Coach Matt Stanley began practice Monday hoping to continue the winning streak for the Mountaineer State in the Massey Energy Hatfield-McCoy Senior Bowl.

And he brought along some big guns to make sure that happens. Assisting Stanley will be Tolsia Mayor David Thompson, the defensive and offensive line coach; Beebo Thompson of Fort Gay, the defensive coordinator; Jay Meddings of Tolsia, defensive back coach; Eric Crum also of Tolsia, offensive coordinator; Nick Crum of Crum, will help with the offensive line and Roscoe Spaulding, the kicking coach.

Stanley said practice has been going great so far. "They (players) were a little out of shape but we just eased into it and it was fine," he said.

The West Virginia squad will practice over two hours each day with a walk-through on Friday. As the game lurks ahead on Saturday, the coaches must work quickly.

"We have to evaluate talent really fast," Stanley said. "With the winning streak, all the pressure is on us. If you are Ky., there is no pressure."

Crum agrees and said the coaches talk with the players to "find out what they are comfortable with and design the offensive around that."

"Throwing 10 passes is a disability to us," Crum said speaking of a rule imposed on the offense. "We would like to run the ball and control the clock."

Another rule the bowl enforces is the defense cannot blitz unless the opposing team drives to their 10-yard line. Crum's main concern is timing.

"The defense not being able to blitz should be an advantage but because the boys haven't played together, the timing could be off," he said.

However, the defensive coordinator Beebo Thompson, believes the "no blitzing" rule will limit what can be done.

"The main thing you got to worry about is getting prepared for anything they (Ky.) come out with," Thompson said. "But we are loaded with linebackers. We just have to play hard and be prepared."

Stanley has 22 players from Southern West Virginia and three more days to prepare for his counterpart across the border.

The Massey Energy Hatfield-McCoy Senior Bowl will be played at Tiger Stadium in Matewan July 31 at 8 p.m.