1988 Team Reunion
October 05, 2008 10:27 AM | General
Posted by John Antonik on Sunday, October 5, 2008 (10:27 am)
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The former player most talked about was center Kevin Koken, now doing triathlons in his spare time while living in the Chicago area. Kevin says he weighs about 200 pounds today, or 100 pounds less than when he played.
John Ray and Reggie Rembert made the trip together to Morgantown. Both are living in Indianapolis. Other than showing a full head of gray hair, Ray still looks like he's in good enough shape to take at least 10 or 15 snaps.
It’s tough to see many of those guys on the ’88 team with thinning hair, graying beards and expanding bellies. It seems like just yesterday they were playing for the national championship against Notre Dame.
I was told by reliable sources that many of the '88 players spent Saturday morning drinking a lot of water.
Among former assistant coaches making the trip back to Morgantown were offensive coordinator Mike Jacobs and running backs coach Mike Wallace.
Everyone noted Coach Nehlen’s performance at Friday evening’s reception for the team at the Touchdown Terrace. At the end of his remarks, he told quarterback Major Harris to be on time for Saturday’s ceremonial coin toss and to make sure his shirt was tucked in.
When the honorary captains were announced the biggest ovation, of course, came when Harris’ name was called, showing once again how much this Pittsburgher is loved and appreciated in the Mountain State.
Linebacker Lonnie Brockman was showing his two young boys around the locker room and twice he had to ask me how to get upstairs. That shows how much the Puskar Center has changed in the last 20 years.
Paul Freese, a manager on the 1988 team and now working overseas for Under Armour, made it in for the game and astutely pointed out that the top three point producers in school history were at the game on Saturday. Pat McAfee set the school record for career points, and Paul Woodside and Charlie Baumann were there to watch him do it. Freese estimates that between the three of them they lit up the scoreboard more than 1,000 times.
The WVU Varsity Club did a fantastic job bringing back all of the players from the best era in school history. Investment specialist Undra Johnson, now living in Bridgeport, should also be commended for his role in keeping in touch with most of his ’88 teammates. Johnson has worked tirelessly to get them back to campus as often as possible.
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I got a chance to meet briefly with several of the players from the 1988 team on the field during Saturday’s game against Rutgers. Here are some quick observations and tidbits …
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| Who are these guys? Honorary captains Bo Orlando, Kevin Koken, John Stroia and Major Harris go out on the field for the ceremonial coin toss.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks photo |
Renaldo Turnbull and Chris Haering also looked great. Turnbull is working for a Lexus dealership in Charlotte while Haering is the head football coach at Mount Lebanon High School in Pittsburgh.
Harris was on time but I noticed his shirt hanging out. One for two is still pretty good for the Maj.
Johnson wants West Virginia’s group of former players to show the same school pride you see at places like Miami and Florida State.
Saturday was a great showing for everyone.
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