There is a buzz around the program this year, an expectation of greatness. It's bigger than the 2007 season, when Pat Forde picked WVU to win the first national championship in school history and Pat White and Steve Slaton were household names (remember "Nickel and Dime"). It's bigger than 1988, when Major Harris led the Mountaineers to an undefeated regular season, and a shot at the title against Notre Dame. This season is simply bigger.
After all, Big Things Are Coming. This year the expectations are bigger than any other, because WVU has a chance to be better than ever before. The school joins the Big 12 conference, marking a monumental shift in not only the Mountaineer program, but also its national perception and exposure. Fans are gushing with the excitement of playing newer, bigger opponents like Texas and Oklahoma, the richest and most successful teams in the modern era respectively. But there's even more excitement for WVU to pick up a few firsts: a Big 12 championship, the crystal football, a Heisman trophy. They are all attainable if the Mountaineers play like they did when 70-33 happened to Clemson.
But the new era brings more than just big expectations. It also brings big questions. Can Holgorsen, Geno, and crew live up to the hype? Is the team deep enough to compete weekly with the demanding Big 12 conference schedule? What happens if Smith, Austin, or Bailey go down with injuries mid-season?
But amid all of the questions, a few things are certain: when West Virginia and Marshall finish play tomorrow afternoon at Mountaineer Field, the two will be saying farewell for quite some time. If Marshall seizes the opportunity to beat its big brother in the final episode, all of those big questions and big goals go down the drain.
In one corner there is WVU, prepped for a history-making season battling Longhorns and Horned Frogs. In the other there is Marshall, ready to finally, poetically wreck the Mountaineers' season by beating them to start the season. For Marshall, the championship is game one. In reality, WVU and Marshall are both aiming to make history this year. For WVU, it's the Big 12 and national titles. For Marshall, it's beating WVU. Problem is, someone is going to be horribly disappointed.
Keys to the Game
Will WVU match Marshall's energy?
WVU has historically been its own worst enemy. Rarely does a team beat West Virginia when the Mountaineers are playing at their best. The Fiesta Bowl win, energized by the late Bill Stewart's "Leave No Doubt" speech, is a perfect example of Mountaineers playing with passion. Last year's loss to Syracuse and Louisville represent what happens when WVU comes out flat and uninspired. Marshall will be jacked. West Virginia can't afford to go through the motions.
The Mountaineers are great when everyone is counting them out. They thrive on the "us against the world" mentality. Now that everyone is picking them, can they bring the same heat?
(Related: watch the video of the week below.)
WVU has moved from Jeff Casteel's 3-3-5 stack, to a more Big-12 appropriate 3-4. But there are question marks everywhere, with new coaches, players, schemes, and philosophies. WVU's new defensive strategy seems to be focused on creating turnovers. Every turnover caused by the defense is another opportunity for Geno to light up the scoreboard. Interesting, but what happens if WVU doesn't generate those turnovers?
Will there be a run game?
There wasn't much to speak of last year, but the 2011 leader, Dustin Garrison, is questionable with continuing issues regarding his knee injury suffered in preparation for the Orange Bowl. If he isn't ready tomorrow, the coaches may redshirt him. Senior Shawne Alston seems fired up to change people's perception of him and produce for the Mountaineers all season. Alston was previously seem as a short-yardage back, but Holgorsen has noted that he had a great off-season.
What is Marshall up to?
We all know Marshall wants to win this game more than any other on their schedule. We also know that Doc Holiday, and some of the players on the roster remember tasting blood in 2010 when Marshall held a 15-point lead in the 4th quarter before WVU pulled out a miracle in overtime. But now there are rumors that Marshall is going all out, including installing a new offense (based of off Oregon's spread) and memorizing Holgorsen's offensive signals (related: Dana has a "really good one" for Marshall). WVU will need to be able to make good in-game adjustments if Marshall pulls out all the stops.
Game day Predictions
Worst Case:
Early jitters cause a few players including Garrison (who re-injures his knee) to put the ball on the ground, and Marshall capitalizes. Despite the early mistakes, WVU manages a narrow lead at halftime. In the 3rd quarter, the mountaineers hold a 10-point lead before Geno Smith suffers an injury to his throwing shoulder and sophomore Paul Millard steps in to fill the void. He is ineffective, overthrowing wide-open receivers and seems frustrated by the Herd's revived defense. Late in the 4th Alston is given more carries to try to hold the now 3-point lead, but coughs up the ball on the goal line. A Marshall defender picks up the ball and returns it the length of the field for the winning score. Marshall beats WVU for the first time ever in dramatic fashion, in what could be the last game ever.
Best Case:
WVU comes out of the gate firing on all cylinders, completely demoralizing an over-matched Marshall team. The Herd tries to use a new spread offense, but falls apart in the process. The new WVU ball-hawk defense works perfectly, scooping up errant lateral passes and option-pitches and cashing in with touchdowns. The team looks like they are still playing last year's Orange Bowl, and end up scoring 80 points, exactly matching their point total against Rutgers in 2001. Prediction:
Marshall comes out with more energy than WVU to start the game and gets on the scoreboard first, 7-0. Geno opens up a little rusty as far as timing with receivers is concerned. The first quarter ends with Marshall ahead 10-3, and fans start to get restless.
Midway through the 2nd quarter WVU gets on track and never looks back. The defense shows some promise, making a few key stops and forcing a fumble and interception. By the end of the 3rd quarter the game is controlled by WVU, 38-13. WVU wins the final installment of the Friends of Coal Bowl, and moves on to their bye-week before facing JMU at Fed-Ex Field, dreams of Big 12 championships dancing in their heads.
Final: WVU 48, Marshall 24
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