Bad ending, doesn't overshadow 2016 accomplishments for WVU
It wasn’t the ending that West Virginia wanted to close the season.
After reaching the ten-win mark for the first time since joining the Big 12 Conference in 2012, West Virginia fell flat against Miami in the Russell Athletic Bowl to the tune of 31-14 disappointing effort.
The Mountaineers had a season low 229 yards as the offense struggled to string together drives while the defense couldn’t hold the Hurricanes in check over the span of four quarters.
“It’s disappointing. We’re all disappointed,” head coach Dana Holgorsen said.
After an impressive first quarter, the Hurricanes flipped the script and took control against West Virginia and never looked back dominating the final three.
It’s not the way that West Virginia wanted the season to end as the Mountaineers played arguably the worst game of the entire season losing to the Hurricanes. Miscues, turnovers, penalties, you name it – it was all a problem for West Virginia, who lost to Miami for the 17th time in 20 games.
The offense failed to generate any success moving the football with miscues and mistakes. The defense started fast but eventually gave way to the Hurricanes balanced offensive attack. Penalties were a major concern as well as the Mountaineers rolled up 111 yards in yellow flags.
One sequence was especially concerning where the Mountaineers recorded a first down on two separate occasions, only to have both of them called back on alignment penalties. It was the type of performance that leaves a bad taste in the mouth of players and fans alike into the off-season.
It’s a tough pill to swallow after such a successful campaign and a bucket of ice water on a 2016 season that brought so many good feelings to the forefront. But even amidst the disappointment there is still time to reflect on the accomplishments this team had.
For the first time, West Virginia won seven games in conference and was a contender for the league title until the month of November.
Not bad for a team picked near the bottom of the Big 12 Conference in the pre-season.
“To sing country roads ten times my senior year. If you would have told me a few months before the season started I probably would have smiled. And I think anybody in mountaineer nation would have smiled too,” senior quarterback Skyler Howard said. “I enjoyed it. I loved it and I appreciate everything.”
But even with the sting of disappointment still fresh in the minds after losing in the Russell Athletic Bowl and a long off-season ahead there is optimism moving forward.
Holgorsen, now with an extension signed, has a number of players returning and Florida transfer Will Grier will make his debut at quarterback.
On the defensive side, the Mountaineers must replace some key pieces but coordinator Tony Gibson has already shown he has the ability to handle that. Not to mention several defensive players will be returning from injury such as free safety Dravon Henry.
So while it wasn’t the finale West Virginia wanted, Holgorsen isn’t going to let his players hang his head.
“This is the best team that West Virginia had had in the five years in the Big 12,” he said.