IF SARAH PALIN wants to experience real scrutiny, she should become West Virginia University's football coach.

An unwed pregnant teenage daughter? A husband linked to a fringe political group?

Hey, come here Guv. Take over the Mountaineers - and then call some bubble screens. See how your popularity holds up in these parts.

For first-year WVU coach Bill Stewart, so far, so good.

Sort of. There's already been chirping about the Mountaineer defense that was generous to Villanova. Apparently many have forgotten the 277 yards of offense West Virginia gave up to Western Michigan in the 2007 opener. Or the 387 rolled up by Marshall in Game 2. Those performances came before defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel admirably tightened the bolts.

The scrutiny of Stewart, though, really begins this Saturday, Hanna permitting. The proverbial honeymoon, now eight months along, could end depending upon how the Mountaineers fare against East Carolina.

It's a test for Stewart. The first real WVU test for the coach. And it's here in just Week 2.

See, this isn't your run-of-the-mill-have-to-win-for-the-fans test. This is a crash test. An acid test.

Mainly, however, it's a driving test. We'll see how Stewart can, well, steward the Mountaineers through this tricky trip to Greenville, N.C.

First, he's leading WVU southward feeling the heat of a searing spotlight. The nation's No. 8 team is always being watched, but double that attention because of ECU's victory over previously ranked Virginia Tech.

Go ahead, scout around the Internet. "Florida-Miami, WVU-East Carolina Highlight Week 2 Games to Watch,'' reads one headline. When has a Mountaineer-Pirate game ever been tagged as one to watch?

Oh yes, and go ahead and dollop the pressure of the ESPN national TV audience. Mike Patrick, Todd Blackledge and Holly Rowe will be there to broadcast the setup to that Florida-Miami game.

Over the past few years, of course, WVU has proven it can handle that kind of pressure. What we haven't seen is the Mountaineers get the job done in a seriously charged hostile environment. The city of Tampa last season simply picked up South Florida and willed the Bulls to victory. Louisville's fans did the same in 2006 when the Cardinals went on to play in the Orange Bowl.

Rich Rodriguez, deemed worthy to take over one of the nation's most storied programs, couldn't maneuver through such waters. Now it's on Stewart's back.

Toss onto the Mountaineer coach's load some great expectations. The oddsmakers say WVU is an 8-point favorite, even at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. Their call is West Virginia has better players. The call from here is West Virginia has better players. And the team with the better players should win, right? We'll see if it can.

It's a multi-part test for Stewart.

He's taking his team on the road for the first time. (WVU fans can take comfort, though, knowing the team has been through a road practice.)

His defense may undergo some changes at linebacker (Mortty Ivy in the middle?) and along the defensive front (Julian Miller at end?). 

Also, keep in mind West Virginia's offense didn't show its entire hand against Villanova. So when the unit unveils its promised motion against ECU, it will be for the first time.

It's a lot to handle for the new WVU coach in just his second game. But Stewart has some fine players, especially calm and cool Pat White, and a highly paid staff at his disposal.

It'll be interesting to see if Stewart struggles with this test.

Or completes it in presidential fashion.

Reach Mitch Vingle at 348-4827 or mitchvin...@wvgazette.com.