Photo by: All Pro Photography/Dale Sparks
Hot Reads: Calling All Fans
November 19, 2019 02:34 PM | Football
Radio sideline reporter Jed Drenning provides periodic commentary on the Mountaineer football program for WVUsports.com. Be sure to check out his "The Signal Caller" podcast and follow him on Twitter @TheSignalCaller.
What makes a great fan base?
Driven by passion, they impact the game.
That's what sets some apart from others. And it might be true that behind every great program, you'll find a passionate fan base. When you peruse a list of the all-time winningest schools in the history of major college football, there aren't many surprises. From the top down, it reads like a "Who's Who" of the blue bloods. Michigan, Ohio State, Texas and Alabama are followed by Nebraska, Oklahoma, Notre Dame and Penn State. Then comes USC, Tennessee, Georgia, LSU and Auburn.
The schools taking up residence toward the top of this victory meter are those that are not only blessed with a deep war chest but also those endowed with a championship pedigree and a rich history of national acclaim. All have big resources and one or more national title flags flying over their facility.
Then, at No. 14 on the all-time list, you'll find West Virginia. The power brokers of college football likely see this surprising spot in history for the Mountaineers as a gold and blue thorn amidst a garden of roses. That's fine. West Virginia doesn't flatter you, they just beat you – more than every other program that's ever put on shoulder pads . . . but for a baker's dozen of them.
WVU certainly isn't the only land-grant university pushing the top of the list, but it's perhaps the most unassuming. Unlike the programs ranked ahead of it, West Virginia lacks a national championship in football, and it's devoid of deep pockets, but WVU is equipped with one critical element that the gridiron aristocracy enjoys – a passionate fan base that's played an instrumental part in helping the Mountaineers defy the odds for 128-plus years.
Two weeks ago, that passion is what brought 56,573 fans to Mountaineer Field to watch a pair of 3-5 teams tangle on a 41-degree day in November. It's also what compelled them to stick around after a dreadful first half. Neal Brown took note following that loss to Texas Tech, thanking them for the turnout and for seeing it through, and vowing to build a football team that would match the intensity of that fan base.
Brown addressed this because, as a coach known for his attention to detail, the most important detail of all is evident to him. He recognizes that the zeal of WVU fans isn't to be taken for granted in a world that includes so many places that simply don't generate this level of support. And Neal Brown's keen enough to appreciate that.
Two weeks ago, Minnesota sold out TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis as 51,833 turned out to watch the Golden Gophers upset No. 4 Penn State to start a season 9-0 for the first time since 1904. That's great – but that's not the measure of a passionate fan base. A more complete picture comes into view when you realize that the last time Minnesota played a home game in November with a losing record (2018 vs Purdue) – as WVU did against Texas Tech two weeks ago – the Gophers barely drew 31,000. But such erratic school spirit isn't confined to the Twin Cities.
Last month, Maryland barely drew 30,000 for a Big Ten game (well, sort of) against Rutgers while a mere 33,000 watched a struggling Stanford team play host to No. 15 Washington. Those are just a few examples – but the results on the field don't have to be underwhelming for some fans to stay home. Just last week, despite remaining in the hunt for a berth in the ACC title game, Pitt's Thursday night win over North Carolina was once again marred by the sizable swathes of empty seats that have become as much a part of Panther games at Heinz Field as Kennywood Fries and PeppeRooney Pizza.
As it turns out, some fan bases just don't get it – drifting through life oblivious to the impact they can have not just on their team's performance but also on the school's bottom line (which can translate into facility upgrades) and on recruiting. That's a problem that afflicts many schools – but not WVU.
Carried by their passion for all things old gold and blue, West Virginia fans do get it. A team doesn't ascend to No. 14 on the all-time wins list without a fan base that plays a meaningful role in helping them get there. Neal Brown was acutely aware of this before he ever arrived on campus.
"Other schools want to talk about jobs, and when you get those opportunities," Brown said during the press conference that introduced him in January as the 35th head coach in WVU history, "you get an opportunity to find out about that school's culture, about their administration's vision and their fan base's passion for the program."
He added, "West Virginia is culture. It is vision, and it is passion."
Like Mountaineer fans, Neal Brown gets it.
This is the final home game of WVU's two remaining contests -- and to keep that ember of hope for a bowl appearance burning West Virginia has to beat the odds and win them both. As such, when Oklahoma State rolls into town on Saturday, the Mountaineers need you to do what you do best – show up, be loud and affect the game.
Here are five reasons it'll be worth your time to do so:
REASON NO. 1) It's not often you're afforded a true glimpse into the future, but Saturday in Morgantown might be such an opportunity. West Virginia quarterback Jarret Doege took home Big 12 Newcomer of the Week honors for his performance against K-State, marking the second straight week and third time this season the Mountaineers have won the award (redshirt freshman wide receiver Sam James has won it twice). That's the mark of a young team finding a way to produce beyond its experience. The updated depth chart West Virginia released on Monday for the Oklahoma State game included 20 freshmen/redshirt-freshmen and eight sophomores/redshirt-sophomores. This West Virginia lineup is peppered with young playmakers, some of whom – at their best -- have the look of future All-Big 12 performers. From a pick six by true freshman Tykee Smith and a 95-yard kickoff return for a score by true freshman Winston Wright Jr. to a 14-catch performance by redshirt-freshman Sam James and a 51-yard field goal by redshirt-freshman Casey Legg, many of WVU's most memorable moments this year have been authored by first- or second-year players. That bodes well for the future of a program asking us to Trust the Climb.
REASON NO. 2) West Virginia is improving in all the right areas. The trifecta of success in modern college football means winning on third down, winning the turnover battle and winning in the red zone. In last week's upset victory at Kansas State, the Mountaineers registered the hat trick. Against a Wildcat team ranked No. 3 nationally in third-down defense, all three of the touchdown passes tossed by Doege came on third down. Making this even more impressive was the fact that K-State had allowed a total of just three third-down scoring passes in its previous 21 games combined. Moreover, KSU's Skylar Thompson entered the matchup having thrown just a single interception in his last 10 games yet the Mountaineers picked Thompson off twice (finishing plus-two in turnover margin). The Wildcats offense entered the game with a Big 12-best touchdown rate of 75 percent in the red zone, but West Virginia held KSU to field goals twice on three red-zone trips. That eight-point swing (four potential points saved by the WVU defense each of the two times in the red zone it limited KSU to a field goal) proved to be the difference in the 24-20 win.
REASON NO. 3) Colton McKivitz, Reese Donahue and the rest of this West Virginia senior class have given West Virginia fans a lot to remember. They've won 29 total games, including a thriller for the ages at DKR Stadium in Austin, Texas, last year and a blowout victory in Lubbock, Texas, in 2016 that saw the Mountaineers mystify future NFL MVP Pat Mahomes. These seniors finish with a perfect record against the Sunflower State (4-0 vs Kansas and 4-0 vs Kansas State), but they've yet to beat a team from the state of Oklahoma (0-4 vs Oklahoma and 0-3 so far against Oklahoma State). That's something they hope to change on Saturday.
REASON NO. 4) With four straight wins against the Mountaineers, Mike Gundy's Cowboys have had West Virginia's number. There have been some classics – but WVU has landed on the business end of most of them, including last year's second-half meltdown in Stillwater that cost West Virginia a chance to nail down a trip to Jerry World for the Big 12 title game. There was also the 89-point affair in 2017 (that saw WVU lose despite scoring on a pick-six AND a blocked punt) and the Cowboys overtime win in Morgantown in 2015. Throw WVU's upset of OSU as a double-digit dog in 2013 into the mix and you start to appreciate just how unpredictable this matchup really has been, making it worth the cost of admission.
REASON NO. 5) You'll get a chance in person to see what might be the best football player in America this year – Cowboy running back Chuba Hubbard. That's what one member of the WVU support staff told me when he was knee-deep in OSU prep – and I could be inclined to entertain that opinion. In just 10 games, Hubbard has already rushed for 1,726 yards. That figure is greater than the 10-game totals of three of the last four running backs to win the Heisman Trophy. Hubbard also leads the nation with an attention-grabbing eight runs from scrimmage of 40-plus yards. That's already the most in a season by any Big 12 Conference runner in the CFBstats.com database, which tracks that stat back to 2010. Now for the fun part. Care to guess which defense is the only one in the Big 12 that's yet to allow a single run of 40-plus yards this season? You betcha – Vic Koenning's Mountaineers. It should be a fun showdown.
As kickoff approaches and WVU braces for another incredible challenge, a few more of Neal Brown's remarks from that introductory press conference spring to mind as he was explaining his views on what West Virginia football was all about.
"I think about the Flying WV and the hard working, blue-collar people of West Virginia that the WV represents," Brown said. "I think about Country Roads, and I think about one of the best environments in all of college football."
One of the best environments indeed. And unlike some schools, Mountaineer fans take pride in upholding that standard even when they're not playing the game of the century.
So, wear that Flying WV like a badge of honor, folks. As a fan base, you've been central to West Virginia's success since 1891 – and you've earned that right. And now you're being called one more time this fall to help a Mountaineer football team in need. And this 2019 squad is worth helping. Just like the folks cheering them on, they're banged up, but they're full of fight.
Here's the deal. With many of the students out of town this weekend and buck season nearly upon us, a Big 12 opponent is sneaking into Morgantown on a hot streak, likely believing they'll catch a break against a 4-6 WVU team with a smaller, less intimidating crowd than normal at Mountaineer Field.
If that's what they're thinking, they're wrong. This isn't Minnesota, or Maryland or Stanford. And it damned sure isn't Pitt.
Show up on game day and rattle them like you rattled Flutie in '84. Outlast them like you did the 'Canes in '93. Ambush them like you did the Hokies in '03. Wear them down like you did Louisville in '05. Shock them like you did Baylor in 2014.
Call your neighbor and invite a friend. Bring your cousin or your old math teacher or your Aunt Dixie. Tell your buddies to hold off on settling in at deer camp for just a few more hours. Bring them all. Turn out big and show these Cowboys what Mountaineer Field is capable of when they don't see it coming. These are the days that set Mountaineer Nation apart from many fan bases.
Now go impact this game like we know you can.
I'll see you at the 50.
What makes a great fan base?
Driven by passion, they impact the game.
That's what sets some apart from others. And it might be true that behind every great program, you'll find a passionate fan base. When you peruse a list of the all-time winningest schools in the history of major college football, there aren't many surprises. From the top down, it reads like a "Who's Who" of the blue bloods. Michigan, Ohio State, Texas and Alabama are followed by Nebraska, Oklahoma, Notre Dame and Penn State. Then comes USC, Tennessee, Georgia, LSU and Auburn.The schools taking up residence toward the top of this victory meter are those that are not only blessed with a deep war chest but also those endowed with a championship pedigree and a rich history of national acclaim. All have big resources and one or more national title flags flying over their facility.
Then, at No. 14 on the all-time list, you'll find West Virginia. The power brokers of college football likely see this surprising spot in history for the Mountaineers as a gold and blue thorn amidst a garden of roses. That's fine. West Virginia doesn't flatter you, they just beat you – more than every other program that's ever put on shoulder pads . . . but for a baker's dozen of them.
WVU certainly isn't the only land-grant university pushing the top of the list, but it's perhaps the most unassuming. Unlike the programs ranked ahead of it, West Virginia lacks a national championship in football, and it's devoid of deep pockets, but WVU is equipped with one critical element that the gridiron aristocracy enjoys – a passionate fan base that's played an instrumental part in helping the Mountaineers defy the odds for 128-plus years.
Two weeks ago, that passion is what brought 56,573 fans to Mountaineer Field to watch a pair of 3-5 teams tangle on a 41-degree day in November. It's also what compelled them to stick around after a dreadful first half. Neal Brown took note following that loss to Texas Tech, thanking them for the turnout and for seeing it through, and vowing to build a football team that would match the intensity of that fan base.
Brown addressed this because, as a coach known for his attention to detail, the most important detail of all is evident to him. He recognizes that the zeal of WVU fans isn't to be taken for granted in a world that includes so many places that simply don't generate this level of support. And Neal Brown's keen enough to appreciate that.
Two weeks ago, Minnesota sold out TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis as 51,833 turned out to watch the Golden Gophers upset No. 4 Penn State to start a season 9-0 for the first time since 1904. That's great – but that's not the measure of a passionate fan base. A more complete picture comes into view when you realize that the last time Minnesota played a home game in November with a losing record (2018 vs Purdue) – as WVU did against Texas Tech two weeks ago – the Gophers barely drew 31,000. But such erratic school spirit isn't confined to the Twin Cities.
Last month, Maryland barely drew 30,000 for a Big Ten game (well, sort of) against Rutgers while a mere 33,000 watched a struggling Stanford team play host to No. 15 Washington. Those are just a few examples – but the results on the field don't have to be underwhelming for some fans to stay home. Just last week, despite remaining in the hunt for a berth in the ACC title game, Pitt's Thursday night win over North Carolina was once again marred by the sizable swathes of empty seats that have become as much a part of Panther games at Heinz Field as Kennywood Fries and PeppeRooney Pizza.
As it turns out, some fan bases just don't get it – drifting through life oblivious to the impact they can have not just on their team's performance but also on the school's bottom line (which can translate into facility upgrades) and on recruiting. That's a problem that afflicts many schools – but not WVU.
Carried by their passion for all things old gold and blue, West Virginia fans do get it. A team doesn't ascend to No. 14 on the all-time wins list without a fan base that plays a meaningful role in helping them get there. Neal Brown was acutely aware of this before he ever arrived on campus.
"Other schools want to talk about jobs, and when you get those opportunities," Brown said during the press conference that introduced him in January as the 35th head coach in WVU history, "you get an opportunity to find out about that school's culture, about their administration's vision and their fan base's passion for the program."
He added, "West Virginia is culture. It is vision, and it is passion."
Like Mountaineer fans, Neal Brown gets it.
This is the final home game of WVU's two remaining contests -- and to keep that ember of hope for a bowl appearance burning West Virginia has to beat the odds and win them both. As such, when Oklahoma State rolls into town on Saturday, the Mountaineers need you to do what you do best – show up, be loud and affect the game.
Here are five reasons it'll be worth your time to do so:
REASON NO. 1) It's not often you're afforded a true glimpse into the future, but Saturday in Morgantown might be such an opportunity. West Virginia quarterback Jarret Doege took home Big 12 Newcomer of the Week honors for his performance against K-State, marking the second straight week and third time this season the Mountaineers have won the award (redshirt freshman wide receiver Sam James has won it twice). That's the mark of a young team finding a way to produce beyond its experience. The updated depth chart West Virginia released on Monday for the Oklahoma State game included 20 freshmen/redshirt-freshmen and eight sophomores/redshirt-sophomores. This West Virginia lineup is peppered with young playmakers, some of whom – at their best -- have the look of future All-Big 12 performers. From a pick six by true freshman Tykee Smith and a 95-yard kickoff return for a score by true freshman Winston Wright Jr. to a 14-catch performance by redshirt-freshman Sam James and a 51-yard field goal by redshirt-freshman Casey Legg, many of WVU's most memorable moments this year have been authored by first- or second-year players. That bodes well for the future of a program asking us to Trust the Climb.
REASON NO. 2) West Virginia is improving in all the right areas. The trifecta of success in modern college football means winning on third down, winning the turnover battle and winning in the red zone. In last week's upset victory at Kansas State, the Mountaineers registered the hat trick. Against a Wildcat team ranked No. 3 nationally in third-down defense, all three of the touchdown passes tossed by Doege came on third down. Making this even more impressive was the fact that K-State had allowed a total of just three third-down scoring passes in its previous 21 games combined. Moreover, KSU's Skylar Thompson entered the matchup having thrown just a single interception in his last 10 games yet the Mountaineers picked Thompson off twice (finishing plus-two in turnover margin). The Wildcats offense entered the game with a Big 12-best touchdown rate of 75 percent in the red zone, but West Virginia held KSU to field goals twice on three red-zone trips. That eight-point swing (four potential points saved by the WVU defense each of the two times in the red zone it limited KSU to a field goal) proved to be the difference in the 24-20 win.
REASON NO. 3) Colton McKivitz, Reese Donahue and the rest of this West Virginia senior class have given West Virginia fans a lot to remember. They've won 29 total games, including a thriller for the ages at DKR Stadium in Austin, Texas, last year and a blowout victory in Lubbock, Texas, in 2016 that saw the Mountaineers mystify future NFL MVP Pat Mahomes. These seniors finish with a perfect record against the Sunflower State (4-0 vs Kansas and 4-0 vs Kansas State), but they've yet to beat a team from the state of Oklahoma (0-4 vs Oklahoma and 0-3 so far against Oklahoma State). That's something they hope to change on Saturday.
REASON NO. 4) With four straight wins against the Mountaineers, Mike Gundy's Cowboys have had West Virginia's number. There have been some classics – but WVU has landed on the business end of most of them, including last year's second-half meltdown in Stillwater that cost West Virginia a chance to nail down a trip to Jerry World for the Big 12 title game. There was also the 89-point affair in 2017 (that saw WVU lose despite scoring on a pick-six AND a blocked punt) and the Cowboys overtime win in Morgantown in 2015. Throw WVU's upset of OSU as a double-digit dog in 2013 into the mix and you start to appreciate just how unpredictable this matchup really has been, making it worth the cost of admission.
REASON NO. 5) You'll get a chance in person to see what might be the best football player in America this year – Cowboy running back Chuba Hubbard. That's what one member of the WVU support staff told me when he was knee-deep in OSU prep – and I could be inclined to entertain that opinion. In just 10 games, Hubbard has already rushed for 1,726 yards. That figure is greater than the 10-game totals of three of the last four running backs to win the Heisman Trophy. Hubbard also leads the nation with an attention-grabbing eight runs from scrimmage of 40-plus yards. That's already the most in a season by any Big 12 Conference runner in the CFBstats.com database, which tracks that stat back to 2010. Now for the fun part. Care to guess which defense is the only one in the Big 12 that's yet to allow a single run of 40-plus yards this season? You betcha – Vic Koenning's Mountaineers. It should be a fun showdown.
As kickoff approaches and WVU braces for another incredible challenge, a few more of Neal Brown's remarks from that introductory press conference spring to mind as he was explaining his views on what West Virginia football was all about.
"I think about the Flying WV and the hard working, blue-collar people of West Virginia that the WV represents," Brown said. "I think about Country Roads, and I think about one of the best environments in all of college football."
One of the best environments indeed. And unlike some schools, Mountaineer fans take pride in upholding that standard even when they're not playing the game of the century.
So, wear that Flying WV like a badge of honor, folks. As a fan base, you've been central to West Virginia's success since 1891 – and you've earned that right. And now you're being called one more time this fall to help a Mountaineer football team in need. And this 2019 squad is worth helping. Just like the folks cheering them on, they're banged up, but they're full of fight.
Here's the deal. With many of the students out of town this weekend and buck season nearly upon us, a Big 12 opponent is sneaking into Morgantown on a hot streak, likely believing they'll catch a break against a 4-6 WVU team with a smaller, less intimidating crowd than normal at Mountaineer Field.
If that's what they're thinking, they're wrong. This isn't Minnesota, or Maryland or Stanford. And it damned sure isn't Pitt.
Show up on game day and rattle them like you rattled Flutie in '84. Outlast them like you did the 'Canes in '93. Ambush them like you did the Hokies in '03. Wear them down like you did Louisville in '05. Shock them like you did Baylor in 2014.
Call your neighbor and invite a friend. Bring your cousin or your old math teacher or your Aunt Dixie. Tell your buddies to hold off on settling in at deer camp for just a few more hours. Bring them all. Turn out big and show these Cowboys what Mountaineer Field is capable of when they don't see it coming. These are the days that set Mountaineer Nation apart from many fan bases.
Now go impact this game like we know you can.
I'll see you at the 50.
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
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/ Football
OL
/ Football
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/ Football
WR
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