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December 30, 2009

WVU Bowl coverage: J.T. Thomas, Gator notebook

DAVE MORRISON

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — West Virginia linebacker J.T. Thomas grew up a Florida State fan.

And he makes no bones about it.

But when it came to picking a school, it was his father’s alma mater that came calling. And made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.

“My father played here and I followed them a little bit,” Thomas said. “But I was a Florida State fan, more than Miami or Florida. But when it came down to picking a school, (West Virginia) gave me the best offer.”

Now, you’d be hard-pressed to find anybody who bleeds the ol’ gold and blue more than Thomas.

“When I go out on the field, I represent the state of West Virginia every time I put on the uniform,” the junior from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., said, tapping his helmet. “I’m a Mountaineer.”

That’s why Friday’s Gator Bowl matchup with Florida State is so huge for Thomas.

“We get a chance to have a 10-win season,” he said. “And now I get a chance to play against coach (Bobby) Bowden. It really is a dream come true for me.”

Known as the “tackle monster,” it was a monster season for the all-Big East linebacker.

He had a career-best 71 tackles and defended seven passes with two interceptions.

“People see me getting around the football a lot,” Thomas said. “Good things happen when you are in the area of the football. That’s the way I try to play.”

“J.T. is a Florida guy,” defensive back Sidney Glover, an native of Ohio, said.

“He plays with an attitude. He likes to attack people.”

He admits the game has a special meaning to the Florida natives on the team.

“Guys on the team from Florida, we’re like a pack,” Thomas said. “It’s good to have guys from your area because it makes you feel like you’re at home in a way.”

“For guys like J.T., sometimes they want to play so sky-high when they play (a Florida team),” coach Bill Stewart said. “Not many of our lads were recruited by Florida State.”

None have shown up quite like Thomas. The former Seminoles’ fan.



By DAVE MORRISON

for the Daily Telegraph

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Everyone knows about Bobby Bowden being hanged in effigy in Morgantown before he departed for what proved to be the greener pastures of Florida State.

Some things never change.

What you might not know about is who his daughter Robyn’s dance partner was for a dance class at WVU.

None other than Bill Stewart, now WVU’s head coach.

Bowden let that cat out of the bag during a news conference Wednesday morning.

West Virginia (9-3) plays Florida State (6-6) Friday in the Konica Minolta Gator Bowl. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

“I think it was a Dance 150 class,” Stewart said later Wednesday morning.

Of course, she was dating a teammate, and “you never backdoor a teammate,” Stewart said. “At least I didn’t. But I sure did enjoy that dance class with Robyn Bowden.”

•••

By the looks of the local media, there is one team playing in the Gator Bowl Friday and that is Florida State.

For obvious reasons.

It is Bowden’s final game. The Florida Times Union is planning a 10-page special section on Bowden’s career and the city is naming a street after Bowden, who is the Gator Bowl parade’s grand marshal.

WVU is a prohibitive underdog based on it being Bowden’s last game as the Seminoles’ coach.

“I’d say (WVU is the underdog),” Stewart said. “As I said, I’m just a drop in the bucket compared to him.”

He was asked about being a part of Bowden’s final game. “Ask me after the game,” Stewart said. “As you know, none of our lads were recruited by Florida State. We know what we’re up against. There will be 70,000 fans in there (cheering for FSU). All I care about is the 1.5 million back in West Virginia and Mountaineers everywhere.”

•••

This bowl trip has been key for WVU backup quarterback Geno Smith.

It has given him a chance to work more on his craft.

“I’m getting the same reps I did (during the regular season), but we’re still watching film and we’re working out,” he said. “We’re getting a chance to work and all the (extra) work pays off.”

Smith hasn’t been called on much this season, with the exception of the Marshall game, when starter Jarrett Brown was knocked out early. After a shaky start, Smith completed 15 of 21 passes for 147 yards and a score and had a 33-yard run.

“It took a while to get adjusted,” Smith said. “Being a backup, it was tough because I had to basically become a starter. But that game was (beneficial). After that, I knew I could play at this level.”

And if he is called on Friday.

“I’m ready,” he said.

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