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WVU Football: Ranking the top 5 teams in school history

By Daniel Walsh

Dec. 27, 2008; Charlotte, NC, USA; West Virginia Mountaneers quarterback Pat White (5) reacts after the Mountaineers 31-30 victory against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Dec. 27, 2008; Charlotte, NC, USA; West Virginia Mountaneers quarterback Pat White (5) reacts after the Mountaineers 31-30 victory against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 28, 2007; Tampa, FL, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers head coach Rich Rodriguez walks the sidelines during the first quarter against the South Florida Bulls at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Mandatory Credit: Paul Abell-USA TODAY Sports Copyright © 2007 Paul Abell
Sep 28, 2007; Tampa, FL, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers head coach Rich Rodriguez walks the sidelines during the first quarter against the South Florida Bulls at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Mandatory Credit: Paul Abell-USA TODAY Sports Copyright © 2007 Paul Abell /

2. 2007

Head coach: Rich Rodriguez, Bill Stewart
Record: 11-2

The 2007 WVU team was the height of the Rich Rodriguez era in Morgantown. It was the most complete Mountaineer team of all time with an offense that had Pat White, Steve Slaton, Owen Schmitt, Noel Devine, and Darius Reynaud and a defense that was ranked eighth in the country.

Now, almost 15 years later, it seems ludicrous that this team managed to screw up and lose two games. The team’s first loss came at the hooves of the No. 18 South Florida Bulls. The Mountaineers coughed the ball up six times and White didn’t play the second half.

Unfortunately, losing to USF wasn’t rock bottom for the Mountaineers in 2007. No, their bottom was much, much lower and much more painful. WVU had a chance to make the BCS National Championship. It was their year. The Mountaineers only needed to win one more game against Pitt, who they were a 28-point favorites (!!) against. But they lost. Their offense never got going, White got hurt and LeSean McCoy balled out.

The 2007 team was the highest-scoring team in history (515 points) but was knocked out of the BCS National Championship because they lost to Pitt. Why did they have to lose to Pitt?

It hurts, even more, looking back because the Mountaineers obliterated No. 4 Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl 48-28. This was without Rich Rodriguez who bolted to Michigan. Just another Mountaineer “coulda been” season.

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