MORGANTOWN —
Stedman Bailey’s recent public announcement that he will be skipping his senior season as a football superstar at West Virginia University should have surprised nobody.
The 5-10, 195-pound redshirt junior wide receiver from Miami, Fla., really had very little to add to his amazing list of athletic achievements.
He already had earned All-America honors, shattered numerous school and Big 12 Conference records, and seems solidly prepared to succeed at the next level.
Bailey is expected to be a high pick in the 2013 National Football League draft. Hopefully, he will eventually find time to earn his college degree. That’s about the only thing he really lacks as he turns pro.
For his three-year career as a starter, Bailey appeared in 39 games, caught 209 passes for 3,323 yards, and scored 41 touchdowns. No WVU receiver ever tallied more than that number.
Senior Tavon Austin remains WVU’s all-time career leader in both pass receptions (286) and yardage (3,404) as a full four-year contributor.
Bailey, who is No. 1 in most receiving TDs in a season (25), also finished with a school record in 100-yard receiving games with 14 — one more than Austin had.
A finalist for the prestigious Biletnikoff Award, Bailey ranked No. 2 nationally in scoring per game and No. 3 in receiving yards per game.
Going into WVU’s 38-14 upset defeat by Syracuse in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, he also ranked fourth in receptions per game (8.8), and No. 30 nationally in all-purpose yardage (135.8) per game.
He had a knack for getting big yards after making a catch. Bailey covered 29 and 32 yards, scoring the only WVU touchdowns in the bowl contest.
He was named to the first team All-America by CBS Sports and was a second-team All-America selection by Walter Camp Football Foundation and FoxSports.com.
Bailey made the All-Big 12 Conference first team at wide receiver. He also was honored on all-conference teams by the coaches, The Associated Press, ESPN.com, and CBSSports.com.
His 25 touchdowns this year on receptions tied Bailey for No. 2 all-time in FBS history. The record is 27 by Tony Edwards of Louisiana Tech, set in 1998.
Bailey now shares second place at 25 with Randy Moss of Marshall (1997).
He ranks near the top in several different situations statistically. But Bailey will be remembered most as quarterback Geno Smith’s No. 1 receiver.
They were teammates their entire time at Miramar High School in Miami as well as his three active years at West Virginia University.
How could anyone not remember him?
Mickey Furfari
FURFARI COLUMN: Bailey turning pro now is no surprise
- Mickey Furfari
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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- Was Geno Smith a victim of racial bias?
You may recall that recently a guy writing in Pro Football Weekly assaulted the talent, practice habits and character of WVU quarterback Geno Smith.
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FURFARI COLUMN: Harrick greatest WVU two-sport coach
