To the place, I be-long
West virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads.
WVU holds off a tough Georgia team to win 38-35.
Our first Sugar Bowl, our first BCS bowl, and our first big bowl that I can remember. Before tonight, it had been nothing but letdowns- a long series of Bowl disasters, and tonight we finally won a big one, and a game a lot of people thought we had no chance to win. I am not going to sleep tonight, and Rich Rodriguez is now the unofficial governor of West Virginia.
That first quarter’s unanswered points were just enough to hold off the Bulldogs. And the fake puint to seal it. Check out these stats:
1st Downs: WVU 28, UGA28
3rd down efficiency: WVU 7-14, UGA 5-10
4th down efficiency: WVU2-2, UGA 1-1
Total Yards: WVU 510, UGA 492
Passing: WVU 124, UGA 277
Comp-Att: WVU 11-14, UGA 20-33
Yards per pass: WVU 7.8, UGA 8.1
Rushing: WVU 386, UGA 215
Rushing Attempts: WVU 61, UGA 28
Yards per rush: WVU 6.3, UGA 7.7
Turnovers: WVU 0, UGA 3
Fumbles lost: WVU 0, UGA 3
Slaton ran for 204 yards and 3 TD.
What a win for WVU, the Big East, and the state of West Virginia. Props to Mark Richt and the Bulldogs for being good sports, too.
And let’s get those miners out safely tonight or tomorrow.
demimondian
Do you think that they’re still alive? Has anyone made contact with them?
baltar
I just looked at the games stats (missed the game). 500+ yards for WVU? Just under 500 for GA? Did either team field any defensive players at all, or did the offenses just run up and down the field for an hour?
I heard the fireworks go off around town, and figured we had won. The stats seem to think it was close.
Now, how many couches are burning?
Justin Slotman
That fake punt was such a great play. Telling your punter to run for it if it’s there was a ballsy and, as it turned out, game-ending move.
capelza
“shakes her black and orange pom poms for WV*…as they were just gathering dust this year anyway…sigh, it’s hard being a Beaver Believer.
Congrats John Cole. I’m glad your hopes were fulifilled. It’s a rush. *backs out of the post game festivities*
The Disenfranchised Voter
It was pretty honorable for the Gov. of West Virgina to leave Georgia before the game even started and fly back to W. Virgina because of the miners being trapped.
Gregory Markle
Congrats to your Mountaineers though they their best to make it exciting…both with their stunning play at the beginning and the tight finish at the end (although their clock burning “drive” was near perfect.)
Grotesqueticle
Hats off to WV, coaches, players and fans. That was a fun game to watch. Now, let’s see if USC can win their SECOND National championship in a row.
Danny Glover
I normally blog about politics and policy inside the Beltway, but none of that matters this morning because the Mountaineers are Sugar Bowl champions and one of the top football teams in the nation.
I was a WVU student during our first undefeated season in the late 1980s and still bleeding blue and gold a few years later when we went undefeated again. But we were thoroughly embarrassed in both national championship bids those years and lost many bowl games before and after. It has been hard to watch my alma mater play in bowl games, and this year was no different. I was still quite nervous after that amazing 28-0 run at the start — and Georgia gave me every reason to be.
But man, what a solid, all-around game! And the fact that it came after last year’s fantastic performance in the NCAA basketball tournament made it all the more sweet. I have never been prouder to be a Mountaineer!
I tried to sleep last night because I had to get up at 5 a.m. to head to work, but the post-game adrenalin was just too strong. I imagine it will be plenty strong enough to get me through the day, too. Love those ‘Eers!
caleb
It’s about God Damn time!
When I heard early on in the game, maybe only at 7 nothing or before that, that Niehlen was in the building I thought……”Oh CRAP! We just can’t shake the Ghost Of Donny Niehlen”. This is not good.
Then we busted out to that incredible 28 point lead and it reminded me of the bowl game with Maryland 2 years ago? Maybe 3? Where we just came out flat and Maryland ran all over us from the get go, onlt we were doing the dominating. I thought, “Wow….even Donny Niehlen can’t jinx this team.”
Then……it started to come crashing down…..but Rodreguiez has the Neihlen busting power and the boys held on.
With White being a redshit and Slaton being a true freshman…..although I don’t know how we stack on young defenders, this team could be very good for the next couple of years.
I’ve been waiting since our undefeated 93′ season to win the big bowl game……finally!
:-)
Al Maviva
I’m a Syracuse fan, so I hate, hate, hate West Virginia, with a passion only surpassed by my hatred of clowns.
But when it comes to bowl time, your’uns is my’uns, and it’s us’ns against their’ns. Let’s go, West By God Virginia!
Tony Alva
From a Terp fan living in GA I got throw mad props out to you guys for pulling it off. I loved all the doofus Bulldog rednecks bumming hard when you guys were up 28-0.
Congrat on a big win!!!
Shygetz
As a UT Vols fan, way to go Mountaineers. Nice cap to a nice season.
Ozymandius
Congrats John. =)
Paul Wartenberg
Go Gators. See you next year at the Sugar Bowl, bwhahaha…
Unless, of course, South Florida finally gets a bleeping QB that can throw it… and the Bulls find some quality safeties… and a running back to replace Andre Hall… and… and… oh no….. my poor Bulls… well, at least we can beat Louisville! Yay…
Krista
Oh Christ, capelza…so much ammo.
Must…resist…temptation.
Brian
Congrat’s, John. I listened to the game on satellite radio during a long drive last night, and would have loved to see that fake punt at the end. Great game, and I gave WV and you a cheer from California.
chef
I had a friend who went to a public university for a while, but I lost track of him after he got drafted.
coolcajun
Grats, to WV on the win. Speaking of WV, they should throw the book at Marcus Vick for his friendly stomp during that game.
skip
“they should throw the book at Marcus Vick for his friendly stomp during that game.”
He said it was an “accident.” Marcus had better hope that Doug Wilder returns as Governor, so Vick can go the Iverson route and “pardon” his way into pro sports.