Sports at the University of West
Sports at the University of West Virginia can be traced back
over 100 years to 1891, when a group of students organized the first football
game at the University. Over time, the University has become established as a
perennial power in college sports, especially the Big East Conference.
The University has enjoyed success in basketball,
particularly back in the 1940s and 1950s. In 1942, the Mountaineers won the
then-prestigious NIT championship with a 47-45 victory over Western Kentucky.
Seventeen years later, in 1959, West Virginia played for the NCAA championship.
Led by future NBA legend Jerry West, the Mountaineers lost 71-70 to the
California Golden Bears. Despite the loss, Jerry West of the Mountaineers was
named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. In 2007, the Mountaineers again
played for the NIT championship and once again came away with a victory, this
time by the score of 78-73 over Clemson.
After the 2007 season, basketball coach John Beilein took
over the head coaching position at Michigan. In his five seasons at WVU, the
team went 104-60 and had three straight seasons of 20-plus wins. He was replaced
by Bob Huggins, former coach of both Cincinnati and Kansas State.
The West Virginia football program has seen its share of
success as well. In 1988, the Mountaineers had an undefeated regular season and
were invited to play in the Fiesta Bowl to face the undefeated Notre Dame
Fighting Irish. Notre Dame won the game 34-21. The 1993 season was another
fabulous one for the Mountaineers. The team went 11-0 during the regular season
including a win over #4 Miami. West Virginia accepted an invitation to the Sugar
Bowl to play Florida but lost the game 41-7.
The coach during those successful years was Don Nehlen. In 21
season at WVU, he compiled a 149-93-4 record including two 11-1 seasons, one
conference championship and 13 bowl appearances.
Nehlen was succeeded by Rich Rodriguez. Under Rodriguez, the
Mountaineers have become an even more formidable force in college football.
Since his first season in 2001, West Virginia has a record of 62-26 and has won
four conference titles.
The design of the West Virginia Mountaineers Tablecloth Vinyl
is composed of the University's WV logo, the Mountaineer mascot, football
helmets and the words "Spot the Ball" over a blue and white plaid background
intersected by yellow and black lines. The backing of this college vinyl fabric
is 100% cotton flannel.
The West Virginia Mountaineers Tablecloth Vinyl has been
licensed by the University of West Virginia and is for individual consumption
only. Any other use of this West Virginia Mountaineers Tablecloth Vinyl college
fabric is prohibited and illegal.