theintermountain
As West Virginia football home games wind down, reporters often head from the press box to the sideline to soak in the final moments. In the first two games this season, navigating through the departing crowd was a challenge. But on Saturday, and for the past two home contests, the path was clear. Most of the stadium had emptied with over five minutes still on the clock.
That exodus was justified. The Mountaineers trailed Arizona by 20 points and were on the brink of dropping a second consecutive home game by at least 15 points. It marked the third straight game in which the defense appeared utterly overmatched.
In the postgame press conference, head coach Rich Rodriguez was not his usual fiery self. Instead, he appeared visibly frustrated, often ending answers with a resigned "We'll fix it." Leaving the stadium and walking up the Law Building stairs to the parking lot, a sense of emptiness lingered—likely mirroring what fans felt on their drive home and what Rodriguez showed at the podium.
This team is simply deflating to watch, and that sentiment seems to permeate everyone associated with the program. For the third week in a row, the same storylines dominate. The defense is poor, the offense does just enough to win, and by Tuesday, defensive coordinator Zac Alley will likely address what went wrong once again.
There are attempts to spotlight other narratives, such as Prince Strachan's season-high five catches for 121 yards, but those feel hollow when the defense is so glaringly bad. The Mountaineers' defense ranks 131st out of 138 FBS teams and is the second-worst in the Power Four. In the Big 12, WVU surrenders the most points per game, as well as the most passing and rushing yards. Over the past three weeks, the defense has allowed 40-plus points each time.
Alley himself called it the "worst defense in college football." Rodriguez has stated he will not make a playcalling change, leaving Alley and his staff to find solutions. Time is not on their side. This week, West Virginia hosts Cincinnati, a team that is not a powerhouse but hardly a pushover. The Bearcats are 4-1 and coming off a 34-7 road loss to Arizona, but they own Power Four wins over Boston College and Big 12 foe Kansas State. Before falling to the Wildcats, Cincinnati was receiving AP Poll votes, and they are coming off a bye week, so they will be well-prepared.
Key Analysis
It remains uncertain how much home-field advantage will matter, but WVU is back at home for Homecoming this weekend, which might provide a slight boost. Social media chatter over the past 72 hours suggests turnout for another noon kickoff is questionable. Perhaps Homecoming will draw fans, or the fact that the team will not play at home again until Nov. 14—after two road games and a bye—will encourage attendance. However, the on-field product, especially on defense, is not selling tickets.
What makes it even harder to watch is that the offense is actually effective. The defense simply cannot make stops to win games. Rodriguez even admitted he had to alter his offensive decision-making because he knew the defense could not hold up. It is a rough situation all around.
One reporter's father had planned an eight-hour drive from New York for the Cincinnati game and asked on Sunday if he should still come. The advice was that it is not worth it. While reporters are paid to watch and analyze the team's struggles, it is hard to imagine anyone paying $50 or more to wake up early on a weekend to watch this team. That is not harsh criticism; it is the current reality.
For those who do attend Saturday's game, their belief is commendable, and hopefully, Alley and the Mountaineers can inject some life into the program. Right now, the situation is draining for many. On a brighter note, basketball season is less than three weeks away.
Originally reported by theintermountain.