75 Sam Huff

Hometown: Farmington, WV

Career: 1952-1955

Record: 31-7, Bowl Record: 0-1

When you think of Mountaineer football players, you think of guys like Sam Huff. He grew up in a small mining town in the hills outside of Fairmont during the Great Depression. Living like that made Huff as hard as they come. He was an integral part of the great Mountaineer teams of WVU’s Golden Era. Huff played both offensive and defensive lines alongside other Mountaineer greats such as Bruce Bosley and Gene Lamone. Huff’s prowess earned him All-America Honors his senior season. Following a successful pro playing career, Huff would be honored with induction into Canton in 1982 and the WVU Sports Hall of Fame in 1991.

Memorable Game: The Mountaineers opened up the 1953 campaign in Pittsburgh against the hated Panthers. Pitt was fired up to get revenge on the Mountaineers for embarrassing them in front of their home crowd in 1952. The Mountaineers would spoil the Panthers plans in a defensive struggle. Sam Huff cleared the way for Joe Marconi to move the chains against Pitt’s defense. On the defensive side of the ball, Huff kept the Panthers pinned down. West Virginia beat Pitt, in Pittsburgh, for the second consecutive year by a final of 17-7.

Competition: You can’t really compete with the first player to have his jersey retired. Having your jersey retired makes the statement “this is the best player ever to wear this jersey.” I won’t even bother to mention anyone else at #75.

Teaser: The next lineman in the countdown starred at center for the Mountaineers. He was a tall player at about 6’4”. While he is tall and athletic, I doubt he is much of a dancer. Historically speaking, tall white athletes are terrible dancers. Case in point: Mark Madsen.