Whole Network Most Recent TOP10 Campus Life Career Planning Financial Aid

 

WVU Mountaineers Make Believers; Stewart Gets Coaching Job

Filed in archive College Sports by Greg Cruey on January 03, 2008

If you've been bad mouthing the West Virginia Mountaineers, it's time to shut your mouth and eat your socks.

Under the leadership of interim head coach Bill Stewart, WVU upset the fourth-ranked Oklahoma Sooners last night on national television in the Fiesta Bowl. The Mountaineers rushed for 349 years against the Sooner defense, with WVU quarterback Pat White gaining 150 of those ground yards and then throwing the ball for another 176 yards.

It was a game the Sooners never led. The Sooners cut the led to five early in the third quarter, but WVU responded quickly and put the Sooners' hopes to rest.

In the wake of the unexpected victory in Glendale, WVU President Mike Garrison said that he'd be willing to talk to interim coach Bill Stewart about the head coach position for the Mountaineers. Within hours the job belonged to Stewart.

wvuscreensaver.jpg

Stewart's coronation as head coach for the Mountaineers was in some ways a surprise. WVU has interviewed several nationally recognized candidate in the past few weeks: Doc Holliday, the recruiting coordinator for the Florida Gators; former Auburn coach Terry Bowden; and Butch Jones, whose Central Michigan Chippewas won the MAC title during his first year but lost to Purdue in the Motor City Bowl last month. Stewart was never mentioned in the mix.

billstewart.jpg
Stewart has been at WVU since 2000. He was one of the few people Rich Rodriguiz kept when Rodriguiz became head coach in 2001. Stewart is 55, a WV native, and a graduate of Fairmont State College in West Virginia.

Reaction to the decision has been mixed. CriticalFanatic at Fan IQ questioned the decision.
Uh oh. I don't like this. Can we all agree some of our worst decisions have been made by emotional overreactions? Maybe some of the best, too, but I think WVU overreacted in this case.
Stewart's only other head coaching job was at Virginia Military Institute (1994-96) and his record there was a dismal 8-25. Of course, VMI isn't much of a football school...

One the other hand, Pat Forde at ESPN has dubbed Stewart "Coach Stew" and seems to think that the Mountaineers will do fine under their new leadership.

And the player think Coach Stew deserves the job. Scout.com is one of several blogs and news sources quoting QB Pat White "He needs that job," said White. "He deserves it, the head coaching job. Great man, great coach. All the players respect him and love him. Couldn't ask for a better man to lead us to victory today."

Advertisement


Permalink: WVU Mountaineers Make Believers; Stewart Gets Coaching Job
Tags: WVU  football  stewart  fiesta  bowl  college  gets+coaching  mountaineers+make 

Trackback: http://www.creative-weblogging.com/cgi-bin/mt-tb.pl/109377



Advertisement


Advertisement


CW ToolbarInstall
RSSrss   | See all blog subscribe options
Googlegoogle   |   What is RSS?
Yahoo!yahoo
AddthisAddThis Feed Button
BloglinesBloglines
Newsletter
Advertisement - Book yours here.
universities

Use our search feature to look for other interesting posts

Just this blog Whole network
Advertisement -
Book yours here..


 
Advertisement
Book yours here.



  • Testimonials

  • Thank you for such a clear and concise overview of two publications that I was not aware of before now. I will be sure to pass this information on to the students visiting my site.

    Excellent site, I could really find lots of info for my planned MBA.'
  • Other blogs in the same channel in the Creative Weblogging Network

Advertisement -
Book yours here..






Advertisement - Book yours here..
universities
 
Tagcloud: Academic Freedom Adjunct Instructors Campus Life Campus Security Career Planning College Admissions College and University Profiles College Rankings College Sports College Traditions Community Colleges Courses Courses and Programs Educational Studies Faculty and Scholarship Financial Aid Financing Education Fraternities & Sororities Issues in Higher Education Jobs in Academia MBA programs Miscellaneous Musings Money New Graduates News Philanthropy Professional Education Sponsored Post Student Issues Study Abroad Programs University Administration Writing and Blogging