Wikipedia

1949 West Virginia Tech Golden Bears football team

The 1949 West Virginia Tech Golden Bears football team was an American football team that represented the West Virginia University Institute of Technology of Beckley, West Virginia, as a member of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) during the 1949 college football season. In their first year under head coach Herb Royer, the team compiled a 8–0–1 record (8–0–1 against WVIAC teams), won the WVIAC championship, outscored opponents by a total of 243 to 83, and outgained opponents by 2,191 yards to 831 yards.[1] The team was honored 60 years later at the school's homecoming game.[2]

1949 West Virginia Tech Golden Bears football
WVIAC champion
ConferenceWest Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Record8–0–1 (8–0–1 WVIAC)
Head coach
CaptainNeal Baisi, Randy Cooper
Seasons
← 1948
1950 →
1949 West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
West Virginia Tech $ 8 – 0 – 1 8 – 0 – 1
West Liberty State 4 – 0 – 1 9 – 0 – 1
Morris Harvey 3 – 1 – 0 7 – 2 – 0
Shepherd 4 – 2 – 0 6 – 2 – 0
Concord 4 – 2 – 0 5 – 4 – 0
Salem 1 – 1 – 3 3 – 1 – 3
Fairmont State 2 – 4 – 1 3 – 4 – 1
Potomac State 1 – 3 – 0 2 – 4 – 0
Davis & Elkins 2 – 6 – 0 2 – 6 – 0
West Virginia Wesleyan 1 – 6 – 1 1 – 9 – 1
Glenville State 0 – 6 – 1 0 – 6 – 1
Bethany (WV) * 2 – 1 – 0 2 – 6 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • * – Did not qualify for conference standings
    Ties did not count in conference standings.

Halfback Randy Cooper scored 114 points. His total of 19 touchdowns led the nation.[1] Cooper also set new WVIAC records for most net rushing yards in a season (1,228), most rushing yards in a game (276 against Potomac), most yards of total offense in a game (286 against Potomac), and most carries in a season (185).[3]

Cooper and guard Neal Baisi were the team co-captains.[4] Halfback Walter Rapko gained 667 yards from scrimmage and scored seven touchdowns. Quarterback John Grossi completed 10 of 17 passes for 201 yards and three touchdowns.[1]

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 23ShepherdMontgomery, WVW 23–6[5]
September 30Fairmont StateMontgomery, WVW 33–7[6]
October 8at Glenville StateGlenville, WVW 33–13
October 15Davis & ElkinsMontgomery, WVW 37–7[7]
October 21at Morris HarveyCharleston, WVW 13–7[8]
October 28West LibertyMontgomery, WVT 6–6[9]
November 5at ConcordPrinceton, WVW 25–12[10]
November 11West Virginia Wesleyan Montgomery, WV (Armistice Day)W 30–12[11]
November 19at Potomac StateKeyser, WVW 43–14[12]
  •  Homecoming

Players

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West Virginia Tech's football players, based in part on game coverage cited above, included the following:[13][14]

  • Neal Baisi, guard and co-captain, senior
  • Ralph Basilio, guard
  • Randy Cooper, left halfback and co-captain, senior, Oak Hill, West Virginia
  • Chuck Cornell, center, senior
  • Clinton Frazier
  • John Grossi, quarterback, freshman, Weirton, West Virginia
  • Brooks Harris, halfback, junior
  • John Hess, end
  • Ross Hutchens, tackle
  • Joe Jarrell, right halfback
  • "Bunky" Johnson, quarterback, freshman, Beckley, West Virginia
  • Jim Lively, quarterback, senior
  • Quentin Maner, back, freshman, Montgomery, West Virginia
  • Bob Presson, fullback, junior, Ansted, West Virginia
  • Walt Rapko, halfback, Oak Hill, West Virginia
  • Jack Sims, end
  • Jim Stover, tackle, Kingston, West Virginia
  • Jim Turner, center, freshman, Beckley, West Virginia
  • Ray Withrow, fullback, freshman

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Tech's Cooper Tops Nation's Scoring List". Beckley Post-Herald. November 26, 1949. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "WVU Tech to honor three teams". Fayette Tribune. September 24, 2009.
  3. ^ "Tech's Randy Cooper Has Four New Gridiron Marks". Beckley Post-Herald. December 7, 1949. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Oak Hill Gridmen Tech Co-Captain". Beckley Post-Herald. September 15, 1949. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Tech In Impressive Win Over Shepherd". Beckley Post-Herald. September 24, 1949. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Tech Bears Win Conference Tilt". Beckley Post-Herald. October 1, 1949. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Concord, Tech Mark SIC Wins: D&E is 37-7 4th Victim for Golden Bears". The Sunday Register. October 16, 1949. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Tech Passes Way to 13-7 Win Over Fighting Morris Harvey: Fast Game Still Scoreless Going Into 3rd Period". The Raleigh Register. October 23, 1949. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Tech Record Spoiled by West Liberty". Hinton Daily News. October 29, 1949. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Tech Downs Concord 25-12 to Keep SIC Lead". The Raleigh Register. November 6, 1949. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Tech Meets Wesleyan In Final Home Grid Tussle". Beckley Post-Herald. November 11, 1949. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Randy Cooper Leads W. Va. Tech to Victory and Conference Crown: Oak Hill Flash Sets Conference Scoring Record". The Raleigh Register. November 20, 1949. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Tech Ends Its Grid Slate On Potomac Field". Beckley Post-Herald. November 19, 1949. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Tech Coach Pleased By Squd's Showing". Sunday Register. September 18, 1949. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
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