1978 West Virginia Mountaineers football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1978 West Virginia Mountaineers football Independent 2–9 Frank Cignetti Sr. 3rd Mountaineer Field The 1978 West Virginia Mountaineers football team represented West Virginia University in the 1978 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Mountaineers' 86th overall season and they competed as an NCAA Division I-A independent. The team was led by head coach Frank Cignetti Sr., in his third year, and played their home games at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia. They finished the season with a record 2–9. Cignetti, the father of current Indiana coach Curt Cignetti, hired West Virginia native and future seven-time national championship coach Nick Saban to tutor the Mountaineers' defensive backs. Schedule 1978 AP Eastern September 9 w Richmond Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV 14–12 36,558 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112186205/west-virginia-defeats-richmond/ Austin American-Statesman West Virginia defeats Richmond September 10, 1978 October 28, 2022 Newspapers.com September 16 l y Oklahoma 3 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK 10–52 71,187 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tulsa-world-sooners-peak-over-mountainee/139665290/ Tulsa World Sooners peak over Mountaineers September 17, 1978 January 27, 2024 Newspapers.com September 23 l y NC State Carter Stadium Raleigh, NC 15–29 42,200 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-sun-brown-paces-pack-romp/139665535/ Durham Sunday Herald Brown paces Pack romp September 24, 1978 January 27, 2024 Newspapers.com September 30 l California Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV 21–28 33,190 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-modesto-bee-campbell-keys-cal-past-w/139665599/ The Modesto Bee Campbell keys Cal past W. Va. October 1, 1978 January 27, 2024 Newspapers.com October 7 l y Syracuse Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV rivalry 15–31 32,491 https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-news-hurley-returns-syracuse-rip/139665673/ Sunday News Hurley returns, Syracuse rips West Virginia 31–15 October 8, 1978 January 27, 2024 Newspapers.com October 14 l y Virginia Tech Lane Stadium Blacksburg, VA rivalry 3–16 40,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90633051/vpi-downs-w-virginia/ Rocky Mount Telegram VPI downs W. Virginia October 15, 1978 December 15, 2021 Newspapers.com October 21 l y Temple Veterans Stadium Philadelphia, PA 27–28 11,445 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-temple-edges-w/139665729/ The Philadelphia Inquirer Temple edges West Virginia, 28–27 October 22, 1978 January 27, 2024 Newspapers.com October 28 l Penn State 2 Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV rivalry 21–49 34,010 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune-penn-state-rallies-for/139665792/ The Tampa Tribune Penn State rallies for 49–21 win October 29, 1978 January 27, 2024 Newspapers.com November 4 w Virginia Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV 20–17 29,291 https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch-cavaliers-too-la/139665855/ Richmond Times-Dispatch Cavaliers too late 20–17 November 5, 1978 January 27, 2024 Newspapers.com November 11 l y Pittsburgh 20 Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA rivalry 7–52 53,074 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-pitt-attack-finally/139665954/ The Pittsburgh Press Pitt attack finally erupts, crushes West Va., 52–7 November 12, 1978 January 27, 2024 Newspapers.com November 18 l y Colorado State Hughes Stadium Fort Collins, CO 14–50 12,782 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-roanoke-times-wvu-clobbered-again/139666048/ The Roanoke Times WVU clobbered again November 19, 1978 January 27, 2024 Newspapers.com1978 West Virginia Mountaineers Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC January 27, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/west-virginia/1978-schedule.html Roster 1978 West Virginia Mountaineers y Terry Bowden RB y 27 Jr Jerry Holmes DB y Frank Cignetti Nick Saban References West Virginia Category:West Virginia Mountaineers football seasons West Virginia Mountaineers football