West Virginia Mountaineers
| West Virginia Mountaineers | |
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| University | West Virginia University |
|---|---|
| Conference(s) | Big 12 MAC Great America Rifle Conference Conference USA[1] |
| NCAA | Division I |
| Athletics director | Oliver Luck |
| Location | Morgantown, WV |
| Varsity teams | 17 |
| Football stadium | Milan Puskar Stadium Mountaineer Field |
| Basketball arena | WVU Coliseum |
| Baseball stadium | Hawley Field |
| Mascot | The Mountaineer |
| Nickname | Mountaineers |
| Fight song | Hail, West Virginia (official) Take Me Home, Country Roads (unofficial) |
| Colors | Old Gold and Blue[2]
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| Homepage | www.wvusports.com |
The West Virginia Mountaineers are the athletic teams of West Virginia University. The school is a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I. The Mountaineers have been a member of the Big 12 Conference since 2012.[3] At that time, the Mountaineers joined the Mid-American Conference as an affiliate member for men's soccer.[4] Also, like all other Big 12 schools with women's rowing programs, WVU became a dual member of the Big 12 and Conference USA for that sport.[5] For rifle, a sport in which fewer than 40 NCAA member schools participate, the Mountaineers are a member of the single-sport Great America Rifle Conference. The school's mascot is known as the Mountaineer. The two major sports at the university are football (played at the Mountaineer Field) and basketball (played at the WVU Coliseum), although many of the other sports have large followings as well. The West Virginia University athletic program also has the honor of being the only school in the nation in 2007 to win a BCS game, a NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament game, and a NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament game.[6]
Baseball [edit]
- Playing Facility: Hawley Field (1,500)
- Head Coach: Randy Mazey
- Most Victories: 40 (1994)
- NCAA Tournament Appearances: 11
- Last NCAA Appearance: 1996
- All-Americans: 20
- Players In The Majors: 20
Men's basketball [edit]
- Playing Facility: WVU Coliseum (14,000)
- Head Coach: Bob Huggins
- Most Victories: 31 in 2010
- Big East Conference Champion: 2010
- NCAA Tournament Appearances: 24
- Last NCAA Appearance: 2011
- NCAA Final Four: 1959, 2010
- NIT Appearances: 15
- Last NIT Appearance: 2007
- NIT Championships: 2 (1942, 2007)
- All-Americans: 13
- Drafted Players: 28
- Players In The NBA: 12
Women's basketball [edit]
- Playing Facility: WVU Coliseum (14,000)
- Head Coach: Mike Carey
- Most Victories: 29 in 2010
- NCAA Tournament Appearances: 6
- WNIT Appearances: 2
- Last NCAA Appearance: 2011
- All-Americans: 3
- Drafted Players: 2
- Players In The WNBA: 1
Cross country [edit]
- Head Coach: Sean Cleary
- BIG EAST Conference Champions: 2007
- NCAA Appearances: 4
- Last NCAA Appearance: 2008
- All-Americans: 6
Football [edit]
- Stadium: Mountaineer Field
- Head coach: Dana Holgorsen
- Conference: Big 12
- All-time record: 701–456–45 (.583)
- Bowl record: 14-17
- Conference titles: 15 (8 Southern Conference, 7 Big East Conference)
- Consensus All-Americans: 11
- BCS Bowl Game Record: (3-0)
- Highest final top 25 ranking: #2(1988 & 2005)
Gymnastics [edit]
- Competition Facility: WVU Coliseum (14,000)
- Head Coach: Jason Butts
- Most Victories: 26 in 1992
- NCAA Tournament Appearances: 3
- AIAW Appearances: 1
- Last NCAA Appearance: 2000
- All-Americans: 4
Rifle [edit]
- Playing Facility: WVU Shell Building
- Head Coach: Jon Hammond
- Most Victories: 19 in 1964
- NCAA Appearances: 25
- NCAA Team Championships: 15
- National Individual Champions: 20
- NCAA All-Americans: 65
- Olympians: 13
Women's Rowing [edit]
- Playing Facility: WVU Boathouse
- Head Coach: Jimmy King
Men's Soccer [edit]
- Playing Facility: Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium (1,600)
- Head Coach: Marlon LeBlanc
- Most Victories: 15 in 2006
- NCAA Tournament Appearances: 11
- Last NCAA Appearance: 2010
- All-Americans: 5
- Mountaineer Professionals: 12
Women's Soccer [edit]
- Playing Facility: Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium (1,600)
- Head Coach: Nikki Izzo-Brown
- Most Victories: 18 in 2002, 2007, 2010
- BIG EAST Conference Champions: 2007, 2010, 2011
- BIG 12 Conference Champions: 2012
- NCAA Tournament Appearances: 14
- Last NCAA Appearance: 2011
- All-Americans: 3
- Academic All-American: 4
- Mountaineer Professionals: 2
Men's Swimming [edit]
- Playing Facility: WVU Natatorium (500)
- Head Coach: Vic Riggs
- Most Victories: 13 in 2007
- Big East Conference Champions: 2007
- NCAA Qualifiers: 19
- NCAA All-Americans: 2
- Olympians: 1
Women's Swimming [edit]
- Playing Facility: WVU Natatorium (500)
- Head Coach: Vic Riggs
- Most Victories: 9 in 1990
- NCAA Qualifiers: 14
- NCAA All-Americans: 4
- Olympians: 1
Women's Tennis [edit]
- Playing Facility: Mountaineer Tennis Courts
- Head Coach: Tina Samara
- Most Victories: 21 in 1990
Women's Track [edit]
- Playing Facility: Mountaineer Track, Shell Indoor Track
- Head Coach: Sean Cleary
- Assistants: Shellyann Galimore
- Olympians: 2
- NCAA National Champions: 2
- NCAA All-Americans: 13
Women's Volleyball [edit]
- Playing Facility: WVU Coliseum (14,000)
- Head Coach: Jill Kramer
- Most Victories: 35 in 1979
- NCAA Tournament Appearances: 0
- Last NCAA Appearance: NA
- NIT Appearances: 1
- All-Americans: 0
- All-East: 2
Wrestling [edit]
- Playing Facility: WVU Coliseum (14,000)
- Head Coach: Craig Turnbull
- Most Victories: 14 in 1976 and 1990
- NCAA Individual Appearances: 67
- Best NCAA Finish: 6th in 1991
- All-Americans: 16
- National Champions: 3
- EWL Champions: 18
- Prior to joining the Big 12, West Virginia wrestled as a member of the Eastern Wrestling League as the Big East was a non-wrestling conference.
NCAA Division I: NACDA Learfield Director's Cup [edit]
- See footnote[7] and NACDA Directors' Cup
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Pageantry [edit]
Mascot [edit]
The Mountaineer was adopted in 1890 as the official school mascot and unofficially began appearing at sporting events in 1936.[8] A new Mountaineer is selected each year during the final two men's home basketball games, with the formal title "The Mountaineer of West Virginia University." The new Mountaineer receives a scholarship, a tailor-made buckskin suit with coonskin hat, and a period rifle and powder horn for discharging when appropriate and safe. The mascot travels with most sports teams throughout the academic year. While not required, male mascots traditionally grow a beard. List of Mountaineers Jonathan Kimble, a Franklin, WV native (pictured) is the new 2012-2013 WVU Mountaineer, Kimble officially took over as the official mascot at the annual spring football game.
Logos [edit]
Designed by sports artist John Martin, The "Flying WV" is the most widely used logo in West Virginia athletics. It debuted in 1980 as a part of a football uniform redesign by Coach Don Nehlen, and was adopted as the official logo for the University in 1983.[9][10] While the "Flying WV" represents all university entities, unique logos are occasionally used for individual departments. Some examples include the script West Virginia logo for the WVU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, and the interlocking WV logo used in baseball.[11]
Songs [edit]
The official fight songs of West Virginia University are "Fight Mountaineers" and "Hail, West Virginia." "Hail, West Virginia." was composed by WVU alumni Earl Miller and Ed McWhorther in 1915 with lyrics by Fred B. Deem. The "Pride of West Virginia" Mountaineer Marching Band performs the second verse of "Hail, West Virginia" as part of its pregame performance at Mountaineer football games. The band's pregame arrangement of "Hail, West Virginia" was arranged by WVU's 7th band director - Dr. Budd Udell. The line "Others may be black or crimson, but for us it's Gold and Blue." is in reference to Washington & Jefferson College, an early rival.
In addition to the official fight songs of West Virginia university, the fan response to John Denver's "Country Roads" (arrangement by Dr. James Miltenberger) has made it the unofficial song of the university and the state of West Virginia.
The West Virginia University Alma Mater was composed in 1937, and is sung before every home football game.
Colors [edit]
The upperclassmen of 1890 selected the official colors of "old gold and blue" from the West Virginia state seal.[8] While the official school colors are old gold and blue, a brighter gold is used in official university logos and merchandise. This change in color scheme is often cited for the lack of a universal standard for colors during 19th century when the university's colors were selected. Additionally, the brighter gold is argued to create a more intimidating environment for sporting events. The university accepts "gold and blue" for the color scheme, but states clearly that the colors are not "blue and gold", to distinguish West Virginia from its rival school the University of Pittsburgh.
Marching band [edit]
The West Virginia University Mountaineer Marching Band is nicknamed "The Pride of West Virginia". The 390-member band performs at every home football game and makes several local and national appearances throughout the year. The band was the recipient of the prestigious Sudler Trophy in 1997.
Sports traditions [edit]
Firing of the Rifle [edit]
The Mountaineer mascot carries a period rifle and powder horn for firing a shot to signal the opening of several athletic events. The Mountaineer points the gun into the air with one arm and fires a blank shot, a signal to the crowd to begin cheering at home football and basketball games. The Mountaineer also fires the rifle every time the team scores during football games.
Formation of the State [edit]
The Pride of West Virginia forms the outline of the state of West Virginia during the pregame show of all home Mountaineer football games. The outline of the state moves down the field during the playing of "Hail West Virginia", and the shape inverts to face the student side of the stadium when the crowd begins the "Let's Go...Mountaineers" chant.
Carpet roll [edit]
In 1955, Fred Schaus and Alex Mumford devised the idea of rolling out an elaborate gold and blue carpet for Mountaineer basketball players to use when taking the court for pre-game warm-ups. In addition, Mountaineer players warmed up with a special gold and blue basketball. The University continued this tradition until the late 1960s when it died out, but former Mountaineer player Gale Catlett reintroduced the carpet when he returned to West Virginia University in 1978 as head coach of the men's basketball team.
Cheers [edit]
The "Let's Go...Mountaineers" cheer originated at home football games as a competition between opposite sides of the stadium.[8] The student side of the stadium chants "Let's Go...", and the pressbox side responds "Mountaineers". The chant can continue for long periods of time, as each side of the stadium tries to keep the chant from fading. The cheer has spread to other athletic events including basketball and soccer. The "WVU First Down" cheer is used when fans are expecting a first down call during a football game. Prior to the announcement, fans put their arms in the air and yell while waiting for the call. After the announcement, the fans lower and raise their arms three times while simultaneously yelling the initials "WVU". Then, the fans clap and signal to the end zone while cheering "first down!"
Fanbase [edit]
In a state that lacks professional sports franchises, the citizens of West Virginia passionately support West Virginia University and its athletics teams.[12] West Virginia fans are nationally known for following their Mountaineers to bowl games and games throughout the country. West Virginia games also have received high TV ratings throughout the years. Men's basketball head coach Bob Huggins, a former Mountaineer basketball player who was born in Morgantown, stated that the "strong bond between the university and the people of West Virginia" is a relationship that is difficult for non-natives to understand.[12] Former basketball player Da'Sean Butler cited the fan support as a factor in his decision to play for WVU, saying "everybody loves our school to death" in reference to the fan base in West Virginia.[13]
West Virginia fans have also been recognized for their hospitality. In the first football game played by the University of Connecticut following the death of Jasper Howard, a banner displayed at Mountaineer Field in the Connecticut entrance tunnel read "Today we are all Huskies". Connecticut fans described the warmth of the environment as impressive, citing the number of WVU fans who offered condolences.[14] In a letter to WVU, then UConn head football coach Randy Edsall wrote:
"The response that you gave our team before and after the game was tremendous and greatly appreciated. The pregame moment of silence and team handshake was the most moving experience I have ever had in my 29 years of coaching football." [15]
Student Section [edit]
Some WVU fans, primarily in the student sections, have developed a reputation for unruly behavior, being compared to "soccer hooligans" by GQ magazine.[16][17] At some events, there have been cases of objects thrown onto the field or at opposing teams.[18][19] There were previously also issues with small-scale fires, most notably of couches, being set after games; over 1,100 intentionally ignited street fires were reported from 1997 to 2003.[16] The tradition of igniting furniture continues to this day, including the celebration after the WVU basketball team won the Big East title. Fires have sometimes occurred in response to non-sporting events, such as following the announcement that Osama bin Laden had been killed.
Notable Athletes [edit]
- Joe Alexander - Former NBA player for the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls
- Tavon Austin
- Stedman Bailey
- John Barton - Head Football Coach of the Hollidaysburg Golden Tiger Football Team and winner of the District 6 Championship(1999,2006,2008)
- Terry Bowden - Yahoo Sports Analyst
- Tommy Bowden - Former head football coach at Clemson University and Tulane University
- Marc Bulger - NFL quarterback for Baltimore Ravens
- Da'Sean Butler - Former NBA basketball player for the Miami Heat, currently a Graduate Assistant coach for WVU basketball
- Gale Catlett - winningest coach in WVU basketball history
- Avon Cobourne - Former NFL running back for the Detroit Lions. Currently with the CFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
- Mike Compton - Former NFL guard for the Detroit Lions, New England Patriots, and Jacksonville Jaguars
- Robert Dennis - University’s first Male Big East Conference Track & Field champion
- Noel Devine - Current CFL running back for the Montreal Alouettes
- Devin Ebanks - NBA basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers
- Raymon Gaddis - Current defender for the Philadelphia Union
- Mike Gansey - Current basketball player in NBA Development League
- Major Harris - Quarterbacked for West Virginia in their 1988 undefeated season.
- Chris Henry - Former NFL wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals
- Johannes "Joe" Herber - German international basketball player
- Jeff Hostetler - Former Washington Redskins, Oakland Raiders & New York Giants Quarterback
- Chuck Howley - WVU Five Sport Letterman, former NFL Linebacker and Super Bowl MVP with Dallas Cowboys
- Sam Huff - Former NFL Linebacker, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982.
- Bob Huggins - Former WVU basketball player. Current Head Basketball Coach of the WVU Men's Basketball Team. One of only 4 active Division I coaches with 700+ career victories.
- Rodney "Hot Rod" Hundley - First pick in the 1957 NBA draft by the Cincinnati Royals.
- James Jett - All-American sprinter and wide receiver for Los Angeles and Oakland Raiders
- Adam "Pacman" Jones - Former NFL cornerback for the Tennessee Titans(#6 draft choice overall), Dallas Cowboys and currently with the Cincinnati Bengals
- Kevin Jones - Current power forward for the Cleveland Cavaliers
- Brian Jozwiak - Former lineman, Kansas City Chiefs.
- Ken Kendrick - owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball
- Steve Kline - Former Major League Baseball pitcher
- Oliver Luck - Former NFL quarterback and president and current athletic director at WVU
- Pat McAfee - Current NFL punter for the Indianapolis Colts
- Dan Mozes - First Team All American Center, won the Rimington Trophy in his senior year
- Adrian Murrell - Former running back for New York Jets
- Kevin Pittsnogle - Former WVU basketball star
- Jerry Porter - Former NFL Wide Receiver for the Oakland Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars
- Rich Rodriguez - Former head football coach at West Virginia University and University of Michigan
- Todd Sauerbrun - Former NFL punter, Went to the Pro Bowl in 2002, 2003, and 2004.
- Owen Schmitt - Current NFL fullback for the Oakland Raiders
- Floyd B. "Ben" Schwartzwalder - Former head coach of the 1959 National Championship Syracuse University football team
- Steve Slaton - Current NFL free agent running back
- Eugene "Geno" Smith
- Darryl Talley - WVU all-time team member and former NFL Linebacker for the Buffalo Bills
- Rod Thorn - Former WVU basketball player and current President of the New Jersey Nets
- John Thornton - Former defensive tackle for the Cincinnati Bengals
- Mike Vanderjagt - Former Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys placekicker
- Jerry West - WVU and NBA basketball player, member of Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Model for NBA Logo
- Pat White - Former NFL quarterback for the Miami Dolphins and Minor League Baseball player for the Kansas City Royals
- Andrew Wright - Current Defender/Midfielder for Scunthorpe United F.C.
- Amos Zereoue - Former NFL running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Oakland Raiders, and New England Patriots
References [edit]
- ^ All Big 12 members with women's rowing programs, including WVU, have dual membership for that sport in the Big 12 and Conference USA.
- ^ "WVU Communications Guide" (PDF). West Virginia University. 2009. p. 10.
- ^ "Big 12 adding WVU, will stay 10 strong". ESPN.com.
- ^ Carvelli, Michael (2012-04-03). "West Virginia men’s soccer team to join the Mid-American Conference next season". The Daily Athenaeum. Retrieved 2012-04-09.
- ^ "Conference USA Women's Rowing Format for 2012–13". Conference USA. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
- ^ Blue&Gold News
- ^ "NACDA official website". Retrieved 2010-11-28. See also: National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).
- ^ a b c "Living Here: WVU Traditions". West Virginia University. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
- ^ Stump, Jake. "The Legend of the Flying WV". West Virginia University Alumni Magazine. West Virginia University Alumni Association. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
- ^ Forinash, Danny (2005-08-04). "A Mark to Remember: Flying WV". WTRF-TV. Retrieved 2008-11-21.
- ^ "Branding and Communications at WVU". West Virginia University. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
- ^ a b Vaccaro, Mike (April 3, 2010). "For WVU fans, it's all about Mountaineers". NY Post. Retrieved Aug 2, 2010.
- ^ Dunlap, Colin (March 19, 2010). "Love affair with state drives West Virginia". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved Aug 2, 2010.
- ^ "Howard honored with moment of silence". ESPN. Retrieved Aug 2, 2010.
- ^ "UConn coach thanks WVU, fans for support". The Charleston Gazette. Retrieved Aug 2, 2010.
- ^ a b Sports Fans"GQ Names the Top Ten Worst College".
- ^ "Rowdy West Virginia student section under fire".
- ^ Miami Coach suing West Virginia http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1320&dat=19980402&id=oxUSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FOsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4757,287633. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - ^ "WVU Fans Like to Throw Things on the Court".
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