West Virginia Mountaineers Football

The West Virginia Mountaineers Football team, established in 1891, represents a proud tradition of gridiron excellence. They play their home games at the Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, West Virginia. Led by head coach Neal Brown and athletic director Wren Baker, the Mountaineers compete fiercely in the Big 12 Conference.

They've showcased their prowess on the field with a rich history of 15 conference titles, including eight in the Southern Conference and seven in the Big East. Join us as we delve into the great legacy of West Virginia Mountaineers Football!

Name of Team	West Virginia Mountaineers Football
First season	1891
Athletic director	Wren Baker
Head coach	Neal Brown
Stadium	Milan Puskar Stadium
Location	Morgantown, West Virginia
Conference	Big 12 Conference
Field surface	FieldTurf
Conference titles	15 SoCon: 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1964, 1965, 1967Big East: 1993, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2011
Fight song	Hail, West Virginia
Mascot	The Mountaineers
Rivals	Maryland (rivalry)Penn State (rivalry)Pitt (rivalry)Syracuse (rivalry)Cincinnati (rivalry)Virginia Tech (rivalry)Marshall (rivalry)
Consensus All-Americans	13

West Virginia Mountaineers Football Introduction

The West Virginia Mountaineers football team was established in 1891. They are represented by their mascot, The Mountaineer, and play their home games at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, West Virginia. The team competes in the Big 12 Conference.

The head coach is Neal Brown, and the athletic director is Wren Baker. The team plays on a FieldTurf surface and has won a total of 15 conference titles, including Southern Conference (SoCon) titles in 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1964, 1965, and 1967, and Big East titles in 1993, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2010, and 2011. The Mountaineers have a strong rivalry with several teams, including Maryland, Penn State, Pitt, Syracuse, Cincinnati, Virginia Tech, and Marshall. Their fight song is "Hail, West Virginia," and they have had 13 consensus All-Americans throughout their history.

West Virginia Mountaineers Football History

The West Virginia Mountaineers football team has a long and storied history, competing in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as part of the Big 12 Conference. Since 1980, they have played their home games at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, West Virginia. From their founding in 1891 until 1949, the Mountaineers played as football independents, experiencing moderate success with appearances in bowl games in 1922 and 1948.

Joining the Southern Conference from 1950 to 1967, West Virginia asserted dominance by winning the conference championship nine times. However, they returned to independent status in 1968, competing in ten bowl games over the next two decades. From 1991 to 2011, the Mountaineers found success in the Big East Conference, winning seven conference championships and making appearances in prestigious bowl games.

Since 2012, West Virginia has been a member of the Big 12 Conference, continuing their tradition of competitive football. As of the 2022 season, the Mountaineers boast an impressive overall record of 769 wins, 513 losses, and 45 ties. They have appeared in 39 bowl games, showcasing their consistent presence in the college football landscape. With a rich history of achievements and a commitment to excellence, the West Virginia Mountaineers football team remains a respected competitor in the world of collegiate athletics.

West Virginia Mountaineers Football Coach

The West Virginia Mountaineers football program has seen a roster of 34 head coaches throughout its history. Notable among them is Don Nehlen, who holds the record for the most victories in the program's history with 149 wins. Following Nehlen are Dana Holgorsen, with 61 wins, and Rich Rodriguez, with 60 wins.

Head Coach: Neal Brown

Neal Brown, the current head coach, brings a wealth of experience to the role. Having served as a coach and a former player, Brown assumed the position at West Virginia University after a successful tenure at Troy University from 2015 to 2018.

Before his head coaching roles, Brown held various coaching positions, notably as an offensive coordinator at Troy, Texas Tech University, and the University of Kentucky. In his current role at West Virginia, Brown leads the team in the competitive Big 12 Conference. With a record of 31–29, he continues to shape the Mountaineers' football program.

Here is the table of head coaches list with their tenure at West Virginia University:

Name	Seasons	Record	Pct.
Neal Brown	2019–present	29–29	.000
Dana Holgorsen	2011–2018	61–41	.571
Bill Stewart	2007–2010	28–12	.833
Rich Rodriguez	2001–2007	60–26	.333
Don Nehlen	1980–2000	149–93–4	.550
Frank Cignetti, Sr.	1976–1979	17–27	.857
Bobby Bowden	1970–1975	42–26	.500
Jim Carlen	1966–1969	25–13–3	.636
Gene Corum	1960–1965	29–30–2	.571
Art Lewis	1950–1959	58–38–2	.875
Dudley DeGroot	1948–1949	13–9–1	.667
Bill Kern	1940–1942, 1946–1947	24–23–1	.684
Marshall Glenn	1937–1939	14–12–3	.600
Charles Tallman	1934–1936	15–12–2	.561
Greasy Neale	1931–1933	12–16–3	.667
Ira Errett Rodgers	1925–1930, 1943–1945	41–31–8	.444
Clarence Spears	1921–1924	30–6–3	.618
Mont McIntire	1916–1920	24–11–4	.667
Sol Metzger	1914–1915	10–6–1	.808
Edwin Sweetland	1913	3–4–2	.563
William P. Edmunds	1912	6–3	.435
Charles A. Lueder	1908–1911	17–13–3	.552
Clarence W. Russell	1907	6–4	.534
Carl Forkum	1905–1906	13–6	.510
Anthony Chez	1904	6–3	.587
Harry E. Trout	1903	7–1	.602
John E. Hill	1900	4–3	.492
Harold J. Davall	1902	7–4	.616
Lewis Yeager	1899, 1901	5–5	.618
Harry Anderson	1898	6–1	.386
George Krebs	1897	5–4–1	.614
Thomas Trenchard	1896	3–7–2	.698
Harry McCrory	1895	5–1	.700
F. William Rane	1893–94	4–3	.598
Frederick Lincoln Emory	1891	0–1	.500

West Virginia Mountaineers Football Stadium: Milan Puskar Stadium

Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium is the football stadium of West Virginia University, located in Morgantown, West Virginia. Opening its doors in 1980, it has been the home ground for the West Virginia Mountaineers football team since then. During its inaugural ceremony, the renowned singer John Denver made a memorable appearance, performing his iconic song "Take Me Home, Country Roads" before departing via helicopter.

The stadium is named after Milan Puskar, a resident of Morgantown and the founder of Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Inc., who generously donated $20 million to the university in 2004. Despite its modern upgrades, the playing surface still carries the original name of Mountaineer Field, maintaining a connection to WVU's previous football stadium. Drawing inspiration from Jack Trice Stadium at Iowa State University, Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium stands as a symbol of pride for the university.

West Virginia Mountaineers Football Rivalries

Backyard Brawl: West Virginia vs. Pitt

The Backyard Brawl with the Pittsburgh Panthers is one of the most intense and enduring rivalries for the West Virginia Mountaineers. Since 1895, these neighboring teams have clashed fiercely on the football field. Though Pitt historically leads the series, West Virginia has shown prowess in recent years. The rivalry was renewed in 2022 after a hiatus.

Virginia Tech–West Virginia Football Rivalry

The West Virginia Mountaineers share a fierce rivalry with the Virginia Tech Hokies, symbolizing the competitive spirit of Appalachia. Dating back to 1973, their annual clashes were heightened by their status as Big East Conference rivals. The Black Diamond Trophy, representing the Appalachian region's coal heritage, added significance to their matchups from 1997. Renewed in 2017 after dormancy, the rivalry continues to captivate fans.

Maryland–West Virginia Football Rivalry

The West Virginia Mountaineers and the Maryland Terrapins have a longstanding cross-border rivalry, reigniting animosity between neighboring states. Since 1919, they have met semi-annually, showcasing the intensity of regional pride. While the series outcomes have fluctuated, each matchup carries significance as both teams vie for this historical rivalry.

Syracuse–West Virginia Football Rivalry

West Virginia shares a historical rivalry with the Syracuse Orange, marked by annual showdowns from 1955 to 2012. The Ben Schwartzwalder Trophy, introduced in 1993, added prestige to their matchups, honoring a former West Virginia player and Syracuse coach. Though Syracuse leads the series, West Virginia's recent successes highlight the competitiveness of this storied rivalry.

Penn State–West Virginia Football Rivalry

The series between West Virginia and Penn State is characterized by historical significance, despite its one-sided nature. Annual meetings from 1947 to 1992 showcased Penn State's dominance, with the series ending in 1992 as Penn State transitioned to the Big Ten Conference.

West Virginia Mountaineers Football Record and stats

The West Virginia Mountaineers football team has an impressive record, winning or sharing a conference championship 15 times. This includes eight titles in the Southern Conference and seven in the Big East Conference. They have also received the ECAC Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy four times, recognizing them as the best team in the Eastern Region of FBS-level college football.

Conference championships

Year	Coach	Conference	Overall Record	Conference Record
1953	Art Lewis	Southern Conference	8–2	4–0
1954	Art Lewis	Southern Conference	8–1	3–0
1955	Art Lewis	Southern Conference	8–2	4–0
1956	Art Lewis	Southern Conference	6–4	5–0
1958	Art Lewis	Southern Conference	4–5–1	4–0
1964	Gene Corum	Southern Conference	7–4	5–0
1965	Gene Corum	Southern Conference	6–4	4–0
1967	Jim Carlen	Southern Conference	5–4–1	3–0
1993	Don Nehlen	Big East Conference	11–1	7–0
2003†	Rich Rodriguez	Big East Conference	8–5	6–1
2004†	Rich Rodriguez	Big East Conference	8–4	4–2
2005	Rich Rodriguez	Big East Conference	11–1	7–0
2007†	Rich Rodriguez	Big East Conference	11–2	5–2
2010†	Bill Stewart	Big East Conference	9–4	5–2
2011†	Dana Holgorsen	Big East Conference	10–3	5–2

Regional championships

Season	Coach	Region	Record
1988	Don Nehlen	Eastern	11–1
1993	Don Nehlen	Eastern	11–1
2007	Rich Rodriguez	Eastern	11–2
2011	Dana Holgorsen	Eastern	10–3

West Virginia Mountaineers Football Roster

The 2024 West Virginia Mountaineers Football Roster showcases a diverse array of talented players across all positions.

In the quarterback position, players like S. Boyle, G. Cochran, and G. Greene bring skill and potential to the field. Running backs include J. Anderson, C. Donaldson Jr., and D. Oliver, while receivers like D. Carter, H. Clement, and C. Cole provide options downfield.
The team's tight ends, such as N. Braham and T. Davis, offer versatility in both blocking and receiving.
On the defensive line, players like D. Berlitz and D. Cotton anchor the front, while linebackers like T. Austin-Cave and J. Bartlett provide strength and agility.
In the secondary, cornerbacks like J. Bell and M. Miller, along with safeties like A. Burks and M. Floyd, bolster the team's defensive prowess.
Special teams players like N. Flower and L. Bechdel ensure a solid kicking game.

West Virginia Mountaineers Football Schedule

The 2024 West Virginia Mountaineers Football Schedule is packed with exciting matchups throughout the season.

Here's the West Virginia Mountaineers Football Schedule presented in a table:

Date	Location	Opponent	Time
Aug 31 (Sat)	Morgantown, WV	Penn State	TBA
Sep 7 (Sat)	Morgantown, WV	Albany	TBA
Sep 14 (Sat)	Pittsburgh, PA	Pitt	TBA
Sep 21 (Sat)	Morgantown, WV	Kansas	TBA
Oct 5 (Sat)	Stillwater, OK	Oklahoma State	TBA
Oct 12 (Sat)	Morgantown, WV	Iowa State	TBA
Oct 19 (Sat)	Morgantown, WV	Kansas State	TBA
Oct 26 (Sat)	Tucson, AZ	Arizona	TBA
Nov 9 (Sat)	Cincinnati OH	Cincinnati	TBA
Nov 16 (Sat)	Morgantown, WV	Baylor	TBA
Nov 23 (Sat)	Morgantown, WV	UCF	TBA
Nov 30 (Sat)	Lubbock, TX	Texas Tech	TBA

FAQ's On West Virginia Mountaineers Football

A. Yes, West Virginia University played in the national championship game in the 1988 season but lost to Notre Dame.

A. West Virginia is known as the "Mountaineer State" due to its mountainous terrain and rugged landscape, hence the nickname for the university's sports teams.

A. West Virginia's biggest rivals include Pitt, Virginia Tech, and Maryland, with the Backyard Brawl against Pitt being particularly intense and historic.

A. Yes, West Virginia has won multiple bowl games throughout its history, including victories in the Fiesta Bowl, Sugar Bowl, and Orange Bowl.

A. Several NFL players have attended West Virginia University, including standout talents like Geno Smith, Tavon Austin, and Pat White.