Mountain of a task

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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Welcome to "Almost Heaven."

About half the 60,000 fans in Old Gold and Blue remained in Mountaineer Field to give their team a standing ovation in the final seconds of West Virginia's 52-3 drop-kicking of its Division I-AA opponent, Eastern Washington.

Guard Jeremy Sheffey held his helmet high on his outstretched right hand and pointed his left index finger to the sky, signifying the ultimate goal of the Mountaineers this season. Other players signed autographs, and John Denver's classic "Country Roads" began to play over the loudspeakers.

The happy fans took up the chorus: Country roads, take me home, to the place I belong, West Virginia.

"It's a good feeling," fullback Owen Schmitt said. "It means we won because that is when we sing it."

The tune is sung with gusto at Mountaineer Field these days.

Coach Rich Rodriguez took over a mediocre program and in six seasons built it into a national power. Fifth-ranked West Virginia has won or shared the past three Big East championships -- the Mountaineers posted an 11-1 record and won the title outright last season -- and gained new respect by beating SEC champion Georgia in the Sugar Bowl in January.

The Mountaineers this month opened the year with their highest preseason ranking ever and have a good chance to go undefeated. Earning a berth to the Bowl Championship Series title game, however, could prove tricky, even if the Mountaineers stay perfect. They play in a low-rated conference and face a mediocre nonconference schedule.

West Virginia (2-0) will try to prove they are worthy tonight when they play host to Maryland (2-0) in a nationally televised game on ESPN.

"West Virginia can't just win," said Jerry Palm, publisher of collegeBCS.com, which produces a replica of the BCS standings. "Other than playing Louisville and maybe Pitt, when they are playing everybody else they can't win by just three. They have to beat Maryland good. People will look for a reason to drop them in the rankings. They have to have easy wins."