MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Forget quantifying all the measurables, dissecting practice, pouring through video and racking your brain.

Louisville coach Steve Kragthorpe -- who has three quarterbacks vying to be the starter Saturday at West Virginia -- might arrive at a decision the old-fashioned way.

Like how you do it when you're 4.

"We've got three guys," Kragthorpe said. "I'm just going to eeny-meeny-miny-moe it on Saturday morning and that's who starts."

Naturally, Kragthorpe -- one of the more quotable coaches in college football -- was kidding. Earlier this week, he spoke about how fans at Mountaineer Field might be a little less revved up for the game because, as he put it, "it's a 12-o'clock nooner, so they won't be quite as tanked."

Kragthorpe, speaking tongue in cheek, also said of West Virginia fans' penchant for rolling out the red carpet: "They've got a rabid fan base. They all have good arms -- whether they are right-handed or left-handed -- they throw those batteries extremely well."

All kidding aside, Kragthorpe does have something not many teams in the country with a 3-5 record have.

"I've got a quarterback controversy now," he said.

Junior Justin Burke started the season for the Cardinals, who are 0-3 in the Big East Conference, but was yanked in the team's fifth game against Southern Mississippi, making way for junior Adam Froman.

Both quarterbacks then were injured Oct. 24 in a 41-10 lopsided loss at Cincinnati.

The next best option was redshirt freshman walk-on Will Stein, who started last week in a non-conference game against Arkansas State and went 20 for 39 with 232 yards passing and propelled the Cardinals to a 21-13 victory -- even as many questioned his size (he's listed as 5 feet 10) and lack of college experience.

"I didn't lose one ounce of sleep about Will playing," Kragthorpe said. "I knew the guy would play well."

What of his height, which is thought to be bolstered by a few inches in the team's publications?

"I've seen 5-7 guys throw like they are 6-5," Kragthorpe said. "And I have seen 6-4 guys throw like they're 5-2."

As Saturday draws closer, and with the Mountaineers (6-2, 2-1 conference) facing four must-win games if they want to capture the Big East title, there is some concern from a defensive standpoint.

One school of thought is that Stein has the hot hand and Kragthorpe might stick with him. Another line of thinking is that with Froman getting healthier and healthier from an elbow injury every day, he might get the nod. He is, after all, listed first on the depth chart.

And then there is Burke, whose shoulder might just be healthy enough to be ready to go again. He was the starter at the beginning of the year.

Quite a quandary for West Virginia coach Bill Stewart, huh?

"It is hard to prepare for three people," Stewart said. "However, if they are preparing three people they really have a hard task."

When faced with questions about the topic, Stewart made a point to say that he was far more concerned with tightening his defense after a loss at South Florida last week, than agonizing over which Louisville player will call the presnap signals.

Stewart also knows the quarterback who plays is simply a component, and Louisville, which is feeling its season slipping away, will rely more on its system.

"I see a team that has a lot to gain and nothing to lose," Stewart said. "I see a team that can make plays. I saw them beat a very good Southern [Mississippi] team that will beat some people this season. Louisville is a dangerous ballclub coming here."

Even if it takes a children's counting rhyme to decide on who the starting quarterback will be in front of those tanked battery-throwers.

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