It’s safe to say the West Virginia Mountaineers (1-0) had a slower start against Robert Morris (0-1) than most people anticipated. I’m here to tell you that early adversity isn’t always a negative. Read more: EDITORIAL: A True Tune-up Game
First Half Woes
WVU held a 10-3 lead at halftime against the FCS foe, with plans of domination thwarted by a trifecta of turnovers. Not often should a team be disappointed with a lead at the break, but it’s understandable why WVU and its fans were.
Despite a solid first-half performance from Mountaineer quarterback Nicco Marchiol, as well as WVU’s defensive front, it wasn’t enough to pull away early. Marchiol completed all but one of his passes in the first half, while also adding a rushing touchdown.
The defense held Robert Morris to 81 yards through two quarters. Again, self-inflicted setbacks negated the defensive prowess.
WVU Head Coach Rich Rodriguez implied in his post-game press conference that it was “West Virginia beating West Virginia.” Spot on.
Related: What to Take From Rich Rodriguez’s First Postgame Presser
Second Half Onslaught
The real Mountaineers walked onto the field for the second half. From the first snap, you could tell they were fresh off a stern coaching session.
While not a perfect half, WVU scored 35 points after the break. The Mountaineers racked up 391 total yards of offense in the final two quarters, 275 of them being rushing yards.
The Colonials couldn’t do anything. 42 total yards in the second half is the most telling statistic of the bunch.
The Importance of Early Adversity
It’s no secret that most programs try to start the year with at least one lower-level opponent. Usually, it’s to have a glorified scrimmage and pick up a win.
That was the case in this instance, but WVU had to work for the win. It wasn’t pretty, but it might benefit the team in the long run.
Unlike upcoming games against Ohio and Pitt, WVU could afford to be sluggish out of the gate on Saturday. Having an FCS team to challenge you, but not too much, was quite ideal. There’s likely not another opponent on the Mountaineers’ schedule that wouldn’t capitalize on WVU’s turnovers.
Look back to week one of the 2024 season. WVU’s season opener? A top-ten Penn State squad. Early turnovers were the initial culprit in the Mountaineers’ inevitable downfall.
Robert Morris played a tough game yesterday, but the Colonials aren’t the Nittany Lions. And after the way Ohio took Rutgers to the brink on Thursday, the Colonials aren’t even on the same level as the Bobcats.
Not All Was Fixed
Despite several halftime adjustments that led to the 45-3 final score, WVU still has plenty to work on. Nine accepted penalties against the Mountaineers were a sign of discipline, or lack thereof.
Seven of the nine accepted infractions were charged to the offense, the same side of the ball that garnered 625 total yards from scrimmage. It could’ve been well over 700 if not for the theater of miscues.
A True Tune-up
All the downtrodden discourse aside, this was a relatively ideal first game for the Mountaineers. They were humbled in the first half, but not enough to allow for one of the biggest upsets in college football.
A lot can be taken from this game. Whether it comes from film, practice, or personnel, Saturday established the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Say what you will about the win, but it was enough for me. Now, the focus shifts to Ohio.
I said in my preseason predictions that the trip to Athens, Ohio, could be a trap game. I still full-heartedly believe that it’ll be a battle. Ask Rutgers, the team that hosted the Bobcats and barely scraped by with a 34-31 win.
This isn’t to say the Mountaineers will lose by any means, but RMU gave the old gold and blue a dose of reality.
Final Thoughts
If you have concerns following the 45-3 victory, fair enough. As for me, however, I think the Robert Morris game was a true, much-needed tune-up game.
West Virginia is back in action at 4 p.m. next Saturday. The game will take place at Peden Stadium, home of the Ohio Bobcats.
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