A guy you can cheer for
Bill Stewart’s college football head-coaching career almost surely will last one game, the Fiesta Bowl tomorrow night against Oklahoma. But Stewart is having a good time with his moment in the sun as West Virginia’s interim coach.
Stewart must have said thank you 25 times during his press conference Tuesday. He talks about all his good friends on the OU staff, and you actually believe him. Just a charming, down-home man who is proud of his state and his team.
Here’s a little piece from Stewart’s press conference: “I have enjoyed very much working in this role, but what coach wouldn’t embellish that opportunity?” Yes, he said embellish but meant “relish.”
Here’s more: “I’m just one of the gang. We’ve all taken on a role that we’re preparing our football team for a very formidable opponent … I have had a few more speaking engagements. I’ve gotten to meet a lot of nice people. I am the same guy that will ride in taxicabs. I don’t need a limo; I am not going to change one bit. I am just a ball coach out here with a group of ball coaches with a tremendous football team…
“That’s as honest as I can be. That’s Cub and Boy Scout honor…”
Stewart called Bob Stoops “Bobby” and Sam Bradford “Sammy” and talked of hugging Kevin Sumlin over the news that Sumlin was the new coach at Houston and visiting Norman a couple of years ago for a clinic and working out with Brent Venables and told the story how Stewart’s 13-year-old son and old friend Kevin Wilson exchanged smacktalk text messages after the Fiesta matchup. Wilson was a graduate assistant coach for Stewart at North Carolina more than 20 years ago.
It was fun listening to a guy who is enjoying himself. Fun to see someone get to step into the spotlight after a long time in the shadows. Bill Stewart is handling himself very well.
-------------Berry Tramel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including AM-640 and FM-98.1. You can e-mail him here and follow him on Twitter @BerryTramel. Visit Berry's website here.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a comment