Football: Head Coach Bill Stewart Quotes
March 25, 2009 07:32 PM | General
March 25, 2009
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University Coach Bill Stewart’s quotes following Wednesday afternoon's spring practice.
Head Coach Bill Stewart
On today’s practice:
Day two was enthusiastic and the guys were working hard. I appreciated their effort today, and at the end of practice, we had a family discussion about what our goals are. Sometimes youngsters put the cart before the horse and we don’t want to do that. Last year we started talking about championships; well the only championship I want these guys talking about is the BIG EAST Championship. That is the only championship and the most important championship. It is our goal and that will always be our goal. You can’t do anything without the BIG EAST; you have to win it before you meet any other goals.
Jarrett (Brown) threw the ball well again today, and I thought Geno (Crump) made some nice catches. It was good to see Bradley Starks make some great catches. Pat Lazear’s interception was a big play, and our lines looked like they were working hard.
I watch a lot of stuff from behind the quarterback, to see the plays from the quarterback’s eyes. We have a fast secondary and I liked what they did today. I liked that they had a little bit of extra energy, and our whole defense showed that.
I thought Selvish Capers and Donny Barclay both had a good day. And I’ll tell you, I’m a big Chris Neild fan. He’s fun to watch.
On Saturday’s practice:
We are going to have 500 Maniacs up here, or more, on Saturday. It’s going to go rain or shine and we’re going to start at 11 o’clock sharp. We will be hitting in period one when we start with our victory drill. The victory drill is three stations with three groups in a station and it’s our slogan: B+TxH2=V; blocking plus tackling times hitting and hustle equals victory. It’s going to be intense and I hope all the Maniacs will be there. Someone asked me how I was going to get them here at 11 o’clock when I can’t get them here at noon for a game sometimes and I told them that I’ll have free pizza!
It’s going to be an elite junior day and you’re going to be able to see some of our blue-chip juniors. I want to start eating pizza with the maniacs at 1 o’clock and then we’ll go up and do an academic presentation with our prospects. Saturday we’ll be in full pads, going full speed, and it’s going to be a tough day.
On not looking ahead:
I believe that day in Greenville, our young men found out that you have to do more than put the Old Gold and Blue on and that game is when we said, “Owen Schmitt isn’t here, or Keilen Dykes isn’t here.” I think they thought that Pat (White) was going to bail them out like he always did. I believe our eyes opened that day and that’s why I try to tell the team that they better respect all and fear none- that’s what we’re all about at West Virginia. You have to start with game one.
On Josh Jenkins
Josh has a lot of potential and potential means that you haven’t done it yet. Josh has polished potential because I think that young man has a chance to be as good as he works to be. His brother Paul, who is a graduate assistant here, is tough. Paul could’ve played here. Josh has more talent than Paul did, but Josh isn’t as worldly or tough yet. If Josh took his brother’s work ethic, or the work ethic of Ryan Stanchek, he has the chance to be a player. He is fun to watch, he is so energetic, and that tells me that he wants to be a good one.
