MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WV News) — From the Blue Lot at dawn to the last chorus of “Country Roads” under the lights, West Virginia University’s football season opener Saturday wasn’t just about the score on the field — it was about the spirit that swept through Morgantown.

The Mountaineers’ 45-3 victory over Robert Morris doubled as a homecoming of sorts, marking the return of head coach Rich Rodriguez after 18 years away. But for fans, students and alumni alike, the day marked this year’s beginning of the scene that only WVU can stage.

“It’s not only what happens on the field — it’s everything that surrounds it,” said Kevin Berry, CEO of the WVU Alumni Association. “You get people coming back and re-engaging with the university during football weekends. The energy is incredible.”

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