1893 West Virginia Mountaineers football team

American college football season May 2026 February 2026 August 2023 1893 West Virginia Mountaineers football Independent 2–1 F. William Rane 1st Harry M. Leps 1891 1894 The 1893 West Virginia Mountaineers football team represented West Virginia University in the 1893 college football season. Led by F. William Rane in his first year as head coach, the Mountaineers finished the season with a record of two wins and one loss (2–1). The season marked a significant milestone for the program, as the October 7 victory over Mt. Pleasant was the first win in West Virginia University football history. The Mountaineers had gone 0–1 in their inaugural 1891 season and did not field a team in 1892 before returning to competition under Rane. Background West Virginia University was established in 1867 as a land-grant university in Morgantown, West Virginia. American football arrived at WVU in the early 1890s, consistent with the sport's rapid spread through U.S. colleges during that decade. The Mountaineers played their first recorded game on November 5, 1891, traveling to Washington, Pennsylvania to face Washington & Jefferson, where they suffered a 72–0 defeat. The program did not field a team in 1892. For the 1893 season, the university engaged F. William Rane as the program's second head coach to revive and develop the fledgling squad. Rane's team consisted of fourteen players drawn primarily from West Virginia and nearby Pennsylvania communities. All three contests on the 1893 schedule were played away from Morgantown, as the program had no designated home facility. Under the scoring rules in effect at the time, a touchdown was worth four points, a goal after touchdown (conversion) two points, a field goal five points, and a safety two points. Henry M. Leps of Grafton, West Virginia served as team captain. Season summary West Virginia opened the 1893 season on October 7 with a 12–0 shutout of a regional club side from Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, recording the first victory in WVU football history. Under the era's four-point touchdown rule, the Mountaineers scored twice and converted both goals after touchdown to reach twelve points. The team would not take the field again for nearly seven weeks, returning on November 25 to defeat the Uniontown Independents 12–2 in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, clinching the program's first winning record. The season concluded on Thanksgiving Day, November 30, with a 56–0 loss to Washington & Jefferson at the Fairgrounds in Washington, Pennsylvania. Washington & Jefferson, playing under first-year head coach Joseph Hamilton, finished the 1893 season at 5–3 and were among the stronger independent programs in the region. Despite the lopsided defeat in the finale, the Mountaineers closed 1893 with meaningful program milestones: their first two victories and their first winning season. Schedule October 7 w y Mt. Pleasant Mt. Pleasant, PA 12–0 November 25 w y Uniontown Independents Uniontown, PA 12–2 November 30 l y Washington & Jefferson Fairgrounds Washington, PA 0–56 Game summaries October 7: at Mt. Pleasant West Virginia opened the 1893 season on the road at Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, recording the first victory in program history with a 12–0 shutout of Mt. Pleasant. Under the scoring rules of the era, a touchdown was worth four points and a successful goal after touchdown two points, meaning the Mountaineers scored twice with both conversions. The shutout win over a regional club opponent demonstrated the early promise of the program under first-year head coach F. William Rane. + Game summary Team Score West Virginia 12 Mt. Pleasant 0 November 25: at Uniontown Independents In their second road game of the season, the Mountaineers traveled to Uniontown, Pennsylvania to face the Uniontown Independents. West Virginia secured a 12–2 victory, clinching a winning record for the season. The Independents managed two points — consistent with a safety under the period's rules — but could not overcome the Mountaineers, who again scored twelve points through two touchdown drives with successful conversions. The win gave WVU a 2–0 record heading into their season finale. + Game summary Team Score West Virginia 12 Uniontown Independents 2 November 30: at Washington & Jefferson The Mountaineers closed their season on Thanksgiving Day at the Fairgrounds in Washington, Pennsylvania against Washington & Jefferson, one of the premier independent programs in the western Pennsylvania region. Washington & Jefferson, led by first-year head coach Joseph Hamilton, overwhelmed West Virginia by a score of 56–0, handing the Mountaineers their only loss of the season. The Presidents' large margin of victory reflected their superior depth and experience; their scoring was driven by numerous touchdowns and goals after touchdown under the era's rules. It was a rematch of sorts with the program that had beaten WVU 72–0 in the Mountaineers' only prior game, the 1891 season opener. Despite the defeat, West Virginia completed the year with their first winning record in program history. + Game summary Team Score Washington & Jefferson 56 West Virginia 0 Coaching staff Position Name Head coach F. William Rane Players The 1893 roster featured fourteen lettermen. William Baker, Elkins, West Virginia William Bambick Alpheus Edward Boyd, Uniontown, Pennsylvania – End Winford Hayes – End Josiah Keely – Tackle Roy Knox – Quarterback George H. A. Kunst, Pruntytown, West Virginia – Guard Henry M. Leps, Grafton, West Virginia – Fullback, Captain Jacob Linn Forney Miller, Dunkard, Pennsylvania – Guard E. Bunker Reynolds – Halfback Walter South, Morgantown, West Virginia – Center Walton Venerable – End Henry White, Camden, West Virginia – Tackle Roster 1893 West Virginia Mountaineers f 3 Alpheus Edward Boyd End 4 Winford Hayes End 13 Walton Venerable End 5 Josiah Keely Tackle 14 Henry White Tackle 7 George H.A. Kunst Guard 10 Forney Miller Guard 12 Walter South Center 6 Roy Knox QB 1 William Baker HB 2 George Bambrick HB 9 Jacob Lynn HB 11 E. Bunker Reynolds HB 8 Henry M. Leps FB 3 Alpheus Edward Boyd DE 4 Winford Hayes DE 13 Walton Venerable DE 5 Josiah Keely DT 14 Henry White DT 7 George H.A. Kunst DG 10 Forney Miller DG 12 Walter South NG 8 Henry M. Leps LB 1 William Baker DB 2 George Bambrick DB 9 Jacob Lynn DB 11 E. Bunker Reynolds DB 6 Roy Knox S 8 Henry M. Leps P 8 Henry M. Leps K 2 George Bambrick KR 11 E. Bunker Reynolds KR 9 Jacob Lynn PR 1 William Baker PR F. William Rane April 23, 2026 West Virginia Category:West Virginia Mountaineers football seasons West Virginia Mountaineers football