Monday Morning Quarterback: Patience wears thin for the Mountaineers
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A photo snapped from the north end of Mountaineer Field with eight minutes remaining in the 4th quarter was the best description of what West Virginia fans endured Saturday night.
In one of the biggest games of the season, with a ranked opponent visiting on homecoming, the picture showed only a fraction of fans remaining in their seats. The entire student section was gone, save for 40 or so lonely souls. At a point in the game where one would normally expect a raucous atmosphere in a competitive game, the humiliating outcome of a four touchdown defeat left the stands virtually empty.
This was an opportunity to turn the direction of the remainder of the 2024 season in a positive direction, but the Mountaineers failed miserably. In a year with many impact players returning and high expectations, fans are left wondering what has gone wrong.
After a terrible start, including giving up a pick six, West Virginia had shown some life in scoring to close to a 17-10 deficit, and at the end of the first half drove 88 yards to the Kansas State 4-yard line. The Mountaineers went for it on fourth-and-2, and a touchdown to tie the game would have been a huge momentum swing. But even coming out of a timeout the offense broke the huddle with only a few seconds remaining on the play clock and the execution of the play was hurried and failed.
Kansas State took the second half kickoff and faced fourth-and-5 from the WVU 40. A stop would have been another opportunity to turn the momentum, and the Mountaineers had quarterback Avery Johnson in their grasp for a sack but he escaped and completed a pass for a first down. The Wildcats then scored four touchdowns on consecutive possessions turning the game into a rout.
One can't sugarcoat that what we thought would be a good football team clearly isn't. The defense continues to give up huge scoring plays. In the second half versus Iowa State and the first half against Kansas State, WVU threw four interceptions. With what was supposed to be a vaunted ground game our running backs went nowhere in either game. The Mountaineers couldn't complete even half of their passes against Kansas State, and there was seldom separation by the receivers against the opposing secondary. The only success by the offense was scramble yardage by Greene, but the physical punishment in the process prevented him from playing the second half.
The confidence of the players and staff have to be shaken. Storm clouds are forming over the program, and the final five games could be a rough ride.
THIS SATURDAY: The Mountaineers travel cross country to play Arizona in a 7 p.m. game between two struggling teams. The Wildcats have lost three in a row, including a humbling home loss of their own Saturday night to Colorado (34-7). The outcome will likely be decided in favor of which team can best respond to adversity. The status of a number of WVU injured players is uncertain.
ARIZONA 27, WEST VIRGINIA 23.