Questions about WVU still to be answered

Tucked inside the FedEx Field press box while the scoreboard indicated 12:57 remaining in the fourth quarter, I had a realization I thought I would never have inside a 90,000 seat sporting arena – I was bored.

I wasn’t bored because my view was slightly obstructed by a bar separating two windows directly in front of me or because those tasty mini cupcakes served during halftime had already been removed from the complimentary media food section of the box.

I was bored because what I was seeing on the field was something I had already seen this season and last January.

It was like viewing a movie you had already seen again and again.

Even more, it was like watching a movie with that one friend who always reveals the outcome and spoils your fun.

The No. 7 West Virginia football team held a 42- 5 lead over an inferior opponent, and the starters had been relegated to the sidelines and forced watch the remainder of the action, much like me.

Now, don’t get me wrong - watching the Mountaineers tally 70, 69 and 42 points, respectively, in each of their last three games has been some of the most exciting and indescribable chain of events these eyes have ever witnessed, in terms of sports.

A quick trip to the restroom would cost one the opportunity to see multiple scoring plays.

But, early in the fourth quarter against James Madison Saturday, I had seen all I needed to see from the West Virginia football team against the Dukes.

We knew quarterback Geno Smith was better than he was a year ago. We knew the offensive line was one of the best to put on a West Virginia uniform in recent years.

In fact, the unit hasn’t allowed a sack since Dec. 1, 2011 – 292 days and 242 snaps ago.

But I want to know other things about the 2012 version of the Mountaineers that a 42-5 game against an FCS opponent can’t answer.

I want to know if this defense is capable of keeping an explosive Big 12 offense in check.

I want to know if this team is capable of overcoming adversity; something it hasn’t faced yet this season and has struggled to deal with in games last season.

These are questions that won’t be answered until West Virginia opens Big 12 play in two weeks and experiences its first true road game the first Saturday of October in Austin, Texas.

Coming into the season, the common question among fans was if the offensive outburst in the Orange Bowl was a fluke or a sign of things to come.

The Mountaineers have already proven they are capable of scoring 70 points each game, as crazy as the sounds.

However, in order for other questions to be answered about this top 10 football team, we’re going to have to wait a few more weeks.

And with West Virginia already slated as a four-touchdown favorite against Maryland in Morgantown this weekend, it looks like we’re going to have to deal with a little more boredom first.