WVA

The helmet was slightly changed with only the yellow outline removed from the state-shaped decal but the personnel was vastly different after graduation stripped most of the starters from 1970. Newcomers stepped up to provide offensive innovator Bowden with a lot of firepower. QB Bernie Galiffa throwing to Harry "Snake" Blake proved potent and the ground attack led by Pete Wood and soph Kerry Marbury was opened up due to the passing game. Marbury had been the West Virginia High School sprint champion and did not disappoint. A contribution of 484 yards to the rushing cause was made by junior college transfer and Lawrence (N.Y.) High School FB Brian Chiles, the alma mater of Helmet Hut personnel. Despite great play by Defensive MVP Tom Zakowski, and contributions from JC-transfer LB Billy Joe Mantooth who had used weight training to gain forty pounds since high school ball, more front seven defense was needed. Leon Jenkins stepped into a DB role helping to set a school record twenty-one interceptions, and was an effective kick and punt return man but the record slid a bit to 7-4. '72 brought more experience at QB with Galiffa returning, an 8-3 regular season record, and another shot at the Peach Bowl where the Mountaineers finished on the down side of a 49-13 contest against N.C. State. Marbury stepped up to a great year running the ball (and a 101 yard kickoff return against Penn State) and then immediately left after his junior year for the Canadian Football League. Chiles was an effective FB and Soph WR Danny "Lightning" Buggs was outstanding with a 19.5 per catch average and pro potential with his sprinter's speed (Georgia High School State Champion). Finishing fourth nationally in scoring, setting a new school interception record with twenty-four, having lost his three games by a total of eighteen points and seeing good frosh and soph classes coming up, Bowden was very optimistic as he moved towards 1973.