Another head rolls. Charlotte is firing head coach Biff Poggi. I guess the slob look didn't work out very well.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (Nov. 19, 2024) – West Virginia University women’s soccer coach Nikki Izzo-Brown has announced the addition of five student-athletes for the 2025 season.

Joining the Mountaineers are Ava Arnold (Littleton, Colorado), Jozy Barton (Parkersburg, West Virginia), Isabel Ceasar (Lake Villa, Illinois), Kailyn Effah (Bowie, Maryland), Robin Reilly (Latrobe, Pennsylvania) and Layla Thompson (Lewisville, Texas).

“The staff and I are so excited to bring this new class to Morgantown,” Izzo-Brown said. “They are all so talented, hardworking, enthusiastic and competitive. Our whole staff has done a phenomenal job putting this class together, and we can’t wait to work with them.”

Ava Arnold / Midfielder / Littleton, Colo.
Arnold is a native of Littleton, Colo., where she attends Dakota Ridge High School and plays for coach Paul Moline. With her high school team, Arnold is a three-time first team all-conference selection, as well as a two-time first team all-state honoree. She was honored as the 2023-24 Dakota Ridge High School Female Athlete of the Year in her junior year. In the club ranks, she plays for the Colorado Rush 06/07 in the ECNL for coach Luke Meadows. During her time with the Colorado Rush, she was awarded with the 2022-23 GA “Players Player” award. She also was honored as the Colorado Rush U15-U19 Golden Boot Award. The daughter of Nick and Carlin, Arnold plans to enroll in general studies at WVU.

Jozy Barton / Midfielder/Defender / Parkersburg, W.Va.
A Parkersburg, W.Va., native, Barton plays for coach Ron Bucholtz at Parkersburg South High School. During her time at Parkersburg South, she was named to the 2023 WV AAA All-State Second Team after being named first team all-region. In 2022 and 2023, Barton was named to the All-Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Team, while she also was honored with the Pete Whitaker Sportsmanship Award in 2023. Barton also helped lead Parkersburg South to the West Virginia AAA State Championship title game during her sophomore and junior years. In the club ranks, Barton plays for Eastern Elite Soccer Academy in Catlettsburg, Kentucky, where she helped her team become Kentucky State Cup Champions in 2024. Before joining Eastern Elite, she played for the West Virginia Futbol Club 05 and was a part of a team that became West Virginia State Cup Champions in 2023. The daughter of Jason and Nicole, Barton plans to major in elementary education at WVU.

Isabel Ceasar / Defender / Lake Villa, Ill.
Ceasar is a native of Lake Villa, Ill., where she attends Grayslake North High School, playing for coach Adam DeCaluwe. During her time playing for Grayslake, she was voted the team’s MVP twice and is a three-time all-conference selection. In addition to being honored on the all-sectional team in high school, she also was named to the all-academic team. In the club ranks, she played for the Rockford Raptors in the ECNL for coach Frank Mateus. Ceasar and the Raptors were the 2022 US Youth Soccer Girls National Champions, while they also were two-time Illinois State Cup Champions in 2022 and 2023. Additionally, Ceasar was named to the 2023 ECNL Midwest All-Conference team and the 2021-22 best XI team. The daughter of John and Jessica, Ceasar plans to major in exercise physiology at WVU.

Kailyn Effah / Forward/Midfielder / Bowie, Md.
A native of Bowie, Md., Effah attends St. John’s College High School and plays for coach Allison Diaz. She plays club soccer for coach Matt Dwyer at Maryland United in the ECNL. Her athletic accolades include being named to the WCAC All-Conference Team all four years of high school, including three first-team honors. Effah helped lead St. John’s College to a WCAC Championship in 2021 and 2022. She also was named the WCAC Player of the Year in 2023 and was the 2023-24 DC Gatorade Player of the Year. Additionally, Effah was part of a 2022 DCSAA Championship team, before being named DCSAA First Team in 2022 and 2023. In the club ranks, Effah played in the 2022 ECNL NJ U-15 National Selection Game and was named to the North Atlantic First Team each year from 2022-24. Academically, Effah is a member of the National Honor Society. The daughter of Kwaku and Jennifer, she plans to major in exercise physiology at WVU.

Josie Johnson / Defender / Morgantown, W.Va.
Johnson is a native of Morgantown, W.Va., where she attends Morgantown High School and plays for coach Bri Frontuto. She plays club soccer for Beadling Girls Academy and coach Zack Hamilton. At MHS, she helped the Mohigans win a pair of state championship titles in 2022 and 2023. Following the 2023 state championship, she was named first team all-state. Following the conclusion of the 2024 season, Johnson was named an OVAC All-Star. The daughter of Roy and Kimberly, Johnson plans to major in exercise physiology at WVU.

Robin Reilly / Midfielder / Latrobe, Pa.
A Latrobe, Pa., native, Reilly plays for coach Jamie Campbell at Greater Latrobe High School. At the club level, she plays for the Riverhounds Development Academy and coach Scott Gibson. A two-time all-state selection in 2023 and 2024, Reilly is the all-time leading scorer at Greater Latrobe High, holding the school record in goals (61) and assists (44). She also was selected to the all-section team every year from 2021-24 and is a three-time All-WPIAL honoree. In 2022 and 2023, she was named to the Olympic Development Program National Teams and was named to the ECNL Ohio Valley All-Conference teams following the conclusion of those seasons. Additionally, Reilly was named a finalist for the Moe Rosensteel Most Outstanding Player of the Year in 2023 and 2024. The daughter of Sean and Laura, Reilly plans to major in exercise physiology at WVU.

Layla Thompson / Midfielder / Lewisville, Texas
Thompson hails from Lewisville, Texas, where she attends Hebron High School and plays for coach Robert Vaughn. With her high school team, Thompson was a two-time team captain and was named an all-state selection by the Texas Girls Coaches Association and the Texas Association of Soccer Coaches at the conclusion of her junior year. She also was the Texas 6-6A District Utility Player of the Year and was named first team all-district in 2023. In the club ranks, Thompson played for coach Gareth Evans with FC Dallas in the ECNL. In 2023, she helped lead the team to the ECNL Quarterfinals and was a Texas Cup finalist. The squad was Dallas International Girls Cup champions in 2021 and finalists in 2022. Thompson also was selected as a US Youth National Team ID Center participant in 2021. Academically, Thompson was named to the Texas 6-6A Academic All-State Team in 2023. The daughter of Omar and Courtney, she plans to major in exercise physiology at WVU.

For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUWomensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (Nov. 19, 2024) – West Virginia University women’s soccer coach Nikki Izzo-Brown has announced the addition of five student-athletes for the 2025 season.

Joining the Mountaineers are Ava Arnold (Littleton, Colorado), Jozy Barton (Parkersburg, West Virginia), Isabel Ceasar (Lake Villa, Illinois), Kailyn Effah (Bowie, Maryland), Robin Reilly (Latrobe, Pennsylvania) and Layla Thompson (Lewisville, Texas).

“The staff and I are so excited to bring this new class to Morgantown,” Izzo-Brown said. “They are all so talented, hardworking, enthusiastic and competitive. Our whole staff has done a phenomenal job putting this class together, and we can’t wait to work with them.”

Ava Arnold / Midfielder / Littleton, Colo.
Arnold is a native of Littleton, Colo., where she attends Dakota Ridge High School and plays for coach Paul Moline. With her high school team, Arnold is a three-time first team all-conference selection, as well as a two-time first team all-state honoree. She was honored as the 2023-24 Dakota Ridge High School Female Athlete of the Year in her junior year. In the club ranks, she plays for the Colorado Rush 06/07 in the ECNL for coach Luke Meadows. During her time with the Colorado Rush, she was awarded with the 2022-23 GA “Players Player” award. She also was honored as the Colorado Rush U15-U19 Golden Boot Award. The daughter of Nick and Carlin, Arnold plans to enroll in general studies at WVU.

Jozy Barton / Midfielder/Defender / Parkersburg, W.Va.
A Parkersburg, W.Va., native, Barton plays for coach Ron Bucholtz at Parkersburg South High School. During her time at Parkersburg South, she was named to the 2023 WV AAA All-State Second Team after being named first team all-region. In 2022 and 2023, Barton was named to the All-Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Team, while she also was honored with the Pete Whitaker Sportsmanship Award in 2023. Barton also helped lead Parkersburg South to the West Virginia AAA State Championship title game during her sophomore and junior years. In the club ranks, Barton plays for Eastern Elite Soccer Academy in Catlettsburg, Kentucky, where she helped her team become Kentucky State Cup Champions in 2024. Before joining Eastern Elite, she played for the West Virginia Futbol Club 05 and was a part of a team that became West Virginia State Cup Champions in 2023. The daughter of Jason and Nicole, Barton plans to major in elementary education at WVU.

Isabel Ceasar / Defender / Lake Villa, Ill.
Ceasar is a native of Lake Villa, Ill., where she attends Grayslake North High School, playing for coach Adam DeCaluwe. During her time playing for Grayslake, she was voted the team’s MVP twice and is a three-time all-conference selection. In addition to being honored on the all-sectional team in high school, she also was named to the all-academic team. In the club ranks, she played for the Rockford Raptors in the ECNL for coach Frank Mateus. Ceasar and the Raptors were the 2022 US Youth Soccer Girls National Champions, while they also were two-time Illinois State Cup Champions in 2022 and 2023. Additionally, Ceasar was named to the 2023 ECNL Midwest All-Conference team and the 2021-22 best XI team. The daughter of John and Jessica, Ceasar plans to major in exercise physiology at WVU.

Kailyn Effah / Forward/Midfielder / Bowie, Md.
A native of Bowie, Md., Effah attends St. John’s College High School and plays for coach Allison Diaz. She plays club soccer for coach Matt Dwyer at Maryland United in the ECNL. Her athletic accolades include being named to the WCAC All-Conference Team all four years of high school, including three first-team honors. Effah helped lead St. John’s College to a WCAC Championship in 2021 and 2022. She also was named the WCAC Player of the Year in 2023 and was the 2023-24 DC Gatorade Player of the Year. Additionally, Effah was part of a 2022 DCSAA Championship team, before being named DCSAA First Team in 2022 and 2023. In the club ranks, Effah played in the 2022 ECNL NJ U-15 National Selection Game and was named to the North Atlantic First Team each year from 2022-24. Academically, Effah is a member of the National Honor Society. The daughter of Kwaku and Jennifer, she plans to major in exercise physiology at WVU.

Josie Johnson / Defender / Morgantown, W.Va.
Johnson is a native of Morgantown, W.Va., where she attends Morgantown High School and plays for coach Bri Frontuto. She plays club soccer for Beadling Girls Academy and coach Zack Hamilton. At MHS, she helped the Mohigans win a pair of state championship titles in 2022 and 2023. Following the 2023 state championship, she was named first team all-state. Following the conclusion of the 2024 season, Johnson was named an OVAC All-Star. The daughter of Roy and Kimberly, Johnson plans to major in exercise physiology at WVU.

Robin Reilly / Midfielder / Latrobe, Pa.
A Latrobe, Pa., native, Reilly plays for coach Jamie Campbell at Greater Latrobe High School. At the club level, she plays for the Riverhounds Development Academy and coach Scott Gibson. A two-time all-state selection in 2023 and 2024, Reilly is the all-time leading scorer at Greater Latrobe High, holding the school record in goals (61) and assists (44). She also was selected to the all-section team every year from 2021-24 and is a three-time All-WPIAL honoree. In 2022 and 2023, she was named to the Olympic Development Program National Teams and was named to the ECNL Ohio Valley All-Conference teams following the conclusion of those seasons. Additionally, Reilly was named a finalist for the Moe Rosensteel Most Outstanding Player of the Year in 2023 and 2024. The daughter of Sean and Laura, Reilly plans to major in exercise physiology at WVU.

Layla Thompson / Midfielder / Lewisville, Texas
Thompson hails from Lewisville, Texas, where she attends Hebron High School and plays for coach Robert Vaughn. With her high school team, Thompson was a two-time team captain and was named an all-state selection by the Texas Girls Coaches Association and the Texas Association of Soccer Coaches at the conclusion of her junior year. She also was the Texas 6-6A District Utility Player of the Year and was named first team all-district in 2023. In the club ranks, Thompson played for coach Gareth Evans with FC Dallas in the ECNL. In 2023, she helped lead the team to the ECNL Quarterfinals and was a Texas Cup finalist. The squad was Dallas International Girls Cup champions in 2021 and finalists in 2022. Thompson also was selected as a US Youth National Team ID Center participant in 2021. Academically, Thompson was named to the Texas 6-6A Academic All-State Team in 2023. The daughter of Omar and Courtney, she plans to major in exercise physiology at WVU.

For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUWomensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

We don't get an opening bye! For comparison Marshall got a bye as the number 13 overall seed.

We open up with North Florida then we have to go to University of Virginia and play them as they are the 11th overall seed.

This is a case where fan unrest may not meet institutional sentiment. West Virginia is in the lower tier of the Power 4 conference schools financially, and like most schools in its financial weight class, it is figuring out a way to budget for revenue share next year.

Spending close to $10 million to fire Neal Brown would be difficult at a place such as West Virginia, especially in the wake of Brown authoring a nine-win season in 2023.

Considering the cost to bring in a new coach at a similar salary, pay a new staff and fund revenue share next year, that would be a huge stress on the budget. And all of WVU's losses have been to excellent teams this year -- Penn State (6-0), Pitt (7-0), Iowa State (7-0) and Kansas State (6-1).

Athletic director Wren Baker extended Brown's contract last year without significant change on the buyout. But it's still a lot of money.

Brown can calm the fan base and lower the chatter by finishing strong. He's 34-33 overall in six seasons and 3-4 this year. Only two of the five years -- 2020 and 2023 -- have been winning seasons. A third winning season would go a long way, and the schedule hints that's possible.

Another disappointing loss in another disappointing year. As my wife usually does, she asked me what time the Mountaineers play next Sat, I said doesn't matter plan whatever you want whenever you want. I think she actually felt bad for me. Tough weekend for the main revenue sports. At least the WBB and Soccer teams represented well. Men's Soccer won the Sun Belt regular season and conference championship. Beat Marshall for CC on penalty kicks after playing regulation and overtime to Nil-Nil. Exciting game to watch, unlike when we played Marshall to a draw 10 days or so ago. Men should have home field advantage for NCAA and make a long run. The NCAA College Cup runs from Thur 11/21 through Mon 12/16. Selection show Mon 11/18 1:00PM. Hopefully the group from Oregon State enjoyed their trip to Morgantown and can relay some stories.



26 games on the slate this week First game Thur 11/21 7:30PM. Tie Breaker total points scored UCF vs WVU.


Thur 11/21 7:30PM ESPN NCSU vs GT
Sat 11/23 Noon BTN Iowa vs UMD
Sat 11/23 Noon ESPN2 SMU vs Vir
Sat 11/23 Noon CW UNC vs BC
Sat 11/23 Noon PEAS ILL vs Rutgers
Sat 11/23 Noon FOX IN vs tOSU
Sat 11/23 Noon ABC Ole Miss vs UFL
Sat 11/23 Noon CBSS Sam Houston vs Jax State
Sat 11/23 3:00PM ESPN+ AZ vs TCU
Sat 11/23 3:30PM ESPNU UCF vs WVU Pts
Sat 11/23 3:30PM FOX Colorado vs Kan
Sat 11/23 3:30PM BTN Wisc vs Neb
Sat 11/23 3:30PM ESPN+ TT vs OKSU
Sat 11/23 3:30PM ESPN BYU vs AZ State
Sat 11/23 3:30PM ABC UKY vs TX
Sat 11/23 4:00PM ESPN2 sPitt vs Louisville
Sat 11/23 7:00PM FS1 Baylor vs Houston
Sat 11/23 7:00PM NBC Army vs Notre Dame
Sat 11/23 7:30PM ABC Bama vs OK
Sat 11/23 7:30PM ESPN TXA&M vs Auburn
Sat 11/23 7:30PM FOX ISU vs Utah
Sat 11/23 7:30PM ESPNU Marshall vs Old Dominion
Sat 11/23 7:30PM SECN Vanderbilt vs LSU
Sat 11/23 8:00PM ACCN VPI vs Duke
Sat 11/23 8:00PM ESPN2 Cinn vs KSU
Sat 11/23 10:30PM NBC USC vs UCLA



My Picks:

GT over NCSU
Iowa over UMD
SMU over Vir
UNC over BC
ILL over Rutgers
tOSU over IN
Ole Miss over UFL
Jax State over Sam Houston
TCU over AZ
WVU over UCF 68 Pts
Colorado over Kan
Neb over Wisc
TT over OKSU
BYU over AZ State
TX over UKY
Louisville over sPitt
Baylor over Houston
Notre Dame over Army
Bama over OK
TXA&M over Auburn
ISU over Utah
Marshall over Old Dominion
LSU over Vanderbilt
VPI over Duke
KSU over Cinn
USC over UCLA

So far

@Mountaineer Gooch

Feel free to add- we will compile the list as they become official.

@Wrenzempic
@backendcoach

--West Virginia head coach Darian DeVries said that there's a lot they can correct from the Pitt game. There was a lot of things that played out in that game that they weren't anticipating because they had a great week of practice. On offense, they didn't run good offense or get good shot selection due to movement and activity. Defensively, even though they were scoring early they were forcing them to take the shots they wanted them to take. That went away later and while they're a good team that's connected, the margin for error is small. It was their first road game and it just snowballed on them. The important part now is to make sure they learn from it moving forward.

--Iona will press the whole game and gives a different set up of problems. They haven't played a team that will do that for 40-minutes and they need to see how they will respond. On offense they need to get more movement and better quality shots, while defensively they have been really good at times when they've been engaged, connected, tough and physical but they got passive as the Pitt game went on and reacting.

--Pitt guarded West Virginia different from what they do in practice and they backed off some guys and locked onto other ones. But DeVries felt that they didn't have good shot selection across the board. They have to make sure they're getting the right guys shooting the ball at the right time.

--It would be great to have a third, fourth or fifth option. But teams are going to try to take Tucker DeVries and Javon Small out of the game but they have to create ways to get them open and utilize other options to create better opportunities for everybody.

--Jonathan Powell had a tough first half shooting but came out in the second half and kept shooting which is what they want him to do. He made 4-10 from three, but DeVries likes his mindset and he didn't give in because he missed a couple shots. He continued to shoot it.

--DeVries thinks that his team didn't respond well when they got hit with a run and it got away from them a little bit. Everybody was trying to help and try to get them back in the game by themselves but the offense is the best when the ball is moving and it gets better opportunities for everybody on the floor.

--Amani Hansberry is a big piece to what they do on offense but that's basketball when it comes to his foul trouble. You still have to be able to run good offense and play good defense regardless of who is on the floor because you're going to have games where teams have foul trouble.

--Eduardo Andre came in and did a good job providing rim protection on defense and pressure on the rim on the other end.

--West Virginia keeps things as simple as possible with press break just be where you're supposed to be with good spacing, be strong with the ball and meet passes. They want to be in an attack mode where if they press and West Virginia beats it they need to score easy baskets.

--Iona has been down in several games and have come back. You can't feel comfortable and this is a different type of game that West Virginia has played.

--DeVries said they had a secret scrimmage against an ACC team and did just fine. Friday night isn't what they wanted to happen but it played out that way so they have to understand why and make the corrections. You have one or two of those nights a year but you have to make sure those are outliers and it's not who you are.

--The offense has to continue to get better as they see different things. There are things they are trying to get and they have to make sure they get to those things. They have to play to their strengths as much as possible and part of having a good offense is playing good defense.

--Iona scrambles and flies around and places with a lot of activity. The biggest thing is being strong with the ball and not allowing live ball turnovers to turn into points.

--DeVries said that two times in a row they switched KJ Tenner onto their five man which isn't advantageous. It wasn't something that was supposed to happen and they need to get it corrected. They weren't not as connected as they needed to be in a game like that against Pitt.

--DeVries said that losing isn't fun so he isn't taking a lot of positives from his first experience in the Backyard Brawl. It was a good non-conference early test in a great environment.

--DeVries said he loves MTE's and it's a great chance to get ready for the tournaments that await later in the year.

--West Virginia head coach Darian DeVries said that there's a lot they can correct from the Pitt game. There was a lot of things that played out in that game that they weren't anticipating because they had a great week of practice. On offense, they didn't run good offense or get good shot selection due to movement and activity. Defensively, even though they were scoring early they were forcing them to take the shots they wanted them to take. That went away later and while they're a good team that's connected, the margin for error is small. It was their first road game and it just snowballed on them. The important part now is to make sure they learn from it moving forward.
--Iona will press the whole game and gives a different set up of problems. They haven't played a team that will do that for 40-minutes and they need to see how they will respond. On offense they need to get more movement and better quality shots, while defensively they have been really good at times when they've been engaged, connected, tough and physical but they got passive as the Pitt game went on and reacting.

--Pitt guarded West Virginia different from what they do in practice and they backed off some guys and locked onto other ones. But DeVries felt that they didn't have good shot selection across the board. They have to make sure they're getting the right guys shooting the ball at the right time.

--It would be great to have a third, fourth or fifth option. But teams are going to try to take Tucker DeVries and Javon Small out of the game but they have to create ways to get them open and utilize other options to create better opportunities for everybody.

--Jonathan Powell had a tough first half shooting but came out in the second half and kept shooting which is what they want him to do. He made 4-10 from three, but DeVries likes his mindset and he didn't give in because he missed a couple shots. He continued to shoot it.

--DeVries thinks that his team didn't respond well when they got hit with a run and it got away from them a little bit. Everybody was trying to help and try to get them back in the game by themselves but the offense is the best when the ball is moving and it gets better opportunities for everybody on the floor.

--Amani Hansberry is a big piece to what they do on offense but that's basketball when it comes to his foul trouble. You still have to be able to run good offense and play good defense regardless of who is on the floor because you're going to have games where teams have foul trouble.

--Eduardo Andre came in and did a good job providing rim protection on defense and pressure on the rim on the other end.

--West Virginia keeps things as simple as possible with press break just be where you're supposed to be with good spacing, be strong with the ball and meet passes. They want to be in an attack mode where if they press and West Virginia beats it they need to score easy baskets.

--Iona has been down in several games and have come back. You can't feel comfortable and this is a different type of game that West Virginia has played.

--DeVries said they had a secret scrimmage against an ACC team and did just fine. Friday night isn't what they wanted to happen but it played out that way so they have to understand why and make the corrections. You have one or two of those nights a year but you have to make sure those are outliers and it's not who you are.

--The offense has to continue to get better as they see different things. There are things they are trying to get and they have to make sure they get to those things. They have to play to their strengths as much as possible and part of having a good offense is playing good defense.

--Iona scrambles and flies around and places with a lot of activity. The biggest thing is being strong with the ball and not allowing live ball turnovers to turn into points.

--DeVries said that two times in a row they switched KJ Tenner onto their five man which isn't advantageous. It wasn't something that was supposed to happen and they need to get it corrected. They weren't not as connected as they needed to be in a game like that against Pitt.

--DeVries said that losing isn't fun so he isn't taking a lot of positives from his first experience in the Backyard Brawl. It was a good non-conference early test in a great environment.

--DeVries said he loves MTE's and it's a great chance to get ready for the tournaments that await later in the year.

Assistant coach Nick Norton was on the last couple segments. I put him at about 26 or 27. He is very articulate and knowledgeable. We might have the foundation for a good run in BB. This year is gravy.

That we must try and protect through NIL funding for next year. I don’t have a good feeling?

We all need a boob break

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UCF Game Information

Nov. 23, 2024

Kickoff: 3:30 p.m., ET

Gates Open: 90 minutes before kick (2 p.m.)

TV: ESPNU



2024 Milan Puskar Stadium
WVU Game Day Central serves as a one-stop hub for Mountaineer fans for everything related to game day. From detailed timelines, stadium maps and parking information to Almost Heaven Village programming, important stadium policy reminders and the complete A-Z Guide, Game Day Central ensures fans are fully prepared.



Metal Detectors at All Athletic Venues

The West Virginia University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has introduced walk-through metal detectors at its major athletic venues this fall. Fans will not have to empty their clear bags or pockets, and will not have to place cell phones, keys, money or other belongings to the side because the state-of-art metal detectors are designed to be completely pass through. The metal detector technology provides automatic screening for fast and easy gate entrance flow. Fans are encouraged to enter the stadium early to get used to the new system and to expedite entry to the game. WVU’s clear bag policy is still in effect.



Almost Heaven Village

Almost Heaven Village is the fan experience area located between the Light Blue and Teal Parking Lots. Fans can enjoy food trucks, inflatables, a DJ, yard games, photo opportunities and appearances from the WVU Spirit Squads. Almost Heaven Village will be open 3 1/2 hours before kick (12 p.m.) to 30 minutes before (3 p.m.).



Clear Bag Policy

WVU’s Clear Bag Policy remains in effect, and the Athletics Department invites and encourages fans to visit WVUsports.com/clearbag for more information, to view pictures of permissible and non-permissible items and to obtain answers to frequently asked questions about the clear bag policy.




Mountaineer Mantrip

The Mountaineer Mantrip start time remains approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes prior (approximately 1:15 p.m.) to kickoff. Join the Mountaineers in the wave to the top of the WVU Medicine Children’s hospital following the Mountaineer Mantrip.



Hall of Traditions

The Hall of Traditions (Puskar Center) will be open starting three hours prior to kickoff (12:30 p.m.) until 30 minutes prior (3 p.m.) to kickoff.



Kids Zone

Kids Zone will continue in the Caperton Indoor Practice Facility pregame. This is free and open to the public and includes family games, inflatables, etc. This will be in the front half of the IPF from 2 1/2 hours before kick (1 p.m.) to 30 minutes before (3 p.m.).



REVELxp Full-Service Tailgating

REVELxp will continue to operate the area outside the north gate operated to include all-inclusive tent and tailgate set ups for each home game. Fans will be able to rent these spaces and will arrive to a turn-key tailgate tent. Click here to learn more or to book a hassle-free tailgate.



Stadium Seatbacks

Advance seatback single-game sales are now available (receipt will denote pickup location). Pricing is now $15/seat. All seatback sales are cashless.



Cashless Concessions and Parking

All concession stands are cashless.



All parking lots are cashless, including the Green Lot.



MAC Field Lounge

The Mountaineer Athletic Club (MAC) Field Lounge is located in the South end zone for donors of a certain giving level. This includes a sectioned-off area (load-in Thursday prior to each game and tear down on Monday following each game) with upscale seating.



ADA Accessibility

The following gates are ADA accessible: North, Northwest, Northeast, Southeast and Southwest.



ADA Golf Cart shuttles (not wheelchair accessible) are available, the Gold Shuttle and the Blue Shuttle will run concurrently to link all corners of the stadium and the perimeter of the Blue Lot. Guests are picked up on a first-come, first-serve basis, with potential wait times. The shuttles will run two hours prior to kickoff until the middle of the first quarter. After the game, the shuttles will run at the beginning of the fourth quarter until approximately one hour. Please note, due to heavy pedestrian traffic, wait times may vary. (the shuttles are operated by the Goodwill City Ambassadors/Visit Mountaineer Country Convention and Visitor’s Bureau).



Smoking is still only permitted in designated smoking areas located at various gates. In some locations, these areas will not be available until after kickoff.



Section 133 is still the Family Fun Zone. It is an alcohol free, family friendly section. Alcoholic beverages and foul or abusive language are prohibited in this section. This information is now printed on the tickets.



Tickets

West Virginia University (5-5, 4-3 Big 12) plays host to UCF (4-6, 2-5 Big 12) at Milan Puskar Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 23, at 3:30 p.m., ET.



The game against the Knights is Senior Day as well as the annual True Blue game, as presented by Supply Solutions, a division of Altec. All fans in attendance are encouraged to wear blue to the game.

Tickets, in select end zone and upper-level areas of Milan Puskar Stadium, to WVU’s final home game of the season, are available for a limited time for as low as $30 and can be purchased by CLICKING HERE.



Will call opens at the stadium North Gate ticket office at 1:30 p.m.



Students will be able to log in to the platform HERE or at wvugame.com/students using the single sign-on functionality, which is the same as all access points across the University systems. Once signed in, students will be able to request their student tickets, starting the Friday before the upcoming game week, as they have in prior years. If the overall student ticket request number reaches capacity, the system will trigger the lottery function that will operate the same as year's past. The football student ticket distribution policy can be found HERE.



For any students with questions regarding mobile ticketing are encouraged to visit wvusports.com/studentticketinfo for more information.



A reminder: all persons regardless of age require a ticket for admittance to WVU football games.



General Parking

All parking lots open at 7 a.m., on Saturday unless otherwise noted below.



RV’s with trailers are permitted in the Green, Light Blue Auxiliary and Red Lots only.



Vehicular traffic does not have access to Med Center Drive, the road directly in front of Milan Puskar Stadium. Med Center Drive will be open only to Blue Lot permit holders.



Blue Lot vehicle permit holders will have unrestricted parking (ability to choose parking space) up to four (4) hours prior to game time. Restricted parking (parking spaces assigned by attendants) will be implemented, as necessary, and determined on game day following four (4) hours prior to game time and continuing as needed until conclusion of the game.

All ADA spaces in the Blue Lot are self-accommodating. There will be NO shuttle from the Blue Lot to any gate. The ADA bus shuttle will continue from the Brown and Green Lots to the Southeast gate and West gate.

Blue Lot general RV parking lot E (including front row), C2, C6, C8, (except 19 - 8 p.m.) C10 and Spaces 10, 11, 12, 13 and 15 in D lot will open at 8 a.m. Friday.



Light Blue RV parking will open at 8 p.m. Friday, and Light Blue auxiliary RV parking (by Chateau Royale) will open at noon on Friday.



Coliseum Lot RV parking will open at 8 a.m. Friday.



All RVs must be off site by noon on Sunday or will be towed at owner’s expense.



Red RV (Law School) parking will open at 3 p.m. Friday, and Green RV will open at 5 p.m. Buses and limousines are permitted to park for $80 in the Coliseum Lot.



The Purple Lot (Areas 52 and 61 behind Sheetz on Route 705), the Gold Lot (Area 72, adjacent to the Facilities Management Building in front of ERC/Towers and the lot by the CPASS building) are available for $20 each.



Green Lot and Green parking garage spaces will be available for purchase for ADA accommodations. Buses and RVs are not permitted in the Gold, Purple, or Green Garage lots.



Small tents may be erected in designated areas only and may not be larger than 10’ by 10’. A parking permit for the designated lot is required to erect a tent and the vehicle must be parked adjacent to the tent. Tents may only be erected after 7 a.m. on game day.



An established ride-share (Uber/Lyft/taxi) lot is located at the United Bank on Elmer Prince Drive (address is United Bank – Suncrest, 990 Elmer Prince Drive).



Parking information can be found on game day on Monongalia County’s Radio Notification Station,1610 AM (WQLM).



ADA Parking

All ADA spaces in the Blue Lot are self-accommodating. There will be NO shuttle from the Blue Lot to any gate.



The ADA shuttle will continue from the Brown Lot and Green Lot to the Southeast gate and Southwest gate.



ADA parking will be strictly enforced. Disabled parking is available for single-game purchase ($45) on a limited basis at the WVU Law School (Brown Lot); accessible vans will provide transportation from that lot only.



Permit holders will be required to have the following: WVU issued color-coded parking permit, valid state-issued ADA parking placard or license plate, valid state-issued ADA parking registration card and photo ID of the disabled permit holder (the photo ID must match the ADA parking registration card). ADA permit holder must be in the vehicle and will be required to park in the spots reserved for disabled parking only. This will be strictly enforced.



Athletics will provide golf cart courtesy shuttles for people with disabilities. This route will circle the stadium, stopping at all gates (aside from North) as well as outlying stops near Don Nehlen/Med Center Drive in addition to near the roundabout.



Controlled Beer Sales

Controlled beer sales, operated by Sodexo, can be found along the concourses inside the gates. Alcohol will not be allowed to be brought into the stadium, nor taken out of the stadium.



Fans serving as their group’s designated driver are encouraged to sign-up at booths located inside the stadium. They will receive a wristband and a coupon for a free soda.



Gameday Mobile App

Fans are encouraged to download the WVU Gameday App, which will help keep Mountaineer fans connected to the action while at the game or watching from home. The WVU Gameday App can be found as a free download in the Apple iTunes and Google Play stores.



Fanline

Fans are encouraged to call (304) 293-FANS or text WVU to 83200 for stadium assistance. Both services are available on game day only. Fans also can follow @GamedayWVU on Twitter for information and special announcements.



Stadium Reentry

Stadium re-entry is prohibited.



Traffic Information

No vehicles will be permitted to enter Don Nehlen Drive (formerly Willowdale Drive) from Route 705 after home football games. Both lanes on Don Nehlen Drive will be used for stadium traffic to exit the area. Also, no parking will be permitted on Don Nehlen Drive. Elmer Prince Drive will permit bus traffic only.



Fans traveling on I-79 should access the stadium via the University Avenue or Pierpont Road exits off I-68. Long delays are expected around the Star City area.



Please note that primary routes have priority during postgame traffic. Please stay on primary routes postgame. Secondary routes will be held until priority routes are cleared. Fans are encouraged to use the Mileground/Route 705 to reach I-68 and I-79 postgame.



Buses

MountainLine buses will run from the Mountaineer Mall. MountainLine stadium service will begin two hours before kickoff and will run at least one hour following the game. Cost is $3 round trip. Children 3 and under also ride free.



PRT

The PRT will run from 9:30 a.m., until one hour after the game. There is no charge for PRT service on game days.



Prohibited

The following items are prohibited at Milan Puskar Stadium: selfie sticks, unmanned aerial vehicles (‘drones’), any bag that does not comply with the Clear Bag Policy, alcoholic beverages, weapons and laser pointers.



An express lane is available at the West and North gates for those fans entering Milan Puskar Stadium who are not carrying items into the game.



Video cameras, with the intent of non-commercial use, are permitted. The cameras must not exceed 12” x 12” x 12”.



Banners and signs, except those associated with the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, are not permitted at Milan Puskar Stadium.



The FAA regional office will allow no VFR air navigation near the stadium, except for law enforcement and medical aircraft.



No hard containers or umbrellas are permitted inside Milan Puskar Stadium. Only unopened plastic containers of soft drinks and water will be permitted. No open containers will be permitted into the stadium.



Baby strollers are not permitted in the seating areas. Fans can check their strollers at Guest Services at the North and South concourses of the stadium.



Smoking is permitted only in designated smoking areas at various gates, some of which may not open until after kickoff. Smoking is prohibited in all other areas inside the stadium. Smoking will be permitted in the University parking lots on game day.



As in the past, commercial cargo-type rental trucks (U-Haul, Hertz, Ryder) will not be permitted in University parking lots during home football games.



Absolutely no soliciting of any kind is allowed at Milan Puskar Stadium or in the parking lots adjacent to the stadium.



Ruby Memorial Hospital

Ruby Memorial Hospital will be closed to the general public during West Virginia home football games. Staff and families of patients will need to obtain passes in advance to gain admission to the hospital during games. Hospital personnel called to work on an emergency basis should alert the state police by calling *SP on their cell phones as they approach the hospital. Emergency traffic should access the hospital via Elmer Prince Drive.

UCF Game Information

Nov. 23, 2024

Kickoff: 3:30 p.m., ET

Gates Open: 90 minutes before kick (2 p.m.)

TV: ESPNU



2024 Milan Puskar Stadium
WVU Game Day Central serves as a one-stop hub for Mountaineer fans for everything related to game day. From detailed timelines, stadium maps and parking information to Almost Heaven Village programming, important stadium policy reminders and the complete A-Z Guide, Game Day Central ensures fans are fully prepared.



Metal Detectors at All Athletic Venues

The West Virginia University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has introduced walk-through metal detectors at its major athletic venues this fall. Fans will not have to empty their clear bags or pockets, and will not have to place cell phones, keys, money or other belongings to the side because the state-of-art metal detectors are designed to be completely pass through. The metal detector technology provides automatic screening for fast and easy gate entrance flow. Fans are encouraged to enter the stadium early to get used to the new system and to expedite entry to the game. WVU’s clear bag policy is still in effect.



Almost Heaven Village

Almost Heaven Village is the fan experience area located between the Light Blue and Teal Parking Lots. Fans can enjoy food trucks, inflatables, a DJ, yard games, photo opportunities and appearances from the WVU Spirit Squads. Almost Heaven Village will be open 3 1/2 hours before kick (12 p.m.) to 30 minutes before (3 p.m.).



Clear Bag Policy

WVU’s Clear Bag Policy remains in effect, and the Athletics Department invites and encourages fans to visit WVUsports.com/clearbag for more information, to view pictures of permissible and non-permissible items and to obtain answers to frequently asked questions about the clear bag policy.




Mountaineer Mantrip

The Mountaineer Mantrip start time remains approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes prior (approximately 1:15 p.m.) to kickoff. Join the Mountaineers in the wave to the top of the WVU Medicine Children’s hospital following the Mountaineer Mantrip.



Hall of Traditions

The Hall of Traditions (Puskar Center) will be open starting three hours prior to kickoff (12:30 p.m.) until 30 minutes prior (3 p.m.) to kickoff.



Kids Zone

Kids Zone will continue in the Caperton Indoor Practice Facility pregame. This is free and open to the public and includes family games, inflatables, etc. This will be in the front half of the IPF from 2 1/2 hours before kick (1 p.m.) to 30 minutes before (3 p.m.).



REVELxp Full-Service Tailgating

REVELxp will continue to operate the area outside the north gate operated to include all-inclusive tent and tailgate set ups for each home game. Fans will be able to rent these spaces and will arrive to a turn-key tailgate tent. Click here to learn more or to book a hassle-free tailgate.



Stadium Seatbacks

Advance seatback single-game sales are now available (receipt will denote pickup location). Pricing is now $15/seat. All seatback sales are cashless.



Cashless Concessions and Parking

All concession stands are cashless.



All parking lots are cashless, including the Green Lot.



MAC Field Lounge

The Mountaineer Athletic Club (MAC) Field Lounge is located in the South end zone for donors of a certain giving level. This includes a sectioned-off area (load-in Thursday prior to each game and tear down on Monday following each game) with upscale seating.



ADA Accessibility

The following gates are ADA accessible: North, Northwest, Northeast, Southeast and Southwest.



ADA Golf Cart shuttles (not wheelchair accessible) are available, the Gold Shuttle and the Blue Shuttle will run concurrently to link all corners of the stadium and the perimeter of the Blue Lot. Guests are picked up on a first-come, first-serve basis, with potential wait times. The shuttles will run two hours prior to kickoff until the middle of the first quarter. After the game, the shuttles will run at the beginning of the fourth quarter until approximately one hour. Please note, due to heavy pedestrian traffic, wait times may vary. (the shuttles are operated by the Goodwill City Ambassadors/Visit Mountaineer Country Convention and Visitor’s Bureau).



Smoking is still only permitted in designated smoking areas located at various gates. In some locations, these areas will not be available until after kickoff.



Section 133 is still the Family Fun Zone. It is an alcohol free, family friendly section. Alcoholic beverages and foul or abusive language are prohibited in this section. This information is now printed on the tickets.



Tickets

West Virginia University (5-5, 4-3 Big 12) plays host to UCF (4-6, 2-5 Big 12) at Milan Puskar Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 23, at 3:30 p.m., ET.



The game against the Knights is Senior Day as well as the annual True Blue game, as presented by Supply Solutions, a division of Altec. All fans in attendance are encouraged to wear blue to the game.

Tickets, in select end zone and upper-level areas of Milan Puskar Stadium, to WVU’s final home game of the season, are available for a limited time for as low as $30 and can be purchased by CLICKING HERE.



Will call opens at the stadium North Gate ticket office at 1:30 p.m.



Students will be able to log in to the platform HERE or at wvugame.com/students using the single sign-on functionality, which is the same as all access points across the University systems. Once signed in, students will be able to request their student tickets, starting the Friday before the upcoming game week, as they have in prior years. If the overall student ticket request number reaches capacity, the system will trigger the lottery function that will operate the same as year's past. The football student ticket distribution policy can be found HERE.



For any students with questions regarding mobile ticketing are encouraged to visit wvusports.com/studentticketinfo for more information.



A reminder: all persons regardless of age require a ticket for admittance to WVU football games.



General Parking

All parking lots open at 7 a.m., on Saturday unless otherwise noted below.



RV’s with trailers are permitted in the Green, Light Blue Auxiliary and Red Lots only.



Vehicular traffic does not have access to Med Center Drive, the road directly in front of Milan Puskar Stadium. Med Center Drive will be open only to Blue Lot permit holders.



Blue Lot vehicle permit holders will have unrestricted parking (ability to choose parking space) up to four (4) hours prior to game time. Restricted parking (parking spaces assigned by attendants) will be implemented, as necessary, and determined on game day following four (4) hours prior to game time and continuing as needed until conclusion of the game.

All ADA spaces in the Blue Lot are self-accommodating. There will be NO shuttle from the Blue Lot to any gate. The ADA bus shuttle will continue from the Brown and Green Lots to the Southeast gate and West gate.

Blue Lot general RV parking lot E (including front row), C2, C6, C8, (except 19 - 8 p.m.) C10 and Spaces 10, 11, 12, 13 and 15 in D lot will open at 8 a.m. Friday.



Light Blue RV parking will open at 8 p.m. Friday, and Light Blue auxiliary RV parking (by Chateau Royale) will open at noon on Friday.



Coliseum Lot RV parking will open at 8 a.m. Friday.



All RVs must be off site by noon on Sunday or will be towed at owner’s expense.



Red RV (Law School) parking will open at 3 p.m. Friday, and Green RV will open at 5 p.m. Buses and limousines are permitted to park for $80 in the Coliseum Lot.



The Purple Lot (Areas 52 and 61 behind Sheetz on Route 705), the Gold Lot (Area 72, adjacent to the Facilities Management Building in front of ERC/Towers and the lot by the CPASS building) are available for $20 each.



Green Lot and Green parking garage spaces will be available for purchase for ADA accommodations. Buses and RVs are not permitted in the Gold, Purple, or Green Garage lots.



Small tents may be erected in designated areas only and may not be larger than 10’ by 10’. A parking permit for the designated lot is required to erect a tent and the vehicle must be parked adjacent to the tent. Tents may only be erected after 7 a.m. on game day.



An established ride-share (Uber/Lyft/taxi) lot is located at the United Bank on Elmer Prince Drive (address is United Bank – Suncrest, 990 Elmer Prince Drive).



Parking information can be found on game day on Monongalia County’s Radio Notification Station,1610 AM (WQLM).



ADA Parking

All ADA spaces in the Blue Lot are self-accommodating. There will be NO shuttle from the Blue Lot to any gate.



The ADA shuttle will continue from the Brown Lot and Green Lot to the Southeast gate and Southwest gate.



ADA parking will be strictly enforced. Disabled parking is available for single-game purchase ($45) on a limited basis at the WVU Law School (Brown Lot); accessible vans will provide transportation from that lot only.



Permit holders will be required to have the following: WVU issued color-coded parking permit, valid state-issued ADA parking placard or license plate, valid state-issued ADA parking registration card and photo ID of the disabled permit holder (the photo ID must match the ADA parking registration card). ADA permit holder must be in the vehicle and will be required to park in the spots reserved for disabled parking only. This will be strictly enforced.



Athletics will provide golf cart courtesy shuttles for people with disabilities. This route will circle the stadium, stopping at all gates (aside from North) as well as outlying stops near Don Nehlen/Med Center Drive in addition to near the roundabout.



Controlled Beer Sales

Controlled beer sales, operated by Sodexo, can be found along the concourses inside the gates. Alcohol will not be allowed to be brought into the stadium, nor taken out of the stadium.



Fans serving as their group’s designated driver are encouraged to sign-up at booths located inside the stadium. They will receive a wristband and a coupon for a free soda.



Gameday Mobile App

Fans are encouraged to download the WVU Gameday App, which will help keep Mountaineer fans connected to the action while at the game or watching from home. The WVU Gameday App can be found as a free download in the Apple iTunes and Google Play stores.



Fanline

Fans are encouraged to call (304) 293-FANS or text WVU to 83200 for stadium assistance. Both services are available on game day only. Fans also can follow @GamedayWVU on Twitter for information and special announcements.



Stadium Reentry

Stadium re-entry is prohibited.



Traffic Information

No vehicles will be permitted to enter Don Nehlen Drive (formerly Willowdale Drive) from Route 705 after home football games. Both lanes on Don Nehlen Drive will be used for stadium traffic to exit the area. Also, no parking will be permitted on Don Nehlen Drive. Elmer Prince Drive will permit bus traffic only.



Fans traveling on I-79 should access the stadium via the University Avenue or Pierpont Road exits off I-68. Long delays are expected around the Star City area.



Please note that primary routes have priority during postgame traffic. Please stay on primary routes postgame. Secondary routes will be held until priority routes are cleared. Fans are encouraged to use the Mileground/Route 705 to reach I-68 and I-79 postgame.



Buses

MountainLine buses will run from the Mountaineer Mall. MountainLine stadium service will begin two hours before kickoff and will run at least one hour following the game. Cost is $3 round trip. Children 3 and under also ride free.



PRT

The PRT will run from 9:30 a.m., until one hour after the game. There is no charge for PRT service on game days.



Prohibited

The following items are prohibited at Milan Puskar Stadium: selfie sticks, unmanned aerial vehicles (‘drones’), any bag that does not comply with the Clear Bag Policy, alcoholic beverages, weapons and laser pointers.



An express lane is available at the West and North gates for those fans entering Milan Puskar Stadium who are not carrying items into the game.



Video cameras, with the intent of non-commercial use, are permitted. The cameras must not exceed 12” x 12” x 12”.



Banners and signs, except those associated with the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, are not permitted at Milan Puskar Stadium.



The FAA regional office will allow no VFR air navigation near the stadium, except for law enforcement and medical aircraft.



No hard containers or umbrellas are permitted inside Milan Puskar Stadium. Only unopened plastic containers of soft drinks and water will be permitted. No open containers will be permitted into the stadium.



Baby strollers are not permitted in the seating areas. Fans can check their strollers at Guest Services at the North and South concourses of the stadium.



Smoking is permitted only in designated smoking areas at various gates, some of which may not open until after kickoff. Smoking is prohibited in all other areas inside the stadium. Smoking will be permitted in the University parking lots on game day.



As in the past, commercial cargo-type rental trucks (U-Haul, Hertz, Ryder) will not be permitted in University parking lots during home football games.



Absolutely no soliciting of any kind is allowed at Milan Puskar Stadium or in the parking lots adjacent to the stadium.



Ruby Memorial Hospital

Ruby Memorial Hospital will be closed to the general public during West Virginia home football games. Staff and families of patients will need to obtain passes in advance to gain admission to the hospital during games. Hospital personnel called to work on an emergency basis should alert the state police by calling *SP on their cell phones as they approach the hospital. Emergency traffic should access the hospital via Elmer Prince Drive.

41-31 Knights..

We'll see this at most schools soon.

Should swing the pendulum towards keeping Neal Brown for another season? Is a win versus 4-6 UCF matter to those making this decision? I mean the six seasons of mediocrity can all be thrown out the door with a win this week, the losing conference record after six seasons, the never getting ranked in the Top 25, or the abysmal record versus ranked opponents.
I can’t imagine a decision hinging on a game with a 4-6 also ran with the body of evidence so strong in ridding ourselves of this dud.

I have read the threads and really would like to understand where we are. At one point it looks like the donors are going to come through for the buyout, then they are in agreement he needs to go but not giving any money towards the buyout; then it seems we will overhaul the defensive coaches; and then it seems we are no where again. Please update as to where you think we are this Monday morning.