MORGANTOWN —
On Saturday, in the first scrimmage of the new season, Noel Devine was given the most simple of handoffs early on. Running behind a block by his fullback, a ruffian named Ryan Clarke, and a pulling guard, a crease opened in the defense.
Most backs would have made 15 yards or so off the play, but Devine is a runner of immense skills, able to see openings before others find them, hitting them quicker than others hit them, which means the defense support is often just a step or two late getting there.
In flash, he was gone, 79 yards to the end zone.
Six points, soon to be seven, off a reliable play, a good play made great.
“I feel pretty sure any time we run that play it will be popping yards,” Devine said.
Possessing unique skills, Devine presents an interesting situation for the coaching staff. They know that he is capable of breaking any play at any time and has done so in too many games to recall, game changing plays like a 65-yard burst to put away Oklahoma in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl or a 92-yard touchdown run to put away a pesky Syracuse team as a sophomore or an 88-yard touchdown to stun Pitt last year when the Panthers expected to make it two straight over WVU in Morgantown.
He is football’s equivalent to Barry Bonds, a home run hitter unlike any other. While he may have the same muscular build as did Bonds, he carries it on a body that does not weigh 180 pounds, and that creates the situation the coaching staff must resolve.
They give him the ball normally between 18 and 23 times a game and considering that he stands at the threshold of becoming the No. 2 rusher in Mountaineer history — capable of passing both Steve Slaton and Amos Zereoue — and is within reach of Avon Cobourne’s school record, you wonder what he might do if he carried more often.
Indeed, he needs 1,783 yards to top Cobourne’s career mark of 5,174.
Should the coaches give him the ball 35 times a game, like some of the great backs in history have carried in, guys that Herschel Walker and Earl Cambell and yes, even Cobourne, on occasion?
Certainly, Devine would accept such a challenge.
“If I’m asked to run it 35 times a game, I’ll do it. It’s not an option,” Devine said. “We have to go with what they give us. It would be off the wall to run it 35 times, but I’ll do it. I don’t have to prove anything to anyone but myself. That’s where it starts.”
See, there is the chance if you push Devine that injury will follow, considering his size, and that is something you don’t want.
Just Sunday, in another sport, came the perfect example of the right way to take care of your players.
Minnesota Twins pitcher Kevin Slowey had a no-hitter through seven innings but he had also thrown 106 pitches to reach that point. Manager Ron Gardenhire didn’t flinch. He removed him with the no-hitter, drawing the wrath of the fans.
"I would boo me too," Gardenhire said. "I took a pitcher out with a no-hitter going. But I would do it 1,000 times the same way."
Slowey had missed his last start with elbow tendinitis and Gardenhire knew that with 106 pitches he would not be able to complete the game, anyway.
"We're not going to come close to risking this guy," Gardenhire said. "It's the way it is. It's sad. I'd be booing too because I want to see a no-hitter, but I also know I'm responsible for this guy's arm."
And that’s the way it has to be with Devine, who is the main threat the Mountaineers have on the offensive side, the game-changer. To risk the season, to risk his career by overusing him would be pure folly and irresponsible.
Just think back to the furor that was created when Devine failed to make Big East media day, battling a case of in-clam-ation, so to speak. At the Big East’s clambake the night before the media day, Devine tried clams for the first time and became ill.
“I’m not a fan of clams. It was a first — and last — experience for me. It wasn’t very good,” he said.
Considering that Devine has come out of his shell this year to become a vocal team leader, the last thing they want is have him clam up during the season.
E-mail Bob Hertzel at bhertzel@hotmail.com.
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