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Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Slaton now at the top looking down

MORGANTOWN — Admit it. WVU running back Steve Slaton wasn’t on your radar at the beginning of the season. How could he be?

He was buried behind the likes of Jason Colson and Pernell Williams and everybody’s future All-American, Jason Gwaltney.

Strange but true, there were preseason odds on Gwaltney, like Slaton a true freshman, winning the Heisman Trophy from some off-shore, wacky betting group.

Slaton?

He was the other running back. The second guy in a good recruiting class at tailback. And No. 4 on your depth chart as far along as the East Carolina game in Week 4. He was down looking way up.

He didn’t even play on offense in the season opener at Syracuse and didn’t log a carry against Maryland.

On Saturday night, he set the college football world — not to mention the Mountaineer and Big East record books — on its ear with a super, scintillating performance in WVU’s stunning, come-from-way-behind triple-overtime 46-44 win over No. 19 Louisville.

Slaton had six touchdowns and 188 yards on 31 carries in the win which boosted WVU to No. 20 in the three major college polls. In an amazing game full of amazing plays, Slaton was the most amazing. His was the kind of performance that wins you national and conference player of the week honors.

Remember that tailback rotation?

Slaton and Owen Schmitt, a part tailback, part-fullback player, were the only backs to have carries and Slaton played on nearly every one of WVU’s offensive snaps.

Who saw this coming?

Not coach Rich Rodriguez.

“His progression as far as running has exceeded what we thought as a true freshman,” Rodriguez said. “He runs hard; he’s got a great feel for this game.”

Not Eric Wicks, he of the game-saving tackle of Cardinals’ QB Brian Brohm on the final play of the game, a two-point conversion try.

“Slaton’s a great player,” Wicks said. “We never knew that he had that much talent. You see him running around in practice and making big plays in practice. But to come out and do it in big games, in big times? He’s a great player.”

Even Slaton never saw this performance coming.

“I’ve been in close games, but nothing tops this,” Slaton said. “Back in high school I scored five (touchdowns) in a game. But to score six on this level ...”

Yeah, it kind of leaves you speechless.

His six TDs are a WVU record. It also tied the Big East record set by Willis McGahee in 2002 when he turned the trick against Virginia Tech. His 36 points was one off Ira Errett Rodgers’ Mountaineer record 37 (set in 1919). And that guy has a road named after him.

“It’s a great accomplishment, but I have to thank my line and my fullback for that,” said Slaton, showing he is as smart as he is talented.

Slaton has all but 42 of his team-leading 459 yards in the last three games.

But the new superback certainly saved his best for last Saturday. After a 39-yard effort in the first half, Slaton amassed 112 yards in the second half and scored all three of WVU’s overtime touchdowns.

His 23-yard run for a score tied the game in the second overtime, after Louisville had scored first.

His 16-yard run to the Louisville 24 got WVU off and running on its game-tying drive in regulation.

He had a 22-yard run to start the drive before that, which ended in a Pat McAfee field goal.

He had a 26-yard run to set up his first score of the game, a 14-yard pass from Adam Bednarik in the third quarter.

Owen Schmitt made his share of big plays, too. A 23-yard run in the first overtime. A 20-yard reception on the third. Both set up short Slaton TD runs.

Yet Schmitt could hardly wait to praise his running mate.

“How about Steve Slaton?” he said when asked about his own performance. “That kid is unbelievable. He’s racking up yards like it’s nothing. He runs like me. He doesn’t want to go down. He’s a tough kid to bring down.”

This from a guy who received a 2-inch dent in his face-mask absorbing a blow in the overtime. Hardly made Schmitt flinch.

While crediting Schmitt, it should be noted that he says he knew Slaton was going to be off the charts this year.

“I knew right away,” Schmitt said. “They gave me a questionnaire that asked who the breakout player would be and I said Steve?”

Why?

“He’s a great kid, works hard and I have total confidence in him that he’s going to get the job done every time,” Schmitt said. “And he’s a hard runner. He loves the game and does everything right. Obviously his physical attributes are amazing. He’s a quick kid, he’s got a burst, he can break tackles. Everything.”

Slaton didn’t exactly come out of nowhere. He was a Philadelphia prep star, who was recruited by Notre Dame, Rutgers, Maryland and Temple.

But he never regretted his decision to come to WVU, despite started low on the depth chart.

“They run the ball (at WVU) and I liked that,” Slaton said. “Plus, I felt happy here. I was 100-percent sure I wanted to be here.”

Even after Gwaltney signed.

“He’s a big guy and I’m a speed guy,” Slaton said. “I think our running styles compliment each other.”

Compliments certainly aren’t in short supply when talking about Slaton these days.

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