1983 West Virginia Mountaineers football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1983 West Virginia Mountaineers football Independent 16 16 9–3 Don Nehlen 4th Dennis Brown 4th Mountaineer Field Hall of Fame Classic champion Hall of Fame Classic W 20–16 vs. Kentucky The 1983 West Virginia Mountaineers football team represented West Virginia University in the 1983 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Mountaineers' 91st overall season and they competed as a Division I-A Independent. The team was led by head coach Don Nehlen, in his fourth year, and played their home games at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia. They finished the season with a record of 9–3 and defeated Kentucky in the Hall of Fame Classic. Schedule 1983 AP Eastern September 3 w Ohio Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV 55–3 54,612 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer-west-va-trounce/139841774/ The Cincinnati Enquirer West Va. trounces OU, 55–3 September 4, 1983 January 29, 2024 Newspapers.com September 10 w Pacific (CA) Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV 48–7 54,581 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-modesto-bee-west-virginia-trounces-p/139841872/ The Modesto Bee West Virginia trounces Pacific with defense September 11, 1983 January 29, 2024 Newspapers.com September 17 w y 20 Maryland 17 Byrd Stadium College Park, MD rivalry WTBS 31–21 54,715 https://www.newspapers.com/article/victoria-advocate-west-virginia-tops-mar/139841970/ The Victoria Advocate West Virginia tops Maryland, 31–21 September 18, 1983 January 29, 2024 Newspapers.com September 24 w y 12 Boston College 19 Alumni Stadium Chestnut Hill, MA ABC 27–17 32,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-advertiser-w-va-mountaineers/139842095/ The Daily Advertiser W. Va. Mountaineers blitz Boston College September 25, 1983 January 29, 2024 Newspapers.com October 1 w 7 Pittsburgh Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV rivalry CBS 24–21 64,076 https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-lauderdale-news-no-7-west-virginia/139842211/ Fort Lauderdale News No. 7 West Virginia rules Pitt 24–21 October 2, 1983 January 29, 2024 Newspapers.com October 15 w 4 Virginia Tech Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV rivalry CBS 13–0 57,181 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115911467/west-virginia-tops-virginia-tech-130/ The Pittsburgh Press West Virginia tops Virginia Tech, 13–0 October 16, 1983 January 29, 2024 Newspapers.com October 22 l y 4 Penn State Beaver Stadium University Park, PA rivalry 23–41 86,309 https://www.newspapers.com/article/courier-post-rebounding-penn-state-rips/139842315/ The Courier-Post Rebounding Penn State rips fourth-rated West Virginia October 23, 1983 January 29, 2024 Newspapers.com October 29 l y 12 Miami (FL) 7 Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL 3–20 63,881 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-island-independent-hurricanes/139842478/ The Grand Island Independent Hurricanes blow past West Virginia October 30, 1983 January 29, 2024 Newspapers.com November 5 w 17 Temple Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV 27–9 50,514 https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-west-virginia-topples-templ/139842601/ Star Tribune West Virginia topples Temple, breaks two-game losing streak November 6, 1983 January 29, 2024 Newspapers.com November 12 w 15 Rutgers Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV 35–7 51,317 https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-west-virginia-routs-ru/139842718/ Asbury Park Press West Virginia routs Rutgers November 13, 1983 January 29, 2024 Newspapers.com November 19 l y 14 Syracuse Carrier Dome Syracuse, NY rivalry CBS 16–27 36,661 https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-and-sun-bulletin-syracuse-surprise/139842864/ The Sunday Press Syracuse surprises West Virginia November 20, 1983 January 29, 2024 Newspapers.com December 23 w y 18 Kentucky Legion Field Birmingham, AL Hall of Fame Classic WTBS 20–16 42,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-post-herald-hostetler-finally/134603560/ Birmingham Post-Herald Hostetler finally gets warmed up December 23, 1983 November 4, 2023 Newspapers.com Season summary Jeff Hostetler was the starting quarterback for the Mountaineers. He led the team with 2345 passing yards and 16 touchdowns. Leading the team in rushing was Tom Gray with 498 net yards. Rich Hollins led the team in receiving with 50 receptions for 781 yards. Paul Woodside was also a reliable commodity for the Mountaineers. The Mountaineer offense was rolling after its first two games. They had beaten their first two opponents by a combined 103–10 score, with a 55–3 win over Ohio, and a 48–7 win over Pacific. Their first test of the season came on the road against #17 Maryland, where the Mountaineers emerged victorious 31–21. The next week, the Mountaineers played on the road, against a second straight ranked opponent in #19 Boston College. Again, the Mountaineers emerged victorious 27–17. They then avenged a 13–16 loss at Pittsburgh the year before, by beating the Panthers 24–21 at home. The next week, they posted a second consecutive win over a major rival by shutting out Virginia Tech 13–0 at home. The win moved WVU's ranking up to 3rd in the major polls. The Mountaineers were beaten at Penn State, the next week, ruining their national title hopes. It is very possible, that had the Mountaineers won that, they would be playing for the national championship. They were still hung over the week after, losing to Miami 20–3, giving them 2 straight losses. WVU came back with a 27–9 win over Temple, and a 35–7 win over Rutgers. They lost at Syracuse the next week 27–16, and closed out the season with a 20–16 win over Kentucky in the Hall of Fame Bowl. Game summaries Pittsburgh Pittsburgh 14 7 0 0 West Virginia 7 7 3 7 October 1 Mountaineer Field, Morgantown, WV Source: yes 1 WVU Brown 19-yard pass from Hostetler (Woodside kick) WVU 7-0 1 PITT Quense 75-yard fumble return (Schubert kick) Tied 7-7 1 PITT Scales 21-yard run (Schubert kick) PITT 14-7 2 WVU Harvey 1-yard run (Woodside kick) Tied 14-14 2 PITT Wallace 35-yard pass from Congemi (Schubert kick) PITT 21-14 3 WVU Woodside 49-yard field goal PITT 21-17 4 WVU Hostetler 6-yard run (Woodside kick) WVU 24-21 yes Roster 1983 West Virginia Mountaineers y 15 Sr Jeff Hostetler QB y 36 Jr Ron Wolfley FB y 48 Jr Willie Drewrey WR y 3 Jr Paul Woodside K y Don Nehlen References West Virginia Category:All-American Bowl champion seasons Category:West Virginia Mountaineers football seasons West Virginia Mountaineers football