August 8 Blog
August 04, 2008 04:57 PM | General
Friday Afternoon Notes
Posted By John Antonik: August 8, 2008 (3:01 pm)
The NCAA ruled that there was not enough medical documentation to support his claim that he missed his freshman year at Wake Forest due to injury.
West Virginia is also awaiting a decision on a fifth year for defensive end Pat Liebig, who chose to sit out last year to be with his ailing father and help run the family business.
“We have some freshmen that can’t get with it so we will get them with it,” he said. “It’s funny. They come over here and they find ways to get lost. Right now treatment is as important as playing and they will learn that. We just have to give them a couple of reminders.”
“I’m not 100 percent yet but I have to be patient with it,” he said earlier this week. “I have to do things not to re-injure it and it’s a process. I’m going to go day-by-day. I haven’t been cleared yet and am waiting for the go-ahead – too many ifs and not enough definites yet.”
The Wildcats posted a 7-4 record last year and finished ranked 17th in the country, the same ranking Villanova has received in the preseason. Villanova has 17 starters returning including its entire offensive line along with quarterback Antwon Young, who missed five games last year due to knee injury.
Thursday Practice Notes
Posted By John Antonik: August 7, 2008 (1:46 pm)
There is a moment in every player’s football career when he has the feeling that he has finally been accepted by his teammates and coaches. That moment may have come Wednesday afternoon for redshirt freshman defensive end Julian Miller.
During W drills Miller successfully took on his blocker and made such an outstanding play that defensive line coach Bill Kirelawich made it a point to walk over to Miller and pat him on the helmet and say nice job. Kirelawich has never been one to casually pass out compliments.
“That was probably like one of the freshest moments of my being here,” laughed Miller. “One of the big things he wanted me to do during the spring was come straight at a guy instead of choosing a side to put my head on when I’m firing off. What I did on that play was fire off into the guy and I made the tackle. He was real happy. He came over, gave me a pat on my back and shook my hand.”
Presently, Miller has gained more than 30 pounds thanks to a 5,000-calorie diet strength and conditioning coach Mike Joseph and team dietician Nettie Freshour has him on.
“It’s so much I can’t even tell you,” Miller said. “Our nutritionist gave me like three pages full of foods to eat and this was all just for one day. I have a full three week schedule with a pamphlet full of stuff to eat.”
Miller said most of what he’s eating now he won’t touch when he’s 40.
“Forty years old, there’s no way I could do this,” he laughed. “I have a hard time right now eating 5,000 calories.”
Miller says his weight is right around where he wants it at 255, reminding us that last year’s defensive end Johnny Dingle played so well at roughly the same weight.
INSIDE SLANT
Among the things Stewart said the team worked hard on was pass protection from the offensive line, footwork and individual assignments.
“This afternoon we will go out and we will work,” Stewart said. “We’re going to bang – it’s going to be an intense one and it is going to be hot. We will do situational third downs and we’re going to work on the hurry up field goal, putting the ball on the near hash with a certain time on the clock and then we’ll put the ball on the far hash and do a couple of reps of that.”
“We are going back and polishing it,” Stewart said. “After Saturday, we will go back and start getting into our specific game plan for Villanova and the season.”
“We’re going to get some more material together for the NCAA,” Stewart said. “I’m very happy with the NCAA because they are taking their time and they are weighing the decision. He does have a waiver to practice and he is really showing up. He will continue to practice until we hear from the NCAA. We have a great committee out there and we’re just making sure that everything is going right.
“He went home for all the right reasons and I’m very confident that everything will be worked out,” Stewart said.
“If you are on our punt team you are pretty special at West Virginia University,” Stewart said. “Next is the kickoff team and if you are on the kickoff team you are pretty special. Mortty Ivy has been a three-year starter at right guard on our punt team. He wouldn’t come off that punt team for anything. It’s a pride thing. J.T. Thomas, a starter at right tackle, wouldn’t come off that team for anything.”
“I’m excited and I’m ready to go out there and show people that I can carry the load,” he said. “It’s all about heart and I have a big heart. I’m getting myself prepared. I’m not prepared yet but that is what practice is for. You have to practice to be perfect.”
“We have the fastest and most athletic defense in the country,” White said. “The offense now just has to keep the same intensity that they do and match them, which will make us both better.”
"My son (Cade) is still at Florida so I gave him all of my Florida stuff," Holliday mentioned. "My N.C. State stuff all went to my daughter who is still down there."
Charleston Gazette's Dave Hickman overheard our conversation and brought up Phil Elmassian, now coordianting Louisiana Monroe's defense. ULM is Elmassian's 17th different coaching stop which includes a one-year stint at West Virginia in 2001. Dave asked: "What does he do with all of the coaching gear he has accumulated from the places he's been?" That's a real good question.
Practice resumes this afternoon. Friday’s sessions are closed with Coach Stewart briefing the media at 5:45 pm. Saturday the team will have its first officiated scrimmage with photography and video restrictions in place.
Wednesday Practice Notes
Posted By John Antonik: August 6, 2008 (9:18 pm)
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| Bill Stewart |
Junior Alric Arnett earned praise from Coach Bill Stewart after Wednesday’s practice. Arnett fought through a stomach ailment to catch a touchdown pass during the team portion of today’s practice.
“He’s an outstanding receiver and he’s going to have a chance to be a pretty good one here,” Stewart said. “I know everyone is hurting – heck I’m hurting, but that’s the way it is. It’s football. Alric Arnett had some stomach problems and had a hard day out there but he just kept at it – kept hitting it.
“That was special. A year ago, coming from junior college, I don’t know if he would have done that,” Stewart said.
Arnett came to West Virginia from Scottsdale (Ariz.) Community College where he caught just 22 passes in two seasons for the Fighting Artichokes.
Last season, Arnett redshirted after sustaining a thumb injury that required surgery last October.
“It was very, very nice to see him step up to the plate and see him strain a little bit,” Stewart said. “He made some nice catches and a good touchdown catch. I thought he had a good day.”
INSIDE SLANT
“Everything is going right so far; we’re coming together and I like our new staff,” Sanders said. “All the new things that the staff is trying to do with us is going very well and we’re starting to click.”
“The defense was swarming and that was good to see,” said Stewart.
Stewart had the team run gassers during period 20 before finishing up the final 20 minutes of practice.
“When we put the ball down and went another 20 minutes of pretty intense practice, the offense came through, and I was pleased with that,” Stewart said. “You tire people, you stress people and that way you don’t have to raise your voice. All you have to do is gut them – in a nice fashion. We put them to the test and that was good.”
Tuesday Practice Notes
Posted By John Antonik: August 5, 2008 (6:35 pm)
Post-practice comments from Coach Bill Stewart and Running Backs/Slots Coach Chris Beatty ...
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| Safety Courtney Stuart was one of the players Coach Bill Stewart mentioned after Tuesday's practice.
Brian Persinger photo |
“It was fun to watch them fly around. I don’t know who is going to play back there at that safety spot,” Stewart said. “Our safety spot is going to be a pleasant surprise so that’s good.”
Ideally, Beatty said he would like to have Devine’s backup ready to take 10-12 snaps in the opener against Villanova.
Freshman Terence Kerns has a long way to go work wise, says Beatty, but he does provide the team with a change-of-pace back because of his great size (240 pounds) and strength.
Beatty hopes someone will step up in the next week or two at the backup tailback spot to get the bulk of the reps and get ready for Villanova. Beatty said he’s looking for the second best guy that can play every down.
“The airlines would charge him $25 for an extra suitcase. Twenty five (extra) pounds might be generous,” Stewart said.
Clarke is listed at 235 pounds in the media guide.
“We don’t think he’s going to be a problem and we’re real pleased that he’s here,” Stewart said. “He’s a corner/slot and he can really fly. He’s about a 10.6 guy.”
“He’s very, very smooth and a natural over there on defense,” Stewart said.
West Virginia has its first full-go practice on Wednesday.
Camp Quotes
Posted By John Antonik: August 5, 2008 (10:19 am)
Pat McAfee’s strong leg has just gotten stronger. During Tuesday’s practice McAfee was consistently punting the football 60 yards in the air with a couple of punts traveling more than 70 yards. Head coach Bill Stewart is in charge of special teams and he has been really pleased with the way McAfee and Scott Kozlowski have been punting the football.
“Our punters are doing a tremendous job,” Stewart said. “Pat is in the zone and it’s really special. Thank God we have a great trainer here in Dave Kerns and a great strength coach in Mike Joseph because they have created a sport-specific lifting plan for those guys and have worked hand-in-hand with those kickers. I don’t want to wear Pat’s legs out like we did a couple of years ago. I over kicked him a little bit last year and that’s my fault – but we’re getting smarter.”
McAfee said he spent part of his summer at kicking camps and it has really made a difference.
“I learned how to punt for real now and I got better at kicking,” McAfee said. “Mike Joseph understands that a kicker’s legs need to be fresh to kick. He’s been working on flexibility with me, explosive drills, and I feel a lot better. I’m icing for precautionary reasons – not because I’m hurting. (Mike) is a great guy and he knows what he’s talking about.”
More Camp Quotes ...
“I think Will Johnson is going to have a huge year,” McAfee said. “Everyone saw Bradley Starks in the spring and Ellis Lankster is going to be an all-star. Those three guys are really going to have breakout years.”
“Arnett and Starks bring a deep-ball threat as well as a big-play threat,” White said. “I can throw them a short five-yard pass and they can take it to the house.”
White is pleased with how he’s progressing as a passer. Offensive coach Jeff Mullen is permitting him to scan the entire field looking for second and third options instead of working just one side of the field in the past.
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| Jeff Mullen |
“My passing has come a long way,” White admitted. “I’m enjoying everything that Coach Mullen is teaching me and I’m soaking it in. He is a young, great mind with a lot of great ideas. What he brings to the table will help us out a lot this year.”
Mullen is helping White to become a more well-rounded quarterback.
“He is teaching us a lot of technique everyday and he has a little bit of a different philosophy,” White said. “We work a lot on my footwork and the passing is more sophisticated with more options and more routes. We’re getting more people involved.”
“I think we should surprise people. We lost a lot of guys but a lot of guys are stepping in,” Lazear said.
Lazear is currently in a holding pattern until he knows for sure if Reed Williams is able to play this year after recovering from off-season shoulder surgery. If Williams can’t go, then Lazear will step in at middle linebacker.
“If he’s here I am happy to take the No. 2 spot and if he can’t go then I’m happy to take the No. 1 spot, but I hope he’s here because he’s a great asset to the team in every way,” Lazear said.
This could be one of the deepest and most athletic linebacker corps West Virginia has fielded in years. Defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Jeff Casteel has two quality players at all three LB spots and that does not include Johnny Holmes, back on the team as a walk-on after missing spring practice for breaking team rules.
“Coach Casteel really explains the defense to us so well,” Lazear said. “We’re in there every day and we all have a good grasp of what he wants. We understand the defense.”
Casteel is going to have to lean on his talented linebackers to help a young defense along introducing new players up front and in the back end.
“On Wednesday we’re going to put a hold on all plays and not have any more installation and just let them go for a couple days and just play and get it on,” Stewart said. “The Big East is a black and blue league. The Big East champs last year were 5-2 co-champs – UConn and West Virginia. It’s a tough league.”
“I screamed at Noel (Devine) to get out there and teach the new guys. Patrick (White) comes up to Coley (White) and tries to coach him. You learn subject matter better by teaching. I thought I was a good student but when I became a teacher I learned the subject matter much better, so I try to get the older guys to coach the younger guys.”
Monday Notes
Posted By John Antonik: August 4, 2008 (5:01 pm)
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| Alex Ruoff said he is benefitting from strength coach Andy Kettler's workouts.
All-Pro Photogrpahy/Dale Sparks photo |
Alex Ruoff says new basketball strength and conditioning coach Andy Kettler is a perfect fit for Coach Bob Huggins.
“He doesn’t mess around,” Ruoff said recently. “It’s pretty serious once you walk in there.”
Ruoff saw what extra time in the weight room has done for Joe Alexander’s career and Ruoff has chosen to take a similar path.
“I do want to play at the next level and I know I have to get a lot stronger,” Ruoff said. “I don’t want to lose any quickness but I also want to be able to post up this coming year. I think that would be a good thing to add to my game if I can take smaller guards into the post. I did a lot of that in high school against box-and-ones and that is something I want to get back to.”
Ruoff recently completed a summer league stint up in Pittsburgh with the rest of the Mountaineer players, including incoming freshmen Devin Ebanks, Kevin Jones and Darryl Bryant. Ruoff likes what all three will bring to the team this year.
“They’re pretty talented,” Ruoff said. “I like Kevin Jones’ game. He works really hard and has been working hard for most of his career. Darryl and Ebanks are pretty good players, too.
“(Jones) likes to get shots up on his own but his ability to knock down the open jump shot is impressive,” Ruoff said. “When he played the first night in Pittsburgh he really didn’t do anything outside of his game – he didn’t force anything. But he ended up with like 25 just from making open jump shots. That is something that will stretch the defense out real good.”
CUMMINGS PITCHES RELIEF
Former Mountaineer Jeremy Cummings pitched four innings in USA Baseball’s 7-2 victory over Canada last Saturday in Durham, N.C. Cummings allowed two runs on three hits with four strikeouts and no walks. Cummings faced 15 batters and threw 64 pitches. USA Baseball is 2-1 against Team Canada with one exhibition game remaining tonight. The team then departs for China for the Olympics with its opening round game against Korea taking place on August 13.
METCALFE DEPARTS
According to Megan Metcalfe’s blog http://www.megontherun.com, she departed from Pittsburgh on Sunday, arriving in Beijing sometime today. After spending a day in Olympic Village, the team leaves for Singapore on Wednesday for a week of training. The semifinals of the 5,000-meter run takes place on Tuesday, August 19, and hopefully she will qualify for the finals which take place on Friday, Aug. 22.
FOOTBALL CAMP NOTES
The best arm before that? Jerry Porter. I once saw him take a football and throw it 80 yards with his right arm in the Carrier Dome. Then he went back and grabbed another football and threw that one 60 yards with his left arm. To this day Jerry Porter is the most impressive athlete I have ever seen in person.
That’s a pretty good observation.
