Pitt Redshirt Diaries : Tito Gonzales

Leftover Stew: AD who fired him still admires him

Chuck Finder — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 12:16:00 GMT

Chuck FInder | 8:58 a.m. Aug. 29

Davis Babb, the man who was the Virginia Military Institute athletic director responsible for firing him almost a dozen years ago, maintains that he'll be rooting for his former employee when Bill Stewart's second go-round starts tomorrow against Villanova.

"I'm really glad he got the opportunity to be the head coach at West Virginia," Babb, fired at VMI two years after Stewart in 1996, said over the telephone this week from Texas Christian, where he serves as associate athletic director for development. "I know he's going to do a great job there. I think he's a great choice at West Virginia. And he's been training all of his professional career for this. I'm really pulling for him."

Details of Stewart's exit can be found in today's story, but here's a little-publicized kernel of information: The newfound VMI superintendent at the time, the controversial Josiah Bunting III, between 1996 and 1998 spent roughly $500,000 million in payouts to fire Stewart, successor Ted Cain two years later and then Babb the AD.

Of Stewart's work at VMI, Babb said: "He came in and really brought a lot of people together, in terms of instituting a great work ethic. He embraced the alumni and the coaches from former years there, really did a great job of bringing together people around the program. He was really making great strides. He was winning some games. Crowds were coming back. He had a good staff in place. He was giving them all he had. I do think he did a good job there, I really do. He was a great fit at VMI, he really was. Believed in what the school stood for."

Babb declined to discuss Stewart's departure: "I want to focus on what's happened since then. Knowing his family and knowing him, I really proud of what he's done to basically get himself to this point, where he could be a head coach at that level of a program. I remain a fan of his and obviously cheered on the team at the bowl game," referring to the Fiesta that caused Gov. Joe Manchin, standing on the stadium sidelines, and the search committee, primarily Athletic Director Ed Pastilong, to want to remove the interim tag from Stewart and officially make him the head coach hours later.

Two other Stew ingredients heretofore missing:

* Ever the recruiter, Stewart escorted the son of friend and former fellow assistant Danny Smith around the WVU campus this summer and essentially won over a student who isn't a football player. To hear Smith tell it, the head coach "had a lot to do with [son Jason] going there." While touring the Rec Center, Stewart counseled Jason Smith about a few local establishments to avoid and gave the kid the cell number to reach the Mountaineers' head coach, something perhaps no other non-football freshman on campus possesses. Stewart did such a bang-up recruiting job, "In fact, I went down there and bought me a dang West Virginia shirt," joked the father, the Washington Redskins' special teams coach. Added the elder Smith, "Bill's a very disciplined person. He's a very disciplined person in his own lifestyle. He'll let them have fun, and he'll have fun with them. But there are certain rules and guidelines to live by, and guys won't misconstrue it. . . . Another one of his strengths is making the people around him feel good. If you've got talent and you feel good, you can go a long way. You have a tendency to play better, and you may play better than you think you are."

* Receiver Tito Gonzales from earlier in camp: "The most dramatic change is that it's a lot better atmosphere here. It's a lot more relaxed. . . , isn't too tense. You don't worry about making mistakes, which makes [mistakes] inevitable."

Now, back to Ray Fittipaldo's national games to watch . . .

Reed Williams to return to full contact

Chuck Finder — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:59:00 GMT

The news from the Mountaineers tonight, before they lapsed into a week-long media blackout: The red-headed middle linebacker is back, and first-year players litter the depth chart.

Reed Williams, the team’s top tackler a year ago, was permitted by team doctors to return to tackling in practice beginning Wednesday. That will mark his first meaningful contact since the Fiesta Bowl Jan. 2, when he was named defensive MVP and soon after underwent surgery on both shoulders. “Been awhile,” said Williams, who added that doctors remained unsure whether he would be ready in time to start or play for the Mountaineers’ Aug. 30 opener with Villanova.

As for the Mountaineers’ youth infusion, 11 true freshmen and redshirt freshmen hold spots across the 58-player positional depth chart released today. Among the prime names listed: freshman Tyler Urban of Norwin High at the first split-wide tight end (as opposed to Will Johnson at fullback/tight end); ballyhooed recruit Josh Jenkins at backup right guard (behind Jake Figner); third-team quarterback Bradley Starks, a redshirt freshman, at backup Z-receiver (behind Tito Gonzales); Seneca Valley’s Don Barclay, another redshirt freshman, at backup left tackle (behind Ryan Stanchek) even though his line coach considers him in the competition for first-team right tackle; freshmen Ryan Clarke and Ricky Kovatch at backup fullback (behind Johnson); and a pair of first-year fellows at free safety, redshirt freshman Eain Smith backed by freshman Robert Sands.

Recruits Mark Rodgers and Zach Hulse – but not Terence Kerns – were listed at tailback behind Noel Devine, but sophomore Jock Sanders is expected to help with backup duties.

“We got 12, 13 guys we’re counting on,” said Doc Holliday, the associate head coach filling in for new coach Bill Stewart, who was otherwise occupied with the blessing of Mountaineer Field tonight. “To be honest with you, that’s not a good situation you want to be in. You’d like to red-shirt all your freshmen. The thing is, you try to get yourself and your program in a position where you don’t need freshmen to come in and play.”

Holliday added the Clarke, previously hampered by a hamstring injury, has missed time due to a case of pink eye. He said Clarke, once he returns, must lose about 12 pounds off his current 252. “He’s still too fat,” said Holliday, who coaches fullbacks and tight ends. “If he can get down to 240, he’ll probably be a player for us.”

Other new additions: Alric Arnett is the first team X receiver; Chris Neild and Pat Liebig are vying for starting nose tackle; and spur safety is still a competition between Boogie Allen and Sidney Glover. Though several safeties are expected to play early.

-- Chuck Finder

The inaugural '08 Mountaineers scrimmage

Chuck Finder — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 07:53:00 GMT

Before anyone begins heavy breathing about certain players or units in today’s first West Virginia scrimmage of the season, remember this: The suspect defense, the one replacing seven starters, mostly manhandled the vaunted offense.

In other words, it’s early yet.

Now on to the facts from today on Mountaineer Field. . . .

* The Blue Swarm, as Coach Bill Stewart calls the defense, yielded just one touchdown in 34 full plays from scrimmage. Of course, it was two-time Big East offensive player of the year and resident Heisman Trophy candidate Patrick White who gashed the first-team defense with a 45-yard romp on the first-team offense’s second series, and fourth play, amid an option keeper right. Six plays later, White covered the final six yards. And that was pretty much it for the offense.

White found a wide-open Tyler Urban, the freshman tight end from Norwin, on the unit’s very next play for a 45-yard play capped by Urban lowering his helmet and knocking down the tackling cornerback Ellis Lankster (whom Stewart later kicked off the field and to the sideline for a penchant to “talk too much”). On the ensuing plays, freshman Terence Kerns galloped 42 yards as part of his 64 yards on 10 carries overall, and sophomore Noel Devine broke off a 15-yard option sweep among his 39 yards on five carries in the true scrimmage and 50 on 11 overall (counting goal-line situations). White soon after added a 26-yard out pass to Alric Arnett to finish the true scrimmage 4 for 8 for 81 yards; he added an 18-yard pass to Jock Sanders plus a sack in the goal-line situations.

In the end, Stewart declared the first-team defense a scrimmage victor: “They got nasty. . . . Real, real nasty. It was nice to see they were banging and clanging pretty well.”

* Stewart declared the second-team offense another scrimmage victor, but it played mostly without Jarrett Brown at quarterback – this redshirt junior sat out most of the afternoon with a “slight twinge” of a hamstring. “Just precautionary,” Stewart said. Rather, starting receiver Bradley Starks, the de facto No. 3 quarterback, needed and got plenty of work at his other job. He steered the offense to its only other touchdowns of the afternoon, in goal-line situations: a 9-yard Kerns run almost untouched around left end, and a 5-yard, skinny-post pass to freshman Ryan Nehlen.

“Brad Starks is a natural,” Stewart said. “I’m hoping he can be the starting slot and the third quarterback. That’s the plan.”

* Noel Devine took some hits despite wearing a yellow protective jersey, so it’s readily apparent a backup is necessary. Zach Hulse, who fumbled upon his first carry and subsequently hit the penalty stadium steps, and Mark Rodgers each got one carry of any significance. That left the bulk of the duty to Kerns, who seemed to take a major stride forward in the competition for Devine’s backup relief. Kerns, a 6-foot-1, 239-pound recruit who needed a year and a final academic flourish at Hargrave (Va.) Military to make it to Morgantown, showed both power and some scoot ability in the first live action.

“He looks good,” said first-team linebacker J.T. Thomas. “He looks like a man, know wat I mean? He’s going to bring another element to our already powerful offense. A great change of pace for Devine. This year could be great for him.”

Stewart was reluctant to heap praise, mostly because he was hacked at Kerns for failing to hand the football to an official upon a sideline sweep in a clock situation near the scrimmage’s end. “Bonehead mistake by a freshman,” Stewart barked. “He won’t make that mistake again.” Of Kerns two first-down runs and touchdown and all, Stewart said simply, “Kerns made a few good runs.” And that was that.

* As for the freshmen, Stewart singled out Urban, backup safety Robert Sands, backup guard Josh Jenkins (“looks pretty special”) and rotund second-team fullback Ryan Clarke. Uh, maybe too rotund. “He’s packing an extra suitcase,” Stewart said, “but we’re shedding it ever so slowly. That guy’s a freight train.” Quarterback Coley White, Patrick’s brother, also pleased Stewart despite having to run for his life at times.

* The injury report, in addition to Brown: Backup receiver Wes Lyons of Woodland Hills High had arthroscopic surgery on the same right knee that required a slightly more serious procedure this time a year ago, though the medical staff expects him back within a week; his brother, Ohio State transfer and backup receiver Devin, missed for an unspecified ailment; top-two cornerback Guesly Dervil dislocated a finger and is expected to return Monday, wearing protective padding; starting left tackle Ryan Stanchek (unspecified illness) and tight end Will Johnson (left foot sprain) are expected to practice this week.

* For those seriously wondering about the depth chart. . . The offensive line was the same as late last year, with Seneca Valley’s Don Barclay replacing Stanchek beside Greg Isdaner, Mike Dent, Jake Figner and Selvish Capers. Urban replaced Johnson at tight end. Starks and Jock Sanders appear to be the top two slots, with Dorrell Jalloh, Tito Gonzales and Arnett the top receivers. The first defensive line was Chris Neild between Scooter Berry and Zac Cooper, though Pat Liebig fits in there if the NCAA grants him a sixth year of eligibility. Middle linebacker Reed Williams sat out the scrimmage – he may well miss one game or more until his surgically repaired shoulders full heal – so Pat Lazear started between Thomas and Gateway’s Mortty Ivy. Lankster and Kent Richardson were the first cornerbacks with Quinton Andrews, Boogie Allen and Eain Smith at safety.

Geez, is this a blog or a book? As written above, it’s early yet.