West Virginia University - Monticola Yearbook (Morgantown, WV)

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Athletic director Dick Martin ex- plains some features of the new stadium to West Virginia Gov. Jay Rockefeller. The students crowded the dou- ble-tiered stadium to root WVU on and to show their Mountaineer pride at the WVU-Cincinnati game. wiJ.nim i , ii . ! . u i jyn ( i i i MH i i lii - i ' J-.-J - .iL vi3;F: The Pride of West Virginia gave its first performance in the Mountaineer stadium this year. Bill and Taffy Danoff and John De- nver came to Morganton to sing Country Roads at the dedica- tion. Stadium dedication 17

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Our second Mountaineer Field The 79 football season ended Nov. 10 with the Pitt and WVU rivalry. This game was not only the end of the sea- son, but also the end of the Moun- taineer Field. The fresh start for the new Moun- taineer field began Sept. 6. The double- tiered stadium seats 50,000 people and can be expanded to add another tier. Unfinished for the opening game against Cincinnati, the stadium was to be completed Oct. 25, when we hosted Penn State, but it wasn ' t. However, WVU now hosts the largest collegiate scoreboard in the nation. The controversial field first faced cri- ticism when the site was chosen to be on the former WVU golf course and adjacent to the Medical Center. Con- struction went on and further objections rose over the access road and possible flooding. However, the most widely voiced complaints on campus were those of the over 20,000 WVU students. Seated on the east side of the playing field, students were accustomed to seeing the team across the astroturf. And, for the most part, the band faced the west side. Band director Don Wilcox and mem- bers of the athletic department cited valid reasons for these events and worked hard to satisfy the students ' wishes. For opening day the band faced the press box for photographers, but for the later games, the band faced both the east and west sides as it entailed intricate formations into its half-time performance. Dick Martin, athletic director, said that seeing enthusiastic fans added incentive to the team. Ed Pastilong of the athletic department added, Traditionally, students sit be- hind the visiting team. Since the stu- dents are more vocal and enthusiastic, it gives an advantage to the team. John Denver ' s visit highlighted the opening game, as he and Bill and Taffy Danoff sang Country Roads. There are obvious differences be- tween the old and new fields, but the most important aspect of WVU sports is the students ' support. As always, fans cheered their team on whether we won or lost and whether we played at home or away. Yes, Mountaineer spirit is equalled wherever our Mounties play. And, be- lieve it or not, our mighty football squad now has a very appropriate and awe- some spot in which to play football and to show the entire student body that they, too, have something terrific going for them. And that is A FRESH START. Robert Alexander scored the first WVU touchdown at the new Mountaineer Stadium against Cincinnati. 16 Stadium dedication Coach Don Nehlen, Athletic director Dick Martin, Gov. Jay Rockefeller, and Pres. Gene Budig participated in the ribbon- cutting ceremonies at the Stadium de- dication on Sept. 6.

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Recently selected as a pledge, this student gets a hug from one of her sisters. 18 Sorority Rush