Football: Head Coach Bill Stewart Quotes
December 02, 2008 04:02 PM | General
December 2, 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 Pitt game
I want to compliment the University of Pittsburgh, Dave Wannstedt and his staff that is the way football should be played. There was not a bad, malicious, vindictive or cheap shot in the ball game on either side. I’m so proud of the Mountaineers’ effort. I hope we represented the BIG EAST in fine fashion, particularly for the ABC network that carried us. I’m pleased with our effort but I am not pleased one bit with our mistakes. I’m not pleased with the penalties and I’m not pleased with the physical mistakes. That was very unlike the Mountaineers; we’ve been playing pretty much penalty-free. That happens sometimes in rivalries so let me assure you that I am not pleased with that at all. Bill Stewart has not been a happy camper and the players know that and the staff knows that. I started with myself first, staff second and then the players third. We’ve strongly voiced what we needed to be said, very strongly. Now it’s onto the next game which is the great thing about football.
On USF
They are explosive. It’s going to be a battle between us and the Bulls of South Florida. We’re 1-2 against them and all I remember are the last two. I don’t remember the victories real well but I remember the losses. I know this; we are going to give the Bulls everything we’ve got.
Their offense is a real challenge. They are explosive and I think quarterback Matt Grothe is a winner and a real competitor. He does not see a pass he doesn’t like and that’s good because that’s what you want your quarterback to do. You don’t want your quarterback playing on egg shells. I like how he competes. Last year, this guy gave us fits and this guy has winner written all over him.
I like their running back. I think they run hard and they run downhill. I’m so impressed with the receivers and I don’t know how we will slow him down. I know our defensive staff is working on that right now. If they (USF) are hitting on all cylinders, then the Mountaineer defense will be in for a long evening. I believe that; that’s not coach-speak, that’s truth-speak.
Defensivly they come at you. No. 95, George Selvie is a one-man wrecking crew. No 90, Jarriett Buie is also a good player. Their linebackers are good, big, tough, dependable and solid and their secondary is good. They have locked us up in the past and they have made life very difficult for the Mountaineers.
They have speed. They run to the ball, their defensive ends are tremendous and they have a great group of linebackers who are veterans. They are playing well.
Their specialists are good, their kicking game is solid, they scare me to death on kick return, I don’t care who gets it. No. 81, Dontavia Bogan or No. 89, Taurus Johnson, can both go to the house in a snap. These are the two best I’ve seen all year and I say that without hesitation. Their kickoff return is outstanding.
I want to go on record and give a great expression of gratitude to the USF Bulls, their Athletic Director Doug Woolard and their Head Coach Jim Leavitt because they have allowed the Mountaineers to wear white jerseys for the final home game for this season class. That will always be remembered in the Mountaineer nation as a class act and they are two good men and I appreciate it.
On the White Out
This is a team game at West Virginia University, t-e-a-m. This team has the most unselfish, great character young men we’ve ever had in this program. It’s caused me great discomfort that I had to let a lot of people go once I took over as Head Football Coach but my discomfort lasted about how long it takes you to blink your eye. I’m not going to put up with any characters; I’m going to put up with men with character.
This senior class has done much more than any other senior class and we just happened to be led by a guy named White. Pat White, No. 5, the greatest winner in college football, who would not be one iota without 18 brothers who have helped him along the journey. Those 19 seniors are why we’re having a white out. Pat White isn’t the reason we’re having the white out, it’s Pat White who is at the head of the class and the entire pyramid that has helped Pat White become what he has become. So our senior class would not want it any other way. This is not a one man show, this is not a one man outfit, it is not a one man story. This is a story about 18 brothers who are lifting up a 19th who happens to have the last name, White. Our senior class absolutely loves No. 5, and this is for all of them.
On Injuries
We’re in pretty good shape. I don’t know about Anthony Leonard but I know Mike Dent is continually being evaluated. Everyone else seems ready to go and we’re going to play with who we have and we’re going to do the best we can. JT Thomas is flying around. Wes Lyons is getting better and Jarrett Brown seems healthy.
On Ricky Kovatch
He’s been doing well but he was in high school last year. When you are playing a game of that magnitude, we weren’t afraid to throw it to him. The ball was a little low, Pat (White) threw it to him and Ricky should have had the catch but didn’t make it but he gave great effort and he played hard. He’s a good kid and he’ll be a good player in this program the next three years. He just has to get a little bit bigger and stronger.
On looking back on the season so far
I wanted to have more victories like any coach and a couple drops, a bad read and we had chances. I know that I’m doing what I should be doing. We’re headed in the right direction. I know we have to pass the football and I know it’s not a one-man team. There are a lot of things I know, it will just take time to get there but I know we have enough knowledge and enough guts and determination to put a package together that will take us higher than we’ve ever been. That’s my aspiration.
On USF’s young program
USF got instant clout when they joined the BIG EAST. It gave them instant credibility and we recruit hard against them. We’ve beaten them on some guys and they’ve beaten us on some guys. That’s what makes recruiting so much fun.
On the Lambert Trophy
That Lambert Trophy, that’s all I want. I want that more than anything in the world. To go up there last year with Jeff Casteel and Bill Kirelawich is one of the highlights of my life. I could not believe it. It was powerful. Now it’s not the BIG EAST and it’s not the National Championship but I’ll tell you, it’s a close third
On the weather
What will be will be. It’s like the sod up in Pittsburgh, we all have to play in the same conditions. We have to play in the same weather and we have guys from Florida also.
