is a crazy stat on the stadium – all the concrete poured in the stadium could make sidewalks from Phoenix to San Francisco (roughly 900 miles).

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