Football: Coach Bill Stewart Quotes
December 01, 2009 03:49 PM | General
By MSNsportsNET.com
December 1, 2009
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University football coach Bill Stewart quotes from Tuesday’s news conference.
Opening statements
I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart, our staff’s heart and our football team’s heart, the Governor and the first lady. Joe and Gayle Manchin came up last Wednesday and spoke to our entire football team and staff. The Governor and I don’t care if you are Democrat, Republican or Independent, if you are a West Virginian or you live in the gorgeous boundaries of West Virginia that was big. For Governor Manchin to take time, after working at soup kitchen, to come up here and share stories about that kitchen and the people and the love those people have for our football team, was very powerful. I thank both Joe and Gayle.
I would also like to thank the CEO of the state flagship university, our president Dr. James P. Clements. It was great to see president Clements here in full support.
I will always be indebted to those three fine people. To Joe, to Gayle and to president Clements – thank you on behalf of the Mountaineers. I know that the West Virginia is as appreciative for them coming up.
Joe talked about one thing – the will to win. He echoed the will to win and had our players chanting “the will to win.” He called and I thanked him privately, now I want to thank him publicly.
We had a tremendous win over our archrival. The Backyard Brawl, be it the 102nd, the 100th, the 50th or the second, it is always an exciting football game. These last few have been real exciting. It was good for college football, and it was good to showcase the BIG EAST. It was a tough football game, a physical game and a game I thought American enjoyed watching.
Some people like glitter and some like offensive flare, but if you are a football fan and like a defensive and kicking game, you got your fill in that game.
I compliment the West Virginia Nation on being here and having as many students as we had here on a break. I was very impressed, and I want to thank those on the student body that came back.
To the Mountaineer faithful, particularly our season ticket holders – that watched us cap off that 7-0 home schedule – I know the money you spend to watch your lads play in the Old Gold and Blue is hard earned, and I appreciate you being here on a cold evening. I am so happy our players responded in a winning manner to give you a 7-0 home slate for the first time since 1993.
Now it is on to Rutgers. They are 8-3, they are hitting all cylinders, and it couldn’t be a better setting. I understand the weather is going to be good and they will be chopping wood. We have been in some pretty hostel environments this season.
Rutgers is on fire. Is it going to be the Rutgers that totally dismantled USF or the Rutgers that totally that totally dismantled Louisville, or will it be the Rutgers that played against Syracuse and Cincinnati – I don’t know and I don’t care. All I am worried about is the Mountaineers.
On the Pitt game and the choice of going for it on fourth down
I didn’t not want to put that pressure on our football team early, I wanted the guys to say “he is going for it, he is going after the game.” The second one I said “I’m not kicking the ball,” I wanted the Pitt defensive staff to know they were playing a different opponent and a guy that wasn’t going down easy. That was a message I wanted to send.
On Rutgers’ offense
I see a youngster (Tom Savage) that is doing absolutely awesome. He has “it.” We have to rattle him. I don’t know if we can. He has been hit and knocked down, but he just makes plays and throws balls on the money. He is a good player.
On the WVU offense
Up to the Auburn and even Colorado, we were clicking and our quarterback (Jarrett Brown) was exciting. He was stepping up and doing things. Once he got whacked against Marshall, things changed. Our medical people played Jarrett Brown when he was ready to play and right to play, but there was something just not clicking. It’s not all on Jarrett, we had some guys nicked up. With that being said, I think we have really strained on offense. We really haven’t clicked since the Marshall game. We started getting it back against Cincinnati and I thought we got some of it back the other night (against Pitt).
On overcoming the road losses
The big thing is that we have to play an early game. We weren’t really good at playing early games, but last year we started at UConn setting our alarms and getting to work.
On this weekend’s game
You have to be ready for everything. I told our guys to master the basics, take care of what we do best and understand what Rutgers does – if this week doesn’t get them in to watch a little more film, then shame of them. If you can master their (Rutgers’s) base, then you have a better chance in the game.
On the defense
Having those three guys (Scooter Berry, Sidney Glover and Reed Williams) back full-time speaks volumes. To have Reed Williams in the huddle and just on the field for 65 plays is immeasurable. You can’t as a coach script that.
Then to have Sidney and (Robert) Sands back there communicating and disguising is good, we have been trying to do that all year. I looked out there, and it looked like Eric Wicks and Ryan Mundy at the Fiesta Bowl. We were lethal. It was hard to cover those guys. Pitt receivers are good. Our corners player their hearts out and we are getting better. It all starts to come together when you have them out there and they get comfortable.
On remembering November
I will tell you what I remember about November. Hard pressed on my right, out flanked on my left, my center is yielding, impossible to maneuver, situation excellent – I am attacking. That is what I remember about November, think about that.
These guys could have laid down. American thought they were going to lie down, all the Nay-sayers predicted we were going to lie down, but now people just want to tell them how wonderful they are. Our backs were to a wall and these guys made a vow to each other after the USF game, and we got better as a family.
On Rutgers
I know what kind of talent they have and when they are clicking, they will run us right out of that stadium just like they did USF and Louisville. I know what kind of coach Greg Schiano is, and he is good. His staff is good, and they know what they are doing.
