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MORGANTOWN -- West Virginia University conducted its first 100-play scrimmage of the preseason Friday. And, while the only individuals to witness the event were coaches and players, there were reports leaked about how the offensive and defensive units performed.
"It was pretty good," redshirt senior wide receiver Ka'Raun White said. "The defense was onto us because we were killing them all week, but we got better. There's little things we've got to work on, but I think we did a good job."
Exactly the words fans wanted to hear as they prepare to make the trek to FedEx Field in Landover, Md., for the No. 20 Mountaineers' season opener against longtime rival Virginia Tech on Sunday, Sept. 3.
"I think we're very talented on both sides of the ball," junior wideout David Sills V said. "I think the defense has some great players on the team and (defensive coordinator/linebackers) coach (Tony) Gibson always has them schemed up and in the right places.
"But, it goes both ways during practice and during camp. We've gotten them most of the time and they've gotten us a couple of times. We've just been trying every day to be the best that we can and we go out there to beat them and they go out there to beat us. So that's how it goes. We have a competition; it's a very friendly competition, but at the end of the day, we do want to beat them and they want to beat us."
Words which were echoed by redshirt senior linebacker Hodari Christian II.
"We're both going after it, working and getting each other better," Christian said. "As you can see (Friday), we were just going out there, playing and getting each other better."
Fans got their first look at the 2017 Mountaineers Sunday when WVU helds its annual Fan Day at the Caperton Indoor Practice Facility.
"I project us being a team," senior linebacker Xavier Preston said. "A whole unit, not just one game one side of the ball is doing well. I predict us to all come together during the season and be a team and have something this state can be proud of."
A team capable of challenging for the program's first Big 12 championship and earning a berth in the College Football Playoff?
Only time will tell.
In other news surrounding the Mountaineers:
∫ A timetable for the return of injured players Marvin Gross Jr., Corey Winfield, David Long Jr. and Jacob Buccigrossi has not been released. But, veteran WVU coach Dana Holgorsen is expecting all of them back in uniform soon.
"I will answer your first question," Holgorsen explained during Wednesday's presser. "Marvin Gross Jr. and Corey Winfield had successful surgeries, they will be out for a couple of weeks. Expecting them to be back quick. Other than that, David Long Jr. and Jacob Buccigrossi are progressing nicely. I don't have an exact day of when they will come back but they are progressing nicely."
∫ Practice resumed Sunday prior to Fan Day. The team will have closed practices today and Tuesday before classes begin on Wednesday.
∫ Women's 101 will again be held on Sunday, Aug. 20th from 6:30-7 p.m. in Milan Puskar Stadium.
∫ Holgorsen's next meeting with the media will not occur until Tuesday, Aug. 22.