1983 West Virginia Mountaineers football team

{{CFB schedule

| rankyear = 1983

| poll = AP

| timezone = Eastern

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 3

| w/l = w

| opponent = Ohio

| site_stadium = Mountaineer Field

| site_cityst = Morgantown, WV

| score = 55–3

| attend = 54,612

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer-west-va-trounce/139841774/|work=The Cincinnati Enquirer|title=West Va. trounces OU, 55–3|date=September 4, 1983|accessdate=January 29, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 10

| w/l = w

| opponent = Pacific (CA)

| site_stadium = Mountaineer Field

| site_cityst = Morgantown, WV

| score = 48–7

| attend = 54,581

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-modesto-bee-west-virginia-trounces-p/139841872/|work=The Modesto Bee|title=West Virginia trounces Pacific with defense|date=September 11, 1983|accessdate=January 29, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 17

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 20

| opponent = Maryland

| opprank = 17

| site_stadium = Byrd Stadium

| site_cityst = College Park, MD

| gamename = rivalry

| tv = WTBS

| score = 31–21

| attend = 54,715

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/victoria-advocate-west-virginia-tops-mar/139841970/|work=The Victoria Advocate|title=West Virginia tops Maryland, 31–21|date=September 18, 1983|accessdate=January 29, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 24

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 12

| opponent = Boston College

| opprank = 19

| site_stadium = Alumni Stadium

| site_cityst = Chestnut Hill, MA

| tv = ABC

| score = 27–17

| attend = 32,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-advertiser-w-va-mountaineers/139842095/|work=The Daily Advertiser|title=W. Va. Mountaineers blitz Boston College|date=September 25, 1983|accessdate=January 29, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 1

| w/l = w

| rank = 7

| opponent = Pittsburgh

| site_stadium = Mountaineer Field

| site_cityst = Morgantown, WV

| gamename = rivalry

| tv = CBS

| score = 24–21

| attend = 64,076

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-lauderdale-news-no-7-west-virginia/139842211/|work=Fort Lauderdale News|title=No. 7 West Virginia rules Pitt 24–21|date=October 2, 1983|accessdate=January 29, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 15

| w/l = w

| rank = 4

| opponent = Virginia Tech

| site_stadium = Mountaineer Field

| site_cityst = Morgantown, WV

| gamename = rivalry

| tv = CBS

| score = 13–0

| attend = 57,181

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115911467/west-virginia-tops-virginia-tech-130/|work=The Pittsburgh Press|title=West Virginia tops Virginia Tech, 13–0|date=October 16, 1983|accessdate=January 29, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 22

| w/l = l

| away = y

| rank = 4

| opponent = Penn State

| site_stadium = Beaver Stadium

| site_cityst = University Park, PA

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 23–41

| attend = 86,309

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/courier-post-rebounding-penn-state-rips/139842315/|work=The Courier-Post|title=Rebounding Penn State rips fourth-rated West Virginia|date=October 23, 1983|accessdate=January 29, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 29

| w/l = l

| away = y

| rank = 12

| opponent = Miami (FL)

| opprank = 7

| site_stadium = Miami Orange Bowl

| site_cityst = Miami, FL

| score = 3–20

| attend = 63,881

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-island-independent-hurricanes/139842478/|work=The Grand Island Independent|title=Hurricanes blow past West Virginia|date=October 30, 1983|accessdate=January 29, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 5

| w/l = w

| rank = 17

| opponent = Temple

| site_stadium = Mountaineer Field

| site_cityst = Morgantown, WV

| score = 27–9

| attend = 50,514

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-west-virginia-topples-templ/139842601/|work=Star Tribune|title=West Virginia topples Temple, breaks two-game losing streak|date=November 6, 1983|accessdate=January 29, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 12

| w/l = w

| rank = 15

| opponent = Rutgers

| site_stadium = Mountaineer Field

| site_cityst = Morgantown, WV

| score = 35–7

| attend = 51,317

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-west-virginia-routs-ru/139842718/|work=Asbury Park Press|title=West Virginia routs Rutgers|date=November 13, 1983|accessdate=January 29, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 19

| w/l = l

| away = y

| rank = 14

| opponent = Syracuse

| site_stadium = Carrier Dome

| site_cityst = Syracuse, NY

| gamename = rivalry

| tv = CBS

| score = 16–27

| attend = 36,661

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-and-sun-bulletin-syracuse-surprise/139842864/|work=The Sunday Press|title=Syracuse surprises West Virginia|date=November 20, 1983|accessdate=January 29, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = December 23

| w/l = w

| neutral = y

| rank = 18

| opponent = Kentucky

| site_stadium = Legion Field

| site_cityst = Birmingham, AL

| gamename = Hall of Fame Classic

| tv = WTBS

| score = 20–16

| attend = 42,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-post-herald-hostetler-finally/134603560/|work=Birmingham Post-Herald|title=Hostetler finally gets warmed up|date=December 23, 1983|accessdate=November 4, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

}}

Jeff Hostetler was the starting quarterback for the Mountaineers. He led the team with 2345 passing yards and 16 touchdowns. Leading the team in rushing was Tom Gray with 498 net yards. Rich Hollins led the team in receiving with 50 receptions for 781 yards. Paul Woodside was also a reliable commodity for the Mountaineers. The Mountaineer offense was rolling after its first two games. They had beaten their first two opponents by a combined 103–10 score, with a 55–3 win over Ohio, and a 48–7 win over Pacific. Their first test of the season came on the road against #17 Maryland, where the Mountaineers emerged victorious 31–21. The next week, the Mountaineers played on the road, against a second straight ranked opponent in #19 Boston College. Again, the Mountaineers emerged victorious 27–17. They then avenged a 13–16 loss at Pittsburgh the year before, by beating the Panthers 24–21 at home. The next week, they posted a second consecutive win over a major rival by shutting out Virginia Tech 13–0 at home. The win moved WVU's ranking up to 3rd in the major polls. The Mountaineers were beaten at Penn State, the next week, ruining their national title hopes. It is very possible, that had the Mountaineers won that, they would be playing for the national championship. They were still hung over the week after, losing to Miami 20–3, giving them 2 straight losses. WVU came back with a 27–9 win over Temple, and a 35–7 win over Rutgers. They lost at Syracuse the next week 27–16, and closed out the season with a 20–16 win over Kentucky in the Hall of Fame Bowl.

{{AFB game box start

|Title=

|Visitor=Pittsburgh

|V1= 14|V2=7 |V3=0 |V4=0

|Host=West Virginia

|H1= 7|H2=7 |H3=3 |H4=7

|Date=October 1

|Location=Mountaineer Field, Morgantown, WV

|StartTime=

|TimeZone=

|ElapsedTime=

|Attendance=

|Weather=

|Referee=

|TVAnnouncers=

|TVStation=

}}

• Source: [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=dBzKUGQurMsC&dat=19831002&printsec=frontpage&hl=en]

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |FirstEntry=yes |Quarter=1 |Time= |Team=WVU |Event=Brown 19-yard pass from Hostetler (Woodside kick) |Score= WVU 7-0}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=1 |Time= |Team=PITT |Event=Quense 75-yard fumble return (Schubert kick) |Score= Tied 7-7}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=1 |Time= |Team=PITT |Event=Scales 21-yard run (Schubert kick) |Score= PITT 14-7}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=2 |Time= |Team=WVU |Event=Harvey 1-yard run (Woodside kick) |Score= Tied 14-14}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=2 |Time= |Team=PITT |Event=Wallace 35-yard pass from Congemi (Schubert kick) |Score= PITT 21-14}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=3 |Time= |Team=WVU |Event=Woodside 49-yard field goal |Score= PITT 21-17}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=4 |Time= |Team=WVU |Event=Hostetler 6-yard run (Woodside kick) |Score= WVU 24-21|LastEntry=yes}}

{{AFB game box end}}

{{Clear}}

{{American football roster/Header|year=1983|team=West Virginia Mountaineers|teamcolors=y

|offensive_players=

{{American football roster/Player|num=15|class=Sr|first=Jeff|last=Hostetler|pos=QB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=36|class=Jr|first=Ron|last=Wolfley|pos=FB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=48|class=Jr|first=Willie|last=Drewrey|pos=WR|link=y}}

|defensive_players=

|special_teams_players=

}}

{{American football roster/Footer|roster_url=|accessdate=

|head_coach=

• Don Nehlen

|asst_coach=

}}

{{Reflist}}

{{West Virginia Mountaineers football navbox}}

West Virginia

Category:All-American Bowl champion seasons

Category:West Virginia Mountaineers football seasons

West Virginia Mountaineers football