WVU Legend Calls for Mountaineers to ‘Punish’ Dana Holgorsen in Upcoming Matchup

It’s one thing for a player to want his former team to win, but that doesn’t usually mean he wants his old coached punished. Enter Stedman Bailey and Dana Holgorsen.

The WVU legend kicked off the week sending a message to the current Mountaineers. “Blessed Monday morning! Thinking about my Mountaineers and the road win against TCU. Next up is University of Houston and me personally. I hope we go punish coach Holgs,” said Bailey on social media.

Blessed Monday morning! Thinking about my mountaineers and the road win against TCU. Next up is university of Houston & me personally. I hope we go punish coach Holgs.

— Stedman Bailey (@bailey_stedman) October 2, 2023

Bailey’s comments throw extra fuel on West Virginia’s next matchup two weeks before the game. WVU is now on a bye week after upsetting TCU on the road. But in contrast to the strong start to the season Neal Brown and his Mountaineers are having, Dana Holgorsen and Houston are struggling.

In the program’s first season in the Big 12, the Cougars sit at 2-3. Houston also just lost to Texas Tech, a team West Virginia has already beat. Like WVU, Houston will get a week off before the game.

It remains to be seen what the oddsmakers say about the game because Houston will be at home when WVU meets their former coach on Oct. 12. And as much as Bailey and other Mountaineers may want the win, Holgorsen likely will do everything in his power to trip up his former employer.

No matter how much Bailey may want Holgorsen “punished,” there’s no denying he enjoyed success under Houston’s current head coach. Bailey was a key piece on Holgorsen’s 2012 Orange Bowl victory over Clemson. Bailey’s junior year featured 25 receiving touchdowns and 1,622 receiving yards. Bailey was drafted in the third round by the St. Louis Rams in 2013. Bailey was inducted into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame last year.