You knew this story was long overdue. Hoopie couch burning and the “unfair” stigma on Morgantown.
University chief of police Bob Roberts said it will take a combined effort to douse the flames and end West Virginia’s reputation as the couch-burning capital of college football.
“We want all our students and fans to know that we will hold people responsible and accountable for their actions,” Roberts said.
Sports writer Mickey Furfari, who has been covering West Virginia athletics for 59 years and writes for seven newspapers across the state, said the outdoor furniture blazes have produced negative national publicity.
“But I doubt there’s any danger this week when Pitt plays here because the students are away for Thanksgiving and the weather forecast is calling for snow,” he said. “I would be shocked if there will be any problems, unless they burn the couches to keep warm.”
Wilson, a Morgantown native who has watched the couch-burning trend evolve over the past 18 years, agrees that the Pitt game isn’t likely to spark trouble. He also cites the fact the Mountaineers still have two more important games, including a possible major bowl berth.
“West Virginia has always been a rowdy school, but this week, our couches should be safe,” Wilson said.
Wilson said the problem was blown out of proportion by the media. Many of the students burning couches aren’t even from Morgantown.
Sure they aren’t from Morgantown. Wheeling, Parkersburg, every other ramshackle trailer park called a town in the state, yes. But not Morgantown.
Big news in West Virginia, Coach Wannstedt had the Hoopies as his second choice.
“I really liked Coach Bowden,” said Wannstedt. “But I’d heard a lot of talk that he might not be staying at WVU, so I went to Pitt. As it turned out, he wound up staying a few more years and I wound up playing against his teams every year.
“It’s kind of funny. Even today, whenever I run into him, that’s what we always talk about.”
Considering all week WVU players from Pittsburgh have been talking about their grudge against Pitt for not recruiting them, why is this a surprise?
A tough article asking questions about the lack of change in Pitt’s offense from the start of the season to now.
Pittsburgh coach Dave Wannstedt talks repeatedly about wanting to have a streamlined offense, one that can run or pass equally well and creates matchup problems at nearly every skill position for the defense.
So why then, as Pitt heads into what could be its last game of the season, is the offense in almost exactly the same state it was before the Sept. 3 opener against Notre Dame?
Just as then, the offense is still overly reliant on the passing game to generate scoring and keep drives going. Just as then, a No. 1 running back has not emerged. Just as then, Pitt never can seem to figure out whether it needs to go with a single running back and let him try to develop, or to use a multi-back rotation and go with whichever back is running well.
One thing is for certain: the Panthers (5-5, 4-2 Big East) are running out of time to find out the answers.
You could say that.
West Virginia, on the other hand, has no problem running. And running a lot.
Defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads said the Panthers must find a way to stop the Mountaineers’ rushing attack or they have no chance of winning.
“You see how they play; they line up and try and knock you off the ball,” Rhoads said. “But they also spread you out so if you don’t make the tackle at the point of attack, it can go for a long, long way. And those running backs — and the quarterback can also run very well — all have a lot of speed, so once they get into the secondary, it can be off to the races.”
The Mountaineers average 236.8 yards per game on the ground and have rushed for more than 200 yards in six games. Twice the Mountaineers have eclipsed the 300-yard mark and had 297 against the Bearcats. Steve Slaton is their leading rusher (117 rushes for 695 yards) and White is second (73-513).
Those numbers don’t bode well for the Panthers, who have been inconsistent stopping the run all season because they have been beaten too often up front.
That could spell trouble because West Virginia’s offensive line is as good as any the Panthers have faced since the opener against Notre Dame.
The health of defensive tackle Thomas Smith, who has a toe injury, might be a big factor. When he has played, the Panthers have had some success stopping the run. When he hasn’t, they’ve struggled.
Pitt gives up an average of 158.6 yards per game on the ground. Only one team, Ohio, has rushed for less than 100; three teams have burned the Panthers for more than 200.
The article says Rhoads doesn’t want to leave Lay and Revis to take the WVU receivers one-on-one because of QB Pat White’s accuracy. Crap. I don’t see how Pitt has a choice. They need to bring the safeties up more, not just to stop the running back but also White. Pitt needs to be able to keep White from getting outside the pocket and turning the corner.
Both team’s passing numbers are down from last year. Hardly a shock.
WVU lost their top receiver and quarterback from last year. They have switched QBs during the season and have developed a powerful running game.
Pitt, as has been well documented, has a new coach and new offensive philosophy that emphasizes running a lot more.
Pitt players will have their thanksgiving feast at a hotel in Washington, PA.
