Most of you may not have noticed, but I have a feeling that in the WVU football offices, they noticed.
In case you missed it, Alabama quarterback A. J. McCarron announced he is returning for his senior season next fall in Tuscaloosa. McCarron leads the nation in passing efficiency. He has thrown for an underrated 2,669 yards and 26 touchdowns.
Why is that significant for Mountaineer fans? Here’s why.
West Virginia opens the 2014 season against the Crimson Tide in Atlanta. Now that McCarron is coming back for the 2013 season, it means Nick Saban and his team will open 2014 with a new, untested quarterback.
Had McCarron left to enter this year’s draft, the Tide would have played a new quarterback in 2013 who would have game experience by 2014. The fact that Alabama should be playing a new quarterback in 2014 may give West Virginia an edge.
Keep in mind that, by the time the game is played, WVU should be playing a quarterback with considerable game experience. Someone should take command of the position next fall and be established by 2014.
So maybe you did not notice or think of this when McCarron made his announcement about returning for next season. But I am guessing that the WVU staff noticed.
I am also guessing that a forward-thinking guy like Oliver Luck noticed.
Heck, I noticed.