Big East: New coach, same old dominant Mountaineers

Clutching a cold beer on the steps of The Eisenhower House last month, Bill Stewart was ruminating about the beauty of Bud Light, Narragansett Bay, sunsets and hitting the coaching lottery at age 55.

"Life is great, isn't it?" West Virginia's new head coach said.

Speedy sophomore Noel Devine takes over at tailback from Steve Slaton. (Getty Images)

It is for him. While Rich Rodriguez put West Virginia back on the national map, Stewart is ready to give the program a heartfelt personality. Spend a few minutes with him and you immediately enter his orbit. Stewart is a force that has players, fans and recruits excited that the winning can go on in Morgantown post-Rich Rod.

Add media to the charmed list. The Mountaineers' former tight ends coach was the hit of the media day in Newport, R.I. At that Eisenhower House clambake the night before, the guy was just truly glad to be there. If Stewart wasn't propping up his Heisman candidate quarterback Pat White -- "We need to savor what this kid does" -- he was reprising that magic moment in January when he was named head coach after a Fiesta Bowl victory over Oklahoma.

"I thought of all the great people in West Virginia," Stewart said. "All the people like me who grew up in a trailer. ... All the people who think we're corny and backwards and all that stuff. We have some pretty smart cats back there too, tucked in those beautiful hills of West -- By God! -- Virginia."

Typical of Stew, he doesn't mind saying that he hit his knees the night of the game and asked God, not for victory, but for a chance against the favored Sooners.

"Just keep us in the fight. Keep us in the fray."

After the Mountaineers won by 20 and Stewart got a battlefield promotion to head coach, it was clear nice guys sometimes do finish first.

The college football world is waiting to see what happens next. Jon Stewart probably could win with the Mountaineers' talent this season. Rodriguez left the roster stocked. West Virginia is a prohibitive favorite in the Big East and considered a national championship contender.

The question is whether Bill Stewart can keep the buzz going. Recruiting for '09 is going great. Stewart actually had to "slow down" the commitment process in order to balance the class. A lot of skill players want to become the next Pat White or Noel Devine. Stewart knows the foundation has to be built in both lines.

It's clear, though, he has the support of the players. That's good in the short term, but when these Mountaineers leave, then what?

"I've seen him coach three different positions," left tackle Ryan Stanchek said. "I've been here five years, to see him get the head coaching job it was like, 'Wow!' To see the same thing just continue, that's what I love.

"He's such a family guy. I want to block for that man."

If Stewart has his way, White will stay at home more and pass more. The Mountaineers, though, are still at their most dangerous when White freelances with his feet. Tailback Noel Devine should become a breakout performer as a sophomore after averaging 8.6 yards per carry as a freshman. New offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen comes over from Wake Forest, where he was quarterbacks coach.

The special teams are solid. The defensive line has to be rebuilt but the D can fall back on an experienced group of linebackers. One of the few questions is what happened in December. The Mountaineers still can't figure out how they lost to Pittsburgh, a result that kept them out of the BCS title game.

"I think about that every day of my life," Stanchek said. "Obviously it hurt but this season is a new year."

And life should continue to be great in Morgantown.

Offensive Player of the Year

Pat White, West Virginia: The best set of legs in college football. West Virginia's fortunes will rise and fall on White's ability to pass well enough to set up his scrambles. Pittsburgh put eight and nine in the box and dared White to beat it. He couldn't.

Defensive Player of the Year

George Selvie, South Florida: Selvie turned down a shot at the NFL for a shot at greater things with the Bulls. Bad news for offensive tackles in the Big East. If there is a way to stop the spread option these days it's with a dominant defensive end. Selvie might be the best at his position coming off a season with 31½ tackles for loss and 14½ sacks.

Predicted order of finish

1. West Virginia: Only Miami has been more dominant in the Big East. The Mountaineers have won at least a share of four of the past five conference titles. Miami had at least a share of four in a row from 2000-03. It's going to take a huge collapse for West Virginia not to make it five out of six.

2. South Florida: The Big East title might come down to the Dec. 6 game at West Virginia. The Bulls aren't exactly concerned having beaten the Mountaineers the past two seasons. All-American defensive end George Selvie is a year older and quicker. If South Florida can get to No. 2 in the polls in its 11th year of existence, anything is possible.

Poll Who will win the Big East? 6% Cincinnati   15% Pittsburgh   14% South Florida   51% West Virginia   14% Look for an upset   Total Votes: 19298

3. Pittsburgh: There is still plenty of doubt whether Dave Wannstedt can capitalize on momentum created from the West Virginia win and great recruiting. It has to pay off sometime. LeSean McCoy is a candidate to go for 1,500 yards. If the quarterback situation is settled, the Panthers should be able to win eight.

4. Cincinnati: Brian Kelly seems like a short timer at Cincinnati but it will be great while it lasts. The 2007 Big East Coach of the Year produced a top 20 scoring offense and a defense that tied for the most takeaways (42). Watch for the Sept. 6 game at Oklahoma.

5. Connecticut: South Florida Lite. In only their sixth year of I-A existence, the Huskies shared the Big East crown. Nineteen starters return from a 9-4 team.

6. Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights have their coach and a facilities building boom in place. They don't have heart-and-soul Ray Rice. With the tailback, Rutgers won 26 games and went to three straight bowls for the first time ever. A fourth consecutive bowl might be a challenge. Is it possible Rutgers might have to become a passing team with quarterback Mike Teel throwing (often) to Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood?

7. Louisville: Steve Kragthorpe was last year's Bill Stewart. He inherited a team that went 12-1 and won the Orange Bowl. Then the bottom fell out (6-6). Quarterback Hunter Cantwell will have a fine senior season after waiting patiently behind Brian Brohm, but the defense has to get better.

8. Syracuse: Seven wins in three years for Greg Robinson are not going to get it done. Sure, injuries have hurt but it's hard to see any sunlight -- in Syracuse or in the Syracuse program. By Oct. 18, Syracuse will have played Penn State, Pittsburgh, West Virginia and South Florida. If Robinson makes it that far, the Orange could be 2-5.