2011 West Virginia Mountaineers football team
Encyclopedia
The 2011 West Virginia Mountaineer football team will represent West Virginia University
in the 2011 college football season
as members of the Big East Conference
. The Mountaineers are led by Dana Holgorsen
, who is entering his first season as head coach. West Virginia will play their home games at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia
.
where they were defeated by North Carolina State 23-7.
. Holgorsen replaces Jeff Mullen as offensive coordinator and will take over as the Mountaineers head coach in 2012.
On January 5, 2011 the Mountaineers announced the hiring of three offensive coaches; Robert Gillespie (Running Backs), Bill Bedenbaugh (Offensive Line), and Shannon Dawson (Inside-Receivers).
On March 10, 2011 it was announced that lone offensive staff holdover Lonnie Galloway (Outside-Receivers) has left West Virginia to take a coaching job at Wake Forest.
On March 28, 2011 West Virginia University announced the hiring of Daron Roberts as an assistant coach. Roberts will be working with wide receivers and special teams.
On June 10, 2011 West Virginia University announced that Bill Stewart had resigned as head coach and that Dana Holgorsen would assume the position effective immediately. Holgorsen has stated he will serve as his own offensive coordinator but that he was unsure who would fill the extra spot on the coaching staff.
On July 8, 2011 Head Coach Dana Holgorsen hired Alex Hammond as recruiting coordinator.
The Mountaineers have retained the entire 2010 defensive coaching staff for the 2011 season.
- RB
Jock Sanders
- WR
Eric Jobe - OL
Scooter Berry - DT
Chris Neild - DT
Pat Lazear - LB
J.T. Thomas - LB
Anthony Leonard - LB
Brandon Hogan
- CB
Robert Sands - S
Recap: WVU picked up the win in a game that was delayed a total of 4 hours, 22 minutes and called with 14:36 left in the 4th quarter. Following a 3rd quarter Tavon Austin kickoff return for a touchdown that gave the Mountaineers a 27–13 lead with five minutes to play in the third quarter, the game experienced a lightning delay that lasted 3 hours, 6 minutes. Once resuming play a Vernard Roberts one-yard touchdown run extended the WVU lead to 34–13 early in the fourth quarter, after which the game was once again delayed for lightning. It was ultimately agreed to by both teams to end the game. Geno Smith
lead the game for WVU going 26–35 for 246 yards and two touchdowns.
Recap: The Mountaineers overcame a sluggish first half exploding for 45 second half points and ending the game with 533 yards of total offense. Geno Smith went 20-34 for 371 yards and 4 TDs passing. As a team WVU passed for 431 yards, the most since 1998.
Recap:
The Mountaineers got off to a fast start, building a 27-10 halftime lead behind the arm of junior quarterback Geno Smith and rushing touchdowns from freshmen Vernard Roberts and Andrew Buie. The lead was built to 24, 34-10, in the third quarter on a Smith connection to high school teammate Stedman Bailey. Maryland scored 21 unanswered points to bring the game to within 3 points, 34-31, before the Mountaineers added another field goal to build their lead to 6, 37-31. The Terrapins drove down the field in an attempt to take the lead, but quarterback Danny O'Brien was intercepted by Eain Smith with 1:13 remaining in the game to seal it for the Mountaineers.
ESPN's College GameDay broadcasted from Morgantown for the first time.
Recap: Despite outgaining the tigers 533-366, West Virginia was unable to overcome poor tackling and special teams play. The Mountaineers also committed four turnovers. West Virginia's Geno Smith set school records for completions (38), attempts (65) and passing yards (463) against LSU's highly regarded defense.
Recap: West Virginia put together its most complete game of the season as the running game that had struggled in past weeks exploded to the tune of 360. True freshman Dustin Garrison set a school record for most rushing yards by a freshman with 291, good enough for a tie for the second most total in school history. WVU's 643 yards of total offense were a Mountaineer Field record.
Recap:
Recap:
Recap:
Geno Smith threw two second-half touchdowns to help West Virginia (6-2, 2-1 Big East) post its 17th straight win over Rutgers. WVU trailed 31-21 at the halftime, fighting both the Scarlet Knights offense, and harsh weather conditions. The Mountaineer defense allowed a season-high 31 points in the first half, but shutout Rutgers in the second. The Mountaineers won their first conference road game of the season, and became bowl-eligible in the process. Smith finished 20-33 for 218 yards, and two touchdowns, while Shawne Alston ran for a career-high 110 yards and two scores on 14 carries.
Recap:
Recap:West Virginia blocked a game tying field goal attempt as time expired to secure the win over the #23 ranked Bearcats, WVU's first road win over a team ranked in the AP Top 25 since their last win in Cincinnati during the 2007 season.
Recap:
Recap:
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
in the 2011 college football season
2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season, play of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level, began on Thursday, September 1, 2011...
as members of the Big East Conference
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
. The Mountaineers are led by Dana Holgorsen
Dana Holgorsen
Dana Holgorsen is an American football coach and former player. He is the current head football coach at West Virginia University, having succeeded Bill Stewart, who resigned under pressure on June 10, 2011...
, who is entering his first season as head coach. West Virginia will play their home games at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia
Morgantown, West Virginia
Morgantown is a city in Monongalia County, West Virginia. It is the county seat of Monongalia County. Placed along the banks of the Monongahela River, Morgantown is the largest city in North-Central West Virginia, and the base of the Morgantown metropolitan area...
.
Previous season
The 2010 West Virginia Mountaineers finished the season at 9-4 with a 5-2 record in Big East play. They shared the 2010 Big East Football Championship with Pittsburgh and Connecticut, with Connecticut earning the Big East BCS bid by way of tie-breaker. The Mountaineers were invited to the Champs Sports BowlChamps Sports Bowl
The Champs Sports Bowl is an annual college football bowl game that is played in Orlando, Florida, at the Citrus Bowl. The bowl is operated by Florida Citrus Sports, a non-profit group which also organizes the Capital One Bowl and Florida Classic...
where they were defeated by North Carolina State 23-7.
Coaching changes
On December 16, 2010 West Virginia University announced the hiring of former Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Dana HolgorsenDana Holgorsen
Dana Holgorsen is an American football coach and former player. He is the current head football coach at West Virginia University, having succeeded Bill Stewart, who resigned under pressure on June 10, 2011...
. Holgorsen replaces Jeff Mullen as offensive coordinator and will take over as the Mountaineers head coach in 2012.
On January 5, 2011 the Mountaineers announced the hiring of three offensive coaches; Robert Gillespie (Running Backs), Bill Bedenbaugh (Offensive Line), and Shannon Dawson (Inside-Receivers).
On March 10, 2011 it was announced that lone offensive staff holdover Lonnie Galloway (Outside-Receivers) has left West Virginia to take a coaching job at Wake Forest.
On March 28, 2011 West Virginia University announced the hiring of Daron Roberts as an assistant coach. Roberts will be working with wide receivers and special teams.
On June 10, 2011 West Virginia University announced that Bill Stewart had resigned as head coach and that Dana Holgorsen would assume the position effective immediately. Holgorsen has stated he will serve as his own offensive coordinator but that he was unsure who would fill the extra spot on the coaching staff.
On July 8, 2011 Head Coach Dana Holgorsen hired Alex Hammond as recruiting coordinator.
The Mountaineers have retained the entire 2010 defensive coaching staff for the 2011 season.
Key losses
Noel DevineNoel Devine
Noel Devine is an American football running back for the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2011 and was released four days later after leaving the squad. He played college football at West Virginia.He had a...
- RB
Jock Sanders
Jock Sanders
Jock Sanders is a gridiron football slotback and running back for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. He was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2011. He played college football at West Virginia....
- WR
Eric Jobe - OL
Scooter Berry - DT
Chris Neild - DT
Pat Lazear - LB
J.T. Thomas - LB
Anthony Leonard - LB
Brandon Hogan
Brandon Hogan
Brandon Hogan is an American football cornerback and return specialist for the Carolina Panthers. He started at cornerback at West Virginia University.-Early life:...
- CB
Robert Sands - S
2011 recruits
Spring Game
The 2011 Gold-Blue Spring Game took place on Friday, April 29, 2011 at 7 PM at Mountaineer Field. Over 22,000 fans attended to see the Gold team defeat the Blue team 83–17. The game was televised statewide on West Virginia Media stations.Polls
The Mountaineers were picked to win the Big East Conference by the media at conference media day, picking up 21 out of 24 first place votes.Coaching staff
Head Coach
Offensive coaches
|
Defensive coaches
Strength and conditioning
|
|||||
Roster
| 2011 West Virginia Mountaineers | ||||||||
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
|
Offensive Lineman
Defensive Line
Defensive End
|
Linebackers
Defensive Backs
|
Special Teams
Key
|
|||||
Schedule
Marshall
Series Lead: West Virginia leads 10–0Recap: WVU picked up the win in a game that was delayed a total of 4 hours, 22 minutes and called with 14:36 left in the 4th quarter. Following a 3rd quarter Tavon Austin kickoff return for a touchdown that gave the Mountaineers a 27–13 lead with five minutes to play in the third quarter, the game experienced a lightning delay that lasted 3 hours, 6 minutes. Once resuming play a Vernard Roberts one-yard touchdown run extended the WVU lead to 34–13 early in the fourth quarter, after which the game was once again delayed for lightning. It was ultimately agreed to by both teams to end the game. Geno Smith
Geno Smith
Eugene "Geno" Smith is an American football quarterback. He currently plays for the West Virginia Mountaineers in his junior year...
lead the game for WVU going 26–35 for 246 yards and two touchdowns.
Norfolk State
Series Lead: First meeting.Recap: The Mountaineers overcame a sluggish first half exploding for 45 second half points and ending the game with 533 yards of total offense. Geno Smith went 20-34 for 371 yards and 4 TDs passing. As a team WVU passed for 431 yards, the most since 1998.
Maryland
Series Lead: West Virginia leads 25-21-2Recap:
The Mountaineers got off to a fast start, building a 27-10 halftime lead behind the arm of junior quarterback Geno Smith and rushing touchdowns from freshmen Vernard Roberts and Andrew Buie. The lead was built to 24, 34-10, in the third quarter on a Smith connection to high school teammate Stedman Bailey. Maryland scored 21 unanswered points to bring the game to within 3 points, 34-31, before the Mountaineers added another field goal to build their lead to 6, 37-31. The Terrapins drove down the field in an attempt to take the lead, but quarterback Danny O'Brien was intercepted by Eain Smith with 1:13 remaining in the game to seal it for the Mountaineers.
LSU
Series Lead: LSU leads 2-0ESPN's College GameDay broadcasted from Morgantown for the first time.
Recap: Despite outgaining the tigers 533-366, West Virginia was unable to overcome poor tackling and special teams play. The Mountaineers also committed four turnovers. West Virginia's Geno Smith set school records for completions (38), attempts (65) and passing yards (463) against LSU's highly regarded defense.
Bowling Green
Series Lead: West Virginia leads 2-0Recap: West Virginia put together its most complete game of the season as the running game that had struggled in past weeks exploded to the tune of 360. True freshman Dustin Garrison set a school record for most rushing yards by a freshman with 291, good enough for a tie for the second most total in school history. WVU's 643 yards of total offense were a Mountaineer Field record.
Connecticut
Series Lead: West Virginia leads 6–1Recap:
Syracuse
Series Lead: Syracuse leads 31–27Recap:
Rutgers
Series Lead: West Virginia leads 33-4-2Recap:
Geno Smith threw two second-half touchdowns to help West Virginia (6-2, 2-1 Big East) post its 17th straight win over Rutgers. WVU trailed 31-21 at the halftime, fighting both the Scarlet Knights offense, and harsh weather conditions. The Mountaineer defense allowed a season-high 31 points in the first half, but shutout Rutgers in the second. The Mountaineers won their first conference road game of the season, and became bowl-eligible in the process. Smith finished 20-33 for 218 yards, and two touchdowns, while Shawne Alston ran for a career-high 110 yards and two scores on 14 carries.
Louisville
Series Lead: West Virginia leads 10-2Recap:
Cincinnati
Series Lead: West Virginia leads 15-3-1Recap:West Virginia blocked a game tying field goal attempt as time expired to secure the win over the #23 ranked Bearcats, WVU's first road win over a team ranked in the AP Top 25 since their last win in Cincinnati during the 2007 season.
Pittsburgh
Series Lead: Pitt leads 61-39-3Recap:
South Florida
Series Lead: Series even at 3-3Recap:
Rankings
External links
- http://msnsportsnet.com/