West Virginia Mountaineers Football Tickets

Rich Rodriguez got off to a slow start going 3-8 in his first season but has rebounded to win 9,8,8 and 11 games and has won at least a share of the Big East Title in each of the last 3 years (only other BE Title 1993). In 2004 they had 15 starters back and the best talent in the league. WV had their highest preseason rating ever (#11) and rose to #6 in the polls but lost their star RB to injury and actually dropped 4 games including the bowl. They putgained BE foes by a 74.7 ypg margin although they finished just 4-2. Last year they had to replace 26 lettermen, had just 8 starters back and their top QB and RB were both frosh. This time WV caught the breaks. They outgained league foes by 93.1 ypg but that was just the 2nd best mark in the conf and almost half that of Louisville (174.6). WV also was +14 in turnovers, won 3 games by 7 points or less while losing zero by that margin and had just a 12.1 offensive ypp and 17.4 defensive ypp (see pg 299). The Mountaineers were actually outFD'd in four of their wins and turnovers were the key to victories vs Pitt, USF and Rutgers. They got a miracle win at home vs L'ville when they trailed but somehow managed to force OT and won. WV has achieved 4 straight winning years and 4 straight bowl berths. They will garner preseason hype much like they did in 2004 as they have just 3 road games in league play and will be favored in all of their non-conf games as VTech drops off the slate. WV fans are thinking National Title and perhaps hoping for a rematch with ND from 1989 (a game which was also for the National Title). In 2004 they had the schedule and talent to go unbeaten but finished 8-4. Pages 299 and 312 both forecast a weaker record. With 9 starters back on offense and the key players now soph's, WV should top 2005's 32.1 ppg. Defensively, they lose 6 starters including three 1 st Tm and one 2nd Tm All-Big East players.

West Virginia Mountaineers Football 2006 Schedule