[Postgame Thread] West Virginia Defeats Coastal Carolina 31-24

[u/CFB_Referee]

Box Score provided by ESPN

Team	1	2	3	4	T
Coastal Carolina	0	0	7	17	24
West Virginia	14	10	0	7	31

[u/Evening-Neck-529]

This is gonna be a loooong season

[u/ilovecatss1010 → u/Evening-Neck-529]

I met a guy at work who’s a huge WVU fan this offseason. Was really looking forward to enjoying WVU and Arizona games together. Hope this doesn’t dull his enthusiasm at all!

[u/ksuwildkat → u/Evening-Neck-529]

eh. As long as you get out of week 1 with a win it doesnt mean anything for the season.

[u/rageking5 → u/ksuwildkat]

Disagree. Id say it's pretty rare a team has a good season struggling against their cupcake game. Obviously it happens, but I don't think I've seen a wvu team struggle/lose their easy game and have 8+wins 

[u/YungShkreliOG → u/rageking5]

ND lost their cupcake game and went to the ship

[u/JustadudefromHI → u/YungShkreliOG]

We uh…are not Notre Dame.

With that being said UVa was always the game that defined the vibe of the season. Won’t know anything until then.

[u/YungShkreliOG → u/JustadudefromHI]

Yea we are definitely not notre dame, but my main point was to take this game with a grain of salt. I agree we’ll have a better understanding of how good we are after UVA

[u/rageking5 → u/YungShkreliOG]

Like I said, it happens. But pretty rare. That's the one outlier I thought of too. 

[u/YungShkreliOG → u/rageking5]

It is rare. I think there’s no way in hell we make it even to the cfp but don’t think we should worry just yet about it being a bad season

[u/lgmountaineer → u/rageking5]

Syracuse went 1-10 in 2005, and we beat them 15-7 in week 1. That team won the Sugar Bowl. I’m not saying that’s gonna happen, but there is definitely something to surviving week 1.

[u/GeospatialMAD → u/lgmountaineer]

We also only beat East Carolina by 5 that year

[u/GonePostalRoute → u/lgmountaineer]

Exactly.

With no preseason games, week 1 (and some ways, week 2) is all about ironing out what needs ironed out. That’s why I never object to scheduling a cupcake to start the season. Yeah, there can always be the Appalachian State-Michigan or UMass-Rutgers deals, but odds are, week 1, you’ll find a way, and go from there.

[u/chrobbin → u/rageking5]

I know this isn’t Covid era Coastal that was top 25 but there’s a whole lot of cupcake-ier opponents out there. There’s a lot to clean up but this is far from the worst win of week 1.

[u/raw-_-toast → u/rageking5]

In 2009, WVU somewhat struggled with FCS Liberty but went on to a 9-4 season including a win over top 10 Pitt.

[u/OdaDdaT → u/rageking5]

It depends on why you’re struggling. If it’s an execution issue it could be a wash assuming you can fix it as a staff. If it’s because you don’t have the dudes (and I mean this primarily in terms of body type. WVU should be considerably bigger than Coastal in theory) then it may be a deeper issue. Not to say WVU is as good as Oregon or that Boise is a “cupcake”, like you seem to think Coastal is, but that feels like a similar overall disparity to CCU and WVU, and you saw the Ducks struggle as well.

[u/TechnoVikingGA23 → u/ksuwildkat]

Nah. Last year Robert Morris pushed both of our lines around in the first half, and we saw how horrendous the O-line was last season. Now we've got Coastal making adjustments at halftime that completely shut down the run game and the O-Line was useless again. Our secondary is also bad again. Those problems don't just fix themselves after week 1.

[u/ABoyBrushedYellow → u/Evening-Neck-529]

Week 4 will be a hell of a show

[u/TheStinkyPoopy]

Seems our secondary was sniffing glue all offseason

[u/sterling_m_archer7 → u/TheStinkyPoopy]

I’d say the inside blitz cost the secondary to get burnt. The inside blitz doesn’t work when the qb looks so comfortable escaping the pocket.

[u/Humble_Knowledge_848 → u/sterling_m_archer7]

Agreed. I was so confused as to why we sent an inside blitz on a 4th and 10.

[u/Daydream_Dystopia → u/TheStinkyPoopy]

At least during halftime. 

[u/Empty_End_7866 → u/TheStinkyPoopy]

Better than the average WV activity /s

[u/Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu11]

CCU has a hell of a QB. I don’t care what anyone says about the competition taking the foot off the gas (which I’m not sure I agree with). Some of those throws were amazing.

[u/Sea-Debt3769 → u/Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu11]

Dude was dropping dimes all second half. If their defense could get a stop they’d be scary.

[u/BillNyetheFryGuy → u/Sea-Debt3769]

CC did make some stops though. WVU only scored 7 points in the second half and that was after a roughing the kicker penalty when they had previously been stopped.

Based off what I saw (although I’m a pessimist), it seems like CC has more they will build off of then WVU. WVUs biggest issue seems to be speed to me. In the second half they were sloowwwwww on both sides of the ball with the exception of a couple breaks on offense. Offensive line still seems to be pushed around as well which was the biggest thing we were hoping to improve on

[u/rageking5 → u/BillNyetheFryGuy]

Lack of speed and weak trenches is a recipe for disaster 

[u/Overall-Internet-103 → u/rageking5]

I only got to watch the first quarter. Going to finish the rest of the game now. 

That's crazy to hear though as much as speed was hyped up. As always we will see.

[u/TechnoVikingGA23 → u/BillNyetheFryGuy]

Slow, offensive line looks bad again if the CC coaches can make adjustments to totally shut down the run game, secondary is woeful yet again...just sucks.

[u/JamieByGodNoble]

Proud of the way we played in the second half. Not bad for a new coach's first game with an entirely new roster 

[u/masterassblaster31 → u/JamieByGodNoble]

Agreed. I was happy with what I saw today

[u/Sctvman]

First half WVU was like eating filet mignon, second half like eating Ramen noodles

[u/chuckmorris007 → u/Sctvman]

That’s the epitome of being a fan of WVU

[u/TechnoVikingGA23 → u/Sctvman]

One staff made adjustments, the other couldn't respond for whatever reason.

[u/Human_Coast_7377]

Agreed. Also RR called the most conservative 2nd half I’ve ever seen.

[u/Set-Admirable → u/Human_Coast_7377]

Neal Brown-esque, even

[u/sterling_m_archer7 → u/Human_Coast_7377]

I’m not sure if it was conservative play calling or if Hawkins didn’t want to throw on the rpo.

[u/hammer_it_out → u/Human_Coast_7377]

Felt clear to me he didn't want to show anything ahead of Week 3 with Virginia after he realized the offense can go. Feels like fans are panicking about the offense for no reason.

The pass defense, however, was very concerning.

[u/Set-Admirable → u/hammer_it_out]

So I listen to the CRC podcast recapping the game. I won't say that it made me feel good about the defense, but they made it quite clear that they were playing a different guys on defense in the second half than the first, and doing different things.

[u/TechnoVikingGA23 → u/Human_Coast_7377]

Started by kneeling before halftime and running out the clock. Neal Brown shit right there.

[u/JediShark → u/Human_Coast_7377]

Absolutely.  I was at the game and it was like watching two different teams.  First half was full gas, no brakes, run the score up.  Second half was just slow and conservative.  It felt like they just figured they could sit back and win without doing much in the second half.  CC did a good job of almost making them regret it.

The secondary was pretty trash too, and the d line couldn't sack Bailey if they're lives depended on it.  

They have some big kinks to work out for Virginia and beyond.

[u/mountaineer_93]

I think we showed a lot of good and a lot of bad with more of the latter. The first half shows our ceiling with the Cam and Hawkins run options. Our receivers were getting some separation and the ddefense did enough. It is clear once Coastal adapted to our playcalling and we just refused to adapt. The excuse that we don’t want to give up our playbook this early is meaningless when it was down to 10 points with a minute left and we couldn’t run out the clock. We called a neal Brown type vanilla offense knowing it wouldn’t work the entire second half acting like we were up 49 not 14z

I am hoping getting a kick in the ass in a way that does not cost us a loss can wake us up. That said, I am not sure the issues with the defense and handling mobile QBs is something that can be fixed with a few days of practice. That seems like it will be a long term issue.

I think we showed our ceiling as a team when Cam is getting gaps but also how comically bad it can go when our offense can’t establish the run. It’s going to be clear we have to win in shootouts against good teams and the offense cannot go ice cold like it did today and expect to win. Our entire defensive scheme seems to depend on the offense eating the clock and staying on the field. When we are giving up 30 second 3 and outs the defense gets shaken. We just can’t do it full stop.

All of that said, I stand by my assessment we never should have hired Rich Rod from a professional or personnel standpoint given his baggage with the university, legal history, and lack of meaningful results since the 2014 fiesta bowl

Also, fuck it. Wins a win, go mountaineers

[u/Nedstark78 → u/mountaineer_93]

We will be in the middle again in the Big 12 since Texas and Oklahoma are gone.But I still feel like west Virginia makes no sense in this conference 

[u/mountaineer_93 → u/Nedstark78]

Yeah, I agree. It used to be that the promise was we were just going to be in the big 12 until either the ACC collapsed and we could get some of our rivals and regional schools in the Big12 or everything would shuffle back to regional due to the super league formation (whether we are in it or not decided by size). Now, it looks like the ACC is going to survive in more or less this form probably only losing 2-3 schools and now college football is going to be more or less stable. Now we’re going to be stuck in a conference with the Texas and Southwest/mountain west schools while all our rivals are in the ACC. Shit with the save college sports act we would be blocked from even going to the ACC. I like the big 12 it just doesn’t have our rivals and the travel really hurts our teams

[u/royalbluehen → u/mountaineer_93]

That line you have about the defense scheme seeming to be the offense staying on the field and burning clock is crazy when Richrod’s goal is to run as many plays as possible. I would like to think a coach who has been around for as long as RR would have a better sense than that.

[u/hydrators → u/royalbluehen]

Don’t worry though, Rich Rod will get to the bottom of it with his coaches only meeting /s

[u/chester_white]

Deuce Bailey future superstar 😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨

[u/deadtofall12 → u/chester_white]

I'd say present superstar after that performance. Guy made some absolutely nutty throws today.

[u/chester_white → u/deadtofall12]

I agree I just don’t want to jinx it 😭😭😭

[u/jwilphl → u/chester_white]

I kept hearing "Duce Staley" and was wondering if he had a kid at Coastal. Nope, just an unrelated, dime-dropping QB.

[u/Infamous_Inside9172]

We definitely would've lost by 40 with Timothy Beck

[u/quitefranklee]

Some say if you listen closely you can still hear the mountaineers running up the middle for 1 yard

[u/rooer43 → u/quitefranklee]

Don Nehlen upvoted this comment.

[u/OverMyDadBody]

For reference it was 24-0 at halftime. Completely stopped playing in all facets. 

[u/Set-Admirable]

A win is a win, but I wish they had actually tried in the second half to score. At the very least, it would have helped the defense.

[u/Humble_Knowledge_848 → u/Set-Admirable]

Felt very Neal brownish, try not to lose

[u/deerhuntingdude]

Honestly I'm still proud of my chants. Chants up guys they went down swinging

[u/TechnoVikingGA23 → u/deerhuntingdude]

If you all had taken the 3 early instead of going for it, this might have been a much different outcome since you would have been able to go for the TD on that last drive.

[u/SolitonSnake]

Feels 100% like a loss. Worst second half in recent memory. Vibes in the stadium were putrid at the end. I don’t remember ever feeling like the season is doomed after a game 1 win before.

[u/TechnoVikingGA23 → u/SolitonSnake]

I heard "This feels like a Neal Brown coached game" several times today, lol.

[u/Bengjumping]

A W is a W. Some things to work on, but i'm not all that worried considering it's week 1.

[u/CoalCountryCoyote → u/Bengjumping]

Getting outscored 24-7 in the second half by a rebuilding coastal is absolutely worrisome

[u/Bengjumping → u/CoalCountryCoyote]

To me it doesn't really matter. We were up 17 with like 3 to go. Those last 2 drives mean next to nothing. I just hated how they went very conservative for the entire 2nd half. It worked out though.

[u/Human_Coast_7377 → u/CoalCountryCoyote]

We’re rebuilding too, 130th in returning snaps. 8 true freshman on the 2 deep. Heck we lost to Ohio last year week 2 and looked horrific week 1 against Robert Morris. My only concern from this game is the loss of Wiley on DL, he was in every play in the 1st half and that Injury didn’t look good.

[u/darad0 → u/Bengjumping]

UConn dub v flair.. what? This is pain to my big east soul

[u/Bengjumping → u/darad0]

I have 2 degrees from WVU and I grew up a UConn fan due to my parents

[u/AmishOnReddit → u/Bengjumping]

https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExN2R5cXd0c3I5Yzdzb29zdGozOXgyN3RoM3dyY2EybmlrM3YybmVrdCZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/RctUh2vJWm2sw/giphy.gif

[u/wvpropertyguy]

Can go ahead and fire RR now?

[u/ahuramazdobbs19 → u/wvpropertyguy]

We told you never get back with your ex.

[u/Own_Highlight2526 → u/ahuramazdobbs19]

Peak comment since you’re a UCONN fan. Well done 😂.

[u/Condom_Breaker256 → u/wvpropertyguy]

Yeah, give us back our shit

Y'all CLEARLY don't know how to use it properly

[u/hydrators → u/Condom_Breaker256]

You don't even need him. You won the same amount of games after he left

[u/Silent-Owl1023 → u/wvpropertyguy]

Seriously he has to go

[u/Fraegtgaortd]

WVU are the undisputed kings of making a win feel like a loss. That second half was an absolute clown show. Zac Alley’s defense is trash and RR’s commitment to running up the middle against a stacked box is why he and WVU don’t have a natty

[u/CultBro]

Win is a win game 1, on to the next one

[u/DionWaiteress]

I was so close to ending it all

[u/cowpoke1234 → u/DionWaiteress]

Me too bro, me too

[u/Megalomanizac]

I was concerned in the first half but the second they came to play. Went from down 24-0 to going on a 24-7 run, could have won that game if we didn’t give them a first down on that field goal.

The sunbelt may need to watch out

[u/TechnoVikingGA23 → u/Megalomanizac]

Your QB is unreal. Also if you take the 3 points early instead of going for it, that last drive suddenly becomes much more meaningful.

[u/JamieByGodNoble → u/Megalomanizac]

The dropped 4th down TD in the first quarter turned out to be huge. 

[u/ksuwildkat]

Goodness WVU that was way too close.

[u/agk927]

Will Coastal Carolina ever return to their glory days of 2020? I suppose this isnt a bad loss though, close score.

[u/GeospatialMAD]

Decent first half, dragged their asses the second half, coaches kept running the same damn plays despite them not working.

Yep, classic Dick Rod team.

[u/cluttered-thoughts3]

Hawkins ran a bit too much in our first cupcake game for me. I’m worried about him staying healthy

[u/TechnoVikingGA23 → u/cluttered-thoughts3]

Made that same comment multiple times at the game today, like is RR trying to get this guy hurt in game 1?

[u/MF_SKOOMA]

Fire Rich Rod and start another rebuild. This shit isn’t going anywhere but down.

[u/MillionDollarBaby19 → u/MF_SKOOMA]

Never should’ve hired him to begin with

[u/cluttered-thoughts3 → u/MF_SKOOMA]

Don’t need this talk rn. I’m getting to old for another rebuild

[u/MrSCR23]

Seems this flew under the radar with everyone looking at Nebraska lol.

Oh dear WVU. Coming from a Mississippi State alum, get ready to ask “When’s baseball season?” quite often

[u/marcusbw25 → u/MrSCR23]

We just had our best baseball season in school history, so yeah

[u/Dry-Membership3867]

I wouldn’t be too worried WVU Bros. Coastal gave us fits under Rich and we were alright

[u/hydrators → u/Dry-Membership3867]

You didn't play a P4 schedule

[u/ThatguyJimmy117]

Don’t think wins are supposed to feel like this

[u/SIser187]

Secondary wouldn't defend against high schoolers. Extreme turtling with the playcalling in the second half on offense.

How have I stayed sober?

[u/WVU-Miami-fan]

Darius Wiley 🤮🤮🤮🤮 that had to hurt man

[u/Otherwise_Ideal1937]

NCAA football

[u/DingleberryOrchard]

I was sad when Zac Alley left last season.

[u/Nedstark78]

Why did we let that team get that close 

[u/Silent-Owl1023]

We are awful. RRs scheme is unwatchable, run up middle, run up middle, qb misdirection 

[u/hydrators → u/[deleted]]

You’re in this thread now saying both no take backs and telling us to give your shit back lol

[u/sadneer69]

Fire RR, bring back Dana

[u/Cwrabz]

Lifetime extension for rich rod

[u/TheStinkyPoopy → u/Cwrabz]

Honestly it’s sad y’all lost to this awful coach