2007 West Virginia Mountaineers football | |
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Fiesta Bowl, W 48–28 vs. Oklahoma | |
Conference | Big East Conference |
Ranking | |
Coaches | No. 6 |
AP | No. 6 |
Record | 11–2 (5–2 Big East) |
Head coach |
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Offensive coordinator | Calvin Magee (4th season) |
Offensive scheme | Spread |
Defensive coordinator | Jeff Casteel (6th season) |
Base defense | 3–3–5 |
Home stadium | Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 6 West Virginia $+ | 5 | – | 2 | 11 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Connecticut + | 5 | – | 2 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 17 Cincinnati | 4 | – | 3 | 10 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
South Florida | 4 | – | 3 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rutgers | 3 | – | 4 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Louisville | 3 | – | 4 | 6 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pittsburgh | 3 | – | 4 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Syracuse | 1 | – | 6 | 2 | – | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2007 West Virginia Mountaineers football team began play on September 1, 2007. The team was coached by Rich Rodriguez until he announced on December 16, 2007, that he was leaving West Virginia to coach the Michigan Wolverines. The head coaching position remained vacant after his announcement, with assistant head coach Bill Stewart serving as interim head coach. Stewart was then named head coach on January 3, 2008, after leading the Mountaineers to victory in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl over the #3 Oklahoma Sooners. West Virginia played their home games on Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, West Virginia.
West Virginia unveiled a new gold uniform with blue stripes design for the season. The tops have been featured with both blue and gold bottoms. The uniform is currently being featured as the alternate home uniform. Running back Steve Slaton sported the uniform when he attended the 2007 Playboy All-American honoring at the Playboy Mansion at the beginning of the preseason wearing it with white bottoms. [1]
West Virginia started spring practice on March 5. Mountaineer fans got an opportunity to get a first look at the 2007 football team during the annual Gold-Blue Game, which was held at Mountaineer Field on Saturday, April 7 at 12:30 p.m.. The offense won the contest 58–30, with the only touchdown being a 46-yard pass from Adam Bednarik to Wes Lyons. Backup running back Eddie Davis produced the most impressive performance.
The major goals of spring practice were to improve the defense, find a solid backup for running back Steve Slaton, and work out the inexperienced class of receivers. The Mountaineers also needed to replace the center position, where All-American Dan Mozes left as a senior, and the guard position.
The Mountaineers received 25 letters of intent on National Signing Day, February 7, 2007. Florida all-purpose back Noel Devine created some controversy when he reported to the news that he had chosen West Virginia over Alabama. But on National Signing Day, Devine never signed his letter of intent, saying that after having a talk with mentor Deion Sanders, he decided to wait to see his SAT scores. He was most likely going to pursue a prep school season, then return to the recruiting scene for 2008. Noel then received word he had passed his tests, and so signed his LOI to attend WVU. In the preseason, Devine was named one of the top 10 impact freshman for 2007. [2] An additional recruit, LB Pat Lazear, was signed on February 16, 2007. [3]
US college sports recruiting information for recruits | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40‡ | Commit date |
Don Barclay OL | Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania | Seneca Valley HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 285 lb (129 kg) | 4.14 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 75 | ||||||
Asa Chapman DL | Orange, Virginia | Fork Union | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 360 lb (160 kg) | 5.50 | Feb 4, 2007 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 60 | ||||||
Noel Devine RB | North Fort Myers, Florida | North Fort Myers HS | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | 4.35 | Mar 30, 2007 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 87 | ||||||
Sidney Glover DB | Warren, Ohio | Warren G. Harding HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | 4.50 | Dec 8, 2008 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 79 | ||||||
Gino Gradkowski OL | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Seton-LaSalle HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 280 lb (130 kg) | 5.20 | Jun 24, 2006 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 76 | ||||||
Andrew Harris WR | St. Petersburg, Florida | St. Petersburg Catholic HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | 4.68 | Sep 8, 2008 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 | ||||||
Vincent Harris LB | Cincinnati, Ohio | LaSalle HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | 4.50 | Oct 6, 2006 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 73 | ||||||
Brandon Hogan Ath | Manassas, Virginia | Osbourn Senior HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | 4.30 | Jun 15, 2006 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 78 | ||||||
Will Johnson LB | Centerville, Ohio | Centerville HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | 4.50 | Jan 21, 2007 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 | ||||||
Terence Kerns RB | Frederick, Maryland | Thomas Johnson HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 230 lb (100 kg) | 4.46 | Apr 12, 2006 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 77 | ||||||
Derek Knight DB | Detroit, Michigan | Renaissance HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | 4.55 | Nov 8, 2006 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 73 | ||||||
Ellis Lankster DB | Mobile, Alabama | Jones County JC | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | N/A | Dec 10, 2006 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: N/A | ||||||
Pat Lazear LB | Bethesda, Maryland | Whitman HS, Wheaton HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 229 lb (104 kg) | 4.66 | Feb 16, 2007 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 79 | ||||||
Junius Lewis DL | Morgantown, West Virginia | Morgantown HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 250 lb (110 kg) | 4.91 | May 6, 2006 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 73 | ||||||
Charles Matthews WR | Solon, Ohio | Solon HS | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | 4.40 | Feb 4, 2007 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 69 | ||||||
Julian Miller DE | Columbus, Ohio | Beechcroft HS | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | 4.65 | Aug 29, 2006 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 73 | ||||||
Evan Rodriguez DB | North Bergen, New Jersey | North Bergen HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | 4.55 | Dec 11, 2006 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 77 | ||||||
Charlie Russell QB | Morgantown, West Virginia | Morgantown HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | 4.97 | Mar 5, 2006 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 78 | ||||||
Jock Sanders Ath | St. Petersburg, Florida | St. Petersburg Catholic HS | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | 4.58 | Sep 5, 2006 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 78 | ||||||
P.J. Shirdan DB | Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania | Monsignor Bonner HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 4.50 | Aug 16, 2006 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 | ||||||
Archie Sims LB | Laurel, Mississippi | Jones County JC | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | 4.60 | Feb 6, 2007 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: N/A | ||||||
Eain Smith DB | Miramar, Florida | Chaminade-Madonna HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 4.53 | Dec 10, 2006 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 73 | ||||||
Chad Snodgrass OL | Cross Lanes, West Virginia | Nitro HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) | 5.42 | Jun 19, 2006 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 | ||||||
Bradley Starks QB | Unionville, Virginia | Orange County HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 4.40 | May 9, 2006 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 76 | ||||||
Keith Tandy DB | Hopkinsville, Kentucky | Christian County HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | 4.40 | Nov 22, 2006 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 64 | ||||||
Kendall Washington DB | Canton, Ohio | St. Thomas Aquinas HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | 4.38 | Dec 12, 2006 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 77 | ||||||
Tony Wood DB | Blakeslee, Pennsylvania | Lackawanna JC | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | 4.40 | Nov 12, 2006 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: N/A | ||||||
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 25 Rivals: 36 | ||||||
Sources:
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Week | ||||||||||||||||
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Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
AP | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 6 |
Coaches | 6 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 6 |
Harris | Not released | 5 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 9 | Not released | |||
BCS | Not released | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 9 | Not released |
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
September 1 | 3:30 p.m. | Western Michigan * | No. 3 | ESPN+ | W 62–24 | 60,563 | |
September 8 | 11:00 a.m. | at Marshall * | No. 3 | ESPN2 | W 48–23 | 40,383 | |
September 13 | 7:30 p.m. | at Maryland * | No. 4 | ESPN | W 31–14 | 53,107 | |
September 22 | Noon | East Carolina * | No. 5 |
| ESPN2 | W 48–7 | 60,021 |
September 28 | 8:00 p.m. | at No. 18 South Florida | No. 5 | ESPN2 | L 13–21 | 67,018 | |
October 6 | Noon | at Syracuse | No. 13 | ESPN+ | W 55–14 | 35,345 | |
October 20 | 3:30 p.m. | Mississippi State * | No. 9 |
| ESPN+ | W 38–13 | 61,022 |
October 27 | Noon | at Rutgers | No. 7 | ABC | W 31–3 | 43,620 | |
November 8 | 7:30 p.m. | Louisville | No. 7 |
| ESPN | W 38–31 | 60,992 |
November 17 | 7:45 p.m. | at No. 22 Cincinnati | No. 6 | ESPN | W 28–23 | 35,079 | |
November 24 | 3:30 p.m. | No. 20 Connecticut | No. 3 |
| ABC | W 66–21 | 59,701 |
December 1 | 7:45 p.m. | Pittsburgh | No. 2 |
| ESPN | L 9–13 | 60,100 |
January 2 | 8:00 p.m. | vs. No. 4 Oklahoma * | No. 9 | FOX | W 48–28 | 70,016 | |
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1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Western Michigan | 6 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 24 |
#3 West Virginia | 14 | 14 | 21 | 13 | 62 |
The Mountaineers put up the most points since 2001 against Rutgers (80–7 win) when they defeated the Broncos 62–24. Pat White put up two rushing (97 total yards) and two passing touchdowns (196 total yards) while Steve Slaton rushed for 109 yards and 3 touchdowns, while also catching a 58-yard touchdown pass from White. Freshman sensation Noel Devine scored his first touchdown of his career, while also rushing for 44 yards. Darius Reynaud had 92 yards receiving on 5 catches. The team wore traditional blue jerseys with gold pants
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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#3 West Virginia | 6 | 0 | 21 | 21 | 48 |
Marshall | 3 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 23 |
The Mountaineers traveled to Huntington, for the first time in over 90 years and got off to a slow start in losing 13–6 at halftime, but Steve Slaton's two touchdowns and 146 yards helped the Mountaineers pull out the win to capture the Governors Trophy. Pat White went 13 of 18 for 149 yards and two touchdowns, also rushing for 125 yards and a score. Freshman Noel Devine rushed for a touchdown and 76 yards on only five carries as well. The team wore all white uniforms
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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#4 West Virginia | 7 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 31 |
Maryland | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
Freshman running back Noel Devine stole the spotlight from Patrick White and Steve Slaton as he rushed for 136 yards on only 5 carries. Slaton rushed for 137 yards and 3 touchdowns, while White had an off day of 95 yards passing and one rushing touchdown. This marked the 4th straight win over rival Maryland. The team wore white jerseys and blue pants
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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East Carolina | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
#5 West Virginia | 10 | 17 | 14 | 7 | 48 |
The Mountaineers had their most complete game of the season as they almost pitched a shutout. The Pirates scored with less than a minute left in the game against the second-team defense, but the Mountaineers only allowed 160 total yards on the day. Pat White went 18 for 20 (90% completion percentage set a school record) for 181 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for two more scores. Steve Slaton rushed for 110 yards and a touchdown, which tied a school record for most career rushing touchdowns (42). Darius Reynaud, who played with a shoulder injury, had two touchdown receptions and a 64-yard run. Linebacker Mortty Ivy helped the defense out with an interception and a forced fumble. The team wore all blue uniforms
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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#5 West Virginia | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 13 |
#18 South Florida | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
In front of an expected record-breaking crowd at Raymond James Stadium, the Mountaineers were defeated by the #18 South Florida Bulls. WVU committed 6 turnovers during the game and starting QB Pat White didn't play in the second half. The team wore all white.
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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#13 West Virginia | 14 | 17 | 10 | 14 | 55 |
Syracuse | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
The Mountaineers rebounded in a big way by trouncing the Orange to win the Ben Schwartzwalder Trophy despite losing quarterback Pat White to a chest muscle strain and running back Steve Slaton to only 69 yards rushing. The team wore traditional white jerseys with gold pants
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Mississippi State | 0 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 13 |
#9 West Virginia | 28 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 38 |
The Mountaineers jumped to an early 28–0 lead by the end of the 1st quarter and cruised to a 38–13 win. This marked the first game for the new gold jerseys, which were worn with blue pants
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
#6 West Virginia | 7 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
#25 Rutgers | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Rutgers was expected to perform well against West Virginia, since the Scarlet Knights had previously beaten #2 ranked South Florida. Steve Slaton led the way with 3 rushing touchdowns against #25(AP) Rutgers in WVU's 13th straight win over the Scarlet Knights. Ray Rice rushed for 142 yards breaking a Rutgers school record for most 100+ yard games. The team wore all white
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Louisville | 0 | 14 | 7 | 10 | 31 |
#6 West Virginia | 14 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 38 |
By halftime West Virginia had a 21–14 lead. Louisville was able to take advantage of the Mountaineer's mistakes(WVU had 3 turnovers and 11 penalties for 116 yards) and were able to spark a comeback but West Virginia broke the 31–31 tie when Pat White ran for a 50 yd TD with a little over a minute to play. Brian Brohm was intercepted in the final seconds of the game ending Louisville's attempt to tie the game and send it into overtime. The team wore all gold uniforms, and most of the crowd also wore gold.
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
#5 West Virginia | 7 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 28 |
#21 Cincinnati | 7 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 23 |
For the second straight game West Virginia made a double-digit second-half lead interesting by coughing up the football. And for the second straight game the Mountaineers were able to hold on for a victory by defeating No. 21 Cincinnati 28–23 to keep its Big East title hopes alive. Pat White finished the game with 295 yards of total offense, rushing 27 times for 155 yards and two touchdowns and completing 13 of 19 passes for 140 yards. Sophomore safety Boogie Allen recovered a Cincinnati onside kick to save the Mountaineers' win. The team wore white jerseys and blue pants.
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
#20 Connecticut | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
#3 West Virginia | 14 | 10 | 21 | 21 | 66 |
West Virginia rushed for 517 yards(415 of which came in the second half) and clinched their 5th Big East title with 66–21 win over UConn. Pat White went 9/13 passing for 107 yards and a TD, as well as rushing for a season high 186 yards 16 on carries and 2 TDs. Freshman RB Noel Devine also added 118 yards on the ground with a TD. Steve Slaton also went over the 1,000 yard mark on the season for the 3rd straight year. The win clinched the Big East automatic Bowl Championship Series berth, and coupled with the previous day's upset over then #1 LSU by unranked Arkansas, put the Mountaineers in a position to play for a berth in National Championship game with a win over rival Pitt the next week. The team wore traditional blue jerseys and gold pants.
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pittsburgh | 0 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 13 |
#2 West Virginia | 0 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 9 |
WVU entered the game against Pitt as 28 point favorites to win the 100th Backyard Brawl and earn a berth in the BCS championship game. The Mountaineers, however, could never get their high-powered offense going against the Panthers and were hurt by fumbles, missed field goals, and ineffective performances by Steve Slaton and Pat White, the latter of whom missed part of the game with a thumb injury. Pittsburgh, starting their backup QB Pat Bostick, was equally ineffective at moving the ball outside of the play of LeSean McCoy. Trailing by one possession late in the fourth quarter, West Virginia twice had the ball in Pitt territory, with both drives ending in Pat White being stopped on downs. The final Pitt possession saw the Panthers run the ball out of the back of the end zone for a safety as the clock expired, ending WVU's National Championship hopes.
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
#3 Oklahoma | 0 | 6 | 9 | 13 | 28 |
#9 West Virginia | 6 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 48 |
WVU entered the game as 7-point underdogs to the #3 Oklahoma Sooners, who were thought by some to be the best team in the country. Former head coach Rich Rodriguez had recently taken the head coaching position at the University of Michigan, leaving West Virginia with interim head coach Bill Stewart. West Virginia halfback Steve Slaton was taken out of the game early on with a hamstring injury, leaving the Mountaineers with freshman Noel Devine. West Virginia scored early with two field goals by Pat McAfee to take the lead, 6–0, into the second quarter. Sam Bradford was intercepted by Mountaineer safety Quinton Andrews early on, but the Sooners bounced back with a field goal to make it 6–3. However, fullback Owen Schmitt led the Mountaineers to their first touchdown on a 57-yard run to make the score 13–3. Oklahoma returned with a field goal to make it 13–6, but West Virginia ended the first half with a pass from their star quarterback, Pat White to a wide-open Darius Reynaud for a 21-yard touchdown to make it 20–6 at halftime. Linebacker Reed Williams won the Defensive MVP award, while backup linebacker J.T. Thomas recorded 6 tackles.
Oklahoma came back in the second half early with a field goal, followed by a goal line touchdown run by Chris Brown. The Sooners went for a 2-point conversion after the touchdown, but Bradford's pass was incomplete, leaving the score at 20–15. The Mountaineers answered back with a 17-yard run by Noel Devine for the touchdown to put the Mountaineers up 27–15. The Mountaineers scored again to end the third quarter, this time on a 30-yard reverse run by Darius Reynaud, to put the Mountaineers up 34–15 going into the fourth quarter. The Sooners scored early again, off of a Bradford pass to Quentin Chaney, but yet again failed a 2-point conversion attempt. West Virginia continued to roll however, as White hooked up with receiver Tito Gonzales for a 79-yard touchdown pass to put the Mountaineers up 41–21. The pass was the longest play in West Virginia school bowl history. Oklahoma scored again on a Bradford pass, this time to Juaquin Iglesias, but this time kicked the extra point to make the score 41–28. The Mountaineers sealed the game with six minutes left on a 65-yard touchdown run by Noel Devine, his second score of the game.
The West Virginia Mountaineers totaled 349 rushing yards in the victory. Pat White totaled 176 yards and two touchdowns passing while rushing for 150 yards. Noel Devine rushed for 108 yards and two touchdowns on only 13 carries, while Owen Schmitt totaled 64 yards and a score on three carries. Sam Bradford recorded 242 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception passing for the Sooners. Allen Patrick rushed for 82 yards on 14 carries, while Chris Brown rushed for 50 yards and a score on 16 carries. Quentin Chaney grabbed 4 passes for 129 yards and a score while receiver Juaquin Iglesias returned seven kicks for 195 yards.
Noel Devine is a former American football running back. Devine played college football for the West Virginia Mountaineers and holds the record for career-all purpose yardage.
Steve Slaton is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the West Virginia Mountaineers, earning unanimous All-American honors in 2006. He was chosen by the Houston Texans in the third round of the 2008 NFL draft. Slaton also played for the NFL's Miami Dolphins and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL).
Patrick Christian White is an American former football quarterback. He played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the West Virginia Mountaineers and was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 2009 NFL draft.
Avon Cobourne is an American former professional gridiron football running back who was most recently a running back coach for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was a running back for the West Virginia Mountaineers football team from 1999 to 2002 before entering the National Football League (NFL).
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 Milan Puskar Stadium on the campus of West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia. The Mountaineers have won or shared a total of 15 conference championships, including eight Southern Conference titles and seven Big East Conference titles. The Mountaineers compete in the Big 12 Conference and are led by head coach Neal Brown.
The 2006 Nokia Sugar Bowl was played on January 2, 2006, as part of the Bowl Championship Series. This 72nd edition of the Sugar Bowl featured the West Virginia Mountaineers, champions of the Big East, and the Southeastern Conference Champion Georgia Bulldogs. West Virginia's upset victory bolstered the Big East's profile in the wake of losing three members to the ACC, and likely preserved the conference's automatic inclusion in the BCS. The game was played in Atlanta, Georgia, as its traditional site, the Louisiana Superdome, was unfit for use in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Owen Schmitt is a former American football fullback. He was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at West Virginia University. Before transferring to the Mountaineers he played at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
Darius Reynaud is a former American football running back and return specialist. He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at West Virginia.
The 2006 West Virginia Mountaineers football team completed the season with an 11–2 record. The Mountaineers had a regular season Big East record of 5–2.
The 2005 West Virginia Mountaineers football team completed the season with an 11–1 record. The Mountaineers won their third consecutive Big East title with a conference record of 7–0. They ended the season with a 38–35 Sugar Bowl win over Georgia.
Ryan Stanchek is a former American football guard and current offensive line coach for the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. He was signed by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football at West Virginia.
Ira Errett "Rat" Rodgers was an American football, basketball, baseball, and golf player and coach. He played college football for West Virginia University where he was selected as an All-American in 1919. He also served as the school's head football coach from 1925 to 1930 and again from 1943 to 1945.
The 2008 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl was a college football bowl game. It was part of the 2007–2008 Bowl Championship Series (BCS) of the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Played annually since 1971, first at Sun Devil Stadium on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona through 2006, the game was played at 8 p.m. EST on January 2, 2008, at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The game featured the fourth ranked (BCS), Big 12 champion Oklahoma Sooners hosting the ninth ranked (BCS), Big East champion West Virginia Mountaineers. West Virginia defeated Oklahoma by a score of 48–28. The contest was televised on Fox.
The 2008 West Virginia Mountaineers football team competed on behalf of West Virginia University during the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Bill Stewart, who took over after he led the Mountaineers to a 2008 Fiesta Bowl victory over the #3 Oklahoma Sooners as the interim head coach after the departure of former head coach Rich Rodriguez. The team finished the season with a 9–4 record and a win over North Carolina in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.
The Maryland–West Virginia football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the Maryland Terrapins and West Virginia Mountaineers. The two schools are strong rivals due to several factors, including similar recruiting areas and the relatively short distance between each other, approximately 210 miles (340 km) apart. The two teams first played in 1919 and the series ran uninterrupted from 1980 to 2007. West Virginia leads the series 28–23–2. The two teams met for the Gator Bowl for a rematch at the end of the 2003 season. Until the series lapsed in 2007, the game was the longest continuously running non-conference game for both schools. The two teams met again in Morgantown in 2015 and in College Park in 2021, with West Virginia and Maryland winning respectively.
The 2009 West Virginia Mountaineer football team represented West Virginia University in the college football season of 2009. The Mountaineers were led by head coach Bill Stewart and played their home games on Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, West Virginia. The Mountaineers finished the season 9–4 and lost in the Gator Bowl 33–21 to Florida State.
Jock Sanders is an American former professional gridiron football player who was a slotback and running back. He has played for the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2011 before joining the BC Lions practice squad. He played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders for the 2012 and 2013 seasons. He signed a contract extension with the Calgary Stampeders on February 4, 2015, and was released on June 14, 2015. He played college football at West Virginia.
Jarrett Brown is a former American football quarterback. He played college football at West Virginia, and was signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent following the 2010 NFL Draft. He served as the starting quarterback for the West Virginia Mountaineers at West Virginia University during the 2009 season after three seasons as the backup to Pat White. He was also a member of the Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, BC Lions and Spokane Shock. In 2019, he signed with the West Virginia Roughriders.
The 2011 West Virginia Mountaineers football team represented West Virginia University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season as members of the Big East Conference. The Mountaineers were led by Dana Holgorsen, who was in his first season as head coach. West Virginia played their home games on Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, West Virginia. They finished the season 10–3, 5–2 in Big East play to earn a share of the Big East Conference championship with Cincinnati and Louisville. The Mountaineers, in their final season in the Big East before moving to the Big 12 the following season, earned the league's automatic berth in the BCS due to being the highest ranked of the Big East champions in the final BCS rankings. They were invited to the Orange Bowl for the first time ever where they defeated Clemson 70–33. This was the third victory for West Virginia in three BCS games played in the BCS era, while the 70 points in the Orange Bowl set a record for most points scored in a bowl game.
The West Virginia Mountaineers football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the West Virginia Mountaineers football program in various categories, including passing, rushing, receiving, total offense, all-purpose yardage, defensive stats, and kicking. Within those areas, the lists identify single-game, single-season, and career leaders. The Mountaineers represent West Virginia University in the NCAA's Big 12 Conference.