Cheers, Mountaineer fans.
It’s been a tough offseason for WVU, who has dealt with rumors that their head-coach-in-waiting Dana Holgorsen was the centerpiece of at least six alcohol-induced incidents* -- rumors that were reportedly tied to Holgorsen’s predecessor, Bill Stewart, who was still the head coach at the time.
(*note: some of those rumors were unfounded)
The rocky mountain road for West Virginia began last December when athletic director Oliver Luck decided to bring in Holgorsen as Stewart’s replacement, and ended with Stewart’s unceremonious dismissal six months later.
If West Virginia’s on-the-field performance was a reflection its offseason drama, the Mountaineers would be winless.
Instead, the media has a certain faith in WVU that could only come in the form of the liquid confidence sold during football games. And a watered-down conference. And a high-scoring offense.
Here’s the media’s preseason Big East projections:
1. West Virginia (21 1st place votes) 188 points.
2. Pitt (2) 162 points.
3. South Florida (1) 151 points.
4. Syracuse 98 points.
5. Cincinnati 96 points.
6. UConn 76 points.
7. Louisville 60 points.
8. Rutgers 33 points.