Always complimentary of his opponent, West Virginia head football coach Bill Stewart applauded Coastal Carolina head coach David Bennett for his off-the-field endeavors.
"He's a great father, a great man and has a lovely family," Stewart said in his first weekly conference call. "I've known him a long time. He's a very proud South Carolina man, as I am a West Virginia man."
Stewart also gave Bennett credit for his work in another sport.
"He's a lot better golfer than I am," Stewart said, laughing.
Stewart said he and Bennett have been close friends for many years, but that companionship will take a halt Saturday at 3:30 p.m., when West Virginia hosts Coastal Carolina at Milan Puskar Stadium.
"I wish him nothing but the best – except in this game Sept. 4," Stewart said with a laugh. "Then, I will forget that I like him."
When it came down to discussing Saturday's opening day tilt with the Chanticleers, the third-year head coach was quick to acknowledge the Coastal Carolina program as one of the top in the FCS.
"They have some weapons on both sides of the ball as well as special teams," Stewart said. "You never know what's going to happen that first game, so we just have to prepare.
"They did not have a great season last year, but they have had great seasons in the past. Coach Bennett always has their players ready to go."
Stewart talked at length about this game being a "measuring stick" for the upcoming season.
"If people think this is a walk in the park, they have no idea what college football is all about," Stewart said.
WVU Football Notes
Until Saturday's kickoff, the WVU quarterback situation will still be evaluated.
Stewart is unsure of who will be handed the backup role behind starter Geno Smith. A pair of freshmen, Barry Brunetti and Jeremy Johnson, are in the mix.
"These guys are still being evaluated," Stewart said. "We have practice Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Right now, they are pretty much even and neck and neck."
When asked if Smith would get some time off toward the end of the game, banking on a Mountaineer blowout, Stewart quickly responded by saying that scenario had not even crossed his mind.
"I haven't even thought of that," Stewart said. "I don't agree that this is going to get out of hand early. You never know what is going to happen, so we'll just play it by ear. We have a plan, and we'll just see how the game progresses. We may get into that thinking around halftime or the third or fourth quarter."
Stewart also touched on another roster spot at the offensive line position. True freshman Quinton Spain has only been in Mountaineer camp for two weeks, a time frame Stewart feels is not long enough to allow him to become an impact player right away.
"At this point he's not in the two deep," Stewart said. "He's getting a lot better, but he just hasn't been here long enough."
Spain stands at 6-foot-5 and weighs 360 pounds. It took the Petersburg, Va., native a few weeks to be admitted at WVU. He faced NCAA Clearinghouse allegations regarding his grades. As of Aug. 16, Spain arrived in Morgantown and within that week began being acclimated to the WVU program.
"We'll bring him along," Stewart said. "At this point he's on the scout team."
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