Maybe the reason West Virginia hasn't yet played its "A" game this season is because it has been too busy displaying its "P" game. Or its "I" game.

In a sport where "Xs" and "Os" rule, the Mountaineers -- a few of them anyway -- have wasted a lot of yards by going against the rules with penalties and immaturity.

	More West Virginia Coverage: Next: Temple at West Virginia, 1 p.m., Saturday

In West Virginia's 35-30 victory Saturday at Rutgers, the situation seemed to come to a head when standout wide receiver Chris Henry was ejected with 8:52 remaining after incurring his second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty of the game.

The call followed Henry's leaping 39-yard touchdown reception. After catching the ball, Henry apparently became offended when defensive back Joe Porter didn't let him up immediately. Henry pushed the football at Porter's face, then faced coach Rich Rodriguez's ire.

"I just told him it was embarrassing, flat out simple," Rodriguez said. "I said, 'You are embarrassing yourself. You are embarrassing the program.' Just a lack of poise -- plain and simple."

Henry's second unsportsmanlike penalty came only a few minutes after his first. He made a 69-yard reception-and-run that got the Mountaineers in position for their fourth touchdown, then crossed his arms and postured toward the Rutgers fans.

Rodriguez didn't start Henry Saturday because of previous on-field histrionics this season. Is it possible Rodriguez won't play Henry at all against Temple this Saturday?

"I'll probably be more prepared to talk about him [today], to be honest," Rodriguez said yesterday. "I want to review everything and talk to [Henry]."

If Rodriguez does want to make a statement to his team about Henry's actions by sitting him Saturday, the Temple game gives him a perfect opportunity.

The Owls are 1-7 this season, 0-3 in the Big East. They're allowing 37.4 points a game -- the most among Big East teams -- and they yield 185.3 rushing yards per game. That figure ranks them sixth in the Big East -- ahead of only Syracuse -- and 85th in the country.

In short, West Virginia (7-1, 3-0) should be able to beat Temple without Henry by running the ball. The Mountaineers lead the Big East in rushing with an average of 263.5 yards a game, fifth-best among the 117 Division I-A teams.

No question Temple not having to contend with Henry would be a break for the Owls. The junior has 39 receptions for 647 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. Against Rutgers, he caught four passes for 119 yards.

Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said trying to defense the 6-foot-5 Henry "reminds me a lot of when I was coaching in the NFL [with the Chicago Bears] and we played against Randy Moss."

Perhaps a disciplinary statement made by Rodriguez about Henry would help curb the Mountaineers' penalty propensity.

Saturday they were called for 11 infractions worth 107 yards. They lead the nation in most penalty yardage (758), are tied with Texas Tech for most penalties (79) and are averaging 94.8 yards a game in penalties.

Rodriguez, while questioning some calls against his team, conceded yesterday that "most of them usually are warranted -- illegal procedure, offsides, stupid personal fouls."

Could be that Rodriguez -- again -- will address those issues with his team before today's practice.

"I've been talking about us playing every game for the Big East championship," Rodriguez said. "But I'm not talking about that this week. ... I'm talking about us getting right because we weren't right [Saturday]. You know, we had penalties. We had a lack of execution, a lack of discipline -- a lot of things that we should not have at this time of the year. So we're going to get ourselves right this week."

NOTES -- Junior tight end Josh Bailey, bothered by recurring shoulder problems, will have season-ending surgery this week. ... Cornerback Adam "Pac-Man" Jones, who missed much of the Rutgers game because of a sprained foot, will be limited in practice this week, but Rodriguez is "hopeful" Jones will play Saturday. ... Cornerback Antonio Lewis missed the Rutgers game because of a high ankle sprain. Rodriguez lists him as "doubtful" for Temple. ... Miami's loss at North Carolina Saturday could knock the Hurricanes out of a possible Sugar Bowl berth and put the Mountaineers -- if they win the Big East -- in New Orleans against the Southeastern Conference champion.