Landon: Count on Stewart to clean up WVU mess

Bill Stewart doesn't play games.

Except football, of course.

But West Virginia University's first-year head football coach certainly doesn't play such games as looking the other way when one of his players gets in trouble.

Stewart also doesn't play the "let's-sweep-this-under-the-carpet" game.

He doesn't play the "Wink, wink, they're Mountaineers" game with the Morgantown Police Department, either.

Stewart is arguably the most happy-go-lucky guy in the NCAA Division I coaching ranks, but he turns into a no-nonsense authority figure when his players are guilty of breaking the law.

Just ask John Holmes, James Ingram and Ed Collington.

Stewart immediately dismissed the trio of players from WVU's program when they were charged with felony possession of marijuana with intent to deliver in February.

He is considering giving Holmes a second chance because the linebacker apparently was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

But if Holmes is allowed to play for WVU next season, it will be as a walk-on. Stewart revoked his scholarship and it will stay revoked.

Like I said, Stewart doesn't play games.

That's why if allegations concerning WVU players Charles Pugh and Quentin Andrews are true, I won't be surprised if Stewart shows them the exit.

What allegedly happened is a WVU coed lost her keys in the Mountainlair. Pugh and Andrews, who are roommates, supposedly found them.

Then, they went to the parking lot and began pressing the panic button on the car's keyless remote until they located the vehicle. The coed's wallet was in the car and the players allegedly stole her credit cards.

Andrews apparently returned to their apartment, but Pugh and a female allegedly went on a $2,000 shopping spree at the Morgantown Mall with the stolen credit cards.

They reportedly made purchases at the Finish Line, Hollister and even bought gift cards at a Shop-N-Save. When it became obvious that the credit cards were stolen, the police made a visit to Pugh and Andrews' apartment.

The officers allegedly found drug paraphernalia inside the apartment.

No charges have been filed, but it certainly doesn't look good.

And if there are charges, I expect Stewart will react quickly and decisively. Especially since Andrews, in particular, has been in and out of the doghouse for his entire WVU career.

Yet, for all his misadventures the 6-foot, 210-pound junior free safety from Florida has arguably been the big-play guy in the Mountaineer secondary. Andrews would be sorely missed.

As for Pugh, the 6-1, 205-pound senior is a defensive back from Florida, who is best known for a play he didn't make.

When South Florida quarterback Matt Grothe was scrambling out of the pocket against WVU last season, it was Pugh who missed the tackle which allowed a long touchdown pass. The Bulls upset WVU, 21-13.

Whatever happens, look for Stewart to deal with it much differently than former coach Rich Rodriguez would have. Rodriguez would have looked the other way. He would have lifted the carpet. He would have winked.

Rodriguez proved that during the Pac-Man Jones and Chris Henry years.

Those days are gone, thank goodness.

Now, it's up to Stewart to clean up the lack of accountability that was left behind.

And he will.

Chuck Landon is a sports columnist for The Herald-Dispatch. Call him at 526-2827. E-mail him at clandon@herald-dispatch.com.