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Bell’s status unsure after Holgorsen says cornerback ‘took a week off’

Fifth-year senior cornerback Travis Bell may or may not be a member of West Virginia’s football team. “That’s a good question,” said coach Dana Holgorsen.

 

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia cornerback Travis Bell wasn’t dressed for Saturday’s 45-33 loss to Oklahoma after “he took a week off,” according to coach Dana Holgorsen.

A fifth-year senior who started nine games in 2013, Bell was suspended for spring practice following two arrests—for domestic battery and DUI—in a 10-month span. He was reinstated for preseason camp and appeared in the Mountaineers first three games.

Asked during the Big 12 teleconference Monday whether Bell was still an active member of the team, Holgorsen said: “That’s a good question. I will probably meet with him today to see where he’s at.”

On being 2-2: What does Holgorsen take from losing 33-23 to No. 3-ranked Alabama and falling 45-33 to No. 4 Oklahoma?

“I don’t know, maybe we’re the third-best team in the country,” he joked.

West Virginia trailed Alabama 20-17 at the half and was deadlocked with the Sooners 24-all. From a combined 12 second-half possessions in those two games, the Mountaineers offense scored one touchdown.

“We were in a good spot in both of those games at halftime,” Holgorsen said. “We came out and competed but we weren’t able to sustain that for four quarters. You’ve got to give Alabama and Oklahoma credit for having the depth and the physicalness to where they can continue to play at that level for four quarters.”

West Virginia has faced the nation’s fifth-toughest schedule so far, according to USA Today’s Jeff Sagarin, with its first four opponents owning an 11-1 record against other competition.

Perine express: The Big 12 appropriately chose Samaje Perine as its offensive player of the week for his 242-yard, four-touchdown rushing performance in Morgantown.

“I was impressed with him, but I tell you, Oklahoma’s offensive line … really did a phenomenal job coming off the ball,” said Holgorsen, referencing how blockers were attacking linebackers 5 yards past their typical linebacker depth.

“I’m not saying that I could have got a couple hundred yards, but there were some running lanes there that we’ve got to get closed up.”

Kansas kickoff time: The Big 12 announced West Virginia’s Oct. 4 home game against Kansas will kick off at 4 p.m. Eastern on Fox Sports Net. That means the game will be broadcast throughout much of the state on Root Sports.





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