Here's just a sample of the Nehlen era-I can still remember a game against Miami in 1996. The undefeated Mountaineers led 7-3 and faced fourth down at their own 30 in the game's closing seconds. Miami was out of timeouts, so the Mountaineers just needed to get off a punt to win the game. Everyone who knows a football field is 100 yards long knew that the smart play was to snap the ball to the punter and have him run out of the end zone giving Miami a safety and 2 points but sealing a victory for the Mountaineers. Well Nehlen had other ideas and decided to actually punt the ball. Stupid move #1. The Hurricanes' had a player named Tremain Mack, who I believe was leading the nation in blocked punts. Nehlen decided to block this guy one-on-one not with a tight end or lineman or running back. In a move that can only be described as delusional, Nehlen's chosen blocker was David Saunders. Stupid move #2. Now Saunders was a great wide receiver. He was not recruited for his blocking prowess. And against the likes of Tremain Mack he was over matched. Long story short.....Mack blocks the punt, the 'Canes score a touchdown and WVU's perfect season is gone. I remember seeing Nehlen's face on TV as the play unfolded. He had a look like he was asking himself "They did what? We lost? I have to remember to breathe!". Under Nehlen WVU finished the regular season 8-3 and lost the Gator Bowl to North Carolina. Great game coach..........
Nehlen is a lot of things but a motivational speaker he is not. His backwoods, gosh darn way of speaking is like a foreign language to today's players. Here's a quote from his meeting with the players from this afternoon. "Hey gang, you've got to understand that this football program is a heck of a lot bigger than Rich Rodriguez. This football program is a heck of a lot bigger than Don Nehlen. This program is a heck of a lot bigger than Bobby Bowden and all the other guys that have coached here," .
Hey gang? Golly gee! Gosh darn you fellas gotta try. WTF-The only thing missing is Shazaam! What a hypocritical redneck! This is the same guy that encouraged Rodriguez to take the Michigan job. It's no wonder that the WVU Athletic Department is in such a state of confusion. Nehlen couldn't motivate starving people to look for a free buffet!
Interim Coach Bill Stewart told the media yesterday that the team needs to "carry the mail". Does he honestly think his 18 to 22 year old players know what that means? These guys should be in a re-make of the Andy Griffith Show. Just go ahead and re-name Morgantown Mayberry!
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