West Virginia should have had Trevone Boykin dead to rights, sacked for at least a yard or two, but the TCU quarterback made a couple moves so filthy he not only got the first down on third-and-five, but also some dap from the opposing coach.
"He made one of the best plays I'd seen in a while. He was right there, so I didn't know what the hell else to do," ESPN quoted West Virginia head football coach Dana Holgorsen telling reporters in his pregame press conference. "I could've started yelling at our guys, but what good is that going to do?"
Holgorsen indicated he wanted to high-five Boykin for more than just a couple ridiculous juke moves.
"He's a great kid," he said. "We've competed hard against each other for four years."
Holgorsen previously singled out another player on a Big 12 foe's roster when he called Baylor wide receiver Corey Coleman the best player in college football. Coleman had just caught three touchdowns against West Virginia, though Boykin now has the coach rethinking his declaration.
"With all due respect to Corey Coleman," Holgorsen told reporters, "Trevone Boykin is the best player in college football. You can't tackle him."
This anti-trash-talk from Holgorsen is not unlike how Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck compliments opposing defenders when they get a good hit on him. Whether Holgorsen is playing mind games or not, Boykin took the high-five as a compliment.
"He was literally standing right there, and he just started smiling," Boykin said during his postgame press conference. "I just put my hand up to give him a high-five, and he gave me one.
"Probably the most respect you can give someone in that kind of moment," he said. "That meant a lot."
