Like a $26 martini from one of Gotham’s overpriced swankpads, West Virginia’s trip to New York was unfulfilling and generated virtually no buzz.
Picked over by bowls that offered tradition and sunshine, yet given a chance to save face on a season that capsized months ago, the Mountaineers adopted a workmanlike persona only to get worked by a Syracuse team that was grittier and trending upward as the season aged.
Forget all that bluster about West Virginia being incentivized to pay back Syracuse for two recent losses, or Dana Holgorsen’s talking point of WVU having “unfinished business” after last season’s Carrier Dome drubbing. Saturday’s business was finished when Syracuse stormed out for the second half. The Orange moved 80 yards on an opening drive that was kept alive by three third-down conversions, a drive that launched a third-quarter onslaught in which Syracuse outscored WVU 23-7.
Syracuse’s execution on the money downs was exceptional: 9-of-18 on third-down tries and 2-of-4 on fourth. West Virginia, meanwhile, couldn’t scratch, finishing 0-of-11 on third-down conversions and 0-for-3 on fourth. Imagine, if you can, a team with a first-round NFL quarterback and two bona-fide NFL receivers somehow whiffing on every possession down.
Questioned on the extent of the snow and slush impacting his team’s offensive precision, Holgorsen said: “The surface was not good. It was sloppy out there and it was wet. The O-line had a hard time sitting down and receivers had a hard time running routes. The team with the best running game is going to win and they clearly had the better running game.”
Yes, as 369 rushing yards would attest, the Orange definitely had the better running game. But of Syracuse’s 28 first downs, eight came via pass and two more transpired on pass-interference penalties in which receivers had beaten the coverage. Syracuse simply embraced the elements and owned all the game’s crucial moments. And the team from Morgantown responded with a rousing, “oh, well.”
We realized not long after kickoff in Lubbock on Oct. 13 that West Virginia wasn’t a great team, but that’s not where the shame lies. The sad epitaph for the 2012 Mountaineers is that they lacked resilience. Defensive mix-ups snowballed into game-long traumas, leading new defensive coordinator Keith Patterson to proclaim late Saturday, “We’ve got to build a new foundation defensively. We have to re-establish an identity.”
As must the offense. Even though the statistical aggregate suggests WVU’s offensive season was a success, there were too many roll-over moments for a unit blending NFL skill and fifth-year experience. Of course one of those five-year veterans, center Joey Madsen, didn’t partake in Saturday’s game, having been felled by an insufficient GPA. That such an integral player, two starts shy of the school’s career record, would allow himself to flunk out of his final game was the week’s most curious pregame storyline.
The postgame theme, meanwhile, involved seniors seemingly having accepted the terms of their mediocre finish. Perhaps that’s an undeniable facet of human nature, to feel relieved rather than embarrassed after spending a frigid four hours getting gashed by a team more enthused and far more hungry. Not to presume anyone in the media has a capacity for mind-reading, but as players summed up their sick Saturday vs. Syracuse, their words floated on merciful undertones.
Coaches don’t think like that, of course, which is why minutes before the players came out, Holgorsen warned, “We have to re-evaluate a lot of things in our program.” Asked to elaborate on what areas demand review, he declined to specify, redirecting the topic to the 21 seniors who closed their careers with a 24-point loss.
Several of those seniors, after edging Iowa State for win No. 6 on Nov. 23, discussed how depressing it would have been not to reach a bowl game. Well, they made it to one, and that’s all you can say about that.
Gold and Blue Now Thursday, May 23 
Gold and Blue Now 5-21-2013 
Sportsline: Randy Mazey and Kyle Wiggs 
Sportsline: Dana Holgerson 
Randy Mazey 5-20-2013 
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Comments
WVU1
Dana Holgorsen says "we have to re-evaluate alot of things with our program." Hopefully, someone is re-evaluating where we are headed with you at the helm.
December 30, 2012 at 5:53 am | Report comment
Erik Viel
Well stated...it was an embarassing performance highlighted by penalties, lack of execution in all three phases and a real lack of toughness.
December 30, 2012 at 7:32 am | Report comment
JIM
I think that the coaching staff needs to take a long hard look at themselves. It's sad when someone has to call them during a game and tell them of mistakes being made. I believe we have the talent there but lack the ability to make adjustments with the players on the fly, as previous coaching staffs could.
December 30, 2012 at 8:12 am | Report comment
tony
i would love to have a sit down with stedman or tavon or geno when the cameras were off and ask them what went down. you can tell from stedman's interview that he wants to say something but stops himself. if this is because of bad eggs or sabotage or attitude of any involved..we.need to find out what it was. i know weve said it before but getting our asses kicked is one thing but quitting and putting forth that shameful of effort simply cant happen here. we have too much history and success to accept this lack of effort. for a team laced with pros, you will never find as inconsistent of a team as us this year. we can turn it around but it will take a few years. lets give coach our support in light of this new reality.its hard to swallow for a program as stroried as ours but it is our new reality and there is no magic fix, so we need to stop looking for one.
December 30, 2012 at 9:01 am | Report comment
Art in Ohio
I have told several people that something did happen prior or during the Texas Tech game. I don't know what happen but it did and no one is talking about it and probably never will. I have no idea what went on that week with this team. We must give DH two more years and see what happens. I like being part of this conference and the history behind it. Maybe we will have a diamond in the ruff when it comes to a quarterback...that hope...go Mountaineers.
December 30, 2012 at 7:41 pm | Report comment
Tom Cluchey
It only took one year to reduce our team to perform so poorly. The defense was absolutely horrible all season long. Geno Smith's been the star for three years, but all of a sudden after 5 games he turned into a rookie with no ability to lead the team. Where did our once great defense go?
January 1, 2013 at 7:56 pm | Report comment
Larry
After game 5, something happened within the internal framework of this team that caused the collapse. My guess is that it had something to do with coach/player relationship. We may never know but something bad wrong occurred with this team. The once well-oiled offensive juggernaut quickly fizzled out.
The die-hard mountaineer loyalists all keep pointing to a bright future and hopefully there is one. But if there is it is not in the near foreseeable future. The entire offense must pretty well be replaced. The defensive players coming back are rated as the worst in the nation. The kicker and punter needs to be replaced. There will be no Geno, Tavon or Stedman To give us excitement. No Joe Madsen to anchor the offensive line.
So No…The future of the WVU football team in my estimation is not Bright. It just is what it is…Dark and cloudy.
December 30, 2012 at 9:46 am | Report comment
JimJim
Two players leaving near mid_season and a team collapse, we will never know the reason, but we don't need to, the head coach is responsible. Nehlen/Rodriguez/Stewart. Their work gone in two years. How sad.
December 30, 2012 at 4:40 pm | Report comment
Chuck (not that one)
You're right on one thing, RR's work was gone in 2008 and 2009.
December 31, 2012 at 11:47 am | Report comment
Doug
Stewart recruited these defensive players. As mad as I am, we have to give Dana time to bring in his recruits. Then we will see.
January 1, 2013 at 11:03 pm | Report comment
David
Since the moderator nixed my first response I will try to be a little more discreet. Larry you are correct, I am not sure if it was between two key players or just one key player and a close friend outside of the team plus one other outside person. However, something did happen and I am not sure how it was rectified or if it has been at all.
One thing for certain, someone did not have their mind in the game for quite sometime.
December 31, 2012 at 5:57 pm | Report comment
Bert
If there is any consolation, for those of us who will probably continue to buy season tickets, there should NOT be a price increase !!!
December 30, 2012 at 11:44 am | Report comment
Lee
It is apparent to anyone who understands the game of football that this team was NOT prepared mentally or physically to win this game. I'm not ready to say get rid of the coach, but some of the play calling was just stupid. 3rd and 1 and you try to pass and then on 4th down try to run? While there may be a number of situations that can be pointed to as being the game changer, I think this was the main one.
With respect to defense, the change of coordinator only changed from not being able to stop the pass to not being able to stop the run or the pass. Unless wholesale changes are made on all three sides of the ball and schematically, as the coach alludes to, we will be the bottom feeders in the Big 12 for years to come.
December 30, 2012 at 12:35 pm | Report comment
Jay
It was interesting as to what happened to Bill Stewart... And yes this was a Big East game.
I am very disappointed in Luck's decision to hire someone without head coaching experience.
December 30, 2012 at 2:12 pm | Report comment
Chuck (not that one)
Well seeing as how there were 9 freshmen starting on D, and we're recruiting JUCO pretty hard I think it's pretty clear where the blame for lack of defensive talent needs to be placed. It's hard to make dinner when the cupboard is bare.
December 31, 2012 at 6:40 pm | Report comment
Doug
Jay. Bill Stewart had a losing record when he was hired as a Head Coach. I like Stews charactor, but he was not a good coach.
January 1, 2013 at 11:06 pm | Report comment
Jon
I just don't think it was as bad as the score indicates. The team as a whole did not look uninspired, although key aspects did, especially at quarterback. It looked like Geno just didn't feel comfortable playing hard before his big payday in such weather and field conditions. They do only have themselves to blame for the bowl location. On the other hand I thought Buie played hard. I thought Carl Joseph played hard, as usual, and there were others who gave effort as well. Lets hope next years team chemistry is much improved.
December 30, 2012 at 3:11 pm | Report comment
Charles Foster
A sad end to a season that started with so much hope. Our defense is so bad, we look like we're playing with 9 against 11. There is absolutely no defensive intensity. From the coaches on down. Is Dana Holgorsen the coach we thought he was? He couldn't seem to get the team ready to play after the 5th game. I guess we'll find out the answer when we have to do a complete rebuild on offense and defense. Please don't keep saying that it's hard for the defense to look good statistically in the Big 12. We don't look good in any category. Lousy special teams kickoff coverage. Lousy kicker and punter. We'll be lucky to be 6-6 for the next couple of years. Remember, we open the 2014 season with Alabama. That will be an embarassment. What a disappointing season.
December 30, 2012 at 3:27 pm | Report comment
JT
Come on WVU Fans, let's be truthful with ourselves, we aren't near as good as we think! Yesterday's game is just the icing on the cake. I believe that it starts at the top and works it's way down. Terrible coaching, terrible attitudes, terrible outcome. Something isn't right in "touchdown city " and it needs to be corrected quickly or we are in for a lot of rough football seasons. Holgorsen will get his chance to show how good of a coach he is (or isn't) in the next couple of months with the incoming freshman class. Let's just hope he is a better coach than he and his coaching staff has showed so far. There's always next year!
December 30, 2012 at 4:10 pm | Report comment
Tim
Defensive line play, or lack thereof, doomed us from start of game. That is why Garvin and Riggs had to make so many tackles after the first five yards were an open door.
December 30, 2012 at 5:20 pm | Report comment
Ross Ballard
It's Karma I tell ya. It's payback for the way they (and way too many armchair assassins) treated Coach Stewart. Oh, let's see, we destroy a good coach and replace him with one who has a drinking and gambling problem. Gosh, how could anyone have seen this crummy season coming? We will shake off Stew's curse when we shake off Holgorsen, Luck, Hickman, and Clements. They lead us down the primrose path to the outhouse.
December 30, 2012 at 9:27 pm | Report comment
Shadow
One question, How much is it going to buy out his contract that they just renegotiated his contract last summer?
December 30, 2012 at 11:08 pm | Report comment
Anthony
Well said! You got it all! Luck & Clements are bad for WVU and our fans. Send Coach Holgerson back to Oklahoma, or to whomever wants him.
December 31, 2012 at 7:10 am | Report comment
Dave
Luck and Clements? Seriously? Where in the hell do you think we would be right now if not for them? In the BE or the soon to be destroyed BE. We would have no money, no football conf, and the end of WVU sports as we know it. Get a clue dude! Stewart caused all of this mess to begin with. No recruiting for two straight years is what did this.
December 31, 2012 at 12:52 pm | Report comment
Anthony
Yes the BE really stinks! Just look at Louisville and Syracuse in their bowl games .Now see what WVU & KState did. Good riddance BE!?? Who's crazy here?
January 4, 2013 at 2:34 pm | Report comment
Brad
You obviously don't know much about football or WVU. Comments from people like you are absolutely pathetic. Judging by this alone I can assume you never went to WVU therefore be a fan or shut your face.
December 31, 2012 at 9:12 am | Report comment
Chuck (not that one)
Yes indeed. Morals play a huge role in win/loss records...look at Bobby Patrino and Bill Belichik.
December 31, 2012 at 6:44 pm | Report comment
James Fryer
Clements is the best thing that ever happened to WVU. There is more to a University than athletics.
January 2, 2013 at 8:43 am | Report comment
Tim
Ross
Really? Your solution is to throw out the entire bunch... Holg to Clements?
Really? Can we at least wait to he gets his recruits in the system?
As for your slanderous remarks about DH... Be very very careful my friend!!!
December 30, 2012 at 10:10 pm | Report comment
Pat Boggess
Well said!
December 30, 2012 at 10:30 pm | Report comment