When the Mountaineers take the field Saturday for WVU’s Coal Rush game against Arizona, Milan Puskar Stadium will be filled with black as West Virginia University pays tribute to the coal industry and the generations of West Virginians who helped power our state and nation.
It is a fitting celebration of an industry woven deeply into West Virginia’s history.
It is also a reminder of something broader: Energy has always been part of the fabric of this state, and today West Virginia’s natural gas and oil industry is playing an increasingly important role in helping power the future of Mountaineer athletics.
As a WVU graduate and chair of the Gas and Oil Association of West Virginia, I take a great deal of pride in that.
There is something special happening at WVU. This summer, Mountaineer baseball made its first trip to the College World Series and finished among the final four teams in the country. Across WVU athletics, student-athletes continue to give West Virginians something to rally around and a reason to proudly wear gold and blue.
Behind that success are businesses and organizations willing to invest in helping WVU compete on a national stage. Some of the most significant partners are members of West Virginia’s natural gas and oil industry.
Look closely at a Mountaineer uniform this year and you will see one of the most visible examples.
GO-WV member Antero Resources recently became the first jersey patch sponsor in WVU history. Through a five-year partnership, the Antero name now appears on the home and away uniforms of all 18 Mountaineer varsity sports, representing more than 500 student-athletes.
That is a significant commitment to WVU, but it is far from the only one coming from our industry.
Diversified Energy has served for years as the Official Energy Partner of WVU Athletics and has extended that relationship through 2031. Its partnership includes the Diversified Energy Terrace at Milan Puskar Stadium, support for the Mountaineer Athletic Club and opportunities for students through scholarships, internships and mentoring.
Hope Gas has made another historic investment. Through a 10-year partnership, one of college basketball’s most recognizable venues is now Hope Coliseum. Beyond the name on the building, Hope has invested throughout WVU in athletics, experiential learning and programs designed to create opportunities for young West Virginians.
Those are some of the most visible examples, but they are part of a much larger story.
Natural gas and oil companies do far more in West Virginia than produce the energy that heats homes, powers businesses and supports manufacturing. Our companies employ West Virginians, purchase goods and services from local businesses, support schools and nonprofits and invest in institutions that matter to the communities where our employees live and work.
West Virginia University is certainly one of those institutions.
That support matters more today than ever.
College athletics has undergone enormous change. Universities are competing nationally for student-athletes, coaches, facilities, technology and resources. Building a program capable of competing at the highest level requires strong fans and donors, but increasingly it also requires strong corporate partners.
West Virginia companies are answering that call.
And there is something especially appropriate about an energy industry standing behind the Mountaineers.
Every day, thousands of West Virginians put on their boots, hard hats and safety equipment and go to work producing and delivering the natural gas and oil that powers homes, businesses and communities across our state and country.
On Saturdays, the Mountaineers put on different equipment and go to work representing our state on a national stage.
This year, those two stories are quite literally stitched together.
Saturday’s Coal Rush will rightfully celebrate an important part of West Virginia’s energy heritage. As we do, we should also recognize the broader energy story unfolding around WVU and the companies investing in its future.
Our natural gas and oil industry isn’t simply cheering for the Mountaineers from the stands.
We are investing in their success, supporting their student-athletes and helping West Virginia University compete for what comes next.
We are helping power the Mountaineers.
Let’s Go Mountaineers.
