Nehlen Snaps Nine-Game Bowl Losing Streak

N A S H V I L L E, Tenn., Dec. 28 -- Finally, the biggest blemish on DonNehlen’s record has been removed.

Nehlen avoided his ninth straight bowl loss heading intoretirement as West Virginia beat Mississippi 49-38 in the MusicCity Bowl behind a record performance from oft-injured quarterbackBrad Lewis and a wild finish.

“My wife will be able to serve me cereal in a bowl — and Iwon’t lose it,” Nehlen said.

Nehlen, who finishes with a 202-128-8 record in 30 seasons as acoach, had not won a bowl game since the 1984 Bluebonnet. That alsowas the final game as a player for his replacement, Rich Rodriguez,who was hired last month.

In fact, Nehlen had not enjoyed a lead in a bowl since 1994, aspan of four games. Two years ago, the last time it went to a bowl,West Virginia fell behind 24-3 at halftime to Missouri in theInsight.com Bowl and never recovered.

Having Fun With the Offense

This time, West Virginia (7-5) turned the tables behind five TDpasses and 318 yards from Lewis, who had played much of the seasonwith a sore knee and throwing hand and had eight TDs in the regularseason.

“He was hitting them on the money,” Nehlen said. “That was almost a flawless first half.”

Nehlen said all week he planned to open up his lethargic offenseand have some fun. With season-long problems on special teams —including blocked punts and bad snaps — he went as far as saying hemight not want to punt on fourth down.

He didn’t have to. The Mountaineers’ first punt came in thefinal seconds of the third quarter with his team enjoying a40-point lead.

High Emotions

And even then, Nehlen didn’t stop coaching.

Nehlen, who turns 65 on New Year’s Day, chased down the refereeson a pair of defensive penalties in the third quarter.

After Mississippi made the game interesting midway through thefourth quarter, he jumped into his sideline huddles and pointed afinger at his players.