Photo by: WVU Athletic Communications
Mountaineers Prepare for Guaranteed Rate Bowl Meeting Against Minnesota
December 24, 2021 01:22 PM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Preparations continue for West Virginia's 2021 Guaranteed Rate Bowl meeting against Minnesota on Tuesday, Dec. 28, at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona.
After a three-day pause for Christmas break on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, the team resumed work on Wednesday afternoon. Another practice was held Thursday morning before the players departed for WISP Resort in nearby McHenry, Maryland, for some snow tubing and outdoor fun later in the day.
Another workout took place on Christmas Eve morning ahead of the team's departure for Phoenix on Christmas Day.
On-site practices are planned for Sunday, Dec. 26, and Monday, Dec. 27 in Phoenix before the Mountaineers face the 8-4 Golden Gophers on Tuesday night.
Minnesota arrived in Phoenix yesterday evening.
This will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools in football.
Minnesota is making its 22nd all-time bowl appearance and third under current coach P.J. Fleck, while West Virginia is making its 39th bowl trip and second under coach Neal Brown.
"It's been an up and down year, but we finished on a high note with two wins the last two weeks," Brown said. "We were sitting at 2-4 during the bye week and we rallied to win four out of our last six to get bowl eligible.
"I have a lot of respect for what P.J. Fleck has done, not only at Minnesota, but also at Western Michigan," Brown said. "When you watch them they are a really good football team. They are 8-4 and easily could be 10-2, and their physicality and toughness is what stands out."
On Monday, a special Meet and Greet at the game watch home of the Arizona Chapter of the WVU Alumni Association, Half Moon Windy City Sports Grill, will take place from 4-7 p.m. The Mountaineer Sports Network (MSN) will be producing a live broadcast on-site hosted WVU play-by-play announcer Tony Caridi and featuring MSN personalities Jed Drenning, Dwight Wallace, Dale Wolfley and Dan Zangrilli.
On game day, alumni, friends and fans are invited to the WVU Guaranteed Rate Bowl Pre-Game Party from 4-7 p.m. local time at Copper Blues in the Cityscape Dining and Shopping Complex, a short walk to Chase Field.
It will be an evening filled with Mountaineer pride, WVU giveaways (while supplies last) and food and beverage specials. The Pride of West Virginia Pep Band, WVU Cheerleaders and Mountaineer Mascot will make a special appearance at 4 p.m.
Both events are being presented by the West Virginia University Alumni Association, Mountaineer Athletic Club and WVU Foundation.
Guaranteed Rate Bowl tickets remain on sale and can be purchased through the Mountaineer Ticket Office by logging on to WVUGAME.com.
After a three-day pause for Christmas break on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, the team resumed work on Wednesday afternoon. Another practice was held Thursday morning before the players departed for WISP Resort in nearby McHenry, Maryland, for some snow tubing and outdoor fun later in the day.
Another workout took place on Christmas Eve morning ahead of the team's departure for Phoenix on Christmas Day.
On-site practices are planned for Sunday, Dec. 26, and Monday, Dec. 27 in Phoenix before the Mountaineers face the 8-4 Golden Gophers on Tuesday night.
Minnesota arrived in Phoenix yesterday evening.
This will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools in football.
Minnesota is making its 22nd all-time bowl appearance and third under current coach P.J. Fleck, while West Virginia is making its 39th bowl trip and second under coach Neal Brown.
"It's been an up and down year, but we finished on a high note with two wins the last two weeks," Brown said. "We were sitting at 2-4 during the bye week and we rallied to win four out of our last six to get bowl eligible.
"I have a lot of respect for what P.J. Fleck has done, not only at Minnesota, but also at Western Michigan," Brown said. "When you watch them they are a really good football team. They are 8-4 and easily could be 10-2, and their physicality and toughness is what stands out."
On Monday, a special Meet and Greet at the game watch home of the Arizona Chapter of the WVU Alumni Association, Half Moon Windy City Sports Grill, will take place from 4-7 p.m. The Mountaineer Sports Network (MSN) will be producing a live broadcast on-site hosted WVU play-by-play announcer Tony Caridi and featuring MSN personalities Jed Drenning, Dwight Wallace, Dale Wolfley and Dan Zangrilli.On game day, alumni, friends and fans are invited to the WVU Guaranteed Rate Bowl Pre-Game Party from 4-7 p.m. local time at Copper Blues in the Cityscape Dining and Shopping Complex, a short walk to Chase Field.
It will be an evening filled with Mountaineer pride, WVU giveaways (while supplies last) and food and beverage specials. The Pride of West Virginia Pep Band, WVU Cheerleaders and Mountaineer Mascot will make a special appearance at 4 p.m.
Both events are being presented by the West Virginia University Alumni Association, Mountaineer Athletic Club and WVU Foundation.
Guaranteed Rate Bowl tickets remain on sale and can be purchased through the Mountaineer Ticket Office by logging on to WVUGAME.com.
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