LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Memories of Old Mountineer Field
I enjoyed your picture of the old Mountaineer Field under construction. You are right; the final game played there ". . . against Pitt, garnered the highest crowd ever at [the] stadium, 38,681, on November 10, 1979."
I will never forget that game; it was my first year at WVU. The stakes could not have been higher: We were 5-5, therefore the game would determine whether we ended with a winning season; it was against archrival Pitt which was a powerhouse, destined for a bowl bid, and favored by a wide margin (if I recall correctly, Pitt was undefeated at the time) . . . The overflow [crowd] was everywhere and could barely fit on the sidelines; and, as if that were all not enough, it was the grand finale for the stadium!
The Mountaineers incurred numerous penalties
due to the loud, excited crowd. Nevertheless, the Mountaineers
held their own throughout the game and, although they lost, kept
it competitive to the end. In fact, the last play of the game
was a Hail Mary by WVU into the end zone that, if caught, would
have won the game. The crowd went crazy after that game even
though we lost. I can only imagine the reaction had that final
pass been completed! . . .
Christopher Ambrose, '83
BA Lorton, VA
What's Up Sunnyside?
I had a real sense of déjà vu while reading the "What's Up Sunnyside?" article in the Fall 2003 magazine. There were plans to rehabilitate and revitalize Sunnyside more than 20 years ago when I was an undergrad. The recent trouble with fires in the street is also nothing new. I was witness to a few ritual sacrifices of threadbare furniture to the goddess Nike.
Any resident of Sunnyside hears the revered legends of the Beverly Avenue block party and the great bonfire of (insert date) to celebrate (insert victory). After 20 plus years, these fables must be close to mythical . . . I suggest that any plans for Sunnyside include a student designed fire pit in the heart of the neighborhood. A Norse theme would be nice, since Sunnyside always made me think of Valhalla.
David S. Kaczynski, '81 BS
Monroeville, PA
Thanks to everyone who wrote in to correctly date this graduation photo.
. . .Both my wife and I are 1968 graduates, and we do not remember the graduation ceremony being held on the turf of Old Mountaineer Field. Please check the year for the picture because otherwise we think senility may be here sooner than we wanted.
Mike Musulin II BSJ '68, MSJ '74
Mary Louise Diamond Musulin BA '68
Regarding the top photo in the current
Alumni Magazine, I received my PhD in 1968, and I
distinctly remember that graduation was indoors that year, as
it was in 1967. Perhaps another year?
Nice issue. But be careful of dates.
Virginia McMullen Urbanik '57 BS, '68
PhD
Danville, VA
. . .the commencement for the class of 1968 was held in the old
Mountaineer basketball facility and not Mountaineer Stadium.
I remember the day well. [I was] commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in
the United States Marine Corps in the morning, sat through a
very hot graduation in the confines of the basketball arena.
[I was] wondering why I had to wait four years to get a seat
so close to center court. I can not remember who spoke, what
was said, only that my four years at WVU were the best.
Joe Topley '68
Stevens Point
. . .Our graduation was held in the old fieldhouse. . .
Bettijane Christopher Burger '68
Charleston, WV
The date of the commencement photo shown in the summer issue
of the West Virginia University Alumni Magazine is May 29, 1966.
I was a member of the class and as I recall this was the only
time commencement was ever held at old Mountaineer Field. The
day was sunny and warm. The reason I remember the day so vividly
is that it was four years to the day I graduated from Sistersville
(WV) High School.
Jim Conklin BSME '66
The commencement photo in the summer issue of the alumni magazine incorrectly dated as 1968 was 1966. That was my class and the first outdoor commencement held until 2000 commencement, I believe. . .
Karen Vannoy Smittle, '66
The commencement photo reproduced on page 3 of the fall edition could have been taken in 1966. . .
Cu Lou
Louis P. Harvath III
310 W Yorktown Drive
LaGrange, GA 30240
. . .I graduated in 1968 and our commencement was held in the old field house (indoors) on Beechhurst Ave. My sister graduated in 1966 and is sitting somewhere with the graduates on the field. I along with my parents and brothers are located in the stands just about in the center of the picture. . .
Greg Harness BS '68, MS '70
Corrections
Thanks to everyone who wrote in
to correctly date the 1966 graduation photo. To see individual
responses and the photo, look online at www.ia.wvu.edu/~magazine.