MORGANTOWN - Saturday here featured notable sights for WVU's 2016 opening football game.
As Morgantown continues to transform, we saw the new interstate exit named for former coach Bill Stewart. We saw the section of town formerly known as Sunnyside that now bears no resemblance to it whatsoever. There was ex-Mountaineer and current Philadelphia Eagle Wendell Smallwood in the crowd. Sadly, there was a press box seat left open to honor deceased writer Mickey Furfari. And there was a pregame scrum between Missouri and WVU players.
Yet, amidst the usual pomp of opening day, on an absolutely perfect football Saturday weather-wise, the one sight West Virginia fans wanted to see was improvement. They wanted to see hope.
Did they? Well, let's take a look.
First, of course, yes, West Virginia won 26-11 against an SEC team with a sellout crowd of 60,125 watching at Milan Puskar Stadium. Despite Missouri's record last season, that looks pretty good in comparison to Oklahoma's faceplant or Tennessee's near stumble. (Oklahoma's pratfall, by the way, was a very, very bad look for the Big 12.)
That established, however, let's get specific.
First, let's examine WVU's offense. Was it as high-flying as Mountaineer fans have hoped?
Dana Holgorsen's offense did roll up 494 yards. But the scoreboard said for just 26 points, so no.
If, however, you're ready to get negative, slow your roll. Mizzou had the nation's No. 5 pass defense last season (average yards allowed 169.3) and returned very nice personnel like safety Anthony Sherrils. Skyler Howard, playing with a rib injury, threw for 253 yards.
"They were going to keep a lid on it," Holgorsen said. "They backed their corners up. They backed their safeties up. They said, 'Our D-line is better than your O-line.' "
So dish credit to Holgorsen and Howard for playing it smart. In my Mountaineer Gameday quip, I said WVU would "Shorts-circuit" Mizzou. There was a reason: Holgorsen had the intermediary weapon/crutch that is senior standout Daikiel Shorts. He used it to the tune of 131 yards.
Also, yes, West Virginia scored but one touchdown in five trips to the red zone. But dudes, Mizzou has a top-20 2017 NFL draft pick in end Charles Harris and a nice linebacker in Michael Sherer. The latter finished with 10 tackles.
So let's get to WVU's defense. Were you impressed? Missouri, after all, finished with just 11 points. The Tigers were turned away after a William Crest fumble gave them possession at the Mountaineer 7. At game's end they were turned away again.
Here, though, I flip the script. See, Missouri's pass offense was awful last season, averaging just 165.5 yards a game. It got 282 on Saturday. The Tigers finished 2015 No. 119 in rush offense, averaging 115.4. They had 180 against WVU.
Give Missouri credit for adding a couple nice offensive players like transfers Alex Ross and Chris Black, but ...
Where one should dish credit, however, is to Mountaineer additions like Justin Crawford, Antonio Crawford and, especially, Kyzir White.
Justin Crawford provided more than a spark offensively, leading the WVU ground game with 101 yards and a touchdown. He and Rushel Shell appear to be a nice 1-2 punch going forward.
Antonio Crawford, the Miami transfer, led the defense with eight solo tackles and a pass breakup. And White was all he was advertised to be with seven tackles, one for loss.
White, though, did more than tackle and cover. He leveled Mizzou quarterback Drew Lock early on a third-and-7 incompletion to set a tone.
After that Crest fumble, linebacker Sean Walters stuffed Lock on first down - and then there was that man again. White stopped Ross cold, sending the Mountaineer faithful into a frenzy.
Later, White caught Ross in the backfield from behind.
Iowa transfer Maurice Fleming, by the way, had his first start at corner.
"Made a few mistakes," he said. "That was the first game of the season though. Us defensive backs will lock in better. We expect more. We need more turnovers."
Special teams? Not bad. It was a concern with punter Nick O'Toole gone and kicker Josh Lambert suspended. But punter Billy Kinney averaged 45.4 yards and kicker Mike Molina was 4 for 4 on field goals. Shelton Gibson had a 34-yard kickoff return. Coverage was good. All that was lacking were effective punt returns. ("[Gary] Jennings needs help," Holgorsen said.)
"It was an unreal moment for me," Kinney, a University High graduate, said. "I grew up with the Mountaineers."
What was most notable from here though was WVU's fortitude. Howard busted up his rib, but went back and played.
"He knew we needed him," Holgorsen said.
Down went left offensive tackle Yodny Cajuste. Yet in went young Colton McKivitz and he hung with the aforementioned Harris. With starting guard Adam Pankey out, Tony Matteo stepped in and did just fine. WVU finished with 241 rushing yards.
So was WVU flashy on Saturday? No. Most folks across the country probably saw the score and yawned.
But those in attendance definitely saw a little moxie from WVU on this opening day.
Contact Mitch Vingle at 304-348-4827 or mitchvingle@wvgazettemail.com. Follow him on Twitter @MitchVingle.