Football: Head Coach Bill Stewart Quotes
November 25, 2008 02:25 PM | General
November 25, 2008
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - West Virginia football Head Coach Bill Stewart's quotes from Tuesday afternoon's press conference.
Head Coach Bill Stewart
On the Louisville game:
The Louisville game is behind us. It was a nice win and it was a hard fought win and we played a pretty good football team that has just had some bumps in the road like we all have trying to win the BIG EAST. Now we set our sights on the Pitt Panthers, the 101st addition of the Backyard Brawl, and we’re very much looking forward to that football game.
The coaching staff is led by Dave Wannstedt and he is one of my friends in the business and he is a guy I admire. They have a great staff and we’re up against a fine football team. They are a fun football team to watch and I don’t know if they will be a fun football team to play because Pitt is very good. They had a heartbreaking loss last week and we’ve had those ourselves. They are at the same ledger that we are, 7-3, and they have a fine football team.
They’re up 60-37-3 (all-time) and for West Virginians, that doesn’t sit well. Last year was a tough one for the Mountaineers and I give the University of Pittsburgh and that coaching staff, and most importantly the Pitt players, all due respect. We got hit right in the chin, they played a great football team and they beat us here in our own backyard. That’s the bottom line; that’s what happened and that’s the game I saw. Let me assure you, Pitt has Bill Stewart’s and our staff’s attention.
On Injuries:
This time of year is tough. They are bumped and bruised and everyone is – every team in the country. We’re very healthy and we’re very blessed that we don’t have severe injuries. I’m sure Pitt, from what I’ve heard, is pretty healthy, too.
On Mike Dent:
He’s week-to-week. He’s at practice and he has a smile on his face. Our staff wants to make sure that he’s in good health before we put him out there.
On the Seniors:
It’s a fun time in their life but it’s also a sad time in their life. With each passing game, you want the time to go slower. Sometimes you all think that Pat (White) and the seniors clam up but they have feelings, too. They are having a good time and they are enjoying the ride and sometimes, guys don’t want that to end. This is a time that they’ll never have again. I think it’s the greatest time of their life; to be a senior, participating member on a sports team at your school. I know they like each other, they hang around with each other and it’s so much fun to watch these guys grow. They’re having fun but they’re wishing these days went a little bit slower, I think.
On Pitt’s defense:
They are tough. Phil Bennett is a great football coach. I’ve known the Bennett family for a long time and Phil is a tremendous football coach. I see the same front lineman as last year. No. 40, Scott McKillop, is a special guy. The reason I say that is that I like his leadership. They schemed us very well last year and I see that same type of scheme and same type of coaching on film this year that we saw last year. Pitt really has our attention. They are a good football team.
On Pitt running back LeSean McCoy:
He ran through us last year. He is tough. He had 38 carries last year and he is special. He’s a competitor and he’ll be tough to contain. He has balance and all the great ones have balance. They never take a frontal shot.
You have to hit him and stun him. We have to put multiple hats on the ball. Still, what worries you is three and a half yards, three and a half yards, three and a half yards, and that adds up. If you can keep him under that, then you have the chance to make Pitt punt. You have to keep him out of rhythm.
On quarterback Bill Stull:
I think he’s just done a tremendous job. He is a great leader and he has taken care of the ball, he has had a heck of a year, he is a competitor and I think he’s pretty good.
On Adam Hughes:
We have been blessed here at WVU and you take a guy like Hughes out of Princeton, W.Va., and Adam wanted to play. He gave me film and we gave him a shot. We have been very fortunate about our long snapping and I pray that we’re just as fortunate, Friday at Noon. It’s a good success story and we’ll miss him.
On Pat McAfee being named a finalist for the Ray Guy Award:
He desereved it and to be one of the three finalists is a tribute to him. I have told every pro scout, and believe me, they have all come in to see this guy, I think he has a fighter’s mentality, he’s tenacious, he’ll get after it and you’ve seen him tackle. He could have gotten a couple 15-yard penalties the way he body slams people when the other team breaks the long ones. He’s one of the best kickers we’ve ever had here.
On playing at Heinz Field and natural grass:
I do not have one worry. If they are playing on the same turf that we’re playing on, that is all that matters. We will wear legalized cleats and do the right thing but I sure do wish I could find some of those old cleats, the mudders. That would be nice. The weather is supposed to be right up there.
