Don Nehlen, the legendary former West Virginia University football coach, will be honored on Saturday with his name being displayed next to the six retired numbers on the Touchdown Terrace end of Milan Puskar Stadium.
Nehlen, who began his coaching career at WVU in 1980 and retired after the 2000 season, expressed his surprise and appreciation for the honor. He credited his former players, particularly his neighbor, for pushing WVU to bestow this recognition.
The on-field ceremony will take place during the first quarter of WVU's final home game against Cincinnati, which happens to be the same opponent that Nehlen faced in the inaugural game at Mountaineer Field. Nehlen reminisced about the pressure he felt during that game, as his team consisted of players who had never experienced a winning season. However, his coaching efforts paid off, and West Virginia emerged victorious with a score of 41-27.
Nehlen went on to have a successful coaching career, collecting 202 victories, leading the team to unbeaten regular seasons in 1988 and 1993, and being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005. Despite all his accomplishments, Nehlen believes that the memories of camaraderie with his players are more important than the wins and losses. Nehlen and his family chose to stay in Morgantown after his retirement because their children and grandchildren were there, prioritizing their company over financial offers from other places.
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