The Times West Virginian

Mickey Furfari

August 9, 2010

FURFARI COLUMN - WVU has put together plan to follow

By Mickey Furfari For the Times West Virginian

MORGANTOWN — Coach Bill Stewart and his assistants already have a carefully laid out plan for West Virginia University’s football team two days into fall training camp.

“The first thing you have to do is formulate a plan, follow it, and have faith in it,” he explained. “It’s pretty good now.

“That’s what gets you through the good times and the tough times.”

Stewart, 19-8 for his first two years as head coach plus a Fiesta Bowl upset of No. 3-ranked Oklahoma, doesn’t think his players were outworked by any other teams during strenuous summer skirmishing among themselves.

He credits Mike Joseph, WVU’s strength and conditioning director, with getting them primed for preseason practice.  

“He does a great job with our players,” Stewart said. “He’s one of the rising superstars in this business. He’s an absolute gem.

“The players respect Mike Joseph. They like him and the players work hard for him.

“He’s a solid player in this program. A solid, solid player.”

Joseph, a Marion Country native, has been here three years. He came to WVU from Notre Dame, where he served in similar capacities.

Stewart also is happy with the classroom work of the Mountaineers. Forty-one of 43 seniors graduated in the past two years and have their degrees.

There were 18 of 20 from the 2008 squad and all 23 from 2009.

“Our grade point average is tremendous,” he noted. “Seventy-five percent made the Athletic Director’s Academic Honor Roll.”

“They’ve bought into our football program academically. They’ve bought into it socially. And they always work hard.

“I run a tight ship. I’m very, very demanding. But I think I’m also fair and I don’t curse them.” Stewart said.

But he believes there’s a certain life a football player has to live to be a good student-athlete. And he is content that all of them are doing very, very well.

“That’s what makes me so happy,” the head man added. “And I am so pleased with the other things.

“We have a strong nucleus of players back, and I have a great staff. I am trying to do things the right way for this university and this great state. I really am.”

WVU has not won the Big East Championship since 2007. This year’s team tied with two-time defending champion Cincinnati for second place, behind Pitt, in the conference’s preseason poll.

The Mountaineers open their season against Costal Carolina on Saturday, September 4, at Mountaineer Field/Mylan Puskar Stadium.

Text Only
Mickey Furfari
  • FURFARI COLUMN - City council to honor Mountaineers

    It seems fitting that Morgantown City Council has decided to honor West Virginia University’s 2011 champion football team.
    Mayor Jim Manilla will preside at a committee of the whole meeting on Tuesday evening in the council chamber.

    January 30, 2012

  • FURFARI COLUMN - Cronin says Kevin Jones is NBA caliber

    Kevin Jones, the leader of the surprising West Virginia University men’s basketball team, continues to be No. 1 in the Big East in both scoring (20.7 ppg) and rebounding (11.3).

    January 25, 2012

  • FURFARI COLUMN - Admirers will miss Joe Paterno

    I am deeply saddened by the tragic death of Joe Paterno last Sunday at 85 in State College, Pa.

    January 24, 2012

  • FURFARI COLUMN: WVU football captains named for 2011 season

    Coach Dana Holgorsen has announced that a junior and three seniors have been named permanent captains of West Virginia University’s 2011 football squad.
    They are quarterback Geno Smith, offensive tackle Don Barclay, linebacker Najee Goode and cornerback Keith Tandy.

    January 21, 2012

  • FURFARI COLUMN: WVU to receive fourth Lambert Trophy

    West Virginia University’s earth-shattering 70-33 victory over favored Clemson was witnessed by football TV viewers from coast to coast.
    But the fact that the Mountaineers won another Lambert Trophy in the process hasn’t become as well known. That is symbolic of NCAA Division I supremacy in the East.

    January 19, 2012

  • FURFARI COLUMN: Hinds doing ‘great job’ as new WVU point guard

    Coach Bob Huggins thinks freshman Jabarie Hinds has done a great job as a point guard for the West Virginia University men’s basketball team this season.
    The 5-foot-11, 175-pound native of Mount Vernon, N.Y., signed with WVU in November 2010 as a shooting guard.

    January 18, 2012

  • FURFARI COLUMN: WVU’s 43-0 win at Syracuse a Nehlen Favorite

    West Virginia, ranked No. 11 at the time, smashed Syracuse 43-0 in football on Oct. 30, 1993 in upstate New York in what remains the Orange’s biggest beating in this old and at times, bitter, rivalry.
    It has to be one of the most cherished victories in Hall of Famer Don Nehlen’s 21 years as the Mountaineer head coach.

    January 17, 2012

  • FURFARI COLUMN: What is Dunlap going to do?

    Where will veteran Steve Dunlap end up as West Virginia University puts together a new defensive coaching staff?
    That is, if he decides to return to his alma mater through the 2012 football season as stated in his contract.

    January 16, 2012

  • FURFARI COLUMN - Cignetti not surprised by Saban’s success

    Frank Cignetti, head coach at West Virginia University from 1976-79, has been a longtime admirer of Nick Saban’s football coaching ability.
    He gave the Marion County native one of his first jobs, as coach of the Mountaineers’ defensive secondary in 1978-79.

    January 11, 2012

  • FURFARI COLUMN - Austin’s return is great news for WVU

    I know a guy who couldn’t be happier that Tavon Austin has decided to return for his senior year of West Virginia University football.

    January 10, 2012

Featured Ads
Special Editions