Expectations higher than ever for West Virginia heading into 2012 season

Just one year ago, the West Virginia football program had reached somewhat of a crossroads.

After a decent season that culminated in an ultimately disappointing Champs Bowl showing against NC State, it was clear many of the Mountaineers’ supporters were simply dissatisfied with the mediocre finish to another somewhat promising season. And after a third consecutive 9-4 finish to the season, it seemed as if the program was, again, just on the precipice of a great year but simply unable to break through.

The school’s athletic administration decided the best way to get over the hump was to institute new leadership at the helm of the football program by naming Dana Holgorsen the head coach "in waiting."

But instead of bolstering the fans’ collective expectations for 2011, the coaching move actually seemed to fracture and fragment support for the football program heading into last season. Despite Holgorsen’s impressive resume and well-publicized reputation as an offensive guru, many West Virginia fans felt more comfortable with their familiar, blue-collar leadership that was guaranteed to them with the late Bill Stewart.

It’s hard to completely blame them; Stewart embodied an everlasting dedication to his players and his home state that Holgorsen could simply never replicate or even truly understand.

But the divide in support among the fan base only widened when Stewart was ultimately forced out among a controversial and tumultuous offseason. And even though West Virginia had acquired one of the greatest offensive coaching minds of the modern era, it was as if there was still a cloud of animosity and doubt looming over the prospective 2011-2012 season.

The cloud of negativity didn’t immediately dissipate when the season began, either. Yes, the Mountaineers were winning, but early on it seemed like the team was almost incapable of putting two solid halves of football together in the same game. West Virginia even trailed FCS opponent Norfolk State at the half during the second game of the season.

The less-than-auspicious start had some WVU supporters beginning to question if the team would even reach the 9-4 brick wall mark the Mountaineers had ran into the three previous seasons.

Then, LSU came to town.

And although it ended in a bitter 47-21 loss for West Virginia, their first of the year, it was clear something had changed about the mentality and the demeanor of the football program and its supporters. Even though the final score doesn’t show it, the Mountaineers competed with the nation’s No. 1 team at the time through three well-fought quarters.

In the end, LSU demonstrated they were a truly elite team that undoubtedly deserved to win, but I also think West Virginia had proven to itself, at least, that it was possible for the Mountaineers to take the field and hold their own with anybody in college football.

WVU rode this confidence down the stretch until they found themselves in an all-too-familiar position at 9-3 on the season; but this year they had earned the opportunity to prove themselves on the ultimate stage in a BCS bowl.

It’s basically common knowledge at this point the Mountaineers seized the opportunity in their record-shattering Orange Bowl victory against Clemson, a victory that completely reenergized the confidence and positive expectations for the West Virginia football program.

That victory earned the Mountaineers the nationwide attention and respect they haven’t experienced since after the 2008 Fiesta Bowl.

It’s already been a complete metamorphosis of expectations for West Virginia heading into their inaugural Big XII season.

Holgorsen has earned the respect of his troops and the loyalty of the Mountaineer faithful. The already highly touted offense has had a complete offseason to prepare with their new coach, and many experts are already predicting rampant success right away for West Virginia in their notorious new conference.

Of course, with heavier expectations comes a much more substantial burden to succeed.

Although the Mountaineers might not be affected by the same uncertainty heading into last season, they’ll undoubtedly be faced with an all-new array of challenges in order to fulfill the new, lofty expectations this year.