CNN/SI - 1999 College Football Conference Previews - CNN/SI's West Virginia team preview

The Man with the Golden Arm

West Virginia ('98: 8-4, 5-2 Big East)

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Posted: Wednesday August 11, 1999 06:18 PM

The Plot

Both the offensive and defensive line ... gutted. The top two receivers in school history ... gone. The most productive back in Big East history ... off to the NFL. It would be an add-insult-to-injury kind of season at West Virginia if not for Marc Bulger and Khory Ivy, who return this season without 13 fellow starters from last season's team.

The Director

Don Nehlen -- 20th year, 138-81-4; 191-116-8 overall

Starring

QB Marc Bulger -- The best QB in the conference put up 3,607 yards, 31 TDs in '98 and enters the '99 season with 19 school records.
WR Khory Ivy -- Finally with a chance to be the No. 1 passing option, this big (6-2, 190), tough and talented receiver should rank among the most productive in the conference.

Co-starring

TE Anthony Becht -- The unmistakable target (6'6", 265) and returning starter will be especially important as a blocker and outlet with an inexperienced line.
WR Pat Greene -- Built like Ivy at 6-2, 190, and also getting his best chance to succeed -- plus, how can you not like the Greene-Ivy combination?
CB Nate Terry -- An All-Big East selection in '97, the senior took a medical redshirt in '98 but leads a quartet of returning senior starters in the secondary.
LB Barrett Green -- Led the Mountaineers with 156 tackles last season.

And introducing

RB Alvin Swoope -- Filling the shoes of Amos Zereoue won't be easy, but Swoope averaged 5.2 ypc (the same as Zereoue) in 54 attempts.

Why it will work

Aside from the secondary and a few offensive skill positions, WVU will need an awful lot to go right for a competitive season, but the rebuilding campaign could be fun to watch when Bulger airs it out.

Why it won't

There are simply too many holes to fill.

Our critics' review

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