MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Dana Holgorsen called the spring game a reward for West Virginia’s players. Fans who stuck out around for the finish were rewarded as well.
Geno Smith, back on campus four years after leaving as WVU’s career passing leader, took a shotgun snap and lofted an 85-yard touchdown to Shelton Gibson, who’s preparing for the NFL draft.
In their shorts and sneakers, they gave a backyard football feel to the end of spring practice.
“Yeah, I was bored,” Holgorsen said. “Were you all bored? I got bored there in the fourth quarter.”
Holgorsen asked offensive coordinator Jake Spavital to draw something up for the speedster Gibson and the strong-armed Smith, who recently signed a free-agent deal with the New York Giants.
“That was fun,” Holgorsen said. “Geno came to the sideline and he goes, ‘Man, I knew (Gibson) could run, but I didn’t know he could run that fast.’ And he didn’t even stretch.”
Several ex-Mountaineers roamed the sideline Saturday, including Philadelphia Eagles running back Wendell Smallwood and Houston Texans safety KJ Dillon.
“Those guys mean a lot to me and the program, and I love having those guys back,” Holgorsen said. “They rub off on a lot of the younger guys. I had Geno break it down in the locker room. I mean, 90 percent of that team doesn’t know Geno — never seen him before — so it’s good to have those guys back.