Pitt QB impresses WVU coach

Local Sports

Discussion

November 26, 2009

By JOHN RABY The Tribune-Democrat Thu Nov 26, 2009, 11:59 PM EST

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia coach Bill Stewart likes a comeback story and he sees a darned good one in Pittsburgh’s Bill Stull.

Stewart has noticed Stull’s improvement since the last time No. 8 Pitt (9-1, 5-0 Big East) and West Virginia (7-3, 3-2) met in the Backyard Brawl. The quarterback can help lead the Panthers to their third straight win over the Mountaineers tonight, something that hasn’t happened since Pitt won seven straight from 1976-82.

Stull is fourth nationally in passing efficiency with 18 touchdown passes and only four interceptions and has the Panthers within reach of their first Bowl Championship Series berth in five years.

“He is a classic example of a young man that stayed the course, kept fighting and got up off the carpet,” Stewart said.

Last year, Stull had to be carried off the field on a stretcher following a hard hit during an October loss to Rutgers and wasn’t the same after that. In a 19-15 win over West Virginia, he threw two interceptions, fumbled and twice took Pitt inside the Mountaineers’ 10 without producing points.

Stull’s 2008 season ended with a 7-for-24 performance for 52 yards in a 3-0 Sun Bowl loss to Oregon State. Fans even continued to boo him in this season’s opener, but he has been effective and can help Pitt improve to 10-1 for the first time since the Dan Marino-led team in 1981.

“To be booed at home like Bill Stull was, it’s good to see him stay within the framework of his upbringing,” Stewart said. “I hope he doesn’t get booed at Mountaineer Stadium, except for when he walks in the door. But I also hope he doesn’t receive a lot of cheers. We want to win this football game.”

If recent history is any indication, Stull has his work cut out for him. Running the ball has spelled the difference in the Backyard Brawl.

The series has produced 11 100-yard rushing performances in the past seven seasons. Pitt’s LeSean McCoy did it the past two years and Pat White and Steve Slaton for West Virginia in the two seasons before that.

West Virginia defensive lineman Chris Neild said it was difficult enough trying to get his hands around McCoy. Now he’s got to deal with Pitt freshman Dion Lewis, who is closing in on the Big East rushing title with 1,291 yards. His 129 yards per game are fourth-best nationally.

Lewis ran for 152 yards in a 27-22 win over Notre Dame two weeks ago.

West Virginia’s defense allowed one 100-yard rusher in its first seven games but has given up three straight to South Florida’s B.J. Daniels (104), Louisville’s Darius Ashley (164) and Cincinnati’s Isaiah Pead (175).

“We’ve got our hands full,” Neild said.

Likewise, West Virginia’s Noel Devine has five 100-yard games this season and could pose problems for the Panthers. He’s rushed for 1,098 yards but has been slowed the past two games with a sore left ankle.

“He’s small, but very fast, so you can’t let him get outside,” said Pittsburgh linebacker Adam Gunn. “We’ve worked on that, keeping those speedster guys like Devine from getting on the perimeter. We want to limit him as much as possible in this game.”

Although the game doesn’t factor in the conference race, it matters a lot to unfriendly neighbors separated by 75 miles of interstate highway.

West Virginia’s chances of winning the Big East ended with a 24-21 loss at No. 5 Cincinnati two weeks ago. The Mountaineers can’t even end Pitt’s title hopes – the conference’s BCS nod goes to the winner of the Cincinnati-Pitt game at Heinz Field on Dec. 5.

Still, a loss to West Virginia might cost Pitt any chance at an at-large BCS bowl berth if the Panthers also lose to Cincinnati.

“The Backyard Brawl, that’s all you need to say,” said Pitt defensive lineman Gus Mustakas. “We’re not looking past this game to Cincinnati by any stretch of the imagination.”

West Virginia is going after its first perfect home record since 1993 – Pitt ruined that chance in the 2007 regular-season finale, denying the Mountaineers a berth in the BCS championship game. Pitt is 19-5 since that game.

“The last time we went down there, it didn’t turn out so good for them,” said Pitt defensive lineman Mick Williams. “But it was a party for us.”

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Local Sports

T-D Sports Podcast 2/11/12
Sports editor Chris Morelli and staffer Shawn Curtis bounce across the Pittsburgh sports landscape as they discuss reports that the Pittsburgh Steelers won’t be bringing back Hines Ward, Jordan Staal’s return to the Pittsburgh Penguins’ lineup and the ongoing battle of wills in a prospective trade that would bring pitcher A.J. Burnett to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

February 11, 2012
Boiling over: Boiling Springs hands Bedford a defeat in Class AA semis
Friday started well for Bedford’s wrestling team.

February 11, 2012 1 Photo
Ferndale captures win in Jess Ambroe Classic
The listed opponent for Northern Cambria in Friday night’s Laurel Mountain varsity hockey game at Cambria County War Memorial was Ferndale.
What the Reapers encountered was an emotional and purple-clad Jess’ Army.
The Yellow Jackets were able to cultivate the emotion and high spirits to a 7-1 win in the second Jess Ambroe Classic.

February 11, 2012 1 Photo
[VIDEO] Muha hits milestone in Shade's loss
As the lone senior on a Shade girls basketball squad that also doesn’t have any juniors, Becca Muha has learned to lead by example.

February 11, 2012 1 Photo
Rams roll past Blue Jays
It had been a while since the Richland Rams had played a varsity hockey game. Though the Rams’ last action came on Jan. 12, Richland showed little rust as it trounced Conemaugh Valley 12-1 Friday evening at Cambria County War Memorial.
Richland (7-3-2) posted four goals in the game’s first 4:33 as it buried the Blue Jays (1-14) early.

February 11, 2012
High school basketball in brief
A closer look at Friday's boys and girls high school basketball games:

February 11, 2012
Mountain Cats look to get Pecora closer to No. 500
In some ways, it’s the perfect time for Pitt-Johnstown wrestling coach Pat Pecora to be reflective.
After all, his eighth-ranked Mountain Cats will be holding their final home match this evening when Anderson visits at 7 p.m. Pecora will be saying goodbye to six seniors, which is always an emotional time for him.
But he’s not ready to look back on his legendary career, even as he closes in on his 500th career win.

February 11, 2012
Judge sets May trial date in Sandusky abuse case
A judge said Friday he would decide soon whether to grant former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky greater freedom – and visits from his young grandchildren – while he awaits trial on child sex-abuse charges, but prosecutors countered that Sandusky’s home is not a safe place for children.
Judge John Cleland set a tentative trial date of May 14 for Sandusky and promised to rule quickly on a number of other issues, including dueling requests for changes to his bail restrictions.

February 10, 2012
Jordan Staal expected to return to Pens’ lineup today
Jordan Staal’s left knee is fine. His face, however, could use some work.
The Pittsburgh Penguins center plans to play today against Winnipeg in his first game since injuring the knee in a loss to the New York Rangers on Jan. 6.
The road back has gone smoothly enough until Staal started practicing with his teammates this week.

February 10, 2012 1 Photo
UPDATED Bedford advances in PIAA wrestling in odd way
It’s not often that a team can win a match at the PIAA Class AA Dual-Meet Championships while giving up two forfeits, but that’s exactly what Bedford did this afternoon at the Giant Center.

In fact, the Bisons won 30-29 over Pen Argyl because they forfeited.

February 10, 2012 1 Photo
More Local Sports Headlines

Local Sports

Search Results

Discussion

Pitt QB impresses WVU coach

Do you support Gov. Tom Corbett’s proposed state budget for fiscal year 2012-13?

Contact Us