While the Rodriguez saga might lead to a West Virginia vs. Michigan rivalry, at least if the bowls agree to one, the football rivalry between West Virginia and Syracuse is one that for many has flown beneath the radar of national interest. When Syracuse first rose to power in the late 1950’s (see  http://www.helmethut.com/College/Syracuse/syracuseindex.html     for the entire HELMET HUT collection of authentic reproductions of the Syracuse helmets from the suspension era and the seasonal summaries) there were doubters, believing that Eastern football did not rise to the level of many other parts of the nation. This in part came from the perception that Syracuse played too many Ivy League or Ivy League type opponents such as upstate New York rival Colgate. Stars like Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, John Mackey, Floyd Little, Larry Csonka, and Joe Ehrmann changed the minds of many on-the-field opponents and for a solid decade or more, Syracuse teams were feared.

The history of West Virginia has been a proud one, despite a program that has been both high and low. Like Syracuse, the Mountaineers were sometimes viewed as a regional power but not a mover and shaker on the national scene yet there have been superlative squads that could play with anyone (see the entire West Virginia collection of helmets and their history at HELMET HUT http://www.helmethut.com/College/WV/WVAindex.html ). While most college football fans are aware that Pitt and West Virginia play a highly spirited rivalry game each season, one with area “bragging rights” in the balance and possible wins and losses that can significantly affect the recruiting battles throughout the region, the Syracuse and WVU game has been often soft-peddled despite the fact that both universities share the same Big East Conference affiliation and it is seen as serious business by the fans of both schools.