NOTE: This is the 10th in a series of previews on West Virginia and Marshall football opponents.

Checking out the Mountaineers

Even under normal circumstances, this would be a football team set to receive a lot of attention and publicity this season. Of course, these are anything but normal circumstances. The messy departure of Rich Rodriguez to Michigan and the speculation over how it will affect the Mountaineers is one of college football's hottest topics heading into the season.

It's premature to judge, but West Virginia certainly got off to a good start in the post-Rodriguez era with a surprising rout of Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. But that comes with an asterisk because it was engineered by many players and coaches who aren't around anymore. Seven new assistant coaches, including new offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen, will no doubt change things to some degree, and replacing seven defensive starters and running backs Steve Slaton and Owen Schmitt lends an air of mystery.

What remains in place, however, is formidable. Pat White is arguably the best quarterback in the country, a two-time Big East offensive player of the year who will become the nation's all-time quarterback rushing leader this season even if he has a bad year (he needs 784 yards; he's never run for less than 952). He will work behind an offensive line rated No. 1 in the country by Athlon. Mullen's tweaks in the offense might have White running less than his average of 15 times per game last season, but the offense could be better if he spreads the field with more of a passing game. The major questions are how 5-foot-8, 170-pound sophomore Noel Devine will fare as an every-down back and whether or not converted wide receiver Will Johnson (or someone else) can do half the job Schmitt did as a fullback-tight end.

Defensively, both the front and back are almost barren of last year's regulars, but there is reason for optimism. Scooter Berry returns along the line and the three positions there all could be three deep thanks to a few veteran backups, newcomers like Tevita Finau, Larry Ford and D.J. Shaw and the possible return of Pat Liebig. At linebacker, Mortty Ivy could be a star and Reed Williams was the defensive MVP of the Fiesta Bowl, although he is recovering from surgery on both shoulders. The real test will be replacing most of the secondary.

All-conference candidates

Notes

It is certainly not an easy schedule with the likes of road games at Colorado, Louisville and Pitt and home games with Auburn, Rutgers and South Florida, but WVU's schedule at least breaks well. There are almost two weeks to prepare for Thursday games against unfamiliar opponents Colorado and Auburn and two full weeks to get ready for Louisville. The only short week is for Pitt, and the Panthers have the same schedule. ... Stewart is on record as hoping WVU and Marshall extend their series after the current seven-year deal expires following the 2012 season. ... Under the unusual terms of that contract, this would have been the game that decided the site of next year's contest between the teams had West Virginia not won the first two meetings. The deal calls for the fourth game to be played at the site of the team that won two of the first three. That means it turns out to be a 5-for-2 deal in WVU's favor over the life of the contract.

2008 WVU schedule

Date Opponent 2007

Sept. 1 Fresno State (Mon.) DNP

Aug. 30 Villanova DNP

Sept. 6 at East Carolina W 48-7

Sept. 18 at Colorado (Thur.) DNP

Sept. 27 Marshall W 48-23

Oct. 4 Rutgers* W 31-3

Oct. 11 Syracuse* W 55-14

Oct. 23 Auburn (Thur.) DNP

Nov. 1 at Connecticut* W 66-21

Nov. 8 Cincinnati* W 28-23

Nov. 22 at Louisville* W 38-31

Nov. 28 at Pitt* (Fri.) L 9-13

Dec. 6 South Florida* L 13-21

* Big East Conference games