Photo by: Ben Queen
2012 Discover Orange Bowl Team Members to be Recognized Saturday
November 18, 2021 11:30 AM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Approximately 40 members from West Virginia University's 2012 Discover Orange Bowl championship team are returning to campus this weekend to celebrate the 10-year reunion of their memorable 70-33 victory over Clemson at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Game MVP Geno Smith accounted for seven touchdowns, six passing, as the Mountaineers set an NCAA record for the most points scored in a bowl game.
The contest turned in the second quarter when Darwin Cook returned a fumble 99 yards for a touchdown, giving WVU a 28-17 lead.
Three rapid-fire touchdowns scored by Smith, Tavon Austin and Shawne Alston late in the second quarter propelled the Mountaineers to an unsurmountable 49-20 halftime lead.
Smith passed for 407 yards and Austin led WVU with 14 catches for 123 yards and four touchdowns. Both Smith and Austin are still active in the NFL and are with their respective teams for this weekend's action.
Stedman Bailey, who caught five passes for 82 yards and a touchdown in the game and set a WVU record with 25 touchdown catches during his senior season in 2012, is planning to return.
Cook is also expected to on campus for this weekend's activities.
"We are bringing back some of the Orange Bowl team, which will be cool to see," West Virginia coach Neal Brown said earlier this week. "That's a short enough time ago that our players remember those guys. Those are people they watched when they were young, so we've got something to talk to our team about this week."
A special reception is planned for Friday night at Kegler's Sports Bar & Grill and the returning players will also be recognized during Saturday afternoon's game against Texas.
Any players who have not sent in an RSVP and would like to attend must get in touch with Dale Wolfley or Kyle Poland immediately by calling (304) 293-9563.
Tickets for the Texas game remain on sale and can be purchased by logging on to WVUGAME.com.
Saturday's contest will kick off at noon and will be televised nationally on ESPN2.
Game MVP Geno Smith accounted for seven touchdowns, six passing, as the Mountaineers set an NCAA record for the most points scored in a bowl game.
The contest turned in the second quarter when Darwin Cook returned a fumble 99 yards for a touchdown, giving WVU a 28-17 lead.
Three rapid-fire touchdowns scored by Smith, Tavon Austin and Shawne Alston late in the second quarter propelled the Mountaineers to an unsurmountable 49-20 halftime lead.
Smith passed for 407 yards and Austin led WVU with 14 catches for 123 yards and four touchdowns. Both Smith and Austin are still active in the NFL and are with their respective teams for this weekend's action.
Stedman Bailey, who caught five passes for 82 yards and a touchdown in the game and set a WVU record with 25 touchdown catches during his senior season in 2012, is planning to return.
Cook is also expected to on campus for this weekend's activities.
"We are bringing back some of the Orange Bowl team, which will be cool to see," West Virginia coach Neal Brown said earlier this week. "That's a short enough time ago that our players remember those guys. Those are people they watched when they were young, so we've got something to talk to our team about this week."
A special reception is planned for Friday night at Kegler's Sports Bar & Grill and the returning players will also be recognized during Saturday afternoon's game against Texas.
Any players who have not sent in an RSVP and would like to attend must get in touch with Dale Wolfley or Kyle Poland immediately by calling (304) 293-9563.
Tickets for the Texas game remain on sale and can be purchased by logging on to WVUGAME.com.
Saturday's contest will kick off at noon and will be televised nationally on ESPN2.
Players Mentioned
LS
/ FootballGeimere Latimer | April 2
Thursday, April 02
Coach Deke Adams | April 2
Thursday, April 02
Coach Rich Rodriguez | April 2
Thursday, April 02
Cam Cook | March 30
Monday, March 30
