1982 West Virginia Mountaineers football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1982 West Virginia Mountaineers football Independent 19 19 9–3 Don Nehlen 3rd Dennis Brown 3rd Mountaineer Field Gator Bowl L 12–31 vs. Florida State The 1982 West Virginia Mountaineers football team represented West Virginia University in the 1982 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Mountaineers' 90th overall season and they competed as a Division I-A Independent. The team was led by head coach Don Nehlen, in his third year, and played their home games at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia. They finished the season with a record 9–3 and lost to Florida State in the Gator Bowl. Schedule 1982 AP Eastern September 11 w y Oklahoma 9 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK 41–27 75,008 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-oklahoman-mountaineers-throw-i/139790164/ The Sunday Oklahoman Mountaineers throw it all at Sooners September 12, 1982 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com September 18 w 17 Maryland Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV rivalry 19–18 56,042 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-roanoke-times-mountaineers-hold-off/139783780/ The Roanoke Times & World-News Mountaineers hold off Terps September 19, 1982 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com September 25 w 15 Richmond Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV 43–10 48,461 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112193679/wvu-romps-4310-pitt-next/ The Pittsburgh Press WVU romps, 43–10; Pitt next September 26, 1982 October 28, 2022 Newspapers.com October 2 l y 14 Pittsburgh 2 Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA rivalry ABC 13–16 57,250 https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-second-ranked-pitt/139790319/ Winston-Salem Journal Second-ranked Pitt rallies to West Virginia 16–13 October 3, 1982 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com October 9 w 16 Boston College 19 Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV 20–13 55,554 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bradenton-herald-west-virginia-dumps/139790406/ The Bradenton Herald West Virginia dumps BC, 20–13 October 10, 1982 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com October 16 w y 13 Virginia Tech Lane Stadium Blacksburg, VA rivalry 16–6 52,300 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115904209/turnovers-help-w-virginia-slip-past-vir/ The Charlotte Observer Turnovers help W. Virginia slip past Virginia Tech 16–6 October 17, 1982 January 6, 2023 Newspapers.com October 23 l 13 Penn State 9 Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV rivalry 0–24 60,958 https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-penn-states-defe/139790503/ Democrat and Chronicle Penn State's defense devastates W. Virginia October 24, 1982 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com October 30 w 18 East Carolina Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV 30–3 50,616 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72720382/wvus-backup-qb-a-pleasant-surprise/ The Pittsburgh Press WVU's backup QB a pleasant surprise October 31, 1982 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com November 6 w y 17 Temple Veterans Stadium Philadelphia, PA 20–17 28,968 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-selma-times-journal-west-virginia-es/139790568/ The Selma Times-Journal West Virginia escapes with close win November 7, 1982 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com November 11 w y 19 Rutgers Giants Stadium East Rutherford, NJ TBS 44–17 27,132 https://www.newspapers.com/article/courier-post-drewrey-spurs-w-virginia-t/139790689/ The Courier-Post Drewrey spurs W. Virginia to 44–17 lacing of Rutgers November 12, 1982 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com November 20 w 16 Syracuse Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV rivalry 26–0 48,456 https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-and-sun-bulletin-west-virginia-giv/139790754/ The Sunday Press West Virginia gives SU the boot November 21, 1982 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com December 30 l y 10 Florida State Gator Bowl Stadium Jacksonville, FL Gator Bowl ABC 12–31 80,913 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-palm-beach-post-seminoles-rout-mount/139790830/ The Palm Beach Post Seminoles rout Mountaineers in Gator Bowl December 31, 1982 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com Roster 1982 West Virginia Mountaineers y 15 Jr Jeff Hostetler QB y 36 So Ron Wolfley FB y 48 So Willie Drewrey WR y 90 Sr Darryl Talley LB y 3 So Paul Woodside K y 11 Fr Stephen Superick P Don Nehlen Season recap section January 2014 Jeff Hostetler was the starting quarterback for the Mountaineers, leading the team with 1916 passing yards and 10 touchdowns. Leading the team in rushing was Curlin Beck, with 357 net yards. Darrell Miller led the team in receiving with 34 receptions for 565 yards. The first game featured the Mountaineers against No. 9 Oklahoma. Though the team was losing by two touchdowns, the Mountaineers came back to upset the Sooners in Norman, 41–27. That was followed up with a 19–18 home victory over rival Maryland. The third game against Richmond was a blowout, in which the Mountaineers won 43–10. Their first loss of the season came to their rival Pittsburgh, in the Backyard Brawl. Despite the loss, this was a breakout game for All-American linebacker Darryl Talley. He intercepted a Dan Marino pass and blocked a punt for a safety in West Virginia's 16–13 loss to the No. 2-rated Panthers. The 1982 game was one of just five times that both teams were nationally ranked: Pitt was rated No. 2 and West Virginia was No. 14 after their upset wins over Oklahoma and Maryland. The Mountaineers rebounded with a 20–13 win over Boston College, and future NFL quarterback Doug Flutie. WVU traveled to Blacksburg to take on rival Virginia Tech, in a game in which the Mountaineers won 16–6. The next week, the Mountaineers hosted the number 1 team in the nation, the Penn State Nittany Lions. Penn State's dominance continued, and they won in a 24–0 shutout. WVU rebounded once again with a blowout of its own against East Carolina, 30–3. The Mountaineers then traveled to Philadelphia, to take on Temple, where they narrowly won, 20–17. West Virginia closed out the season with wins over Rutgers and Syracuse. The team finished with a 9–2 record, ranking No. 10. West Virginia was invited to the 1982 Gator Bowl against Florida State in Jacksonville, which they lost 31–12. Their final rankings were No. 19 in both the AP Poll and Coaches Poll. Awards and honors Darryl Talley, All-America selection References collapsed West Virginia Category:West Virginia Mountaineers football seasons West Virginia Mountaineers football