Mickey Furfari
WVU aims to stop Louisville air attack
MORGANTOWN — Coach Bill Stewart hopes West Virginia University can curb Louisville’s passing in a Big East football game Saturday at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.
“We’ve got to keep quarterback Hunter Cantwell from getting a rhythm,” he said Tuesday at his weekly press conference. “When he gets into a rhythm, he reminds me of Mike Teel of Rutgers (the conference second-leading passer).
“When Cantwell and his receivers get into an absolute pattern passing and catching, they are really special. When he gets hot, he’s a real hot shot. I hope and pray that we can keep him out of rhythm.”
Stewart is hopeful that, in doing so, the WVU defense can start by limiting the Cardinals’ yardage on first downs. In the long run, that probably would cut down on their third-down conversions.
At the same time, of course, the Mountaineers hope that their offense can assume some semblance of consistency and control the ball for highly productive drives. Inconsistent ball-moving has been a season-long problem.
“We need to hold them on third downs and make more of our third downs,” Stewart said.
Cantwell, a 6-5, 236-pound senior, has completed 170 of 296 passes for 1,947 yards and 14 touchdowns. But he has been intercepted 12 times. Doug Beaumont is the team’s leading receiver with 46 catches for 569 yards. He also is an outstanding kick returner.
This will be a big game for both West Virginia (6-3, 3-1) and Louisville (5-5, 1-4). The Mountaineers are still in the run for the Big East championship, while the Cardinals need a victory to become bowl-eligible.
While WVU leads this series by a 7-2 margin, Stewart pointed out that the rivalry has taken on high-scoring shootout status in the last four meetings.
The Mountaineers prevailed 36-34 here in 1993 before Louisville joined the Big East. Then they rallied for a three-overtime 46-44 win here in 2005, the Cardinals won 44-34 in Louisville in 2006, and WVU was a 38-31 winner at home in 2007.
“Those were great games to watch,” Stewart recalled. “They showed well on TV for the Big East. Those were impressive for both schools.”
He revealed that Jarrett Brown, No. 2 quarterback and at times slot receiver, will be seen in the backfield (presuming at a position other than QB) on Saturday. But he declined to say where in the backfield.
Brown is fully recovered from injury.
“He is healthy now, but he was hurting (as the starting quarterback against Syracuse Oct. 11) and played his heart out,” Stewart remembers. “I sure hope he can finish the season.”
He said this late in the season virtually all college football teams have some players “dinged up,” but that WVU, thanks to the bye week, is in fairly good health.
- Mickey Furfari
-
-
FURFARI COLUMN - Huggins: Decision is ‘totally’ up to Ebanks
Speculation continues to circulate on whether West Virginia sophomore Devin Ebanks will return next season or turn professional.
-
FURFARI COLUMN - Interest in WVU basketball is at peak pitch
Interest in men’s basketball was never higher than it has been this year.
So it certainly is not surprising that the Mountaineers, 24-6 for the regular season and nationally ranked in the Top 10, set an all-time attendance record at the Coliseum turnstiles.
-
FURFARI COLUMN - Huggins isn’t for old late-game foul rule
There was a rule in men’s basketball many years ago giving a team fouled during the final two minutes of the game the choice to shoot free throws or take the ball out of bounds.
-
FURFARI COLUMN - Miles has dream of WVU Final Four
If the West Virginia University women’s basketball team reaches the NCAA Final Four this year, it would be a “dream come true” for Sarah Miles.
-
FURFARI COLUMN - Fred Schaus was ‘One in a million’
The late Adolph Rupp, legendary basketball coach at Kentucky, told West Virginia University superstar Jerry West “son, you’re one in a million,” some years ago.
-
FURFARI COLUMN - WVU football cashes in on TV revenue
West Virginia University will receive slightly more than $3.5 million from the Big East Conference for football television revenue in the 2009 season.
-
FURFARI COLUMN - WVU’s Bryant stepping up of late
Darryl “Truck” Bryant has been one of the most consistent performers on the nationally 11th-ranked West Virginia University men’s basketball team (15-3) recently.
-
FURFARI COLUMN:Jones developing nicely for WVU
Kevin Jones, a sparkling 6-8, 250-pound sophomore, possesses all anyone could ask in one of the “Big Three” of the West Virginia University men’s basketball team.
The Mount Vernon, N.Y., native is second in both scoring (15.8 points) and rebounding (7.9 rebounds) per game.
-
FURFARI COLUMN: Gentleman Gene Corum will be missed
Most folks called him Gentleman Gene Corum.
No other description could have been more appropriate for West Virginia University’s head football coach from 1960-65. I cannot think of anyone being more gentle in my 65 years of sports coverage.
-
FURFARI COLUMN - WVU men have world of potential
It is downright difficult to compare athletic teams of different eras.
- More Mickey Furfari Headlines
-
FURFARI COLUMN - Huggins: Decision is ‘totally’ up to Ebanks
