Every figure in the world of sports inevidably plays many roles on the stage. Hero, goat, goodguy, villian, favorite son, overlooked underachiever, god, and pawn. The contrasting positions in the never ending drama are well, never ending. In the annuls of WVU football Bill Stewart was all of these right when we needed him to be.
Before 2007, most of us had never heard the name Bill Stewart before in our lives. At what would prove to be one of the most pivitol points in the history of WVU football, from the ashes of the heart breaking and unexpected departure of then head coach and current favorite son, Rich Rodrigues(now villian), arose the ceremonial phenoix and new favorite son, Bill Stewart. Admit it, when you first heard the name you said, "who?!" But in the wake of the Rich Rod debacle, leaving the team right before one of the biggest games in program history, the Fiesta bowl vs. Oklahoma, the entire state was looking for some rock on wich to throw there fandom anchor. Even then govenor Joe Manchin got involved with search for a new coach. Enter stage left-hero and over looked underachiever, Coach Stew. Under his helm the Eers went out and spanked Ok. in front of a national audience who had all decided WVU would simply disbanb the football program once the god of the spread abandoned us for the church of Michigan. With his first major bowl win on his resume', the board of govenors and the rest of state for that matter, crowned him the new king of WVU. Alas, king Stews reign would be challenged the whole time with comparrions to Rich Rod, dissapointment that they couldn't quiute put up 70 pts every game, and ultimatley undone by new favorite son and emporor, Oliver Luck.
When coach stew implemented his more balanced scheme the Eer's won, just not enough and not by a big enough margin. In his three years coach Stew ammassed a 28-12 record, (9-3, every year + 2 bowl wins). In the Nehlen era 9-3 would'a been a good year. Somehow, after RR, only 11-1, or 12-0 would be considered a acceptable production. So now favorite son becomes whipping boy. WVU's sense of never ending mediocraty was hung around Stew's neck. Enter stage left-savior, Oliver Luck. After long time AD and sports emporor Ed Pastilong retired Oliver Luck, who with his mere touch turns all to gold, hell even his kid has the midas touch, i.e. #1 overall pick 2012 NFL draftee Andrew. Under the omnipetent vision of god Luck, Stews exit was meticulously mapped out.
Now we set the stage for the final act. Once loved coach Stew is put on notice that Oliver Luck has found the new overlooked mastermind of offense, OK St. offensive cooridinator Dana Holgrenson. At this point the majority of WVU's fan base were frustrated by the lack of points, Big East titles, and BCS bowls appearances. Under Stew's tenuor all of theses were lacking. In fairness to Stew we need to be honest, he won. He had the good fortune to inherit senoir quarteback and soon to be college football hall of famer, Pat White. Pat white may have been the most prolific QB in progran history. His record speaks for it's self. 34-8 and 4-0 in bowl games. Except for losses to 2008 Big East champion Cincinatti, and Pitt in the backyard brawl, WVU could've been 11-1 and possibly in BCS national championship game in 08. Would things have been so different under RR? Cause he had such a great track record against Pitt.(see 2007 backyard brwal) None the less the notiton that this was Stews fault for lack of offensive production was deeply seeded among the fans. This sentiment was only ingrained further upon the completion of 2009, Geno Smith's Freshman year, and 2010. Both seasons a DISSAPOINTING(?) 9-3 and cosecutive bowl losses. Among the fuming minds of theses dreadful seasons WVU's athletic department wanted change. Oliver's answer, hire a head coach in waiting who would run the offense and allow Stew to finish out his last season as coach. At this point I must note that Bill Stewart was one of the most respected coache's in football for they way he carried himself and handled his players. If ever there was a, "straight shooter", it was Stew. The man missed his second occupation of Southern Baptist minister by mere inches. He was clean cut, honest, and one of the nicest men you would've ever hoped to meet. Upon the disaster that was Stew's carrer at WVU the AD goes out and hires eternal Frat boy Dana Holgrenson. Not to take anything away from Holg's, once again his record speaks to his apptitude as well.(10-3, and a BCS bowl victory), but he was Bill Stewarts antisithesis. Holg's dosen't dress very, "sharp", he dosen't take his hair very serious, and he has the reputation of liking a good drink. Maybe several of them, evrey hour. Apparently Coach Stew didn't appreciate that this job he coveted so was being stripped from him and handed to an unproven offensive coordinator. Upon arriving in WV Holgs did nothing but blow off long standing coach appearance's, i.e. the Fairmont athletic club banquet that a coach had attended every year for deacades, and getting thrown out of a Charlestown area casino for being drunk. Nice Holg's. The honorable coach Stew did what apparently any coach in his position would do. The rumor had it that Stew wanted a reporter to dig up, "dirt", on Holg's to undermine his promotion. Now golden boy turned niaeve AD Luck has a p.r, problem from hell. Never one to turn back from a decision Luck unceremoniously dismissed Stew and immeadiatetly promoted Holg's.
So that's it. The Fat lady sung. The public perception was Stew was the old Holg's was the new. Stew was was in reality a mere 1 or 2 wins away from becoming another Don Nehlen. A WVU coach for 20 years. Instead, he was looked at as a bust and waste of time, the program stagnating under his term. Then to pull the ultimate about face, an play that would forever change the perception of the coach and what he did, Coach Stew untimley left to return to his heavenly father while on the 16th green. Golfing with longtime friend and former AD Ed Pastiolong, Coach Stew suffered a fatal heart attack. I headrd the news while waiting for a friend at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown. I note this because in one of those twist's of fate, this was the exact location for the only time I ever personally met coach Stew. he was coming out of the hospital wearing his trademark ear to ear smile. I was somewhat struck but I did manage a, "hey, how you doing coach?" In the eternal optomism that was Stew he replied, "Gonna get LSU then that national championship!" There would be no LSU win and no national championship but coach Stew's life will be marked by greater stats than these. If you need any proof just read the mountain of well written letteres from his players, family, and friends who will forever be indebt to coach Stew for coaching them in the Game of Life. Full circle, unknown underachiever-hero-goat-bach to hero. Give em' a let's go Mountaineer's in heaven Coach.
