Tyler Bitancurt

Bill Stewart had no words of encouragement for Tyler Bitancurt before he ran out onto the field to try his game winning field goal. Stewart was treating Bitancurt like a pitcher going into the ninth inning with a no-hitter – he didn’t want to jinx his freshman kicker.

“I looked at everybody but him,” said Stewart. “I looked at the snapper and said, ‘Well that won’t be bad luck.’ I snapped when I played – nobody else wanted to do it. I wasn’t real good but I’ve been in that situation. Jeremy Kash came right up to me and I said, ‘Knock it in big fella.’”

Before that, Stewart was actually displeased with Bitancurt because of his kickoffs.

“I told him to squib kick before the half and he hit the ball down there like a line drive,” Stewart said. “At the end I said I want you to squib again and he said, ‘I can’t do that the way you want it. Let Josh kick it.’

“That’s a pretty good teammate.”

There are four key parts to a successful field goal: snap, hold, protection and kick. All four were flawless Friday night.

“Cody Nutter who snaps the ball, Jeremy Kash who holds the ball because I benched him last year and his backup dropped the extra point in that 19-15 loss (at Pitt). We would have been going for three that day instead of six. But I’m real proud of Jeremy Kash the way he came back this season.

“And most importantly I’m real proud of Tyler Bitancurt. I personally recruited him and that’s special,” Stewart added.

Stewart had a simple explanation for not trying the field goal at the Pitt 1 on earlier in the game, “I wanted to win,” he said. “I didn’t want to kick field goals against the eighth-ranked team in the country. The coaches were yelling at me. I said, ‘I’m going for the jugular. I don’t care.’ When we scored that touchdown to go up 13-6, I said. “Whoa.’ That made me feel better.”

	Noel Devine

Stewart said the Devine 88-yard touchdown run was an old play from the past.

“It was a trap. Woody Hayes, Frank Kush, Don Nehlen. Trap. We don’t even have it anymore. I’m probably the only coach today who calls a trap in modern day football so you’re looking at a genius,” Stewart said to laughter.

“(Devine) saw the guy squeeze it,” Stewart continued. “A good back has to trust his guard. He saw that guy squeeze and he bounced it (the first time they ran the trap). Chris Beatty told him, ‘Do not bounce that again. If you see a truck, you trust that guard will get movement.’ He trusted and I just closed my eyes. I just heard the crowd and I saw him come out and I said, ‘He’s out!’”

Stewart singled out the big-time tackle made by Keith Tandy on Jonathan Baldwin midway through the third quarter when Tandy was one on one with Baldwin near the sideline. If Tandy doesn’t get Baldwin to the ground he may have taken it all the way.

“That was a big play,” said Stewart.

The view from above was that Robert Sands played his best game of the year for the Mountaineers. It wasn’t a coincidence considering that Sands nearly committed to Pitt before choosing West Virginia.

There were two differences this year from West Virginia’s previous two losses to Pitt in 2008 and 2007. One, West Virginia made the tough yards Friday night, especially the fourth-and-inches run by Ryan Clarke that set up the game-winning field goal. That was something West Virginia worked on religiously last spring.

And two, Pitt was the team that made the critical turnovers this year. Both of Bill Stull’s interceptions led to points for the Mountaineers. West Virginia was miscue free.

How about this for oddball? West Virginia has now defeated Pitt the last three times the Panthers have been nationally ranked in 2009, 2003 and 2002. Plus, including the tie in 1989, the Mountaineers are 4-0-1 in their last five games against nationally ranked Pitt teams.

West Virginia All-Time vs. Ranked Panther Teams
2009, W, 19-16 vs. No. 8 Pitt
2003, W, 52-31 vs. No. 16 Pitt
2002, W, 24-17 vs. No. 17 Pitt
1989, T, 31-31 vs. No. 10 Pitt
1988, W, 31-10 vs. No. 16 Pitt
1982, L, 13-16 vs. No. 2 Pitt
1981, L, 0-17 vs. No. 4 Pitt
1980, L, 14-42 vs. No. 11 Pitt
1979, L, 17-24 vs. No. 12 Pitt
1978, L, 7-52 vs. No. 20 Pitt
1977, L, 3-44 vs. No. 12 Pitt
1976, L, 16-24 vs. No. 1 Pitt
1975, W, 17-14 vs. No. 20 Pitt
1963, L, 10-13 vs. No. 3 Pitt
1959, W, 23-15 vs. No. 20 Pitt
1956, L, 13-14 vs. No. 10 Pitt
1955, L, 7-26 vs. No. 17 Pitt
1953, W, 17-7 vs. No. 17 Pitt
1952, W, 16-0 vs. No. 18 Pitt
1949, L, 7-20 vs. No. 19 Pitt

	Don Nehlen

West Virginia’s victory over eighth-ranked Pitt Friday night at Milan Puskar Stadium was just the ninth time in school history the Mountaineers have defeated a Top 10-ranked team. Bill Stewart owns two of those victories, also beating No. 3-ranked Oklahoma in the 2008 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

Don Nehlen has the most victories over Top 10-ranked teams in school history (three), followed by Stewart and Rich Rodriguez (two each). Gene Corum and Art Lewis had one each.

West Virginia’s Wins Over Top 10-Ranked Teams
Nov. 27, 2009 vs. No. 8 Pitt (19-16)
Jan. 2, 2008 vs. No. 3 Oklahoma (48-28)
Jan. 2, 2006 vs. No. 8 Georgia (38-35)
Oct. 22, 2003 vs. No. 3 Virginia Tech (28-7)
Nov. 20, 1993 vs. No. 4 Miami (17-14)
Oct. 20, 1984 vs. No. 4 Boston College (21-20)
Sept. 11, 1982 vs. No. 9 Oklahoma (41-27)
Nov. 21, 1964 vs. No. 9 Syracuse (28-27)
Oct. 16, 1954 vs. No. 9 Penn State (19-14)

How often has West Virginia run the table at home? Well, this year marks just the sixth time since 1948 that WVU has won all of its home football games. The Mountaineers’ 7-0 record at home this year equals the 1993 team for the most home victories in a single season.

“We’re not as talented maybe as a lot of people and we don’t win very pretty - and we’re going to try and work on that,” said Stewart, “but what we do seem to stumble through and bounce into and roll around in is that we find ways to win.”

Undefeated-Untied Home Seasons Since 1950
1962, 5-0
1969, 5-0
1983, 6-0
1988, 6-0
1993, 7-0
2009, 7-0

“I’ve been here 10 years now and I can’t ever remember that happening,” said Stewart. “That’s a pretty good accomplishment. I know a lot of them aren’t signature wins but they’re wins. The people here in these beautiful hills that support and revere these players appreciate that. That’s a real tribute to our senior class.”

	Posted by JT squid on 11/28/09 at 3:32 PM Coach Stewart can hang with the best of em. He will be here atleast another ten years.
	Posted by WVUgirl2003 on 11/28/09 at 5:59 PM Way to go Mountaineers!!!! What a fantastic win!!! Now: Beat Rutgers & who ever we're matched with in the bowl game = 10 win season.
	Posted by phil kinney on 11/28/09 at 6:24 PM where did that defense come from...first time all year....
	Posted by Cookie Man on 11/29/09 at 12:09 AM Great win against Pitt. Defense should get the game ball...they did great. Tyler nailed 4 field goals and gets my vote...makes up a little bit for past 2 years of losses
	Posted by Steve Modlin on 11/29/09 at 12:11 AM I couldn't be more proud of our 'eers! It was a certain type of redemption and it feels now as a time of cleansing. Let it roll over Rutgers! An old friend of mine told me one day that it takes guts to be Mountaineer fan. Let's all get behind JB and Coach Stewart and finish this season in true Mountaineer fashion. I'll be there how about you? Hey Coach did I see a wink of confidence before the field goal? Anyways I thought I did. Always an "eer fan
	Posted by MountieFan16 on 11/29/09 at 12:47 AM This one had me on the edge of my seat the entire game. Noel looked great, particularly on his 88 yard run. I have to be honest, I hated seeing Pat McAfee leave. But then I remember the Pitt game of '07 where Pat had a rough night. Tyler is the man kicking 4 FGs; including the game winner. The D had one of it's best games this year with Keith playing a heck of a game. Now, one more game in the league for this year. We won't win the title, but with a 9-3 record, we should get a bid to a decent bowl. "Let's Go Mountaineers!"
	Posted by philip on 11/29/09 at 2:07 AM thats the first time all 11 have played together this year without being injured this is the defense we were counting on all year but injuries changed that go mountaineers beat rutgers and a bowl win in jacksonville. Ill be there
	Posted by Tom Hill on 11/29/09 at 8:20 AM Not only is coach stu a really, really nice guy, he also coached aggressively and deserves to be the head coach. Imagine that!!
	Posted by Bob on 11/29/09 at 10:15 AM Congrats on a great win!!! I am very proud to be a mountaineer! Hats of to the toughness of the players. Defense best game of the year! Keep that same swagger.
	Posted by Palm Springs Mountaineer on 11/29/09 at 3:32 PM To be honest, the first quarter was painful to watch. I had no hope that the Mountaineers could win at that point. I love the fact that we won, but I am not sure that was because of Bill Stewart's coaching, or despite it. I personally love Bill Stewart--I think that he is a good man, and the poster boy for all that is good about high level collegiate coaching. But I still don't have confidence in his coaching abilities. He hasn't won me over yet, especially when his "hands-on" special teams continue to give up 40 yards per kickoff. But the bottom line is, WVU won, and with another "dodgy" win next weekend at Rutgers, we should find ourselves in yet another New Day's Bowl, and a possible 10 win season...So, why am I so down on a coach that might have a two year +interim bowl record of 20-7? Probably because I think that a better coach could be sporting at least a 24-3 record with the same talent. (2008 Colorado; 2009 South Florida; 2008 Pitt; 2009 Auburn). I know that I am spoiled--a lot of programs would be happy to have a 75% winning record over two seasons plus. But we are WVU, in the Big East, and we need to do better than everyone else, just to get equal respect...and I am not sure that Bill Stewart is the long-term answer for that. He has been great (or Doc Holliday has) at recruiting thus far. But let's start going after true CB and Safety guys, instead of trying to turn "athletes" into DBs--the DB is a highly sophistocated position in today's game, and those kids need years of experience before they get to college. Good luck at Rutgers and in the bowl. It would be great if the Mountaineers ended up meeting Virginia Tech in a bowl this year!!! Hokie Pokie time!
	Posted by Mntneer in Wisconsin on 11/29/09 at 6:38 PM Great Win. Finish strong Mountaineers. Thanks for not wearing the yellow again on National TV, we just look like ( and play like ) a more physical team in Blue.
	Posted by Richmond Mountaineer on 11/29/09 at 8:34 PM Thanks for the great victory, I would love to see the Mountaineers play anyone from the Anemic Coast Conference in a bowl game. The Big East just doesn't get the respect it deserves in this part of the country. Congrats to Robert Sands, was it just me or is he becoming the next great safety for the Mountaineers? That was the best game from a D back for WV in years.
	Posted by Mountaineer Fan In Va Tech Territory on 11/30/09 at 7:28 AM The commentators on ESPN College Final said that Pitt just wasn't playing up to par in their Friday brawl with WVU. I think they saw good, physical football that's on par with any conference in the nation. There's a bunch of bowl-eligible Big East teams this year and, I think, the country's going to get a good taste of how we do it in this conference. It would be sweet for a Big East team to beat an ACC, SEC, or PAC-10 opponent for sure.
	Posted by Ellis Mitchell on 11/30/09 at 7:44 AM Great win over ranked Pitt. When the going gets tough the tough gets going. The EER'S sure did that Friday. A loyal fan.
	Posted by Coach Shoe on 12/01/09 at 6:26 PM I think it is to the coaching staff and players credit that they defeated the # 8 team in the country despite the fact that they were at times discombobulated and could not find any rythm. Coaches dont always make the right decisiion in hind site. But good teams stick with their coaches and play hard and play to win despite adversity. So, I dont know if they should have gone for it on fourth and goal, and I dont understand some of the decisions that get made, but I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt somebody up there understands about team building and chemistry. Way to go Cocah Stewart.

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