MORGANTOWN —
West Virginia University’s 38-14 loss in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl game at New York’s Yankee Stadium was embarrassing in a lot of ways.
In finishing the year with a totally unacceptable 7-6 record for what started out as a perfect 5-0, nationally No. 5-ranked team, the Mountaineers performed like they were not even prepared to compete against the underdog Orange.
In the process, Syracuse (8-5) extended its winning streak to three in a row in a series SU leads by 33-27.
Keep in mind, too, that Syracuse still was a member of the Big East Conference.
This has to be a setback to WVU Athletic Director Oliver Luck. He brought in Dana Holgorsen as new head coach mainly because of Holgorsen’s smashing success in stops at other schools with a highly productive offense.
But we’ve all seen this fizzle steadily. More experienced coaches in the Big 12 have come up with ways to puncture holes in that offense. That resulted in West Virginia suffering a very embarrassing five-game losing streak and loss of ranking.
It triggered the biggest turnaround flop in the school’s football history. This, despite the fact that this Mountaineer squad had unquestionably three of the most talented football players who ever put on a Mountaineer uniform.
Senior Geno Smith broke virtually every passing school and conference record. Senior Tavon Austin set all-purpose yardage records in at least four different scoring ways. And Stedman Bailey has skipped his senior season to turn professional as a record-bashing pass-catcher.
I certainly would have voted all three as well-deserved All-America superstars.
Losing all three of those players makes one wonder what next year’s WVU team will look like without major shuffling in both coaching and player ranks.
Holgorsen thought his team showed some improvement in performance — offensively and defensively — late in the season. But there are those who most certainly did not agree. WVU lost six of its last eight games!
Defensively, it will be remembered by some as possibly the worst in history.
Yet, the oldest member of the current staff, Steve Dunlap, had been defensive coordinator of the WVU defensive unit in 1996 that ranked No. 1 in the nation. But Holgorsen preferred another, younger coach who never had been a coordinator.
Sure, the game was played in a driving snow storm. But Syracuse had to play in it, too — and very well.
Mickey Furfari
WVU loss totally unacceptable
- Mickey Furfari
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FURFARI COLUMN: WVU should reinstate men’s track — not golf
West Virginia University has not had a men’s golf team since 1982 in its sports program.
But Oliver Luck, who’s been the school’s athletic director going on three years, reportedly is talking about bringing back that sport “because it’s cheap.” -
FURFARI COLUMN: Harrick greatest WVU two-sport coach
The late Steve Harrick was the longest-serving, most-successful two-sport head coach in West Virginia University’s athletic history.
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FURFARI COLUMN: Crutchfield ‘miracle man’ at West Liberty
Jim Crutchfield, who learned the value of “aggressive defense” in basketball as a player at the old Roosevelt-Wilson High School in Clarksburg, continues to parlay that play phase with others to lead the nation in scoring as well as achieve smashing success as an NCAA Division II head coach.
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FURFARI COLUMN- Talley successful as business owner
Darryl Talley, one of the hardest-hitting and most productive tacklers in West Virginia University football history, is now owner and operator of a successful business in Florida.
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FURFARI COLUMN: Is WVU’s Mazey Big 12 Baseball Coach of the Year?
Randy Mazey, West Virginia University’s new baseball coach, continues to raise eyebrows from coast to coast as the Mountaineers elevate to a three-way tie in the Big 12 Conference for first place in the standings.
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FURFARI COLUMN: Ex-WVU swimmer still winning at 77
Dan “Cav” Cavanaugh, who grew up in Parkersburg, is individually the most honored swimmer in West Virginia University’s athletic history.
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FURFARI COLUMN- ‘Ideal’ conference can’t possibly become reality
With West Virginia University nearing the end of its first year as a member of the Big 12 Conference, some people are speculating where it could — or should — have been competing in intercollegiate athletics.
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FURFARI COLUMN- Former Mountaineer DB Agee a celebrity in Hollywood
Tim Agee, one of the toughest little defensive backs in Don Nehlen’s 21 years as West Virginia University’s head football coach, did not waste much time becoming a celebrity in Hollywood, Calif.
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FURFARI COLUMN: Former LB now is noted artist
David Benn of Akron, Ohio, was an outstanding linebacker on the West Virginia University football team in 1968-69-70.
But the 6-2, 200-pound alumnus became more of a longtime celebrity than he was then. -
FURFARI COLUMN: Dunlap said to be taking a new role
Steve Dunlap reportedly has told friends he will be rejoining West Virginia University’s football program in a new, non-coaching role on July 1.
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FURFARI COLUMN: WVU should reinstate men’s track — not golf
