Published: August 07, 2008 12:36 am            

WVU ‘very, very impressive’ in full pads

MORGANTOWN — “We had a very, very impressive practice today in heat and humidity which was great,” coach Bill Stewart said Wednesday evening in briefing the media on West Virginia University’s first football practice in full pads.

“Today was better than Tuesday (in shells). That tells you that they’re working pretty good (after five days of preseason drills). The fourth day is usually the toughest. But today we competed and got after it.”

While it was a good two-and-a-half hour session, Stewart said there were “a couple rousing moments out there, which was good, and we had to put some guys on the stadium bleachers just to cool them down. It’s funny how running up and down stadium steps in full pads will calm one’s aggressiveness.

“They think I’m the nicest guy since maybe Mr. Rogers, I guess, and I am a nice guy. The trouble is when you do something that isn’t apropos to the Old Gold and Blue, you will pay an immediate price. ... We will coach and they will play.”

He reported that the offense won the skeleton drills Wednesday, which it should have. There were no lines and no rush and a four-second count until the defense starts. But the defensive unit came swarming back and really got after the ball-toting units.

Stewart said Brandon Hogan keeps showing up smartly in the defensive secondary, where the former wide receiver is on trial.

He noted, “That boy is going to be a player. He has stepped up so well that there is no longer a question (that he’ll stay back there). D.J. Thomas went to the slot (receiver) position today.”

Arlic Arnett, a junior-college transfer, is an outstanding wide receiver and the head man talked at length about him. He had stomach problems, but he just kept hitting and hitting and “that was very, very special to see.”

He caught some passes, including one for a touchdown.

Stewart is pleased with the way the offense is taking shape, but he noted that it was put to stress along with the defense, and all of the players were dogged tired when the practice finally end.

NOTES: Place-kicker/punter Pat McAfee missed a field goal for the first time since camp started and was noticeably unhappy. But he immediately started a new success string. ... All of the players and coaches were treated to a pizza party after Wednesday night’s position meetings. ... WVU will practice twice Thursday for the first time. ... Defensive tackle Pat Liebig still hasn’t been cleared for an extra year of eligibility. ... All-America offensive tackle Ryan Stanchek is expected to practice Thursday after being held out for precautionary reasons. He has been ill.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.