2011 West Virginia Mountaineers football team

The 2011 West Virginia Mountaineers football team represented West Virginia University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season as members of the Big East Conference. The Mountaineers were led by Dana Holgorsen, who was in his first season as head coach. West Virginia played their home games on Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, West Virginia. They finished the season 10–3, 5–2 in Big East play to earn a share of the Big East Conference championship with Cincinnati and Louisville. The Mountaineers, in their final season in the Big East before moving to the Big 12 the following season, earned the league's automatic berth in the BCS due to being the highest ranked of the Big East champions in the final BCS rankings. They were invited to the Orange Bowl for the first time ever where they defeated Clemson 70–33. West Virginia is now 3–0 in BCS games and the 70 points in the Orange Bowl is the most points ever scored by one team in a bowl game.

2011 West Virginia Mountaineers football
Big East co–champion
Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy
Orange Bowl champion
Orange Bowl, W 70–33 vs. Clemson
ConferenceBig East Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 18
APNo. 17
2011 record10–3 (5–2 Big East)
Head coach
Offensive schemeAir raid
Defensive coordinatorJeff Casteel
Base defense3–3–5
Captains
Home stadiumMountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium
(Capacity: 60,000)
2011 Big East Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
No. 17 West Virginia $+  5 –2     10 –3  
No. 25 Cincinnati +  5 –2     10 –3  
Louisville +  5 –2     7 –6  
Rutgers  4 –3     9 –4  
Pittsburgh  4 –3     6 –7  
Connecticut  3 –4     5 –7  
South Florida  1 –6     5 –7  
Syracuse  1 –6     5 –7  
  • $ – BCS representative as conference champion
  • + – Conference co-champions
As of January 11, 2012; Rankings from AP Poll

Previous season

The 2010 West Virginia Mountaineers finished the season at 9–4 with a 5–2 record in Big East play. They shared the 2010 Big East Football Championship with Pittsburgh and Connecticut, with Connecticut earning the Big East BCS bid by way of tie-breaker. The Mountaineers were invited to the Champs Sports Bowl where they were defeated by North Carolina State 23–7.

Pre-season

Coaching changes

On December 16, 2010 West Virginia University announced the hiring of former Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen. Holgorsen replaces Jeff Mullen as offensive coordinator and will take over as the Mountaineers head coach in 2012.[1]

On January 5, 2011 the Mountaineers announced the hiring of three offensive coaches; Robert Gillespie (Running Backs), Bill Bedenbaugh (Offensive Line), and Shannon Dawson (Inside-Receivers).[2]

On March 10, 2011 it was announced that lone offensive staff holdover Lonnie Galloway (Outside-Receivers) has left West Virginia to take a coaching job at Wake Forest.[3]

On March 28, 2011 West Virginia University announced the hiring of Daron Roberts as an assistant coach. Roberts will be working with wide receivers and special teams.[4]

On June 10, 2011 West Virginia University announced that Bill Stewart had resigned as head coach and that Dana Holgorsen would assume the position effective immediately.[5] Holgorsen has stated he will serve as his own offensive coordinator but that he was unsure who would fill the extra spot on the coaching staff.[6]

On July 8, 2011 Head Coach Dana Holgorsen hired Alex Hammond as recruiting coordinator.[7]

The Mountaineers have retained the entire 2010 defensive coaching staff for the 2011 season.

Key losses
  • Noel Devine – RB
  • Jock Sanders – WR
  • Eric Jobe – OL
  • Scooter Berry – DT
  • Chris Neild – DT
  • Pat Lazear – LB
  • J.T. Thomas – LB
  • Anthony Leonard – LB
  • Brandon Hogan – CB
  • Robert Sands – S
  • Benji Powers- DB

2011 recruits

Spring Game

The 2011 Gold-Blue Spring Game took place on Friday, April 29, 2011 at 7 p.m. at Mountaineer Field. Over 22,000 fans attended to see the Gold team defeat the Blue team 83–17. The game was televised statewide on West Virginia Media stations.

Polls

The Mountaineers were picked to win the Big East Conference by the media at conference media day, picking up 21 out of 24 first place votes.[8]

Coaching staff
2011 Coaching Staff

Head Coach

Offensive coaches

  

Defensive coaches

  • Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers – Jeff Casteel
  • Defensive Line – Bill Kirelawich
  • Defensive Backs – David Lockwood
  • Safeties – Steve Dunlap

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and Conditioning – Mike Joseph
  • Assistant Strength Coach – Mark Smith
  • Assistant Strength Coach – Kevin McCadam

Roster
2011 West Virginia Mountaineers

Quarterbacks

  • 14 Paul Millard – Freshman
  • 12 Geno Smith – Junior

Running Backs

  • 20 Shawne Alston – Junior
  • 32 Ryan Clarke – RS Junior
  • 34 Daquan Hargrett – RS Sophomore
  • 21 Trey Johnson – Sophomore
  • 41 Ricky Kovatch – Senior
  • 38 Matt Lindamood – RS Junior
  • 40 Nate Majnaric – RS Freshman
  • 30 Pete Miller – RS Junior
  • 28 Eric Rollman – RS Sophomore
  • 14 Chris Snook – RS Sophomore'

Wide Receivers

  • 1 Tavon Austin – Junior
  • 3 Stedman Bailey – RS Sophomore
  • 23 Dustin Brown – RS Freshman
  • 83 Jack Crossin – RS Sophomore
  • 84 Andrew Goldbaugh – RS Junior
  • 5 Ivan McCartney – Sophomore
  • 83 Willie Milhouse – RS Senior
  • 80 Ryan Nehlen – RS Junior
  • 91 Soraya Alsien-Ogbebar – RS Senior
  • 86 Reggie Rembert – RS Junior
  • 11 Vernard Roberts – Freshman
  • 33 Thomas Sims – RS Freshman
  • 2 Brad Starks – RS Senior
  • 89 Tyler Urban – Senior
  • 15 Coley White – RS Junior
  • 81 J.D. Woods – RS Junior
  
Offensive Lineman
  • 70 Blaise Arbogast – RS Sophomore
  • 64 Don Barclay – RS Senior
  • 60 John Bassler – RS Junior
  • 72 Cole Bowers – RS Sophomore
  • 57 Jeff Braun -RS Junior
  • 70 Mike Calicchio – RS Freshman
  • 76 Pat Eger – RS Sophomore
  • 77 Josh Jenkins – Senior
  • 79 Nick Kindler – RS Sophomore
  • 74 Joe Madsen – RS Junior
  • 55 Tyler Rader – RS Senior
  • 65 Chad Snodgrass – RS Senior
  • 67 Quinton Spain – RS Freshman

Defensive Line

  • 95 Curtis Feight – RS Sophomore
  • 78 C.J. Huffman – RS Senior
  • 97 Julian Miller – RS Senior
  • 62 Donovan Pearson – RS Junior
  • 76 Ted Rietschlin – RS Freshman
  • 94 Josh Taylor – RS Senior
  • 99 Jorge Wright – RS Junior

Defensive End

  • 98 Will Clarke – RS Sophomore
  • 87 Trevor Demko – RS Freshman
  • 11 Bruce Irvin – Senior
  • 91 J.B. Lageman – RS Junior
  

Linebackers

  • 53 Tyler Anderson – RS Sophomore
  • 33 Jared Barber – Freshman
  • 54 Hunter Bittner – RS Junior
  • 32 Steve Bohon – RS Freshman
  • 51 Josh Contraguerro – RS Junior
  • 30 Josh Francis – Junior
  • 49 Troy Gloster – RS Freshman
  • 52 Najee Goode – RS Senior
  • 42 Donovan Miles – RS Junior
  • 50 Taige Redman – RS Sophomore
  • 47 Doug Rigg – Sophomore
  • 13 Jewone Snow – RS Freshman
  • 43 Casey Vance – RS Senior

Defensive Backs

  • 20 Ishmael Banks – RS Freshman
  • 26 Travis Bell – Sophomore
  • 18 Brantwon Bowser – RS Senior
  • 39 Nick Cadwell – RS Junior
  • 25 Darwin Cook – RS Sophomore
  • 33 Michael Dorsey – Sophomore
  • 3 Qudral Forte – RS Freshman
  • 28 Terence Garvin – Junior
  • 17 Lucas Henn – RS Freshman
  • 23 Brodrick Jenkins – RS Sophomore
  • 14 Cecil Level – RS Junior
  • 6 Pat Miller – Junior
  • 22 Vance Roberts – Freshman
  • 35 Lawrence Smith – RS Junior
  • 24 Eain Smith – RS Senior
  • 8 Keith Tandy – RS Senior
  • 16 Wes Tonkery – RS Freshman
  • 15 Anthony Vecchio – RS Freshman
  • 4 Avery Williams – Freshman
  

Special Teams

  • 40 Tyler Bitancurt – RS Junior (K)
  • 69 Jerry Cooper – RS Freshman (LS)
  • 46 Trent Lusk – RS Junior (LS)
  • 41 Michael Molinari – RS Freshman (K)
  • 87 Cody Nutter – RS Senior (LS)
  • 44 Corey Smith – RS Junior (P)

Key

  • – Currently Injured
  • – Current redshirt
  • I* – Ineligible

Schedule
DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 43:30 p.m.Marshall*No. 19
ESPNW 34–1360,758[9]
September 101:00 p.m.Norfolk State*No. 19
  • Mountaineer Field
  • Morgantown, WV
Big East NetworkW 55–1251,911[10]
September 17Noonat Maryland*No. 18
ESPNUW 37–3153,627[11]
September 248:00 p.m.No. 2 LSU*No. 16
ABCL 21–4762,056[12]
October 13:30 p.m.Bowling Green*No. 22
  • Mountaineer Field
  • Morgantown, WV
ESPN+W 55–1046,603[13]
October 8NoonConnecticutNo. 16
  • Mountaineer Field
  • Morgantown, WV
Big East NetworkW 43–1656,179[14]
October 218:00 p.m.at SyracuseNo. 15
ESPNL 23–4945,265[15]
October 293:30 p.m.at RutgersNo. 25
ABCW 41–3147,303[16]
November 5NoonLouisvilleNo. 24
  • Mountaineer Field
  • Morgantown, WV (rivalry)
Big East NetworkL 35–3857,287[17]
November 12Noonat No. 23 Cincinnati
ABC/ESPN3W 24–2148,152[18]
November 257:00 p.m.Pittsburgh
ESPNW 21–2060,932[19]
December 18:00 p.m.at South FloridaNo. 23
ESPNW 30–2741,743[20]
January 4, 20128:30 p.m.vs. No. 15 Clemson*No. 23
ESPNW 70–3367,563[21]

Game summaries

Marshall
1 234Total
Thundering Herd 7 330 13
• #19 Mountaineers 3 1777 34
Further information: Friends of Coal Bowl
See also: 2011 Marshall Thundering Herd football team

Series Lead: West Virginia leads 10–0

Recap: WVU picked up the win in a game that was delayed a total of 4 hours, 22 minutes and called with 14:36 left in the 4th quarter.[9] Following a 3rd quarter Tavon Austin kickoff return for a touchdown that gave the Mountaineers a 27–13 lead with five minutes to play in the third quarter, the game experienced a lightning delay that lasted 3 hours, 6 minutes. Once resuming play a Vernard Roberts one-yard touchdown run extended the WVU lead to 34–13 early in the fourth quarter, after which the game was once again delayed for lightning. It was ultimately agreed to by both teams to end the game. Geno Smith lead the game for WVU going 26–35 for 246 yards and two touchdowns.[22]

Norfolk State
1 234Total
Spartans 3 900 12
• #19 Mountaineers 0 102817 55
  • Date: September 10, 2011
  • Location: Mountaineer Field
    Morgantown, WV
  • Game start: 1:00 pm EDT
  • Game attendance: 51,911
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Rob King & John Thornton
See also: 2011 Norfolk State Spartans football team

Series Lead: First meeting.

Recap: The Mountaineers overcame a sluggish first half exploding for 45 second half points and ending the game with 533 yards of total offense. Geno Smith went 20–34 for 371 yards and 4 TDs passing. As a team WVU passed for 431 yards, the most since 1998.

Maryland
1 234Total
• #18 Mountaineers 14 1373 37
Terrapins 3 7138 31
  • Date: September 17, 2011
  • Location: Byrd Stadium
    College Park, MD
  • Game start: Noon EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:28
  • Game attendance: 53,627
  • Game weather: Cloudy
  • Referee: Dennis Hennigan
  • TV announcers (ESPNU): Rob Stone & Danny Kanell
See also: Maryland–West Virginia football rivalry and 2011 Maryland Terrapins football team

Series Lead: West Virginia leads 25–21–2

Recap: The Mountaineers got off to a fast start, building a 27–10 halftime lead behind the arm of junior quarterback Geno Smith and rushing touchdowns from freshmen Vernard Roberts and Andrew Buie. The lead was built to 24, 34–10, in the third quarter on a Smith connection to high school teammate Stedman Bailey. Maryland scored 21 unanswered points to bring the game to within 3 points, 34–31, before the Mountaineers added another field goal to build their lead to 6, 37–31. The Terrapins drove down the field in an attempt to take the lead, but quarterback Danny O'Brien was intercepted by Eain Smith with 1:13 remaining in the game to seal it for the Mountaineers.[23]

LSU
1 234Total
• #2 Tigers 13 14713 47
#16 Mountaineers 0 7140 21
  • Date: September 24, 2011
  • Location: Mountaineer Field
    Morgantown, WV
  • Game start: 8:00 pm EDT
  • Game attendance: 62,056
  • TV announcers (ABC): Brent Musburger & Kirk Herbstreit
See also: 2011 LSU Tigers football team
West Virginia on offense in the first half.

Series Lead: LSU leads 2–0

ESPN's College GameDay broadcast from Morgantown for the first time.[24]

Recap: Despite outgaining the Tigers 533–366, West Virginia was unable to overcome poor tackling and special teams play. The Mountaineers also committed four turnovers. West Virginia's Geno Smith set school records for completions (38), attempts (65) and passing yards (463) against LSU's highly regarded defense.

Bowling Green
1 234Total
Falcons 10 000 10
• #22 Mountaineers 17 21107 55
  • Date: October 1, 2011
  • Location: Mountaineer Field
    Morgantown, WV
  • Game start: 3:30 pm EDT
  • Game attendance: 46,603
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Rob King & John Thornton
See also: 2011 Bowling Green Falcons football team

Series Lead: West Virginia leads 2–0

Recap: West Virginia put together its most complete game of the season as the running game that had struggled in past weeks exploded to the tune of 360. True freshman Dustin Garrison set a school record for most rushing yards by a freshman with 291, good enough for a tie for the second most total in school history. WVU's 643 yards of total offense were a Mountaineer Field record.

Connecticut
1 234Total
Huskies 3 607 16
• #16 Mountaineers 3 72310 43
  • Date: October 8, 2011
  • Location: Mountaineer Field
    Morgantown, WV
  • Game start: Noon EDT
  • Game attendance: 56,179
  • Television network: ESPN+
See also: 2011 Connecticut Huskies football team

Series Lead: West Virginia leads 6–1

Recap:

Syracuse
1 234Total
#11 Mountaineers 3 677 23
• Orange 7 141414 49
See also: Ben Schwartzwalder Trophy and 2011 Syracuse Orange football team

Series Lead: Syracuse leads 31–27

Recap:

Rutgers
1 234Total
• #25 Mountaineers 14 7713 41
Scarlet Knights 17 1400 31
See also: 2011 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team

Series Lead: West Virginia leads 33–4–2

Recap: Geno Smith threw two second-half touchdowns to help West Virginia (6–2, 2–1 Big East) post its 17th straight win over Rutgers. WVU trailed 31–21 at the halftime, fighting both the Scarlet Knights offense, and harsh weather conditions. The Mountaineer defense allowed a season-high 31 points in the first half, but shutout Rutgers in the second. The Mountaineers won their first conference road game of the season, and became bowl-eligible in the process. Smith finished 20–33 for 218 yards, and two touchdowns, while Shawne Alston ran for a career-high 110 yards and two scores on 14 carries[25]

Louisville
1 234Total
• Cardinals 14 7314 38
#24 Mountaineers 7 14014 35
  • Date: November 5, 2011
  • Location: Mountaineer Field
    Morgantown, WV
  • Game start: Noon EDT
  • Game attendance: 57,287
  • Television network: ESPN+
See also: 2011 Louisville Cardinals football team

Series Lead: West Virginia leads 10–2

Recap:

Cincinnati
1 234Total
• Mountaineers 7 1007 24
#23 Bearcats 7 077 21
See also: 2011 Cincinnati Bearcats football team

Series Lead: West Virginia leads 15–3–1

Recap:West Virginia blocked a game-tying field goal attempt as time expired to secure the win over the #23 ranked Bearcats, WVU's first road win over a team ranked in the AP Top 25 since their last win in Cincinnati during the 2007 season.

Pittsburgh
1 234Total
Panthers 14 330 20
• Mountaineers 0 777 21
  • Date: November 25, 2011
  • Location: Mountaineer Field
    Morgantown, WV
  • Game start: 7:00 pm EST
  • Game attendance: 60,932
  • Television network: ESPN
See also: Backyard Brawl and 2011 Pittsburgh Panthers football team

Series Lead: Pitt leads 61–40–3

Recap:

South Florida
1 234Total
• #22 Mountaineers 0 13710 30
Bulls 0 7614 27
See also: 2011 South Florida Bulls football team

Series Lead: Series even at 3–3

Recap:

Orange Bowl
1 234Total
• #23 Mountaineers 14 35147 70
#14 Tigers 17 367 33
Main article: 2012 Orange Bowl
See also: 2011 Clemson Tigers football team

Series Lead: Series tied 1–1

Recap: Geno Smith tied a record for any bowl game with six touchdown passes, including four to Tavon Austin, and No. 23 West Virginia set a bowl scoring record by beating No. 14 Clemson 70–33 on Wednesday in the Orange Bowl. Darwin Cook's 99-yard fumble return for a touchdown was one of the Mountaineers' five TDs in the second quarter, including three in the final 2:29 for a 49–20 lead. It was the highest-scoring half by a team in a bowl game. Austin's four TD receptions tied a record for any bowl game, and Smith broke Tom Brady's Orange Bowl record with 407 yards passing. West Virginia's point total broke the bowl record established six nights earlier when Baylor beat Washington 67–56 in the Alamo Bowl.[26][27]

Rankings
See also: 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. т = Tied with team above or below. ( ) = First place votes.
Week
Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Final 
AP 24 19 18 16 22 16 13 11 25 24 RV RV RV 22 23 17 
Coaches RV 24 20 16 23 19 16 14 24 21 RV 23 23 20 22 18 
Harris Not released 16 14 23 22 RV 22 24 21 22 Not released 
BCS Not released 15 25 24 NR NR NR 23 23 Not released

References
  1. Dunlap, Colin (December 14, 2010). "Holgorsen to Become WVU Head Coach in 2012". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
  2. "WVU Hires 3 Offensive Sssistants". USA Today. January 5, 2011. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
  3. Bennett, Brian (March 10, 2011). "West Virginia Loses Receivers Coach". ESPN. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
  4. "Roberts Joins Grid Staff". West Virginia University Department of Athletics. March 28, 2011. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
  5. Cullen, Garrett (June 10, 2011). "A New Era". West Virginia MetroNews. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
  6. Adelson, Andrea (June 10, 2011). "Comments from Luck, Holgorsen". ESPN. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
  7. Vingle, Mitch (July 8, 2011). "Holgorsen Names Recruiting Coordinator". The Charleston Gazette. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
  8. Adelson, Andrea (August 2, 2011). "West Virginia Picked as Preseason Favorite". ESPN. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
  9. "No. 24 W. Virginia Gets Best of Marshall in Storm-Shortened Opener". ESPN. September 4, 2011. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  10. "West Virginia Wakes Up in Second Half to Win Easily". ESPN. September 10, 2011. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
  11. "Geno Smith Throws for 388 Yards as West Virginia Survives Maryland". ESPN. September 10, 2011. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
  12. "LSU Tigers vs. West Virginia Mountaineers Box Score". ESPN. September 24, 2011. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
  13. "Dustin Garrison Boosts West Virginia Past Bowling Green". ESPN. September 10, 2011. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
  14. "Connecticut Huskies vs. West Virginia Mountaineers Box Score". ESPN. October 8, 2011. Retrieved October 8, 2011.
  15. "West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Syracuse Orange Box Score". ESPN. October 22, 2011. Retrieved October 22, 2011.
  16. "West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights Box Score". ESPN. October 29, 2011. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
  17. "Louisville Cardinals vs. West Virginia Mountaineers Box Score". ESPN. November 5, 2011. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
  18. "West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Cincinnati Bearcats Box Score". ESPN. November 12, 2011. Retrieved November 12, 2011.
  19. "Pittsburgh Panthers vs. West Virginia Mountaineers Box Score". ESPN. November 25, 2011. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
  20. "West Virginia Mountaineers vs. South Florida Bulls Box Score". ESPN. December 1, 2011. Retrieved December 1, 2011.
  21. "West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Clemson Tigers Box Score". ESPN. January 4, 2012. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  22. Antonik, John (September 4, 2011). "West Virginia 34, Marshall 13". West Virginia University Department of Athletics. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  23. Antonik, John (September 17, 2011). "Smith's Pick Seals It". West Virginia University Department of Athletics. Retrieved September 18, 2011.
  24. Adelson, Andrea (September 18, 2011). "'College GameDay' Headed to WVU-LSU". ESPN. Retrieved September 18, 2011.
  25. "Geno Smith Accounts for 3 TDs in 2nd Half to Lead WVU's Comeback". ESPN. October 29, 2011. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  26. "W. Va. Crushes Clemson 70–33 in Orange Bowl". CBS News. January 5, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2012.
  27. "Football: Two Changes to Orange Bowl Stats". West Virginia University Department of Athletics. January 6, 2012. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
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