Living Here
WVU Traditions
There are many proud traditions at West Virginia University. Remember, you are a Mountaineer for life!
Alma Mater
Alma, our Alma Mater,
The home of Mountaineers
Sing we of thy honor
Everlasting through the years
Alma, our Alma Mater,
We pledge in song to you.
Hail, all hail! Our Alma Mater,
West Virginia U
– Composed by Alumnus Louis D Corson, ‘37
Traditionally, the alma mater is sung prior to each home Mountaineer football game and during commencement ceremonies.
Backyard Brawl
West Virginia’s annual football and basketball games with Pitt are referred to as “The Backyard Brawl” because of the close proximity of the two schools. West Virginia University and the University of Pittsburgh have been playing football games for 94 straight years, reperesenting the nation’s 14th oldest football rivalry. The two basketball teams have played 163 times since 1904.
Class Ring
Designed by WVU students, the official class ring shows the most recognizable images of WVU: the flying WV logo, the Mountaineer statue, Woodburn Hall, and the school seal. The date of WVU’s founding, 1867, is on one side, along with the graduation year of the wearer.
As an undergraduate, the ring is work with the flying WV facing the heart to inspire and motivate academic success. Upon graduation, the flying WV logo is turned outward. The official class ring then becomes a visible, tangible, symbol of the ever-present bond between WVU and its graduates.
Country Roads
The theme song of West Virginia University, “Country Roads” has been performed at every home football game pregame show since 1972. In 1980, John Denver performed his hit song during prgame festivities to a sold-out crowd of Mountaineer fans. His performance marked the dedication of Mountaineer Field and the first game for head coach Don Nehlen.
“Take Me Home Country Roads”
Almost heaven, West Virginia
Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River
Life is old there, older than the trees
Younger than the mountains, blowing like a breeze
Country roads, take me home
To the place, I belong
West Virginia, Mountain Mama
Take me home, country roads
All my mem’ries, gather ‘round her
Miner’s lady, stranger to blue water
Dark and dusty, painted on the sky
Misty taste of moonshine, teardrops in my eye
Country roads, take me home
To the place, I belong
West Virginia, Mountain Mama
Take me home, country roads
I hear her voice, in the mornin’ hours she calls me
The radio reminds me of my home far away
And drivin’ down the road I get the feeling
That I should have been home yesterday, yesterday
– Words and music by Bill Danoff, Taffy Nivert, and John Denver
FallFest
FallFest welcomes WVU students back to campus with a night of fun and entertainment. Typically held on Mountainlair Plaza, thousands of students are invited to an all-night concert of popular bands and musical artists such as Fuel, Trapt, the Black Eyed Peas, and Kanye West. Held during the first week of class, FallFest allows students to reconnect with friends after summer recess and to celebrate the beginning of another school year.
Fight, Mountaineers
Fight, fight, fight, fight, Mountaineer!
We’re here to cheer for you.
Take that old ball down the field.
We’re putting our faith in you.
Play that team right off its feet.
You can’t be beat we know.
And when the game is through,
We’ll all cheer for you.
West Virginia, West Virginia, rag!
– Composed by Fuzzy Knight
First Down Cheer
A trademark tradition by WVU students, this cheer is heard during home football games prior to the announcement of a first down. Mountaineer fans raise their hands and cheer in unison until the first down call is made. Following the call, the fans lift their arms up and down three times, clap and then signal to the end zone chanting “first down.”
Formation of the State
The signature formation of the Pride of West Virginia is the creation of the state near the end of “Country Roads.” Football game days come alive when The Pride takes on the shape of West Virginia during “Hail West Virginia” and marches end zone to end zone to the delight of Mountaineer fans.
Hail West Virginia
Let’s give a rah for West Virginia
And let us pledge to her anew,
Others may be black or crimson,
but for us it’s Gold and Blue.
Let all our trouble be forgotten,
Let college spirit rule,
We’ll join and give our loyal efforts
For the good of our old school.
It’s West Virginia, It’s West Virginia
The Pride of every Mountaineer.
Come on you old grads, join with us young lads,
It’s West Virginia now we cheer!
Now is the time, boys, to make a big noise
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang’s all here,
So hail to West Virginia, Hail
Homecoming
The first homecoming celebrations were held in 1910. The first Homecoming queen, Mary Lou Moore, was crowned in 1939. Every fall during a home football game weekend, alumni are invited back to reminisce and reunite with former classmates. Festivities include a parade on High Street on Friday night and the football game on Saturday. During the 2004 Homecoming festivities, WVU welcomed Mar Lou Bullard Moore back to campus where she served as parade marshal for the Homecoming parade.
Let’s Go…Mountaineers
A rousing cheer at WVU athletic events, the “Let’s Go…Mountaineers” tradition allows fans to square off in a cheering challenge. Led by the Mountaineer cheerleaders and mascot, one side of the audience chants “Let’s Go” while the other side responds “Mountaineers.”
Marching Band
The award-winning Mountaineer Marching Band enoys the reputation of one of the outstanding organizations on the WVU campus. The “Pride of West Virginia” has performed throughout the nation, from nationally televised bowl games to Presidential Inaugurations. During the past 15 years, the WVU Band has performed before more than one million people. Because of its tradition of excellence, the WVU Band was recognized in 1997 as the country’s outstanding collegiate marching band by being named the recipient of the 1997 Sudler Trophy.
Mountaineer Creed
As a Mountaineer, I will:
Practice academic and personal integrity,
Value wisdom and culture,
Foster lifetime learning,
Practice civic responsibility and good stewardship,
Respect human dignity and cultural diversity.
In order to become a meaningful member of
West Virginia University and the society in which I live, I dedicate my energy, my talents, and my intellect to these standards of excellence.
Mountaineer Mascot
One of the most beloved of all West Virginia athletic traditions, the mascot first appeared at WVU sporting events during the 1936-37 school year. The Mountaineer is selected each year by the Mountain Honorary, the school’s prestigious senior honorary. Male Mountaineers customarily grow beards during their tenure to go along with the coonskin cap and rifle.
Mountaineer Week
Mountaineer Week was created in 1947 as a weekend event to arouse school spirit. Students were invited to attend a dance wearing mountaineer costumes, and awards were given to those most representative of a true Mountaineer. In 1949, the first-ever beard growing competition was held.
In 1972, Mountaineer weekend was extended into a week long event. The first Mountaineer Week Arts and Crafts Festival was initiated that year, as well as a Mountaineer dinner, PRT Cram, games, concerts, and a downtown festival. Today, the craft fair is held in the Gold and Blue Ballrooms of the Mountainlair and features additional and contemporary crafts of Appalachia.
PRT Cram
The PRT Cram is an annual event held during Mountaineer Week. A PRT car, which holds 16 people comfortably, is stretched to the limit when students from campus organizations squeeze, or “cram” into one of the cars. The record was set in 2000 when 97 students crammed into a PRT car.
Rhodes Scholars
The Rhodes Scholarship, one of the most prestigious academic awards in the world, is based on academic excellence, integrity, respect for others, leadership ability, and sports prowess. WVU has an impressive records of Rhodes Scholars, with 25 students having been selected over the years. President David C Hardesty Jr was awarded the scholarship in 1967. WVU now ranks sixth among public state institutions in the number of Rhodes Scholar recipients.
Roll out the Carpet
One of college basketball’s great traditions was introduced by Fred Schaus at WVU in 1955. Schaus and Mountaineer supporter Alex Mumford came up with the idea of rolling out an elaborate gold and blue carpet for the Mountaineer players to run out on during pregame warm-ups. In addition, Mountaineer players warmed up with a special gold and blue painted basketball. It has since become the highlight of pregame introductions at the WVU Coliseum.
School Colors
West Virginia University’s official school colors – gold and blue – were adopted by the school upperclassmen in 1890. The color choices were taken from the West Virginia state seal. The correct reference to West Virginia University’s color scheme is “Old Gold and Blue” not blue and gold.
Weekend of Honors
Held each spring on campus, the Weekend of Honors is dedicated to proclaiming our pride in the students, faculty, staff, and alumni who have achieved special awards and honors during the course of the year. Various campus awards ceremonies, including the Honorary Recognition Ceremony, Honors Convocation, and individual college ceremonies, are held to recognize these outstanding achievements.
Woodburn Hall Holiday Lighting
The annual Woodburn Hall lighting ceremony initiates the holiday season at WVU. This tradition dates back to the 1987-88 academic year, and is typically held during the first week of December.
