56 Tim Brown

Hometown: McKeesport, PA

Career: 1992-1993

Record: 16-5-2, Bowl Record: 0-1

Tim Brown took an interesting route to Morgantown. He was highly recruited by the Mountaineers coming out of high school. Brown did not show much interest in the Mountaineers originally and ended up playing junior college football at Hudson Valley Community College. Coach Don Nehlen and the WVU coaching staff continued to recruit Brown, ultimately convincing he and teammate Jay Kearney to transfer to West Virignia. Brown was playing as a safety at the time, but would be given a redshirt in 1991, while learning how to play middle linebacker. He burst onto the scene in 1992, making fans take note of his staggering statistics, including 20 tackles in a loss to Syracuse. By the 1993 opener, Brown had moved to outside linebacker and had been named a team captain. He would not disappoint, earning All-Big East honors as a senior, enabling WVU to complete an undefeated regular season. By the time he hung up his cleats in Morgantown, Brown had totaled 210 tackles in just two seasons for the Mountaineers.

Memorable Game: The 1993 season was one of the best seasons in WVU football history. That season also featured some of the most exciting games Mountaineer fans had ever seen. The Virginia Tech game was no exception. The Hokies had WVU on the ropes all game, leading the Mountaineers at half 7-0. The Mountaineers would respond in the second half with a pair of field goals from Todd Sauerbrun and a safety on defense to take the lead 8-7 in the third quarter. The Mountaineer offense struggled to hold on to the football, giving up 5 turnovers. Tim Brown and the WVU defense did their best to hold the Hokie offense at bay, keeping them to just 13 points on the game. Brown would stop Hokie runners three times for loss on the day. The Mountaineers would get a late touchdown to escape with a 14-13 victory, keeping their perfect record intact.

Competition: Some could make a compelling argument for Doc Holliday to be the pick for #56. He was a solid linebacker for the Mountaineers, but is really best known for his work as a recruiter for WVU. I also could not consciously give the nod to a player who is now the head coach of Marshall. If he was still with WVU, things might have gone differently at #56.

Teaser: Tomorrow will be a pick that is sure to split the readership. There are really two outstanding linebackers to have donned #55 for the Mountaineers. Realistically, it will be tough to pick one or the other, but that is how this countdown works. I don’t think anyone has had such a difficult decision to make since Joey Lauren Adams had to choose between men and women in Chasing Amy.

57 Jeff Braun

Hometown: Westminster, MD

Career: 2009-Present

Record: 28-11, Bowl Record: 1-2

Big Jeff Braun came to Morgantown, WV in the spring of 2008 following West Virignia’s impressive performance in the Fiesta Bowl. Braun is a jack of all trades along the offensive line for the Mountaineers. He came to Morgantown as a defensive tackle, but switched to right tackle early in his career. Since he has become a starter in 2010, he has played right tackle, right guard, and most recently, left guard. He was forced into service at left guard last season due to the season-ending injury suffered by Josh Jenkins. He had some issues with the switch early on last season as evidenced by WVU’s inability to run the football. This season, he will be sent back to right guard, which seems to be his most natural position. With a healthy Jenkins back and Braun playing in a more comfortable position, the expectations of this offensive line group are high for the 2012 campaign.

Memorable Game: Jeff got his first taste of left guard during this past season’s Friends of Coal Bowl. The Mountaineers came into the game versus Marshall looking to show off their new high flying offense. Marshall was looking for its first win over the Mountaineers since the two first played each other in 1911. West Virginia’s offense would struggle to find its rhythm early, giving Marshall an early 7-0 lead. Braun and the offensive linemen would settle in to their new configuration after the first quarter, giving Geno Smith ample time to pick apart a weak Herd secondary. While the Mountaineers could never get the running game going, they were able to move the ball effectively through the air. The game would suffer a major delay due to lightning. Preceding the lightning strikes, Tavon Austin would run a kick back for a touchdown, leaving the Herd “thunderstruck.” Ultimately, the electric storm would force the game to be officially called during the third quarter, giving the Mountaineers a 34-13 win over Marshall.

Competition: Braun gets the nod for his versatility along the offensive line as well as for the great potential he has for his senior season. Other solid linemen considered here were Jeremy Hines and Kevin Koken. Another honorable mention here is linebacker/defensive end Zach Cooper.

Teaser: Well by now, I’m sure most of my readers are tired of reading about offensive linemen. Good news, there are only two more of them in the countdown. Tomorrow, we will spotlight a linebacker from the early 90s. He was not exactly the kind of player would think of as being a blue collar, brown bag lunch guy. He was a much more flashy, cunning player that would make sure to let opposing players know when he had out played them. Talking about 90s and out maneuvering other players makes me reminiscent of Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown.

58 Ken Sandor

Hometown: Roebling, NJ

Career: 1999-2002

Record: 23-24, Bowl Record: 1-1

Imagine that, I picked another guy name Ken for this countdown! Ken Sandor was a steady force for the Mountaineer offensive line during a turbulent portion of Mountaineer football history. He came to West Virginia University to play in Coach Don Nehlen’s pro-style offense. By the time he became a starter, he was playing in Coach Rich Rodriguez’s spread rushing offense. Needless to say, it was quite the transition for him. Ken came to Morgantown in 1998 with fellow high school teammate Avon Cobourne. Following a redshirt 1998, Sandor began his career as a back-up, finally becoming a starter during the 2001 season. By the time Sandor had graduated, the Mountaineer had gone from a losing squad to one that was a winner and appeared to be on the rise. His play earned him 2^nd team All-Big East honors as a senior.

Memorable Game: Today’s game comes from the not so memorable 2001 campaign. The Mountaineers struggled mightily during Coach Rich Rodriguez’s first season in Morgantown. The team was learning all new systems on both defense and offense while not having the right type of athletes that Coach Rod needed to fit the new system. The Mountaineers had limped out to an unimpressive 2-5 record after sustaining embarrassing losses to Miami and Virginia Tech. The Mountaineers needed a win over a conference win to give the team hope for the future. Fortunately, Rutgers came to town that November. The Scarlet Knights were looking for their first win in Morgantown and hoped that they could take advantage of a reeling WVU squad. It was the Mountaineers who would take advantage of Rutgers, over, and over, and over again in this game. Sandor and the offensive line punished the Rutgers front seven, allowing the Mountaineers rushers to gain 446 yards on the ground. The Mountaineers would set a Mountaineer Field record with 11 touchdowns. The win gave Mountaineers everywhere hope for the future. WVU absolutely out-classed Rutgers that day, easily winning by a score of 80-7.

Competition: Really, the biggest competition for this selection was Bernardo Amerson. While he was a serviceable linebacker in the early 90s, I just felt that Sandor was the better pick here. He was a consistent performer and really was a key factor in WVU’s quick transition from losers to winners under Rich Rod.

Teaser: Well, I think I’m just going to give away this teaser right now. Tomorrow we feature a CURRENT PLAYER for the Mountaineers. If you can’t figure this one out, then you might be all brawn and no brain, much like Arnold Schwarzenegger in Conan the Barbarian.

59 Jeff Noechel

Special Note: I'd like to wish a Happy 4th of July to all the Mountaineers out there!

And now on to Jeff Noechel!

Hometown: Farimont, WV

Career: 2002-2005

Record: 36-14, Bowl Record: 1-3 including a BCS win

Jeff Noechel came out of Fairmont to play for Shinnston native, Rich Rodriguez in the spring of 2002. He was just the type of linebacker that Defensive Coordinator Jeff Casteel was looking for to play in the 3-3-5 odd stack. He was a smaller, quicker linebacker that could cover tight end and also take on lineman at the point of attack. His first three season, Noechel was used primarily in special teams, earning increased playing time in special defensive packages. By the time he was a senior, Noechel was a starting linebacker, helping the Mountaineers to a BCS win over Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.

Memorable Game: Jeff Noechel put up his best stats in the 2004 game against the Connecticut Huskies. The 2004 season was the first season for the Huskies at the FBS level as they were called up to the Big East following the departures of Virginia Tech and Miami to the ACC. While the Huskies had been a solid FCS team, they were not quite ready to be a competitive force in the Big East. The Mountaineers pounced on the weaker team. The WVU defense was all over the Huskie offense, forcing three turnovers. Noechel was a major contributor to the defensive dominance, intercepting a pass, forcing a fumble, and snagging 7 tackles. WVU steamrolled the Huskies 31-19.

Competition: Many would argue that I was too biased with this selection. I can easily see the argument for great Mountaineer players such as Rick Gilliam or Rocky Gianola. When it came to this selection, I could not resist the opportunity to highlight one of the more memorable players from my time at West Virginia University.

Teaser: Tomorrow, the blog will feature a memorable offensive lineman from the late 90s and early 2000s. This player came out of New Jersey to help power both pro style and spread rushing offenses under Coach Nehlen and Rodriguez. When I think back to this time and the state of New Jersey, I can’t help but think of Kevin Smith movies. My favorite Smith movie is Mallrats. Enjoy!

60 Randy Dunnigan

Hometown: Dublin, VA

Career: 1995-1998

Record: 28-19, Bowl Record: 0-3

Today we take a look at one of the overlooked Mountaineer lineman. Randy Dunnigan is not what most would consider a Mountaineer legend, but he certainly did have a solid playing career. He played for the Mountaineers in the late 90s, making running room for Amos Zeroue and keeping defenders off of Marc Bulger. His most notable accomplishment, being one of the Mountaineer players at #60 with a photo on the internet. Sorry folks, but this is one of those instances where photo availability won out.

Memorable Game: For today’s memorable game, I could not resist the chance to highlight West Virginia’s big road win over the Miami Hurricanes in 1997. The 1997 season began with promise as the Mountaineers had begun the season with a 2-1 record. They came into the game in Coral Gables seeking the program’s first win over Miami since 1993. The Hurricanes were a team on the rise, featuring a potent passing game featuring Vinny Testeverde. The Mountaineers would need a dominating performance to upset the Hurricanes. The offense was able to run all over the Hurricane defense, amassing 443 yards. Bulger picked apart the secondary, while Zeroue sliced through the defensive line. In the end, the Mountaineers would register just their second victory in Coral Gables, 28-17.

Competition: Realistically, this selection could have gone to a notable name like Gene Corum. He was not only a solid lineman in his era, but also was a pretty decent head coach for the Mountaineers. The problem with selecting Gentleman Gene was finding a picture of him in his WVU uniform. Part of the novel of this blog is coming up with players pictures in their uniforms. So, with Corum out of the running, the selection came down to Randy Dunnigan and Don Bassler. When it came to making the final selection, Dunnigan got the nod.

Teaser: Tomorrow we take a quick break from linemen to highlight a great WVU linebacker. This player came out of Fairmont to be a solid contributor to some really good Mountaineer teams. While this player did not make it to the NFL, I’m sure he is quite successful in his chosen career. What I wonder is, do players like my selection at #59 end up like Terry Tate? I could just imagine this player patrolling the office.

61 Mike Fox

Hometown: Akron, OH

Career: 1986-1989

Record: 29-17-1, Bowl Record: 0-3

One of the most under-valued prospects coming out of high school, Mike Fox did not receive any offers from a big school. Coach Don Nehlen decided to make an offer to Fox in the spring of 1986, snagging a player that would turn out to be one of the most memorable defensive ends in West Virginia history. He would immediately see spot duty his freshman and sophomore seasons prior to becoming a starter his junior year. Fox was a driving force in helping the Mountaineers complete the perfect regular season in 1988, ultimately losing to Notre Dame in the National Championship. During his senior season, Fox was unstoppable, registering 10 sacks. He would wind up with 146 tackles and 13 sacks for his Mountaineer career. Following college, he would go on to win a Super Bowl with the New York Giants (or should I say: Scott Norwood lost the Super Bowl for the Buffalo Bills).

Memorable Game: Mike Fox set personal career bests for tackles and sacks in a game in WVU’s 1989 win over the Syracuse Orange. This game would decide West Virginia’s bowl fate for the 1989 postseason. The Mountaineers needed a win to make it to a major bowl game. The Orange were looking to secure a win in retribution for the shellacking they had taken in Morgantown the year before. The Syracuse faithful made the dome deafening. While the Orange would bring the noise, WVU would bring the pain. West Virginia’s defense would set the tone for the afternoon, forcing 5 turnovers. Mike Fox would finish with 9 tackles and 2 sacks for the afternoon, helping to secure a 24-17 win for the Mountaineers. The win would earn WVU a Gator Bowl bid.

Competition: When you read about West Virginia’s 1988 season, you invariably see the image of Mike Fox coming around the end. It’s just reflexive, when you think of #61 for the Mountaineers, you think of Mike Fox. Other players that are worthy of mention include Eric Jobe and Joe Nicely.

Teaser: At #60, the blog highlights a surprise pick. This native of Dublin, VA was a lead blocker for Amos Zeroue in the late 90s. When I think of hard hitting sports and Dublin, I think of Norfolk’s own Fighting Jamesons.

62 Ryan Stanchek

Hometown: Cincinnati, OH

Career: 2005-2008

Record: 42-9, Bowl Record: 4-0 including two BCS wins

Well, WVU fans, the day we have all been waiting for is finally here. Today we discuss the career of Ryan Stanchek. Oh, and I guess we did officially join the Big XII today too. I almost forgot about that. Anyways, Stanchek is one of the key contributors to a stretch of Mountaineer teams that won four straight bowl games. He came to West Virginia as a redshirt freshman in 2004. By the mid-point of the 2005 season, Stanchek earned a starting spot at guard. He made the transition to tackle in 2006, starting at tackle for the rest of his career. Stanchek was instrumental in blocking for Slaton and White, allowing the Mountaineer offense to run all over opponents. He was honored with All-Big East selections in 2007 and 2008 as well as 2^nd team All-America in 2008.

Memorable Game: In honor of West Virginia’s official move to the Big XII, we will take a look back at the Mountaineers’ most recent romp over a Big XII conference opponent. The 2007 regular season ended on a sour note. Coach Rich Rodriguez could not come up with a scheme to beat the Pitt Panthers, costing the Mountaineers the National Championship, and was somehow given the opportunity to coach the Michigan Wolverines. West Virginia was devastated by both losses. The Mountaineers rallied around Coach Bill Stewart, determined to win the Fiesta Bowl. Stanchek and the offensive line were able to outwork, out hit, and out hustle the Sooners defensive line, tallying 525 yards. The Mountaineers, an 84% dog, beat down the Sooners by a final of 48-28.

Competition: There are plenty of worthwhile selections for the Mountaineers at #62. Many other great linemen were considered for this selection, including: Bill Legg, Rick Dolly, and Carl Dannenberg. I went with Stanchek here. He has the All-Big East selections, All-America selection, and two BCS wins.

Teaser: Tomorrow, we take a look at one of the most memorable defensive linemen in WVU football history. He was a major star in the late 80s, even bigger than Michael J. Fox (at least in Morgantown). I wish the DeLorean was here, so I could bring him Back to the Future.