West Virginia ranked No. 5 by Athlon

Elwood · May 27, 2004

By Chuck McGill, The Daily Athenaeum

May 26, 2004

(U-WIRE) MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- West Virginia head football coach Rich Rodriguez spent the entire spring trying to motivate his team and prevent a letdown amid the lofty expectations being placed on his program for 2004.

His job just got a lot harder.

Athlon Sports, the most widely recognized preseason sports annual, has tabbed the Mountaineers as its No. 5 team for 2004.

You read that correctly: No. 5.

Although the preseason college football edition of the magazine is not due to hit shelves until June 7, the ranking was released on Athlon's Web site on Monday as part of a four-week countdown.

The Mountaineers are predicted to finish ahead of last year's co-national champion LSU, as well as Ohio State (No. 9), Florida State (No. 10) and Michigan (No. 7).

The magazine's online preview pointed to the program's back-to-back 6-1 finishes in the Big East, as well as the fact that 68 percent of last year's roster was comprised of freshman and sophomores. Ten starters return on offense for West Virginia, as well as seven on defense.

Junior wide receiver Chris Henry was named by Athlon as a Second Team All-American and First Team All-Big East.

Cornerback Adam Jones, defensive lineman Ben Lynch and offensive lineman Dan Mozes joined Henry on the first team.

West Virginia opens its season on Sept. 4 against East Carolina.

Glad to see we're finally getting some respect, but I'm afraid it may be too much respect and we could be let down. I really don't want to hear those "OVER RATED" chants. Hope we live up to the hype.