Villanova Preview
August 27, 2008 11:50 AM | General
August 27, 2008
VILLANOVA RELEASE
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Bill Stewart is hoping history does not repeat itself this Saturday. The last time Villanova came to Morgantown to play West Virginia in 1977 the Wildcats pulled off a 41-36 upset victory. The loss was one of six the Mountaineers had that season. Of course the circumstances are much different today.
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| Sophomore Noel Devine rushed for more than 100 yards in a game three times last year as a freshman.
M.G. Ellis photo |
Villanova is now playing in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) and West Virginia begins the season ranked No. 8 in the nation. It is the third straight year the Mountaineers have started the year ranked in the Top 10.
“My biggest concern about our football team is how we are going to handle ourselves,” Stewart said. “How will we perform? Are we going to have offside penalties, mental breakdowns … are we going to stay together? I told the team we have 12 opportunities to play this season, guaranteed. If you want to get a 13th game then you have to take care of game one.”
West Virginia was the preseason pick to win the Big East Conference and the Mountaineers return a pair of lethal offensive weapons in quarterback Pat White and running back Noel Devine.
White accounted for 3,059 yards of total offense last season and is presently second on the school career list in that category behind St. Louis Rams quarterback Marc Bulger. White, with 7,713 total yards, needs just 115 yards to break Bulger’s nine-year-old record of 7,827 career yards.
White also ranks sixth among quarterbacks in NCAA history in career rushing with 3,506 yards. The NCAA rushing record for quarterbacks is 4,289 yards produced by Missouri’s Brad Smith from 2002-05. He is a top Heisman Trophy candidate.
Complimenting White is Noel Devine, a top-rated high school running back two years ago and a former YouTube sensation. Last year as a true freshman Devine rushed for more than 100 yards in a game three times including 108 yards in West Virginia’s 48-28 Fiesta Bowl victory over Oklahoma.
The North Ft. Myers, Fla., resident rushed for 627 yards in all on just 73 carries for an average of 8.6 yards per rush as Steve Slaton’s backup. This year, Devine gets an opportunity to be West Virginia’s featured back.
“I’m looking forward to proving myself,” Devine said. “I didn’t really do that last year and now I think I’m ready.”
Blocking up front for White and Devine is one of the most talented offensive lines in the country that boasts all five returning starters from a year ago. Left tackle Ryan Stanchek and left guard Greg Isdaner are bona fide all-star candidates. The five returners have a combined 103 starts between then.
West Virginia’s wide receiver corps will get a boost from new offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen’s diversified attack that he has brought from Wake Forest. More motion and a vertical passing game are part of Mullen’s plans.
Senior Dorrell Jalloh is the team’s leading returning receiver with 24 catches for 272 yards and a touchdown in 2007 and the Mountaineer coaches think they have a big-time playmaker in sophomore slot receiver Jock Sanders, who can also double at tailback. Sanders caught 12 passes for 102 yards and also rushed 16 times for 105 yards as a true freshman in 2007.
Converted wide receiver Will Johnson will play the H-back position and can lineup on the line of scrimmage, flexed out at receiver or in the backfield, while true freshman Tyler Urban has come on at tight end and will play this year. Veteran Tito Gonzales, junior college transfer Alric Arnett, and third-string quarterback Brad Starks will also help the passing game.
Defensively, Bill Stewart is high on a linebacker corps that returns three outstanding players in seniors Reed Williams and Mortty Ivy, and sophomore J.T. Thomas. The Mountaineers have eight quality linebackers to rotate at the three positions and Stewart indicated that he would like to see all of them in the game at some point.
“We’re ready to play against someone other than our own team so it’s going to be fun and a good experience,” said Ivy. “We’re going to have a full stadium and it’s going to be hot and loud.”
Up front, West Virginia plans to start sophomores Chris Neild and Scooter Berry with junior Zac Cooper playing the defensive end spot. Senior Pat Liebig, who received a fifth year after sitting out last season, is also an option up front. Senior Doug Slavonic, sophomore Larry Ford and freshman Julian Miller should also get playing time.
The reworked secondary will feature four new starters with the only returner being junior Quinton Andrews at bandit safety. The other two safeties are likely to be Eain Smith and Boogie Allen, although Sidney Glover and Robert Sands could also action. The two starting corners are Ellis Lankster and Kent Richardson with converted wide receiver Brandon Hogan being the team’s third corner. Junior college transfer Brantwon Bowser has made a rapid recovery from a knee injury last spring and could also be in the mix at corner this year.
Villanova, 7-4 last season, will provide a stiff test for the Mountaineers this Saturday. Last year Villanova trailed Maryland 10-7 at halftime and last beat a Football Bowl Sub-Division school in 2003 when the Wildcats knocked off Temple, 23-20 in overtime. Villanova’s other FBS win came against Rutgers, 37-19, in 2002.
Veteran coach Andy Talley owns a 155-98-1 record in 23 seasons at Villanova and has guided the Wildcats to six playoff appearances, the most recent in 2002.
“In the previous 23 years he’s accomplished a lot with class,” said Stewart of Talley. “He is a tremendous coach and he’s a good friend of mine from back when I was at William & Mary and VMI.”
Villanova was picked to finish fourth in the Colonial South behind nationally ranked Richmond, James Madison and Delaware. Villanova is ranked 21st in the preseason FCS poll.
Quarterback Antwon Young is Villanova’s most dynamic offensive player. Last year as a sophomore Young passed for 216 yards and four touchdowns against William & Mary before his season ended during that game with a knee injury. Before his injury Young passed for 1,192 yards and 14 touchdowns, completing 64.7 percent of his passes.
“Their quarterback can play,” Stewart said.
Villanova was able to make it through fall camp relatively injury free with only starting cornerback Jarred Corey being sidelined with a broken hand.
Villanova has 17 starters returning, including its entire offensive line intact.
Junior wide receiver Phil Atkinson heads into this season with 71 career catches for 795 yards and nine touchdowns.
“This team is supposed to make a run at their conference and I’m hoping they do. I wish them nothing but the best, but I’m also hoping they don’t do it until September,” Stewart said.
Game time is 3:30 pm and ESPN Regional (John Sanders and Rene Nadeau) will air the game live on affiliates throughout the Northeast. MSN’s radio coverage begins with The Mountaineers Today at 3 pm.
Once again this year, fans can access the MSN radio broadcast through MSNsportsNET.com.
