The Backyard Brawl hangover was real… and I’m not talking about for fans in the Blue Lot. Much like the Ohio game, WVU’s 41-10 loss against Kansas on Saturday was a heaping slice of humble pie. Read more: EDITORIAL: Ground Control to Major Mountaineer
Back to Earth
Following the Everest-level heights of the Backyard Brawl thriller on September 13th, WVU (2-2, 0-1) was immune from criticism for the week. Rightfully so, too, because the win over Pitt was one of the biggest in the program’s recent history.
Regardless, the Mountaineers had the odds stacked against them well before they even took the field in Lawrence, Kansas. The Jayhawks were coming off a crushing loss to one of their biggest rivals, Mizzou.
Not only were the Jayhawks jockeying for a bounce-back performance, they were licking their chops at a banged-up Mountaineer squad: no Jaheim White, Jaden Bray, or the recent hero in Tye Edwards. An already lackluster offense looked bad again against Kansas.
Unlike last week, there was no home-field advantage to benefit the Mountaineers inside the newly renovated “Booth” venue. In fact, it was quite the opposite. A crowd of 40,320 rained down noise upon the old gold and blue.
The win over Pitt was enormous for the WVU football program and its fans. Unfortunately, the 41-10 loss to Kansas felt more like the team we can expect in Big 12 Conference action.
Who to (not) Blame
Anyone can play the blame game. That’s not what this article is about.
I’ll tell you someone who is not to blame instead. Zac Alley, WVU’s Defensive Coordinator, is one heck of a coach. You can point out the fact that the defense allowed 41 points, but context is everything.
Kansas controlled the clock, but not without the help of the WVU offense. The Mountaineers’ offense went three-and-out five times in Saturday’s contest. Only four of WVU’s drives lasted more than five plays, and WVU punter Oliver Straw had to boot the ball eight times.
Not only that, but the WVU defense was in-and-out every few minutes for the entire game. Kansas possessed the ball for over 33 minutes on Saturday. To add, 11 of 14 WVU drives lasted under two minutes. Say what you will about high-tempo offensive schemes, but it blew up in the Mountaineers’ faces. Zac Alley’s defense had no time to breathe, and it showed in the second half.
How to Predict the Rest of the Season
Simply put, this WVU team is flat-out unpredictable. It’s hard to temper expectations when they can lose four fumbles and beat Robert Morris by 42. It’s also tough when they only muster 10 points against a (good) MAC opponent, then turn around and beat Pitt at home in dramatic fashion.
I would suggest taking it week-by-week, because Rich Rodriguez can have this team primed to beat a ranked Utah squad this Saturday. However, there’s also a chance that the team could lose by four touchdowns.
It all comes down to who is healthy and who can step up to the plate when it matters. I still stand by what I wrote last week, by the way. The record at the end of November may not show it, but this program will have an identity.
Related: Snap Back to Reality: Jayhawks Drop the Mic on WVU
Final Thoughts
Take what you will from this, but the delusions have to stop. Naysayers are calling for heads on spikes again, despite unanimous praise following the 108th Backyard Brawl. It’s too early to talk about moving on from certain coaches, benching certain players, and magically fixing every problem.
If we can all ground our expectations, it can still be an enjoyable season. Moral victories aside, WVU has potential and, at the very least, won’t give up. Between injuries and a lack of chemistry, the cards are stacked against the Mountaineers.
Stay the course with the old gold and blue… it will pay off.
What’s Next
West Virginia turns its attention to the Utah Utes, a ranked opponent coming off a loss to Texas Tech. WVU will have the advantage of playing at home in the matchup, which could once again be a major factor in the game.
WV Sports Nation will have live updates and an abundance of around-the-clock coverage for the Mountaineers’ Big 12 home opener.
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