The West Virginia Mountaineers will honor their long history of football by wearing uniforms honoring their 125 years next Saturday.
On November 28, 1881, the West Virginia Mountaineers football program was destroyed by Washington & Jefferson, 72-0. Despite being blown out in that first game played on a converted cow pasture, it was the start of 125 years of Mountaineers football. Through the last 125 years, the program has produced some great players and seasons, and the school will honor their history in 2016.
Throughout the impressive history of West Virginia football, the program has seen 13 players and coaches elected to the College Football Hall of Fame. Some of those names include Bobby Bowden, Darryl Talley, and Ira Errett Rodgers, the first Mountaineer elected back in 1957.
Joe Stydahar and Sam Huff, two former Mountaineers who are also in the College Football Hall of Fame, are the only former players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Stydahar was a three-time NFL champion, while Huff was elected to five Pro Bowls.
The Mountaineers will host Missouri in their 2016 season opener on September 3, welcoming the Tigers to Mountaineer Field. In celebration of 125 years of Mountaineer football, the team will don some slick uniforms for the opening game.
When #WVU kicks off the season next Saturday against Missouri, we will honor 125 years of Mountaineer football. pic.twitter.com/lfRZGoDmAA
— West Virginia Football (@WVUfootball) August 27, 2016
The Mountaineers will open up their Big 12 schedule at home against Kansas State on October 1. A longtime member of the Big East, the program made the move to the Big 12 back in 2012, when they were invited to join the conference during realignment. They had their first losing campaign since 2001 in 2013, but have been to a bowl game in each of the last two seasons.
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The 2016 campaign should be a good one for the Mountaineers if quarterback Syler Howard continues to develop. They could have one of the best offenses in the Big 12, but will have to rely on an inexperience running back, after losing Wendell Smallwood. Look for the Mountaineers to win around eight games and get to a bowl game for the third straight season.