Campus streets lead uphill from downtown to hills and more hills. (After four years at WVU you not only would have a bachelor's degree, but Olympic-class leg muscles as well.)

At the crest of one landscape-dominating mound is Woodburn Circle, comprising three of the university's oldest buildings, which stand like three distinguished professors posing for a yearbook photo, overlooking the city and the Monongahela Valley.

In the 1950s, WVU ran out of room to expand, and a second campus - the Evansdale Campus - was initiated three miles to the north. Unfortunately, the Ivy League architecture stayed downtown. The new campus buildings are more functional and, well, dull. Except for the coliseum, it is on a hilltop is visible for miles. The coliseum looks like a concrete UFO. Saucer-shaped, big enough to hold 14,000 beings, it appears to be merely parked there, waiting for a call from its home planet.

(A WVU alumni friend, whose devotion to the university's sports teams is fanatical, insists that the true atmosphere of the university is revealed on any given football Saturday, when its Mountaineer Stadium is filled with 60,000 people chanting "Let's go, Mountaineers" and the prize-winning marching band performs.)

When WVU began operating two separate campuses, it needed a way to connect them. It was too far to walk, the hills discouraged bicycling and shuttle buses had problems on the narrow streets.

So in 1975 planners created the Personal Rapid Transit system, which is essentially a horizontal elevator. You put 50 cents into the turnstile (WVU students use a "Mountaineer Card") (Editor Note: the PRT is FREE on game day) and select your station, just as you would choose a floor in a high-rise. You wait for a yellow, electric-powered, rubber-tired car about the size of a soccer mom's SUV to sidle up to the platform. And off you go, even though there's no driver at the wheel - and there's no wheel.

The PRT system runs about nine miles from the medical center through the old campus to downtown. Most of the passengers are WVU students and staff, but anyone may use the system.”

Game Day Tailgating/Parking:

Like most big time programs the ability of visiting fans to park near the stadium is extremely limited.  Unlike some other Big East programs tailgating is very common and fairly easy to do.  The close in parking lots are the haven for the season pass holders and the well connected.  If you arrive extra early, you should be able to purchase parking for a day at the “Green Lot”.  Some people like to park at the Green Lot and then wander over to the “Pit” or the Blue Lot for the vendors selling food.  The “Pit” is an area most older visiting fans should stay clear from.  Alcohol and testosterone rules there and common sense is lacking by most.  If you tread there, you should remember you are outnumbered and to keep a sense of humor.

The Party in the Parking Lot

Using the “KISS” principle (Keep It Simple Stupid), I suggest first time visiting fans park in the free parking lots surrounding the Basketball Coliseum.  It is located about ¾ miles away from Mountaineer Field and is an easy landmark for visitors to find.  There are other free lots at the Evansdale Campus if you want a spot with better shade.  The Coliseum/Evansdale Campus Shuttles run continuously, starting about two and one half hours before kickoff and of course run after the game. The roundtrip cost is $3.50. The University’s sports website states, “Private Parking (not affiliated with WVU): is available for a fee at several locations along Patteson Drive, Van Voorhis Road, W.Va. Route 705, University Avenue, Don Nehlen Drive, Willowdale Road and other areas near the stadium.”  A very nice parking map is available in Adobe Acrobat “PDF” format.  A whole host of game day rules and information  is provided by the University (this is a very good web link for an overview). 

A very good article about the West Virginia Game Day experience was written by a Washington Post reporter two seasons ago.  Tailgating in its finest form is found in Morgantown, all Big East fans need to circle this game on their calendar to do.  One last option is to park in downtown Morgantown and ride the PRT.

Mountaineer Field

LODGING:

Like most small towns it will be next to impossible to find a room if you look a week out.  If you are a fan of historic, restored hotels  Morgantown has the Clarion Hotel Morgan.  It is within walking distance of the PRT.  The Hampton Inn is very close to the stadium and might be a good option if you get lucky with a reservation.  And a new 16 story Radisson Hotel has opened in the Wharf District downtown.   Your best resource is to use the local visitors' guide.  Last resort if you strike out, try looking for some "Mom and Pop" Motels near Morgantown.

Clarion Hotel Morgan	Morgantown Hampton Inn	Radisson Hotel

Morgantown is revitalizing an old area of their town into the "Wharf District". You can see the orientation of the Wharf District to downtown Morgantown here.

GOLF:

There are some great courses in West Virginia, including the Pete Dye Golf Club in Bridgeport (rated the top course in West Virginia and one of the top 100 golf courses in the US by Golf Digest) and the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs.  Note that neither is particularly close to Morgantown and both are very expensive.

Pete Dye Club	The Greenbrier

There are a number of golf courses the Morgantown Area.  Here is a list.  The Mountaineer Golf & Country Club is a public course for the golf challenged and/or budget minded.  It is a short course that is relatively flat and inexpensive.  You should be able to walk this course for less than $20, even on weekends.

Hope this helps.  Thanks to Jackson1011 for helping me with the guide. TexanMark

The opinions expressed in this guide are those of TexanMark.  While every effort has been made to ensure all the information presented is accurate and current, it would be wise to verify things when possible.  Please note that this guide is not endorsed by Scout.com, its site publishers, administrators and/or moderators.

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