fbpx
Wikipedia

West Virginia Mountaineers

The West Virginia Mountaineers are the athletic teams that represent West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia. 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.[2][3] At that time, the Mountaineers joined the Mid-American Conference as an affiliate member for men's soccer.[4] The men's soccer team now competes in the Sun Belt Conference.[5]

West Virginia Mountaineers
UniversityWest Virginia University
ConferenceBig 12 (primary)
Sun Belt (men's soccer)
Great America Rifle Conference (rifle)
NCAADivision I
Athletic directorWren Baker
LocationMorgantown, West Virginia
Varsity teams18
Football stadiumMilan Puskar Stadium
Basketball arenaWVU Coliseum
Baseball stadiumMonongalia County Ballpark
MascotThe Mountaineer
NicknameMountaineers
Fight songHail, West Virginia (official)
Fight Mountaineers (official)
Take Me Home, Country Roads (unofficial)
ColorsGold and blue[1]
   
Websitewww.wvusports.com
Big 12 logo in West Virginia's colors

Currently, WVU sponsors seven men's sports, ten women's sports, and one coeducational sport (rifle). Men's golf was the latest sport to be added in the 2015–16 school year.[6]

Championships edit

NCAA team championships edit

West Virginia has won 20 NCAA team national championships.[7]

Other national team championships edit

Below are the national team titles that were not bestowed by the NCAA:

NCAA individual and relay championships edit

West Virginia athletes have won 38 individual and relay national championships:

  • Men's (24)
    • Boxing - 3
    • Indoor track and field - 1
    • Rifle - 15 (8 smallbore, 7 air rifle)
    • Wrestling - 5
  • Women's (14)
    • Indoor track and field - 1
    • Outdoor track and field - 2
    • Rifle - 11 (4 smallbore, 7 air rifle)

Sports sponsored edit

Men's sports Women's sports
Baseball Basketball
Basketball Cross country
Football Gymnastics
Golf Rowing
Soccer Soccer
Swimming & diving Swimming & diving
Wrestling Tennis
Track & field
Volleyball
Co-ed sports
Rifle
† – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor.

Football edit

Football is the most popular sport at WVU. The West Virginia Mountaineers football team represents West Virginia University in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of college football. West Virginia plays its home games at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium on the campus of West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia. The Mountaineers compete in the Big 12 Conference.

With a 712–471–45 record as of the conclusion of the 2013 season, WVU ranks 14th in victories among NCAA FBS programs, as well as the most victories among those programs that never claimed nor won a National Championship. WVU received Division I classification in 1973, becoming a Division I-A program from 1978 to 2006 and an FBS program from 2006 to the present.[8] The Mountaineers have registered 80 winning seasons in their history, including one unbeaten season (10–0–1 in 1922) and five 11-win seasons (1988, 1993, 2005, 2006, 2007).[9] The Mountaineers have won a total of 15 conference championships, including eight Southern Conference titles and seven Big East Conference titles.

Stadium: Milan Puskar Stadium at Mountaineer Field
Head coach: Neal Brown
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 Coaches Poll ranking: #1 (2007)
Highest AP Poll ranking: #2 (2007)
Highest final top 25 ranking: #5 (1988 & 2005)

Baseball edit

Playing facility: Monongalia County Ballpark (2,500 plus hillside seating)
Head coach: Randy Mazey
Most victories: 40 (1994)
NCAA Tournament appearances: 13
Last NCAA appearance: 2023
All-Americans: 17
Players in the Majors: 26

Men's basketball edit

Playing facility: WVU Coliseum (14,000)
Head coach: Josh Eilert (interim)
Most victories: 31 in 2010
Big East Conference Champion: 2010
NCAA Tournament appearances: 31
Last NCAA appearance: 2021
NCAA Final Four: 1959, 2010
NIT appearances: 15
Last NIT appearance: 2014
NIT Championships: 2 (1942, 2007)
All-Americans: 13
Drafted players: 28
Players in the NBA: 14

Women's basketball edit

Playing facility: WVU Coliseum (14,000)
Head coach: Mark Kellogg
Most victories: 30 in 2014
Big 12 Conference Champion: 2017
NCAA Tournament appearances: 11
WNIT appearances: 2
Last NCAA appearance: 2017
All-Americans: 4
Drafted players: 3
Players in the WNBA: 2

Cross country edit

Head coach: Sean Cleary
World Cross Country qualifiers: 11
BIG EAST Conference Champions: 2007
NCAA Regional Champions: 2004, 2008
NCAA appearances: 11
NCAA Top 10 finishes: 5: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2014
NCAA Elite 8 finishes: 4: 2008, 2009, 2011, 2014
NCAA Final 4 finishes: 1: 2008
Highest NCAA finish: 4th
Last NCAA appearance: 2021
All-Americans: 16
Elite 89 winners: Ahna Lewis-2009, Kelly Williams 2014
NACAC Champions, Metcalfe, Grandt, Harrison
NACAC silver medallists: Asselin, Forsey, Wood
National team members: World Cross Country team members 10, NACAC Championship team members 10

Men's golf edit

WVU sponsored men's golf from 1933 until dropping the sport in 1982. On July 1, 2013, then-WVU athletic director Oliver Luck announced that the sport would be reinstated in the 2015–16 school year.[6]

Competition facilities: Seven regional courses (all in West Virginia except as indicated):[10]
Head coach: Sean Covich

The Mountaineer golf program reached their first ever top 25 ranking back in the fall semester in 2019 with their top 5 finish at the Gopher invitational hosted by the University of Minnesota. In April 2021, they were ranked in 76th place.[11]

In 2021, the Mountaineers claimed their third straight Mountaineer Invitational victory on April 13. During that same event, Mark Goetz won the individual tournament with a score of -12 (70-69-65).

Gymnastics edit

Competition facility: WVU Coliseum (14,000)
Head coach: Jason Butts
Most victories: 26 in 1992
NCAA Tournament appearances: 3 (under former head coach Linda Burdette)
AIAW appearances: 1
Last NCAA appearance: 2000
All-Americans: 4

Rifle edit

For rifle, the Mountaineers are a member of the single-sport Great America Rifle Conference and have won the most NCAA Rifle Championships of any school, at 19.[12]

Playing facility: WVU Shell Building
Head coach: Jon Hammond
Most victories: 19 in 1964
NCAA appearances: 26
NCAA Team Championships: 19
NCAA Team runner up: 7
National Individual Champions: 25
NCAA All-Americans: 65
Olympians: 13
Gold medal: Virginia "Ginny" Thrasher - Rio 2016
Awards: CaptainU Coach of the Year[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: Daniel Stratford
Most victories: 15 in 2006
NCAA tournament appearances: 15
Last NCAA appearance: 2021
All-Americans: 7
Mountaineer professionals: 12

Women's soccer edit

Playing facility: Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium (1,600)
Head coach: Nikki Izzo-Brown
Most victories: 23 in 2016
BIG EAST Conference Champions: 2007, 2010, 2011
BIG 12 Conference Champions: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2022
NCAA tournament appearances: 21 (lost in finals 2016)
Last NCAA appearance: 2020
All-Americans: 45
Academic All-American: 4
Mountaineer professionals: 28

Men's swimming edit

Playing facility: Mylan Park
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: Mylan Park
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: Miha Lisac
Most victories: 21 in 1990

Women's track edit

Playing facility: Mountaineer Track, Shell Indoor Track
Head coach: Sean Cleary 2007-present
Assistants: Shellyann Galimore, Erin Oreilly
Olympians: 7
NCAA National Champions: 3, Pat Itanyi Long Jump 1994, Kate Vermeulen 1999 Mile, Megan Metcalf 5000 2005,
NCAA Runner Up finishes: Marie Louise Asselin 2011-5000, Kate Harrison 10,000 2012
NCAA All-Americans: 32

NCAA Top 10 finishes: 1 2010 Outdoors NCAA Sweet 16 finishes: 1999, 2010, 2011 NCAA top 20 finishes: 1999, 2009, 2010, 2011

Women's volleyball edit

Playing facility: WVU Coliseum (14,000)
Head coach: Reed Sunahara
Most victories: 35 in 1979
NCAA Tournament appearances: 1
Last NCAA appearance: 2021
NIT appearances: 1
All-Americans: 0
All-East: 2

Wrestling edit

Founded: 1921
Dual meets and tournament facility: WVU Coliseum (14,000)
Head coach: Tim Flynn
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[14] and NACDA Directors' Cup
WVU Directors' Cup Standings
Seasons National rank Conference rank
1993–94 67th 6th
1994–95 92nd 10th
1995–96 63rd 6th
1996–97 72nd 11th
1997–98 41st 2nd
1998–99 60th 6th
1999–00 77th 10th
Seasons National rank Conference rank
2000–01 70th 7th
2001–02 76th 9th
2002–03 84th 11th
2003–04 71st 8th
2004–05 59th 3rd
2005–06 52nd 2nd
2006–07 57th 4th
Seasons National rank Conference rank
2007–08 30th 2nd
2008–09 50th 3rd
2009–10 37th 2nd
2010–11 40th 3rd
2011–12 45th 3rd

Notable non-varsity sports edit

Rugby edit

The West Virginia Rugby Football Club was established in 1974, and is the oldest established club sport at WVU.[15] In the fall of 2013, WVU won the Keystone Conference and qualified for the American Collegiate Rugby Championship, where they lost to Kutztown in the quarterfinals. In the spring of 2014, WVU reached the D1-AA national playoffs, where they defeated Princeton 41–24, but lost in the quarterfinals 34–14 to San Diego.[16] The Mountaineers play their home games at the Mylan Park Athletic Field Complex.[17] The Mountaineers have been led by Head Coach Glover since spring of 2013.[18]

Cricket edit

The West Virginia Cricket Club competes in American College Cricket. In 2019, the Mountaineers won the American College Cricket National Championship by defeating NJIT.[19] The following year, the Mountaineers qualified for the 2020 National Championship tournament. However, due to COVID-19, the event was canceled. Following the resumption of American College Cricket in 2022, it was decided that the 2020 tournament would be made up. The Mountaineers also qualified for the 2022 National Championship tournament and played in both tournaments during the same week. They went on to win both tournaments, defeating Arkansas State to be crowned 2020 national champions and Florida to become 2022 national champions.[20]

Pageantry edit

Mascot edit

 
West Virginia Mountaineer

The Mountaineer was adopted in 1890 as the official school mascot and unofficially began appearing at sporting events in 1936.[21] 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. Jonathan Kimble, a Franklin, WV native (pictured) served his term as the 2012-2013 WVU Mountaineer. Each newly named Mountaineer will officially take over as the 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.[22][23] 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.[24]

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[25] 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 West Virginia's official state song, "Take Me Home, Country Roads" by John Denver, has made "Country Roads" the unofficial song of the university (arrangement by Dr. James Miltenberger).[26]

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.[21] 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 Musket edit

The Mountaineer mascot carries a period Musket 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 musket every time the team scores during football games.

 
Formation of the state

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.

Cheers edit

The "Let's Go...Mountaineers" cheer originated at home football games as a competition between opposite sides of the stadium.[21] 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.

 
Carpet roll at a basketball game

Since the early 2000s, 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 announcer at Milan Puskar Stadium says, "First down, West Virginia," 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!"

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 tradition died out in the 1960s, died out, but former Mountaineer player Gale Catlett reintroduced the carpet when he returned to Morgantown in 1978 as head coach of the men's basketball team.

Fanbase edit

 
The WVU student section perform the first down cheer at a home football game.

In a state that lacks professional sports franchises, the citizens of West Virginia passionately support West Virginia University and its athletics teams.[27] 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.[27] 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.[28]

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.[29] 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."[30]

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.[31][32] At some events, objects have been thrown onto the field or at opposing teams.[33][34] 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.[31] 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. Much of this behavior has died down in recent years.

Notable athletes edit

References edit

  1. ^ "West Virginia Mountaineers Athletic Identity Logoslick" (PDF). April 15, 2019. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  2. ^ Barnhouse, Wendell (July 1, 2012). "TCU, West Virginia Officially Join Big 12". Big 12 Conference. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  3. ^ "Big 12 adding WVU, will stay 10 strong". ESPN.com. 28 October 2011.
  4. ^ Carvelli, Michael (2012-04-03). "West Virginia men's soccer team to join the Mid-American Conference next season". The Daily Athenaeum. Archived from the original on 2012-09-12. Retrieved 2012-04-09.
  5. ^ Post, Submitted to The Dominion (2022-04-06). "WVU men's soccer program set to join rekindled Sun Belt Conference". Dominion Post. Retrieved 2023-04-29. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  6. ^ a b "WVU Men's Golf Reintroduced" (Press release). West Virginia Mountaineers. July 1, 2013. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  7. ^ . Archived from the original on 2015-04-02.
  8. ^ DeLassus, David. . College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 28, 2014. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
  9. ^ DeVault, Mark. "WVU Season-by-Season". WVU Stats (West Virginia University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics). Retrieved September 13, 2014.
  10. ^ "Luck Announces Home Golf Courses" (Press release). West Virginia Mountaineers. December 16, 2014. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  11. ^ "Golfstat Team Ranking". www.golfstat.com. Retrieved 2021-04-30.
  12. ^ "NC Rifle Championship History | NCAA.com".
  13. ^ CaptainU College Coach of the Year
  14. ^ . Archived from the original on 2011-01-02. Retrieved 2010-11-28. See also: National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).
  15. ^ WVU Men's Rugby. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
  16. ^ 2013-14 Men's DI-AA College National Championship 2014-10-15 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
  17. ^ Mylan Park Athletic Field Complex
  18. ^ "WVU National Playoff Bracket Set!", WVU Men's Rugby, April 17, 2014.
  19. ^ "Campus Recreation | WVU Cricket Tops the Nation".
  20. ^ "WVU Cricket Club's quiet dominance: Team grabs third straight national title". 6 September 2023.
  21. ^ a b c . West Virginia University. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
  22. ^ Stump, Jake. "The Legend of the Flying WV". West Virginia University Alumni Magazine. West Virginia University Alumni Association. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  23. ^ Forinash, Danny (2005-08-04). "A Mark to Remember: Flying WV". WTRF-TV. Retrieved 2008-11-21.
  24. ^ . West Virginia University. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
  25. ^ Mountaineer Marching Band
  26. ^ . Archived from the original on 2014-03-08. Retrieved 2014-03-07.
  27. ^ a b Vaccaro, Mike (April 3, 2010). "For WVU fans, it's all about Mountaineers". NY Post. Retrieved Aug 2, 2010.
  28. ^ Dunlap, Colin (March 19, 2010). "Love affair with state drives West Virginia". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved Aug 2, 2010.
  29. ^ "Howard honored with moment of silence". ESPN. 24 October 2009. Retrieved Aug 2, 2010.
  30. ^ "UConn coach thanks WVU, fans for support". The Charleston Gazette. Retrieved Aug 2, 2010.
  31. ^ a b Sports Fans"GQ Names the Top Ten Worst College".
  32. ^ . Archived from the original on 2010-03-10. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
  33. ^ Miami Coach suing West Virginia "Miami Coach suing West Virginia".
  34. ^ "WVU Fans Like to Throw Things on the Court".
  35. ^ "Greg Jones Wrestling". WVU Athletics. Retrieved 2014-01-01.

External links edit

  • Official website  

west, virginia, mountaineers, athletic, teams, that, represent, west, virginia, university, morgantown, west, virginia, school, member, national, collegiate, athletic, association, division, mountaineers, have, been, member, conference, since, 2012, that, time. The West Virginia Mountaineers are the athletic teams that represent West Virginia University in Morgantown West Virginia 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 2 3 At that time the Mountaineers joined the Mid American Conference as an affiliate member for men s soccer 4 The men s soccer team now competes in the Sun Belt Conference 5 West Virginia MountaineersUniversityWest Virginia UniversityConferenceBig 12 primary Sun Belt men s soccer Great America Rifle Conference rifle NCAADivision IAthletic directorWren BakerLocationMorgantown West VirginiaVarsity teams18Football stadiumMilan Puskar StadiumBasketball arenaWVU ColiseumBaseball stadiumMonongalia County BallparkMascotThe MountaineerNicknameMountaineersFight songHail West Virginia official Fight Mountaineers official Take Me Home Country Roads unofficial ColorsGold and blue 1 Websitewww wbr wvusports wbr com Big 12 logo in West Virginia s colors Currently WVU sponsors seven men s sports ten women s sports and one coeducational sport rifle Men s golf was the latest sport to be added in the 2015 16 school year 6 Contents 1 Championships 1 1 NCAA team championships 1 2 Other national team championships 1 3 NCAA individual and relay championships 2 Sports sponsored 2 1 Football 2 2 Baseball 2 3 Men s basketball 2 4 Women s basketball 2 5 Cross country 2 6 Men s golf 2 7 Gymnastics 2 8 Rifle 2 9 Women s rowing 2 10 Men s soccer 2 11 Women s soccer 2 12 Men s swimming 2 13 Women s swimming 2 14 Women s tennis 2 15 Women s track 2 16 Women s volleyball 2 17 Wrestling 3 NCAA Division I NACDA Learfield Director s Cup 4 Notable non varsity sports 4 1 Rugby 4 2 Cricket 5 Pageantry 5 1 Mascot 5 2 Logos 5 3 Songs 5 4 Colors 5 5 Marching band 6 Sports traditions 6 1 Firing of the Musket 6 2 Formation of the State 6 3 Cheers 6 4 Carpet roll 7 Fanbase 7 1 Student section 8 Notable athletes 9 References 10 External linksChampionships editNCAA team championships edit West Virginia has won 20 NCAA team national championships 7 Men s 1 Boxing 1 1938 unofficial Co ed 19 Rifle 19 1983 1984 1986 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1995 1996 1997 1998 2009 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 See also Big 12 Conference national team titles See also List of NCAA schools with the most NCAA Division I championships Other national team championships edit Below are the national team titles that were not bestowed by the NCAA Men s basketball 1 1942 Rifle 4 1913 1961 1964 1966 Cricket 3 2019 2020 2022 See also List of college athletics championship game outcomes Rifle See also List of NCAA schools with the most Division I national championships NCAA individual and relay championships edit West Virginia athletes have won 38 individual and relay national championships Men s 24 Boxing 3 Indoor track and field 1 Rifle 15 8 smallbore 7 air rifle Wrestling 5 Women s 14 Indoor track and field 1 Outdoor track and field 2 Rifle 11 4 smallbore 7 air rifle Sports sponsored editMen s sports Women s sports Baseball Basketball Basketball Cross country Football Gymnastics Golf Rowing Soccer Soccer Swimming amp diving Swimming amp diving Wrestling Tennis Track amp field Volleyball Co ed sports Rifle Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor Football edit Main article West Virginia Mountaineers football Football is the most popular sport at WVU The West Virginia Mountaineers football team represents West Virginia University in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision FBS of college football West Virginia plays its home games at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium on the campus of West Virginia University in Morgantown West Virginia The Mountaineers compete in the Big 12 Conference With a 712 471 45 record as of the conclusion of the 2013 season WVU ranks 14th in victories among NCAA FBS programs as well as the most victories among those programs that never claimed nor won a National Championship WVU received Division I classification in 1973 becoming a Division I A program from 1978 to 2006 and an FBS program from 2006 to the present 8 The Mountaineers have registered 80 winning seasons in their history including one unbeaten season 10 0 1 in 1922 and five 11 win seasons 1988 1993 2005 2006 2007 9 The Mountaineers have won a total of 15 conference championships including eight Southern Conference titles and seven Big East Conference titles Stadium Milan Puskar Stadium at Mountaineer Field Head coach Neal Brown 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 Coaches Poll ranking 1 2007 Highest AP Poll ranking 2 2007 Highest final top 25 ranking 5 1988 amp 2005 Baseball edit Main article West Virginia Mountaineers baseball Playing facility Monongalia County Ballpark 2 500 plus hillside seating Head coach Randy Mazey Most victories 40 1994 NCAA Tournament appearances 13 Last NCAA appearance 2023 All Americans 17 Players in the Majors 26 Men s basketball edit Main article West Virginia Mountaineers men s basketball Playing facility WVU Coliseum 14 000 Head coach Josh Eilert interim Most victories 31 in 2010 Big East Conference Champion 2010 NCAA Tournament appearances 31 Last NCAA appearance 2021 NCAA Final Four 1959 2010 NIT appearances 15 Last NIT appearance 2014 NIT Championships 2 1942 2007 All Americans 13 Drafted players 28 Players in the NBA 14 Women s basketball edit Main article West Virginia Mountaineers women s basketball Playing facility WVU Coliseum 14 000 Head coach Mark Kellogg Most victories 30 in 2014 Big 12 Conference Champion 2017 NCAA Tournament appearances 11 WNIT appearances 2 Last NCAA appearance 2017 All Americans 4 Drafted players 3 Players in the WNBA 2 Cross country edit Head coach Sean Cleary World Cross Country qualifiers 11 BIG EAST Conference Champions 2007 NCAA Regional Champions 2004 2008 NCAA appearances 11 NCAA Top 10 finishes 5 2007 2008 2009 2011 2014 NCAA Elite 8 finishes 4 2008 2009 2011 2014 NCAA Final 4 finishes 1 2008 Highest NCAA finish 4th Last NCAA appearance 2021 All Americans 16 Elite 89 winners Ahna Lewis 2009 Kelly Williams 2014 NACAC Champions Metcalfe Grandt Harrison NACAC silver medallists Asselin Forsey Wood National team members World Cross Country team members 10 NACAC Championship team members 10 Men s golf edit WVU sponsored men s golf from 1933 until dropping the sport in 1982 On July 1 2013 then WVU athletic director Oliver Luck announced that the sport would be reinstated in the 2015 16 school year 6 Competition facilities Seven regional courses all in West Virginia except as indicated 10 Two courses at Lakeview Golf Resort Cheat Lake Lakeview and Mountainview Two courses at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort Farmington Pennsylvania The Links and Mystic Rock In addition the Mountaineers will use the Nemacolin Golf Academy at the resort as a practice facility Pete Dye Golf Club Bridgeport The Pines Country Club Morgantown To be used for both competition and practice Stonewall Jackson Resort Arnold Palmer Signature Course Roanoke Head coach Sean Covich The Mountaineer golf program reached their first ever top 25 ranking back in the fall semester in 2019 with their top 5 finish at the Gopher invitational hosted by the University of Minnesota In April 2021 they were ranked in 76th place 11 In 2021 the Mountaineers claimed their third straight Mountaineer Invitational victory on April 13 During that same event Mark Goetz won the individual tournament with a score of 12 70 69 65 Gymnastics edit Competition facility WVU Coliseum 14 000 Head coach Jason Butts Most victories 26 in 1992 NCAA Tournament appearances 3 under former head coach Linda Burdette AIAW appearances 1 Last NCAA appearance 2000 All Americans 4 Rifle edit For rifle the Mountaineers are a member of the single sport Great America Rifle Conference and have won the most NCAA Rifle Championships of any school at 19 12 Playing facility WVU Shell Building Head coach Jon Hammond Most victories 19 in 1964 NCAA appearances 26 NCAA Team Championships 19 NCAA Team runner up 7 National Individual Champions 25 NCAA All Americans 65 Olympians 13 Gold medal Virginia Ginny Thrasher Rio 2016 Awards CaptainU Coach of the Year 13 Women s rowing edit Playing facility WVU Boathouse Head coach Jimmy King Men s soccer edit Main article West Virginia Mountaineers men s soccer Playing facility Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium 1 600 Head coach Daniel Stratford Most victories 15 in 2006 NCAA tournament appearances 15 Last NCAA appearance 2021 All Americans 7 Mountaineer professionals 12 Women s soccer edit Main article West Virginia Mountaineers women s soccer Playing facility Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium 1 600 Head coach Nikki Izzo Brown Most victories 23 in 2016 BIG EAST Conference Champions 2007 2010 2011 BIG 12 Conference Champions 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2022 NCAA tournament appearances 21 lost in finals 2016 Last NCAA appearance 2020 All Americans 45 Academic All American 4 Mountaineer professionals 28 Men s swimming edit Playing facility Mylan Park 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 Mylan Park 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 Miha Lisac Most victories 21 in 1990 Women s track edit Playing facility Mountaineer Track Shell Indoor Track Head coach Sean Cleary 2007 present Assistants Shellyann Galimore Erin Oreilly Olympians 7 NCAA National Champions 3 Pat Itanyi Long Jump 1994 Kate Vermeulen 1999 Mile Megan Metcalf 5000 2005 NCAA Runner Up finishes Marie Louise Asselin 2011 5000 Kate Harrison 10 000 2012 NCAA All Americans 32 NCAA Top 10 finishes 1 2010 Outdoors NCAA Sweet 16 finishes 1999 2010 2011 NCAA top 20 finishes 1999 2009 2010 2011 Women s volleyball edit Playing facility WVU Coliseum 14 000 Head coach Reed Sunahara Most victories 35 in 1979 NCAA Tournament appearances 1 Last NCAA appearance 2021 NIT appearances 1 All Americans 0 All East 2 Wrestling edit Founded 1921 Dual meets and tournament facility WVU Coliseum 14 000 Head coach Tim Flynn 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 editSee footnote 14 and NACDA Directors Cup WVU Directors Cup Standings Seasons National rank Conference rank 1993 94 67th 6th 1994 95 92nd 10th 1995 96 63rd 6th 1996 97 72nd 11th 1997 98 41st 2nd 1998 99 60th 6th 1999 00 77th 10th Seasons National rank Conference rank 2000 01 70th 7th 2001 02 76th 9th 2002 03 84th 11th 2003 04 71st 8th 2004 05 59th 3rd 2005 06 52nd 2nd 2006 07 57th 4th Seasons National rank Conference rank 2007 08 30th 2nd 2008 09 50th 3rd 2009 10 37th 2nd 2010 11 40th 3rd 2011 12 45th 3rdNotable non varsity sports editRugby edit The West Virginia Rugby Football Club was established in 1974 and is the oldest established club sport at WVU 15 In the fall of 2013 WVU won the Keystone Conference and qualified for the American Collegiate Rugby Championship where they lost to Kutztown in the quarterfinals In the spring of 2014 WVU reached the D1 AA national playoffs where they defeated Princeton 41 24 but lost in the quarterfinals 34 14 to San Diego 16 The Mountaineers play their home games at the Mylan Park Athletic Field Complex 17 The Mountaineers have been led by Head Coach Glover since spring of 2013 18 Cricket edit The West Virginia Cricket Club competes in American College Cricket In 2019 the Mountaineers won the American College Cricket National Championship by defeating NJIT 19 The following year the Mountaineers qualified for the 2020 National Championship tournament However due to COVID 19 the event was canceled Following the resumption of American College Cricket in 2022 it was decided that the 2020 tournament would be made up The Mountaineers also qualified for the 2022 National Championship tournament and played in both tournaments during the same week They went on to win both tournaments defeating Arkansas State to be crowned 2020 national champions and Florida to become 2022 national champions 20 Pageantry editMascot edit nbsp West Virginia Mountaineer See also List of Mountaineers The Mountaineer was adopted in 1890 as the official school mascot and unofficially began appearing at sporting events in 1936 21 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 Jonathan Kimble a Franklin WV native pictured served his term as the 2012 2013 WVU Mountaineer Each newly named Mountaineer will officially take over as the 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 22 23 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 24 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 25 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 amp Jefferson College an early rival In addition to the official fight songs of West Virginia university the fan response to West Virginia s official state song Take Me Home Country Roads by John Denver has made Country Roads the unofficial song of the university arrangement by Dr James Miltenberger 26 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 21 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 Main article West Virginia University Mountaineer Marching Band 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 editSee also WVU Band Traditions Firing of the Musket edit The Mountaineer mascot carries a period Musket 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 musket every time the team scores during football games nbsp Formation of the state 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 Cheers edit The Let s Go Mountaineers cheer originated at home football games as a competition between opposite sides of the stadium 21 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 nbsp Carpet roll at a basketball game Since the early 2000s 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 announcer at Milan Puskar Stadium says First down West Virginia 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 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 tradition died out in the 1960s died out but former Mountaineer player Gale Catlett reintroduced the carpet when he returned to Morgantown in 1978 as head coach of the men s basketball team Fanbase edit nbsp The WVU student section perform the first down cheer at a home football game In a state that lacks professional sports franchises the citizens of West Virginia passionately support West Virginia University and its athletics teams 27 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 27 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 28 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 29 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 30 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 31 32 At some events objects have been thrown onto the field or at opposing teams 33 34 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 31 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 Much of this behavior has died down in recent years Notable athletes editSee also List of West Virginia University alumni Joe Alexander former NBA player for the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls Tavon Austin Stedman Bailey Terry Bowden Yahoo sports analyst Tommy Bowden former head football coach at Clemson University and Tulane University Darryl Bryant international professional basketball player currently in Tehran Iran Kadeisha Buchanan current Canada women s international soccer player Marc Bulger former NFL quarterback for St Louis Rams Da Sean Butler former NBA basketball player for the Miami Heat currently a graduate assistant coach for WVU basketball Jevon Carter NBA player for the Milwaukee Bucks Gale Catlett former West Virginia head coach with the most wins at West Virginia 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 amp 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 former professional basketball player in the NBA Development League currently in the front office of the Cleveland Cavaliers Major Harris quarterbacked for West Virginia in their 1988 undefeated season Chris Henry former NFL wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals Johannes Joe Herber former German international basketball player Jeff Hostetler former Washington Redskins Oakland Raiders amp 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 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 four active Division I coaches with 700 career victories Rodney Hot Rod Hundley first pick in the 1957 NBA draft by the Cincinnati Royals Patience Itanyi West Virginia University s first ever female track and field national champion 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 Greg Jones three time NCAA Division 1 wrestling champion 2005 Most Outstanding Wrestler award winner current Associate Head Coach for the Mountaineer Wrestling team 35 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 former athletic director at WVU Pat McAfee former 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 former 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 Geno Smith quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks Darryl Talley WVU all time team member and former NFL Linebacker for the Buffalo Bills Rod Thorn former WVU basketball player and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee John Thornton former defensive tackle for the Cincinnati Bengals Virginia Thrasher sports shooter who won a gold medal in the women s 10 meter air rifle at the 2016 Summer Olympics 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 Morecambe F C Amos Zereoue former NFL running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers Oakland Raiders and New England PatriotsReferences edit West Virginia Mountaineers Athletic Identity Logoslick PDF April 15 2019 Retrieved April 16 2019 Barnhouse Wendell July 1 2012 TCU West Virginia Officially Join Big 12 Big 12 Conference Retrieved April 17 2019 Big 12 adding WVU will stay 10 strong ESPN com 28 October 2011 Carvelli Michael 2012 04 03 West Virginia men s soccer team to join the Mid American Conference next season The Daily Athenaeum Archived from the original on 2012 09 12 Retrieved 2012 04 09 Post Submitted to The Dominion 2022 04 06 WVU men s soccer program set to join rekindled Sun Belt Conference Dominion Post Retrieved 2023 04 29 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a first has generic name help a b WVU Men s Golf Reintroduced Press release West Virginia Mountaineers July 1 2013 Retrieved February 9 2015 Rifle Wins Third Straight NCAA Championship WVU Athletics Archived from the original on 2015 04 02 DeLassus David West Virginia Historical Data College Football Data Warehouse Archived from the original on September 28 2014 Retrieved September 13 2014 DeVault Mark WVU Season by Season WVU Stats West Virginia University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics Retrieved September 13 2014 Luck Announces Home Golf Courses Press release West Virginia Mountaineers December 16 2014 Retrieved February 9 2015 Golfstat Team Ranking www golfstat com Retrieved 2021 04 30 NC Rifle Championship History NCAA com CaptainU College Coach of the Year NACDA official website Archived from the original on 2011 01 02 Retrieved 2010 11 28 See also National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics NACDA WVU Men s Rugby Retrieved October 9 2014 2013 14 Men s DI AA College National Championship Archived 2014 10 15 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved October 9 2014 Mylan Park Athletic Field Complex WVU National Playoff Bracket Set WVU Men s Rugby April 17 2014 Campus Recreation WVU Cricket Tops the Nation WVU Cricket Club s quiet dominance Team grabs third straight national title 6 September 2023 a b c Living Here WVU Traditions West Virginia University Archived from the original on July 20 2011 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 Archived from the original on July 20 2011 Retrieved August 6 2010 Mountaineer Marching Band Eyewitness News Archived from the original on 2014 03 08 Retrieved 2014 03 07 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 24 October 2009 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 Archived from the original on 2010 03 10 Retrieved 2010 08 03 Miami Coach suing West Virginia Miami Coach suing West Virginia WVU Fans Like to Throw Things on the Court Greg Jones Wrestling WVU Athletics Retrieved 2014 01 01 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to West Virginia University athletics Official website nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title West Virginia Mountaineers amp oldid 1213567325, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.