NEW ATTITUDE
After all, McCartney was one of the most sought-after wide receivers in the country his senior year, making an appearance in the U.S. Army All-America Game and earning Florida Class 6A all-state honors. In fact, the Florida Times Union had McCartney pegged as the top prep receiver in the talent-rich South Florida region. Surely that would carry over into his freshman season at WVU in 2010. Well, it didn’t. Despite seeing action in all 13 games, McCartney caught just one pass for four yards in the regular season finale against Rutgers, and had one carry for two yards in a blowout win against UNLV – hardly what Mountaineers fans expected from him. McCartney was disappointed he didn’t do more, for sure, but he also chalks up his freshman campaign as a valuable learning experience. “Last year was more of a learning process getting used to college football,” he said. “This year I’m used to it now and I’m just ready to do what I was expected to do when I came in last year.” Although McCartney had such lofty credentials and extensive fanfare when he committed to WVU over hometown Miami, he admitted he didn’t really have any set expectations for playing time last year. “I played more than I expected to play,” he said. “I wasn’t sure if I was going to be redshirted or not but my whole focus was to come in and learn and contribute to the team.” It would seem McCartney views 2010 as a lost year considering he didn’t get redshirted and posted such meager numbers, but he doesn’t take that approach at all. “I just move forward. There is no stress. No pressure,” he said. “Just looking at my past and looking at what I felt like I could have done, I’m using that as motivation for this year.” McCartney got additional motivation this spring when the new coaching staff came in and completely wiped the slate clean. The sophomore admits he got a reality check at the end of spring drills when he saw the depth chart and he was sitting third at Z receiver behind junior Ryan Nehlen and senior Brad Starks. “My attitude needed improvement,” he admits. “The way I was in the spring, I had to get over that and that was the biggest thing that I needed to work on. I feel like that has improved.” When McCartney talks about attitude, he means having more of a positive approach out on the football field. Coach Dana Holgorsen is a big body language guy and McCartney’s body language was not always the best at times. “He got on me pretty hard one day about my body language,” said McCartney. “I had to improve that.” Ivan credits a conversation he had this summer with his cousin, Chad Ochocinco, in helping him understand his role on the team and the things he needed to do to impress the coaching staff. “I asked him about being at Oregon and how he felt about being so far away from home and how was his attitude toward the game. He told me the one thing to keep in mind was my dreams and where I wanted to go,” McCartney said. “That’s how I’m starting to look at things. In order for me to get where I’m trying to be I have to change my attitude and approach every day with a happy attitude. Don’t stress it and just look forward to my future.” So he attacked summer conditioning with a renewed vigor and now he is beginning to enjoy the fruits of his labor. “My speed has gotten better. My strength has gotten better. My muscle endurance has gotten better. I feel great,” he said. And perhaps that will lead to a more productive 2011 for McCartney, who is taking a philosophical approach to this season. “I just look at it in another way as God has put me somewhere for a reason, and that’s how I have to look at it,” he said. |
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