A NEW ERA BEGINS FOR WVU IN BIG 12
West Virginia aims to begin its tenure in new conference with win today vs. unbeaten Baylor
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The football coaching staff at No. 9 West Virginia has insisted all week that today’s game against Baylor is just another on the team’s 12-game schedule. That when the team runs out of the tunnel and onto Mountaineer Field to a pulsating full house, it is playing just one team, not a whole league at once.
As coach Dana Holgorsen put it: “We’re not playing the Big 12. We’re playing Baylor.”
That may help the team stay grounded. But today is a very big deal for the Mountaineers.
The football program, long wanting to be taken seriously on the national stage, will play its first conference game in the Big 12 conference today at noon on FX.
It marks the beginning of an era expected to include highflying offenses, massive totals when it comes to passing yards, snaps, points scored and even the number of players needed to get through a game.
And it is a big first step to earning the kind of prestige, financial boost and influence that comes from being in a power conference.
“It is historic,” said athletic director Oliver Luck. “It’s sometimes hard when you’re in the moment to appreciate the historical nature of something. But ideally, this is our conference for a long, long time to come. I think if the players don’t realize it today, they will be able to look back on it and say this was special, being able to play in the first ever Big 12 football game here.” It won’t be easy. Five of West Virginia’s next nine games are against nationally ranked opponents: No. 25 Baylor today, No. 12 Texas on Oct. 6, No. 7 Kansas State on Oct. 20, No. 15 TCU on Nov. 3 and No. 16 Oklahoma on Nov. 17.
Baylor alone will be difficult.
The Bears are ranked sixth in total offense, a 568.7 yards per game average, in Division I-A, and quarterback Nick Florence leads all passers with 387.7 yards per game. Baylor also ranks sixth in turnover margin in Division I-A.
“If they throw it deep 10 times, and we just get it one
The argument, of course, is how can a team be sure that playing weaker opponents, those that help prepare the team for the season and serve as an easy win, won’t hurt its strength of schedule too much? Or that risking a loss against a strong opponent also won’t hurt?
“We want to be able to schedule high-level competition without the risk of a loss eliminating you for the playoff,” said Bowlsby. “Last year, if Oregon and LSU had to do it over again, Oregon might not opt to take that game [a 40-27 LSU win] again. There’s a balancing act there.”
Bowlsby said he’s looking forward to soaking in the atmosphere in Morgantown for the first time. He arrived late Thursday night, met with media Friday morning and was scheduled to lead the school’s homecoming parade before taking in today’s game.
“I love college football, love college football game days. I like seeing new venues, and all stadiums are the same— they look a lot better full,” said Bowlsby.
“This place has a reputation for being a very difficult place to play and I’m sure that that fact is not lost on Baylor. It’s hard to play a good team in a difficult place to play. So yes, I’m looking forward to seeing it, experiencing it and I’m looking forward to watching a good football team.”
out. The Scarlet Knights are the only team that has won three of its
Jordan Hall (Ohio State) comes off a career-best 105 yards last week vs.
first time since November 2008. … When QB Matt Soltes threw a TD pass in his time as head coach. Said Douds: “All that means is you’ve got an old football coach.” … Oregon State’s reward for knocking off then-No. 19 UCLA last week? A trip to California burger institution In-NOut. Total takeout order for four charter buses: 200 double-doubles and 100 orders of fries. Total cost for coach Mike Riley: About $700. A 2-0 start to the season with both wins against ranked teams? Priceless.