Countdown to Kickoff
October 23, 2009 02:16 PM | General
October 23, 2009
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia plays host to Connecticut in a Big East match up on Saturday, October 24, 2009, at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, W.Va.
Saturday’s game is homecoming for the Mountaineers, now 5-1 following a 24-7 victory over Marshall last weekend in the Friends of Coal Bowl.
Connecticut brings a 4-2 record into Morgantown, having defeated Ohio, Baylor, Rhode Island and Louisville and having lost to North Carolina and Pitt. The Huskies and the Mountaineers have played five previous times with two of those games coming in Morgantown in 2005 and 2007.
The last time the two met in Morgantown two years ago, West Virginia defeated Connecticut 66-21 in a battle for first place in the Big East Conference.
Prior to Saturday’s game, West Virginia and Connecticut will honor the memory of slain Connecticut defensive back Jasper Howard with a brief pre-game ceremony.
The game will be televised on ESPNU (Clay Matvick and David Diaz-Infante) and will kickoff at noon.
Here is Saturday’s Countdown to Kickoff:
10 – West Virginia is now just 1,080 fans shy of reaching the TEN million mark in total attendance at Milan Puskar Stadium since its opening in 1980. The Mountaineers have averaged 57,913 through their first four home games this season.
9 – The Mountaineer defense has picked off NINE passes so far this year. Sophomore safety Robert Sands leads the secondary with three interceptions.
8 – West Virginia ranks EIGHTH in the Big East in turnover margin, fourth down conversion rate, turnovers gained and fumbles gained
7 – West Virginia is averaging SEVEN yards per play on first down this year.
6 – The Mountaineers have lost just SIX times on homecoming at Milan Puskar Stadium since 1980. During that time, West Virginia is 23-6-1 at the facility in homecoming games.
5 – FIVE true freshmen have seen action so far for West Virginia this year: Shawne Alston, Tavon Austin, Terence Garvin, Pat Miller and Geno Smith.
4 – FOUR of West Virginia’s 11 opponents this year have already won at least five games: Auburn (5-2), USF (5-1), Cincinnati (6-0) and Pitt (6-1).
3 – Running back Noel Devine has THREE career touchdown runs covering more than 70 yards: 92 against Syracuse in 2008, 77 against Colorado in 2009 and 71 against Auburn in 2009.
2 – The Mountaineers have lost only TWICE when running back Noel Devine runs for more than 100 yards in a game during his career. West Virginia is 10-2 in games when Devine cracks the century mark.
1 – WVU is now 18-3 when quarterback Jarrett Brown attempts at least ONE pass in a game.
Enjoy Saturday’s game and be sure to stop back afterward for complete post-game coverage.
