There have been some tremendous games and plays throughout the history of Mountaineers football.  Current players like Pat White and Steve Slaton as well as old schoolers like Major Harris and Reggie Rembert have electrified us with their skill and savvy.  So I have trimmed my list to ten plays that have been branded in my memory, and hopefully yours.

I know I was going to write a team comparison for today.  But I found myself watching highlights and other videos of West Virginia getting ready for the upcoming season and felt that it could wait another day.     . I thought it would be better to countdown the top plays of all time in WVU history.  (bear with me I am pushing 23 years old, and haven’t been around as long to see some of the older stuff) . 

We start with #10, and roll on down…

#10: The Controversial Onside Kick 

In 2005 WVU fought back from 17 points down to stun Big East newcomer Louisville in Morgantown.  An unexpected onside kick in which a WVU player made contact with a Cardinal player before the ball was touched stirred controversy and was the turning point for the Mountaineer comeback.  WVU eventually knocked off UofL in three overtimes to claim one of the biggest victories in Mountaineer history.

#9: Harris To Rembert

In the 88’ season WVU played host to the Penn State Nittany Lions (I wish we still played them) and Mountaineer legend Major Harris threw a 51 yard toss to Reggie Rembert who made a miraculous one armed grab that sent the Mountaineer faithful wild.

#8: The big #9 before the Major #9

West Virginia had not beaten Penn State in nearly 20 years.  With PSU driving late in the fourth quarter to try and take the lead, another famous #9 picked off a Nittany Lion pass and ended any hope of a comeback as WVU beat Joe Paterno for the first time in history.

#7: The fake heard round’ the world

With time running out in the fourth quarter of the Sugar Bowl, punter (and Robinson Secondary Alum, where I went to high school! J) Phil Brady took the snap and scampered for a first down to solidify a WVU victory in its first ever BCS bowl game.

#6: “…I don’t really hold to much of a grudge against them…well maybe a little bit”

In the 2006 season Steve Slaton took a handoff and started towards the left (or right, depending on where you were sitting or watching) side and changed directions.  With great blocks, and un-human like vision he took it nearly forty yards for a score against Maryland.

#5: The Diaper Dandy Play

In 2005 USF blew out a solid Louisville team in Tampa.  WVU came in with a huge head of steam led by Steve Slaton and Pat White.  White took a snap and remarkably dodged several USF players on his way to the end zone. 

#4: The Garvinator

In 2003, (my first true year as a Mountaineer), WVU took on then #2 Virginia Tech.  This excerpt may be longer than others because I remember it so dearly.  It was nearly 0 Degrees Fahrenheit, and the stadium was full.  VT had scored on a bogus fumble return just before half time.  The score was 14-7 and WVU was pinned deep in their own territory (their own 7 yard line to be exact).  Rasheed Marshall took the snap and lobbed a perfect pass to receiver Travis Garvin who took it all the way to the end zone, ultimately sealing the fate of the (C)Hokies and sending Morgantown into complete mayhem.

#3: The Hit

WVU was playing host to UConn for the first time in school history.  A Thursday night matchup sparked the interest of every Mountaineer fan as WVU had never played the Huskies.  The hype surrounding UConn was large and the Mountaineer faithful came out in large numbers to watch the Thursday night affair.  During the game, Pat White handed off to Steve Slaton and he took off towards the right side, (again depending on where you were sitting, or watching) and Slaton switched fields.  Quarterback Pat White, who had seemingly run out of the play returned to action to throw of crushing block on a UConn lineman allowing Slaton to gain positive yardage.

#2: “An unbelievable run!”

In 2003 WVU faced a Miami team ranked in the top 5 on the road.  Late in the game, running back Quincy Wilson took a screen pass on fourth down and weaved through defenders, and eventually knocked one over on his way to a game leading touchdown.  Although WVU would eventually lose the game (why blitz on 4^th down? And I hate Winslow to this day) this was one of the most amazing runs in school history.

#1: The Play

 Major Harris may be known as one of the most majestic players in WVU history, or college football for that matter.  In 1988 Major Harris took the snap and juked four players and out ran the final two on route to an electrifying touchdown that will forever go down as one of the best plays in West Virginia history.