|
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
By John Antonik for MSNsportsNET.com
August 11, 2008
| |
 |
| |
Bill Stewart |
|
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – It looks like Mister Rogers has a steel bar running down the back of his shirt after all. West Virginia coach Bill Stewart jokingly refers to himself as Mister Rogers for his always sunny outlook and positive disposition.
On Monday, Stewart killed ‘em with kindness.
“People say I’m an optimist. Well, no. Well then am I a pessimist? No. I’m a realist,” he said. “If someone does something well they will be told that. If someone doesn’t do well then they will be told that. If they don’t like, that they will be shown the door.”
Stewart was unhappy with the performance of his defense two days after Saturday’s scrimmage.
“There were some good things by the defense but I want them to dominate,” he said. “What does that tell you? The first day of camp I said the defense was ahead and now, the offense is starting to gel and are doing some nice things and picking it up. Did we get the job done offensively today? No. We went backwards on the goal line, but we’re going to look at the film tonight and get that rectified.”
Drawing Stewart’s ire was the defense’s inability to shed blockers and consistently get ball carriers on the ground.
“The defense had better stop reading their press clippings because they got knocked around today,” Stewart said.
Stewart was also displeased with a lack of discipline in certain situations, which he said was taken care of after practice.
“At the end of the day we did some down-ups and some up-downs; we bonded as brothers and everyone clapped hands and everyone left and was mad at Mister Rogers,” Stewart said. “You need 33 people. You need 11 on offense and 11 on defense and 11 on special teams. The rest of them are going to do exactly what we say, when we say it, without asking why we say it. They will be coached by us, and they will play. Isn’t that a great democracy we have here in sunny Morgantown, West Virginia?”
Stewart continued.
“Today was not a good day to be a Mountaineer football player if you are out there just for some R&R. Now, if you’re the Mountaineer football player that we know and the player that we have all grown to love, then it was a good day to be a Mountaineer because pads were popping and people were put in stressful situations here in sunny, Morgantown, West Virginia.”
Overall, the first-year WVU head coach said it was a very physical practice Monday afternoon.
“It was old-fashioned football; it was fun and we had people doing some fine things,” Stewart said. “I would not have carried that ball on the goal line drill for the love of money because the defense swarmed.”
Briefly:
As is the case during all fall camps, there remain several players wearing red and green jerseys. “If they are hurt with a ‘T’ then they don’t practice,” Stewart said. “If they are hurting then they will practice or they can go elsewhere. This is not a program for guys who do not like to get after it. It never has been and never will be.”
Stewart said quarterback Jarrett Brown (hamstring) and H-back Will Johnson (ankle) are improving. “Jarrett Brown is good. He is fine and we got him out there and he worked a bit. Will Johnson is fine. He’s working in shells and a helmet and he’s getting back to football.”
Stewart said the play of true freshman Tyler Urban at tight end may also be helping Johnson’s healing process.
| |
 |
| |
Ryan Stanchek |
|
One red jersey that has turned white is senior left tackle Ryan Stanchek and Stewart said Stanchek looked impressive on Monday.
“Now he has fresh legs but wow. He was flying around out there and gnawing on people,” Stewart said. “You notice when he’s back on the line. He was in a white shirt, with full pads, going 150 miles per hour and it was really great to see him back out there.”
Stewart mentioned that wide receiver Alric Arnett continues to fight through the soreness the comes with a week of camp to remain on the field.
“Alric Arnett is sore, bumped, bruised and tired and I’m proud of him,” Stewart said. “Tito Gonzales has taken 100 snaps every day but he keeps going so that tells me that we have some mature wide receivers that are starting to be pretty good players. Dorrell Jalloh is another one who keeps going; working hard and getting after the defense.”
Stewart announced Monday evening that the brief Mountaineer career of wide receiver Devon Lyons player has ended. Lyons informed the coaching staff of his desire to forgo a fifth year after playing four seasons at Ohio State and being granted a hardship waiver to play his last season near his father at WVU.
“We wish him all the best and he is a great young man,” Stewart said. “We all left on very good terms. He is a great guy, class act, who has a wonderful family.”
| |
 |
| |
Pat Liebig |
|
There is no more news on Pat Liebig, although Stewart remains confident of a positive ruling by the NCAA. Liebig continues to practice on a waiver granted by the Big East Conference.
Stewart said the team will work on special teams in the morning on Tuesday and have a full-contact session in the afternoon. He said there is the possibility of some additional scrimmaging.
“You don’t get better if you don’t go out there and get after people’s fannies,” he said.
 Print View  Email
|
