Column: WVU looks to wash out bad taste of second half with dominant win over U.T. Martin
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MORGANTOWN -- After West Virginia's first half against Coastal Carolina, I walked around the press box to get another water from the fridge, and I caught glances with multiple members of the media. I'm still new to the beat, so the only year I covered was last year's 4-8 season. I looked at people who wanted my reaction, and I told them this team looks a lot different.
And if you didn't watch the second half, you'd think the same.
WVU was running over the Chanticleers with a new-look offensive line and transfer running back Cam Cook. 336 yards on the ground in that department, and the game started with a 72-yard run from Cook. When the Mountaineers needed to pass, it was efficient. Oklahoma transfer quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. started the game 4-for-4 passing, and hit Armoni Weaver-Bomar off his back foot for a 49-yard touchdown.
With the help of the defense, WVU took a 24-0 lead at half. Coastal Carolina was in a rebuild, but still a Group of 6 school, and by the half, the Mountaineers were already covering the spread. This was a lot better than the Mountaineers 10-3 lead over Robert Morris in last season's opener.
Then, the next 30 minutes happened. And WVU completely looked lost, and if there was an extra five minutes added to the game, it probably would've lost. Coastal Carolina scored 14 unanswered points and brought it within 10 points. Luckily, the Chanticleers slipped up and roughed the kicker, allowing WVU to score a touchdown. But then, Coastal Carolina marched right down the field, scored again and hit a field goal quickly to make it 31-24.
The Mountaineers had 336 yards of offense after the first half compared to Coastal Carolina's 114. After the game, the Chanticleers had 425 yards of offense compared to WVU’s 413.
All the excitement from the first half was completely washed away by the taste left after the second half. Feeling the vibe on the sideline, the press box and the aftermath on social media, it felt like WVU lost the game.
Rodriguez didn't get into specifics after the game on what went wrong, but he said for the first time in his long career, he had a meeting directly after the game. Rodriguez wanted to let the coaching staff know the issues he saw while they were fresh in his mind. He also admitted he called the second half conservatively, trying to just get the game over with.
Rodriguez knows, even though WVU won, there's a lot of work to do.
Luckily, next week isn't No. 25 Virginia in Charlotte, which a lot of people have circled as the tipping point of the season. WVU plays its yearly FCS school, U.T. Martin, and is a heavy favorite. The Skyhawks were a top FCS school two years ago, but after a 6-6 season and going 1-1 through two weeks, they aren't anything to be nervous over.
WVU has the opportunity to get experimental and fix the issues displayed in the second half. And there's the chance to rotate in depth pieces and younger players. Rodriguez wanted to play more guys in the second half against Coastal Carolina, like getting in Scotty Fox Jr., but the game was competitive too quickly, so he didn't get the chance.
Since WVU's playing an FCS school, you can almost look at it as the Mountaineers have two weeks to prepare for Virginia, which is a much bigger game. But, with everything that's been going on in college football in these past two weeks, you can't overlook any opponent. It doesn't seem like Rodriguez and his players are disrespecting the Skyhawks, which is reassuring.
And Rodriguez won't want to hold anything back to remind people of the great first half instead of the second half that left much to be desired.
Prediction: West Virginia 45, U.T. Martin 10