MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — While two games don’t make a series, Dana Holgorsen’s 0-2 record against Charlie Strong at least gets us wondering …
In 2011, Holgerson’s first West Virginia team stood No. 21 in the AP poll when unranked Louisville came to Morgantown as a 12-point underdog and pulled out a 38-35 stunner. During 2014, Strong’s first Texas team was only 4-5 when it overpowered then-No. 23 West Virginia 33-16 in Austin.
Neither of those underdog teams will go down among Strong’s best. (Louisville went 7-6 overall and only 2-5 against teams with winning records. Last season’s Longhorns limped out at 6-7, including 2-7 against .500-or-better teams.) So what does it say when Holgorsen’s best two teams to date lost to a pair of Strong’s weakest?
Maybe nothing, after all, it’s only two games. Or maybe everything, should it happen again this week.
Just as matchups matter between players, maybe a coach with Strong’s defensive intensity has a bead on Holgorsen’s offensive system. Maybe Holgorsen’s shifting philosophy to ground-and-pound stems, at least in part, from what his offenses haven’t accomplished against Strong’s teams.
As of Tuesday, the Mountaineers were 8.5-point favorites against a Texas program Holgorsen described as having “darn near every advantage you could ask for.” No one could argue that point: Access to copious amounts of revenue and recruits makes UT the envy of most schools. Yet massive resources have yielded only 10 wins in 22 games under Strong.
Signature moments being scarce so far, Texas players ambushed Strong in the locker room after last season’s upset of WVU, lifting the unexpectant coach atop their shoulders for a jubilant display of crowd surfing.
“West Virginia is going to be mad,” Strong said, seemingly embarrassed for celebrating so overtly after a win that merely improved his team to 5-5. It proved to be crucial to the Longhorns’ bowl hopes, however, just as this week’s game figures to be. Hardly anyone gives Texas a chance in the Dec. 5 season finale at Baylor, placing the bowl-eligibility onus on two interim games against WVU and Texas Tech.
If Strong orchestrates a third consecutive upset over Holgorsen, we’ll pronounce it a trend. If West Virginia takes care of its business, the Big 12 stands unlikely to fill its bowl allotments, though WVU will take a huge step closer to one.
Check out Holgorsen’s complete news conference, highlighted by his takes on Skyler Howard’s play-changing authority, the unusual strife at Mizzou, and Ka’Raun White being ahead of where big brother Kevin was.