16 Todd Sauerbrun

Hometown: Setauket, NY

Career: 1991-1994

Record: 29-16-2, Bowl Record: 0-2

As I have said before during this countdown, the West Virginia Mountaineers program is built on the back of skill players and special teams players alike. One of the greatest special teams players to come through Morgantown, or any college campus to be honest, is Todd Sauerbrun. Arguably the best punter in school history, Sauerbrun is an often overlooked Mountaineer (mostly because he is in fact, a punter). Sauerbrun first saw snaps as a freshman in 1991. He would go on to become the starting punter and also served as the place kicker. Sauerbrun had an incredible boot on him, able to fire off some of the longest punts in schools history. He was also pretty accurate with his kick placement, able to pin opponents deep in their own ends of the field, helping WVU win the field position battle. Sauerbrun was such a talented punter, he set an NCAA record with a punt average of 48.4 yards/punt. He earned a consensus 1^st Team All-America selection in 1994. He would also garner All-Big East honors in 1992, 1993, and 1994. Following graduation, Sauerbrun went on to play in the NFL, being drafted 56^th overall by the Chicago Bears. Sauerbrun would spend the next 13 years playing in the NFL, earning 4 All-Pro selections. Sauerbrun proved on both the college and professional levels that he is one of the greatest punters to ever play the game.

Memorable Game: Now that we have established the fact that Todd Sauerbrun has one heck of an ability to punt the ball, we now will take a look at a game in which he showcased his ability to put the ball through the uprights. No game exemplifies this facet of his game, better than the 1993 showdown with Louisville. As we have been discussing the past two days, 1993 was a good year for WVU. The Mountaineers won all their games, including the game against Lousville. The game was a shoot-out between two powerful offenses. Louisville, under Coach Howard Schnellenberger, featured a top notch passing game that gave the WVU defense fits all day. The deciding factor in the game would be special teams. Louisville could not punt the ball well, giving West Virginia an edge in the field position battle. The Mountaineers would need to rely on Todd Sauerbrun to keep the Mountaineers in the game. Sauerbrun would convert 3 out of 5 field goal attempts on the day (one of them was blocked). Sauerbrun’s 36-yard field goal with a little over 10 minutes left in the game was the game deciding score in a tight 36-34 win for the Mountaineers.

Competition: I’m sure many of my readers are upset with the selection of a punter here at #16. The other options like Jarrett Brown and Shaun Foreman are clearly fan favorites. Both players had solid success as Mountaineer players. Both players are sexier picks than Sauerbrun, but there is no way that I was going to pick either of them over such a talented punter. I know, many people discredit this pick because it is a punter, but when you are one of the best of all-time at your position, you are going to win your spot on this countdown.

Teaser: Back to skill players tomorrow! The selection at #15 is a member of the WVU Sports Hall of Fame, hailing from Pennsylvania. He was quarterback for a team that won arguably the most exciting Super Bowl ever. The way that Super Bowl ended, reminds me of the story of Ray Finkle from Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.

17 Jake Kelchner

Hometown: Berwick, PA

Career: 1992-1993

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

He may not have been one of the best quarterbacks in school history, but Jake Kelchner did power the Mountaineers to an undefeated regular season in 1993. Kelchner was a surprise pick up for Coach Don Nehlen’s staff. Kelchner had originally committed to Notre Dame out of high school. Unfortunately for Kelchner, Notre Dame also recruited Rick Mirer in 1990, leaving Kelchner as the back-up. Kelchner decided to find a school that had an immediate need at quarterback, ultimately finding a home amongst the hills. Kelchner first saw action in the 1992 season, with mixed results. Kelchner would complete 55.5% of his passes for 901 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. Kelchner and the rest of the Mountaineers squad would get their game together and dominate the Big East. Kelchner showed flashes of greatness in 1993 as he completed 63.2% of his passes for 1,688 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. Kelchner could really through the ball when needed, but the WVU teams of the early 1990s were heavily run oriented. For the system he ran, Kelchner was a star quarterback, although his statistics seem rather ordinary.

Memorable Game: Kelchner started the 1993 season off with a bang. After leading the Mountaineers to a blowout win over Eastern Michigan, he led the Mountaineers into a road test against Maryland. The Terrapins were out to avenge two straight losses to West Virginia. Maryland would come out swinging against the Mountaineers, piling up yards in a hurry. Kelchner and the Mountaineers passing game would match Maryland’s offensive outburst. Both teams offenses pummeled the opposing defenses, combining for more than 1,000 yards of offense. The Mountaineers would pull out a squeaker in one barn burner of a game, 42-37.

Competition: I’ll admit it now; I had a difficult time overcoming the urge to give the #17 to Kent Richardson. When I looked at the two players as objectively as possible, I began to lean towards Jake Kelchner. He was a major reason the Mountaineers were able to complete an undefeated 1993 season, one of only two in school history. Richardson, while being a solid cornerback, just couldn’t measure up in terms of notoriety to Jake Kelchner.

Teaser: So what position will be featured next in the countdown? A quarterback? Wide receiver? Kicker? The possibilities are endless. Hopefully you all have not soured on my random video clips, especially the ones featuring Disney movies. (Sorry, the video clip is really awful... just like the movie itself)

18 Jay Kearney

Hometown: Piscataway, NJ

Career: 1992-1993

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

Jay Kearney was not always a Mountaineer. He came to West Virginia following his sophomore season at Hudson Valley Community College along with teammate Tim Brown. Kearney gave the Mountaineers a talented, tall receiving target for quarterback Jake Kelchner. Kearney was not an immediate starter for the Mountaineers, having to work into the offense during 1992. That season, Kearney would amass pedestrian statistics for 1992 with 20 receptions for 282 yards and two touchdowns. Kearney would explode onto the scene in 1993, lighting up opposing secondaries. Kearney stacked up 29 receptions for 750 yards receiving and 5 touchdowns. Kearney career with the Mountaineers, while brief, was impactful. Without Kearney’s big play ability, the 1993 Mountaineers would not have been able to complete an undefeated regular season.

Memorable Game: West Virginia had one of the most memorable seasons in school history. The Mountaineers ran out 11 straight wins to complete an undefeated regular season. One of those early wins in the 1993 season came against the Missouri Tigers. The game came after a narrow road win against Maryland. WVU jumped all over Missouri that day at Mountaineer Field. Missouri moved the ball well against the Mountaineer defense, but could not hold onto the pigskin. Missouri gave up 6 turnovers, giving WVU short fields to work with. Kelchner to Kearney was a potent combination this day. Kearney pulled in 125 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Competition: Kearney’s short career shown brightest amongst the #18s. The biggest competition to Kearney was probably Abraham Jones. Kearney’s contributions to the 1993 team were enough to earn the selection at #18.

Teaser: The athlete at #17 is only the second quarterback of this countdown. This player was two year phenom just like Kearney was for the Mountaineers. Speaking of being a big deal for a short amount of time, no one in Hollywood exemplifies this quite like Alec Baldwin. I mean really, he drops off the face of the Earth for years, but only recently has re-emerged. He has been a major success as Jack Donaghy and recently as Jake in the movie It’s Complicated.

19 Lance Frazier

Hometown: Delray Beach, FL

Career: 2000-2003

Record: 27-22, Bowl Record: 1-2

Lance Frazier is shining example of why recruiting Florida is so vital to the success of West Virginia football. Frazier brought his speed and athleticism to Morgantown, originally to play for Coach Don Nehlen. Frazier got his break for Coach Nehlen’s squad during his freshman season, as a dime package defender. Frazier made the highlight film during his limited playing time, intercepting two passes and taking one back for a touchdown. With the coaching change in 2001, Frazier was given the additional responsibility of returning punts. Frazier would continue to return punts and move to starting cornerback during his junior season in 2002. Frazier was beaten out for the punt return job his senior season by Pacman Jones. The move to play Frazier exclusively at cornerback (opposite of Jones) paid dividends for the Mountaineers defense. Frazier had a monster campaign, intercepting five passes and making 67 tackles. Frazier totaled some impressive statistics for his Mountaineer career with 8 interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), 192 tackles, and a punt return touchdown. Frazier has had mixed success at the professional level. While he could not seem to find a home in the NFL, he has done well as a consistent player in the CFL and AFL. For those of you who have not seen CFL football, enjoy the clip of Frazier playing in Canada.

Memorable Game: Lance Frazier received limited return opportunities during his senior season with the emergence of Pacman Jones. One of the few opportunities he did have, came against Temple. Frazier would make the most of his chance, returning the punt for a touchdown. Frazier’s return touchdown was one of many for the Mountaineers against the hapless Owls. West Virginia scored quickly from short fields against Temple. While the Owls would ultimately outgained the Mountaineers, Temple would give up 4 turnovers on the day. In the end, West Virginia just outpaced Temple, winning 45-28.

Competition: Surprisingly, there are not as many stud players at #19 as I would have expected. This number is wildly popular with receivers and defensive backs across the country, but this has not been the case with West Virginia. Frazier got the nod over players like Vaughn Rivers and Wayne Brown based largely on statistics. I really was leaning towards Vaughn Rivers initially, but Frazier was a consistent defender for the Mountaineers where Rivers was much more of a special teams threat.

Teaser: Tomorrow we feature a stellar wide receiver from Piscataway, NJ. I know what you all are thinking, “there is no way he can reference another Jay and Silent Bob movie.” Well, you would be correct, however, I can reference another Kevin Smith movie. My wife’s personal favorite: Zack and Miri Make a Porno.

20 Amos Zereoue

Hometown: Hempstead, NY

Career: 1996-1998

Record: 23-13, Bowl Record: 0-3

Many Mountaineer fans still contend that Amos Zereoue is the greatest running back in school history. During his three seasons in Morgantown, Zereoue would set the school’s all-time rushing record (a record that would stand for only 4 seasons). Zereoue was an impact running back for the Mountaineers, balancing the passing game of Marc Bulger. Zereoue’s talents were immediately recognized, as he would rush for 1,035 yards and 9 touchdowns during his freshman season, earning Big East Rookie of the Year honors. He would follow that up with 3,053 yards and 31 touchdowns over the next two seasons in Morgantown. Zereoue would earn three All-Big East Selections and an All-America selection for his three seasons in Morgantown. With the school rushing record in hand, and a positive draft appraisal, Zereoue decided to forgo his senior season in Morgantown, to enter the NFL draft. Had Zereoue stayed in Morgantown, he might have set the school rushing record out of reach of his successor, Avon Cobourne. Zereoue would find minimal success in the NFL, serving predominantly as a situational rusher for the Steelers, Raiders, and Patriots. Famous Amos is not yet a member of the WVU Sports Hall of Fame, but it is only a matter of time before he receives his call to the Hall.

Memorable Game: Amos Zereoue put his talents on display throughout his career, but may have best showcased his talents in the 1997 game against East Carolina. The game came one week after West Virginia’s win against Marshall. The Mountaineers would be tested by the scrappy Pirates. East Carolina’s pass heavy offense put ECU out to an early 10-3 lead. Zereoue would answer back with a touchdown carry to knot the game at 10-10, early in the 3^rd quarter. WVU and ECU would trade scores in the 3^rd quarter, leaving the score at 17-17 heading into the 4^th quarter. Zereoue took control of the game from that point on. He would punch in the winning touchdown in the 4^th quarter and help the Mountaineers drain the time off the clock. Zereoue rushed for 199 yards and a pair of touchdowns in WVU’s 24-17 win over East Carolina.

Competition: Let’s be serious: who else did you think this pick could have gone to? Boogie Allen? Curlin Beck? Maybe, Shawne Alston? None of these other players have held a school record, no one else in this pool of players made as big an impact on his teams as Zereoue did on those mid 1990s teams.

Teaser: We are rapidly approaching football season, and now are down to the teens! Speaking of teens, when I was a teen, I was not into hip hop or rap, but did have appreciation for DMX. I really enjoy Rough Ryders’ Anthem. That brings me to tomorrow selection at #19. This player was a stud defensive back for the Mountaineers who would later start in the CFL as a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

21 Ira Errett Rodgers

Hometown: Bethany, WV

Career: 1915-1917, 1919

Record: 24-9-4, Bowl Record: 0-0

Ira Rodgers is only the second Mountaineer player to have his number official retired by WVU. Realistically, Rodgers number should not just be retired in football, but across all sports at WVU. He would star in football, basketball, baseball, and golf for the Mountaineers. Obviously, Rodgers excelled best on the grid-iron, where he helped craft West Virginia into a regional college football powerhouse.  Rodgers started his Mountaineer career as a quarterback, eventually moving to fullback for the rest of his career. During this era of football, the fullback was far more important than the quarterback since the forward pass was not widely used yet. Rodgers had the Mountaineers riding high through 1917. The 1918 football season was cancelled across the nation as a result of the 1918 Influenza Pandemic. Rodgers hit the field again in 1919, powering the Mountaineers to an 8-2 record including a win over national powerhouse Princeton. Rodgers talents caught the attention of the national media (an incredible fete in the World War I era). Rodgers would become West Virginia’s first consensus All-American. Rodgers would continue to serve West Virginia long after graduation as a football coach. He would go on to be inducted into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame.

Memorable Game: The biggest win of Rodgers era of Mountaineer football came during a road game against Princeton in 1919. During this day and age in college football, Princeton was a national powerhouse. The Mountaineers ventured out to New Jersey, looking to make a name for the program. Rodgers would end up making a name for him in this game. Rodgers accounted for all 4 of West Virginia’s touchdowns. The Mountaineers defense kept the Tigers offense in check, shutting them out for the afternoon. West Virginia landed a resounding 25-0 win. The big win earned Rodgers recognition from the national media, leading to his All-America nod later that fall.

Competition: There is no competing with one of the best all-around athletes to don a Mountaineer uniform. I will though mention that the last two athletes to wear #21, Dorrell Jalloh and Ryan Mundy, honored the number with their special talents.

Teaser: Tomorrow we feature another stud running back for the Mountaineers. This rusher was also once the school's all-time leading rusher (hint, hint). I would assume most Mountaineers fans will be able to determine who this famous Mountaineer is. However, if you need some time to think about it, you can listen to Tori Amos' cover of Smells Like Teen Spirit.

22 Avon Cobourne

Hometown: Cherry Hill, NJ

Career: 1999-2002

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

When Avon Cobourne came to Morgantown in the late 1990s, no one thought that he would eventually become West Virginia University’s all-time leading rusher. Cobourne was recruited to serve as Zereoue’s back-up during his freshman season, eventually transitioning into the starting role as an upper classman. When Zereoue opted to enter the NFL draft a year early, Cobourne was thrust into the starting running back role. Cobourne burst onto the scene in 1999, carrying the ball for 1,138 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns. Cobourne followed up his breakout freshman season with another steller performance in 2000, racking up 1,018 yards and 6 touchdowns. Some running backs would be adversely affected by a coaching change midway through their career, but Cobourne kept on performing without missing a beat. In Coach Rodriguez’s first season, Cobourne was essentially the entire offense, totaling 1,298 yards and 12 touchdowns. With Zereoue’s rushing record in sight, Cobourne set out to have a monster senior season. Coach Rodriguez fed Cobourne the ball constantly, allowing Cobourne to break the all-time rushing record, finishing his Mountaineer career with 5,164 yards rushing and 42 touchdowns. His 1,710 yards as a senior also set WVU’s single season rushing record. Cobourne’s stellar playing career earned him a pair of first team All-Big East selections. Cobourne would not find much success in the NFL, but would go on to be a star of the CFL. He won the Grey Cup in 2009, earning the Grey Cup MVP in the championship victory.

Memorable Game: Cobourne showed off his stellar rushing ability in the 2002 home match-up with East Carolina. Cobourne and the Mountaineers came into the game with a 2-1 record and an optimistic outlook for the rest of the season. East Carolina was not exactly a tough opponent for WVU. The Pirates were completely blind-sided by the Mountaineers offensive onslaught. West Virginia jumped out to a 27-7 lead at half time. Cobourne poured it on the outclassed Pirates defense, amassing 260 yards rushing and two touchdowns. West Virginia dominated East Carolina 37-17.

Competition: Cobourne will likely be West Virginia’s all-time leading rusher for at least the next 6 seasons (with Coach Holgorsen’s contract extension). He will soon be inducted into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame. There was no way that the selection at #22 could have gone to anyone else. There are some other tremendous athletes to wear #22 such as Bo Orlando, Tom Pridemore, and Brandon Hogan. Unfortunately, I cannot split the honor of #22 four ways.

Teaser: Let’s be honest: if you do not know who the selection is for #21, a number that has been officially retired by West Virginia, then you are reading the wrong blog. However, for the truly dense reader out there, we will be honoring a famous WVU running back from the 1920s, nicknamed “the rat.” If you can’t figure it out from all those clues, you should probably stick to animated movies like Ratatouille.