West Virginia's new, lame version of Tiger Walk
And a Howard's Rock knock off too... SO LAME.
Here is one big lump of coal that has great meaning to West Virginians everywhere! This 350-pound block of anthracite, donated by Alpha Natural Resources, will be used as part of the Mountaineer Mantrip for each home football game, beginning with this Sunday’s season opener against Marshall in the Friends of Coal Bowl.
It comes from the Upper Big Branch mine where 29 miners died on April 5, 2010.
The coated block of coal will be placed on a pedestal in the Northeast end of the stadium and will be touched by each member of the football team as they enter the stadium to go to work.
The Mountaineer Mantrip was originated by new coach Dana Holgorsen to promote the state’s proud mining heritage. The team will be dropped off approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes prior to kickoff at the corner of the WVU Medical Center and Don Nehlen Drive, where fans are encouraged to line the path. The team will proceed through the path between the Blue and Light Blue lots and enter the stadium at the Northeast gate entrance.
The team will be escorted by the Mountaineer mascot, the cheerleading squad and members of The Pride of West Virginia, the WVU marching band, on its route.
“I am really looking forward to starting this new tradition. I think this will become a fan favorite, and another game day activity that our fans will look forward to each week,” Holgorsen said. “Team walks like this are popular around college campuses, and I know our fans will make this something special for our players before each home game.”
Following the team’s arrival at the stadium, the squad will walk down to the field, where they will stop for a team gathering on the 50-yard line before proceeding into the locker room. The Mantrip, named after the shuttle that typically transports miners down into an underground mine at the start of their shift, will take place before every home game this season.