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Mountaineers Arrive in Orlando
December 23, 2016 07:25 PM | Football
ORLANDO - West Virginia’s on-site work has begun in preparation for next Wednesday’s Russell Athletic Bowl game against Miami at Camping World Stadium.
The team arrived in Orlando earlier today, met at team headquarters and then practiced at First Academy School in Orlando.
“Florida is important to us and Central Florida has been really good to us in the past getting guys like KJ Dillon and Karl Joseph, but I think it’s a little overstated that you can get some things done in recruiting by playing in a bowl game,” said West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen. “Bowl games are the reward for having a good football season, for our fan base - all of that is very positive and to be able to come to city of Orlando - I consider this one of the premier bowl destinations in the United States.”
Holgorsen said going through the process of staying in shape is the biggest thing on his mind right now.
“For the majority of the games we’ve played this year we get one week to prep so we’ve already prepped for Miami one week back home, gave them some time off, and now we’ve got to re-work some things, get out there, and get three or four days of good practices to stay in shape, maintain timing and then do what we need to from and Xs and Os standpoint to make sure our guys know what to do.”
Holgorsen admitted his football team was “pretty banged up” at the end of the season in victories at Iowa State and Baylor.
WVU had to use its No. 4 tailback, true freshman Martell Pettaway, to defeat Iowa State and was again deep into its depth chart in its season-ending, come-from-behind win over Baylor.
A good number of those walking wounded are now healed and ready to go for the Hurricanes next Wednesday evening.
“We’ve got most everybody back and they’ve got their legs underneath them again,” he said.
One player not available for Wednesday’s game is junior wide receiver Ka’Raun White, who suffered a season-ending foot injury in the Iowa State win. Holgorsen said sophomore Jovon Durante has been moved from inside receiver to outside receiver to take that spot.
“Jovon is playing outside and we started Jovon against Baylor and four plays into it he tweaked his knee so he couldn’t play the rest of the game,” said Holgorsen. “He’s good. He will play a good bit at that outside spot. Marcus Simms has come on of late, played well against Iowa State and played some against Baylor, so those two guys will hold it down.
“Gary Jennings has been doing well, too,” added Holgorsen. “He’s had a good month - probably the best month he’s had since he’s been on campus.”
Briefly:
* For the first time in a number of years, West Virginia did not have any mid-semester academic casualties and all available players are good to go for the bowl game.
“A quick shout out to Brittney O’Dell - she is an Orlando girl and she’s our academic advisor and she did an outstanding job for our guys academically,” said Holgorsen. “We ended up with a 2.53 team GPA, which is the highest it’s been since I’ve been here.”
* Holgorsen said he is impressed with Miami, the more he watches them on tape.
“They’re good. Arguably, they’re the most talented team we’ve faced all year,” he said. “It’s a different type of offense than what we see in the Big 12 but we’ve played some pro-style offenses this year. They’ve got unbelievable talent. They do a great job of protecting the football and managing the game.
“Defensively, they’re as big, fast and strong as anything we’ve seen all year so that will be a challenge as well.”
He said the Hurricanes are still a “national brand” and a program his players know a lot about.
“I usually have to educate our players on our opponent but I don’t have to educate our players on this opponent,” he said. “Everybody knows about Miami and the kind of players they’ve got.”
West Virginia has 14 players on its roster from Florida.
“We’re the visiting team in Florida against a team with a national brand. If we can go win this one it will mean something - we’re not supposed to, we’re the underdog, but if we can somehow figure out a way to win it would be good for the program.”
* Holgorsen said it will be important for the offensive line to protect quarterback Skyler Howard and when Howard does have time to throw the ball he must be accurate with his passes because Holgorsen said Miami’s secondary is very good.
* Holgorsen said Wednesday’s Russell Athletic Bowl will be the first time he’s coached against Mark Richt, but he’s admired his career going back to his days as Florida State’s offensive coordinator for Bobby Bowden.
“He’s always been a guy that I’ve followed,” said Holgorsen. “I was watching what they were doing when he had so much success at Florida State. Then obviously going to Georgia he’s won a lot of bowl games and won a lot of football games.”
* A pretty good point of comparison for Miami offensively would be BYU, while defensively it’s probably Kansas State. In both instances, West Virginia won the game but did so in the concluding minutes.
“What they do on offense is more BYU stuff, slow it down, huddle, run the football and then try and big-play you over the top,” he said.
* Holgorsen said junior safety Kyzir White has practiced and will play against the Hurricanes. He injured his hand during the Iowa State game and did not play against Baylor.
White has 52 tackles, six tackles for losses and three sacks in 11 games this year.
“He still needs time to heal and we’re not going to rely on him as much, based on how Marvin Gross (played against Baylor) but we’ve got depth there,” said Holgorsen. “He’s suited up and will have a wrap on his hand but he will be good.”
* Holgorsen said it will be important for the players to be able to balance the fun of being in Orlando with the work needed to get prepared to face on outstanding football team in Miami.
“We’ve got a lot of older guys that have been to a lot of bowl games that understand when it’s time to work it’s time to work and when it’s time to have some fun, have some fun,” he said. “We’ll let them go out and do some fun things but the closer it gets to the game we’ll pull them back in, give them rest, feed them, hydrate them and get them mentally prepared to play the game.”
West Virginia will have its second practice at First Academy School a little earlier tomorrow afternoon.
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