If I’m writing an entry today in a blog that deals with West Virginia football, it would be about the way that first-year head coach Bill Stewart tried to give away Saturday’s Big East opener to Rutgers. But, since I’m writing one about the Scarlet Knights, I’ll flip it around and bemoan the fact that R-U quarterback Mike Teel, despite playing a decent game, couldn’t take advantage of that “gift on a silver platter” and left his team short by the count of 24-17. Certainly, the Knights did better than my predicted final score of WVU 35-10. But close only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades and drive-in movies…and head coach Greg Schiano’s program is well past the point of moral victories. So, it goes down as the 14th straight loss to the Mountaineers… Rutgers remains winless in Morgantown…and, most importantly, the Scarlet take a backward step closer to not qualifying for a bowl berth for the first time since 2004.
Let’s get back to Mr. Teel, R-U’s fifth-year senior and third-year full-time starter at q-b. Yes, he was effective at times Saturday…especially in the touchdown drive late in the second quarter when he scored from five yards out…and again midway thru the fourth quarter when his t-d pass to Tim Brown made it a seven-point game. But, again, for the fourth straight game in the last two years when he faced a two-minute drill in a game-on-the-line situation, Teel failed to deliver the victory…something that is inexcusable for a signal-caller with so much experience. As for the running game, only 72 yards rushing will not get it done on any level and that remains a concern in the post-Ray Rice Era, even as Schiano shuffles his relatively-ineffective offensive line. The defense held its own at W-V-U…the coaching staff was solid…evident the fact that the Knights were able to cover well within the 14-point spread on the road. But, even with the bonehead decision by Mountaineer head man Stewart, Mike Teel was not able to deliver the goods in crunch time…a phrase that is well-repeated this season…and a good part of the reason that this underachieving, disappointing Rutgers football team is 1-4 and headed nowhere in 2008. Well, actually, the Scarlet Knights are headed for Cincinnati and another Big East game this coming Saturday. More on that later in the week. For now, Rutgers fans…cry in your beer and whatever is your beverage of choice during this trying football season.
