Atmosphere
West Virginia doesn’t have any professional sports franchises, so the fan base for the West Virginia Mountaineers is huge and shows a lot of pride and support for the Mountaineers. As a result, you’ll find people from all over West Virginia at a Mountaineers game. The strong support from all around the state means you’ll make friends quickly as Mountaineers fandom creates a strong bond between fellow fans.
West Virginia fans like to go hard when it comes to tailgating, which can especially be seen in The Pit where the wilder fans like to hang out before games. Fans outside of The Pit like to party as well but in a bit more relaxed fashion. No matter where you tailgate though you’ll see a sea of blue and gold on game day as fans come decked out head to toe in Mountaineers colors. Make sure to put on your best blue and gold before the game to fit in with your fellow Mountaineers fans.
Mountaineers fans prepare a variety of different foods for their pregame parties, which vary from week to week depending on the opponent. Lots of fans here like to prepare different cuisine depending on the opponent. For example, if the Mountaineers are playing the Longhorns lots of fans will create Texas themed dishes.
Finally, the Mountaineer Mantrip is a great pregame tradition that you should definitely take a part in when visiting Morgantown. During the Mantrip the Mountaineer players and coaching staff walk along the pathway dividing the parking lot outside of Mountaineer Field. They are accompanied by The Mountaineer, the Pride of West Virginia Marching Band, and the Mountaineer cheerleaders. WVU students and fans line the path to creating a tunnel-like effect for the passing team members, providing for an interactive and enthusiastic environment. Get to the Mantrip early, so you can get a good spot and see the players and coaches up close.
Traditions
Couch Burning
One of the most famous traditions at West Virginia is fans burning couches after the Mountaineers win a big game. The tradition has come under some pressure recently as authorities have been cracking down on couch burning, but fans still take part in this one of a kind tradition.
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PRT Cram
One of the unique traditions of West Virginia University is that of the PRT Cram. A PRT can comfortably hold sixteen people but during Mountaineer Week at WVU, the student body tries to cram as many people into a PRT as possible. The current record was made in 2000 in which a whopping 97 students crammed into the PRT.
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Mountaineer Mantrip
Instituted during the 2011 season by head coach Dana Holgorsen, the Mountaineer Mantrip is a recent addition to WVU's gameday traditions. During the Mantrip the Mountaineer players and coaching staff walk along the pathway dividing the parking lot outside of Mountaineer Field. They are accompanied by The Mountaineer, the Pride of West Virginia Marching Band, and the Mountaineer cheerleaders.
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High Street
Post game in Morgantown can be a lot of fun, especially after victories and when fans head to High Street. Reminiscent of Bourbon Street, High Street is filled with local bars and favorite hot spots for fans to continue the party after the game is over. Stop by High Street after the game to continue the festivities with fellow Mountaineers fans.
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Where to tailgate
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The Student LotLocated at the Evansdale Residential Complex, the student lot offers games, food, and other basic tailgating activities three hours and thirty minutes before kickoff. A WVU student ID is required to enter, but each student is allowed to bring one guest.
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Blue LotIf you’re looking for the best tailgate lot at Milan Puskar Stadium than the Blue Lot is the place to be. It’s where you’ll find the majority of the larger tailgates and is the largest tailgate lot. The one downside though is you’ll need a parking pass to park here, so make sure to get one beforehand if you have your heart set on tailgating in the Blue Lot.
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Burgundy or Purple LotsThese lots have tailgating passes for $20, so you won’t have to break the bank to tailgate with fellow Mountaineers fans. Just set up some chairs, a tent, and a grill and you’ll make friends quickly with the people around you.
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High Streetost game in Morgantown can be a lot of fun, especially after victories and when fans head to High Street. Reminiscent of Bourbon Street, High Street is filled with local bars and favorite hot spots for fans to continue the party after the game is over. Stop by High Street after the game to continue the festivities with fellow Mountaineers fans.
