GRANDPA STEWART SMITES MOUNTAINEERS

Last year I was shocked when WVU chose to promote Bill Stewart to the head coaching spot to replace Rich Rodriguez.  What was the primary motivation for this?  In my opinion it was nothing more than loyalty.  The Mountaineer Nation had their feelings hurt when another coach dissed the coal state for better stomping grounds and they focused on a coach who would stick around for a while.  So they hired a guy who was nothing more than a lifetime assistant coach (other than a disastrous three year run at VMI) to lead their program.  I saw Stewart as the next Larry Coker, a nice guy who was not going anywhere else but was going to slowly erode the program from a high level of success into mediocrity. 

Boy was I wrong!!! Stewart wasn’t like Larry Coker, he was more like Steve Kragthorpe!!!  Everyone remembers how Kragthorpe replaced Petrino and was handed a Top 10 Cardinal team only to finish at 6-6.  Perhaps Stewart can prove he is the next Kragthorpe.  The real difference though is I believe Kragthorpe has the ability to rebuild Louisville in his own image and become a program that averages 9.5 wins a year under his tenure.  Stewart does not have the offensive or defensive mind nor leadership or recruiting ability to do the same.   Eer fans better prepare for a return to angry, drunken blowouts with WVU being on the receiving end.  And don’t worry, I’m sure it’s still all RichRod’s fault.

AN UNSIGHTLY CANE STAIN

Former Miami Hurricane linebacker Willie Williams was recently covered in an article in the Miami Herald this week (LINK).  It seems Willie now plays for the Bulldogs of Union County in Barboursville, Ky.  As a quick recap, Williams was once one of the most coveted players in the nation before announcing he was going to stay with the hometown Miami Hurricanes.  Williams came to the school with a total of 11 former arrests but the staff (Larry Coker at that time) went to the wall for Willie assuring the athletic department that he was a good kid who they could keep on the straight and narrow.  What did coach Coker get for all his effort?

He spent his first year out with a knee injury, then spent his 2005 redshirt-freshman season not starting but productively leading UM in special teams tackles.

His catching up to his potential was still in play here when, just prior to the 2006 season, upset he still was not listed as a starter, Williams said he wanted out.

Then-coach Larry Coker obliged. The thing about college players with 11 juvenile arrests — they are rarely begged to stay.

Williams was lambasted on his way out, called a criminal or a quitter or worse. It seemed like the end for him.

So the super athlete who was coddled by coaches, “friends” and teachers throughout his life suddenly found out that eventually you can shoot yourself in the foot one too many times.  After leaving Miami his reputation had preceded him and no other Division 1A schools wanted anything to do with him.  After going to West Los Angeles College (after even Pearl River Community College changed their mind about accepting him) to play and being taken under the wing of an LA County Sheriff, Willie was impressive enough for Louisville to offer him a second chance.  Williams went out and repaid the Cardinal Staff by being busted for marijuana possession after a traffic stop just 3 games into the season.

Williams then enrolled at Glenville State College in West Virginia but was ruled ineligible by the NCAA due to transfer issues.  So Big Willie ended up at Union College, an NAIA school.  Williams still has dreams of playing in the NFL and is proud that he “never gave up” but let’s face it.  This kid isn’t going to end up in the NFL, he’s more likely to end up in the State Penal System.  As soon as he’s done with football and loses the one thing that makes him any different than the rest of the folks on the block he’ll go back to doing the only other thing he did well . . . . breaking the law and getting arrested.  It’s just a matter of time.

DENNIS DODD PICKS UT UPSET

Apparently the comments of Gator players have once again led to providing bulletin board material for Florida’s opponent.  It seems that even the Volunteer coaches have bought into this blatant disrespect of the Tennessee program.

“We saw them give up,” Spikes added. “They quit playing.”

Phil Fulmer is not amused.

“(That) came from the coaches,” he said. “Somewhere that was said and they’re just repeating what the coaches said. … If they don’t respect us, why are they practicing?”  (LINK)

Using this some commentators have predicted revenge for the Volunteers at home.  While I think Tennessee will play much harder this year than last and I expect them to give as much effort on Saturday as last year . . . will that hold up for a full game?  Hell, if Tennessee just doesn’t GIVE UP they will play better than last year in Gainesville.  Early in the game if Tennessee can get some stops and put some points on the board this game could get quite stressful.  In the long run I don’t believe the Vols can beat Florida without a passing game because I don’t believe they have the physical dominance to push around the Florida defense for 4 quarters.  Without Crompton offering any time of passing threat the Gators will stack the box with big bodies and force the Vols into 3rd and long situations.  Tennessee has to stay balanced offensively for this game to be close in the 4th quarter.  So far I don’t believe Jonathon Crompton has the ability to consistently move the ball against Florida through the air.  If UT wins then Dodd looks like a genius.  If they lose and even lose big, everyone will forget after a few weeks anyways.