WVU Mountaineer fans traveled to the home opener with cautious optimism after a close loss the previous week at Pittsburgh. They left in a sour, despondent mood after a 55-42 overtime loss to what was previously the weakest team in the Big 12 Conference.

They were witnesses to one of the worst defensive performances by a West Virginia squad in recent memory. There was a lack of intensity and apparently no one on the defensive staff gave any consideration to what they would do if their original game plan didn’t work. Despite being shredded with three touchdown drives in the second quarter there were no adjustments that appeared to be made and the second half was more of the same.

In its last four games going back to last November, Kansas had scored 57 points at Texas, 28 at TCU, 28 vs WVU, and 56 last week against an FCS opponent. So who in the defensive meeting room thought we could just show up?

Even with all that the Mountaineers still had an opportunity to survive with a win, but couldn’t overcome their own mental mistakes.

In the fourth quarter down 11 and needing two touchdowns to win in regulation, West Virginia committed not one, but two false starts inside the 10 yard line, the last with the ball at the 1. Instead of a touchdown the Mountaineers had to kick a field goal, meaning that the last drive which tied the game could have been a game winner.

Then in overtime the defense finally was able to get a stop on third down which would have forced the Jayhawks to attempt a field goal and afforded WVU an excellent chance to win with their ensuing possession, but a foolish roughing the passer penalty gave Kansas new life. They took advantage by scoring the touchdown to take the lead, then rubbed salt in the wound by tacking on an interception return for another score.

The Mountaineers gave up 219 yards passing and 200 yards rushing. The Jayhawks were a remarkable 12-16 on third and fourth down conversions. Head coach Neal Brown said after the game “That’s not how we play defense”. Well, actually it was. We all saw it.

West Virginia finally has a good quarterback leading the offense, but it will be for naught if is necessary to score every possession to win. That pressure began to show, as the Mountaineer offense was able to score only one touchdown in five possession of second half and overtime. 42 points should be enough to win, but it wasn’t.

It was startling to watch this one play out. Kansas was physically and mentally tougher, more enthusiastic, more disciplined, better coached, and deserved to win.

All of us tend to place too much emphasis on one game, and there is a long season remaining ahead. But it is fair to wonder where does this WVU team go from here?

How will they react? In 10 days West Virginia goes to Virginia Tech for a Thursday night game followed by the remainder of the Big 12 schedule. As of now they would be underdogs in every one of those last 9 games.

THIS SATURDAY: Thank goodness our annual FCS opponent appears on our schedule. Towson should be overmatched, but they have won both of their games and I confess to not being overconfident. WEST VIRGINIA 45 TOWSON STATE 27.