Game day has finally arrived at the 2008 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in Arizona!

The Mountaineers appearance in the BCS bowl has brought with it a cascade of emotions for the WVU faithful. Alumni and fans have come from across America to support the WVU players and interim Coach Bill Stewart. Coach Stewart made a stirring speech to Mountaineer Athletic Club donors attending the game in Phoenix, and he described the team as ready and anxious to play.

Yesterday, distinguished alumnus Ken Kendrick made a $1 million gift to support scholarships and other programs at WVU. His generosity was an added boost to the Mountaineer spirit.

While much of West Virginia has received a major amount of snowfall, Arizona continues to provide travelers with sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s.

Yesterday’s ?Mountaineer Connection? event at Garduno’s drew hundreds, if not thousands, of Gold & Blue participants throughout the entire day. For alumni band member Sue Ann Armstrong and her husband Wayne, the highlight of the day was hearing the “Pride of West Virginia” Pep Band. “The band continues to get better and better every year. We’re very proud of the group,” Armstrong said.

The visit to the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl has become a reunion of sorts for various alumni groups across the country.

Former alumni leaders from the Washington, DC, area were a part of the Arizona scene. Former National Capital Area Chapter leaders Bob and Bonnie Mummey and Tony Hylton met with the Paul Farmer family. Farmer is the popular “Head Crab” known for organizing the ever popular the DC alumni Crab Feast for nearly 30 years.

There were big contingencies of alumni groups from around the country. Jim Woodbord, Wayne Sparks, Ike Pethel and others from the Richmond area traveled west to cheer for the Mountaineers, as well as Parkersburg residents Richard Adams, Rick Adams, and John Dudley.

WVU’s first alumni chapter president, Reg Davis, was all smiles in sunny Scottsdale. He was part of the first Fiesta Bowl appearance. “It’s wonderful to see so many Mountaineers from back home supporting the team in Arizona,” states Davis.

And now, we?re off to Glendale for the “College Football’s Biggest Party” which is being held prior to kickoff of the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. The excitement is building and we?re looking forward to a great game!

Let?s Go Mountaineers!