# 2012 West Virginia Mountaineers football team

The 2012 West Virginia Mountaineers football team represented West Virginia University in the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The season marked the Mountaineers' first season as members of the Big 12 Conference. In addition, the 2012 season was the first for the team since 1942 without a Backyard Brawl matchup against their top rival Pittsburgh due to their exit from the Big East Conference after the 2011 season. The Mountaineers were led by Dana Holgorsen in his second season as head coach. Joe DeForest and Keith Patterson served as co-defensive coordinators in their first season at WVU, while Shannon Dawson was elevated to offensive coordinator after serving as the team's receivers coach in the 2011 season. West Virginia played its home games on Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, West Virginia.
West Virginia, entered the 2012 season ranked 11th in AP Poll and were projected to contend with Oklahoma for the Big 12 in their first season in the conference. The Mountaineers won their first five games of the season, which included a shootout win over #25 Baylor on homecoming, and a high-scoring affair with #11 Texas. The Mountaineers who had risen up to #5 in the AP Poll, went on the road to face the Texas Tech, a game which they fell behind 35–7, and would ultimately lose 49–14. The Texas Tech loss was the start of 5–game losing streak, which saw the Mountaineers fall completely out the AP Poll, and out of Big 12 title contention. The Mountaineers recovered and won their final two games, to finish out the regular season with an 7–5 record, 4–5 in Big 12 play to finish in a four-way tie for fourth place. They were invited to the Pinstripe Bowl where they were defeated by longtime rival Syracuse.

## Preseason
### 2012 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for 2012 recruits :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40$^‡$ | Commit date |
| Imarjaye Albury DT | Miami, FL | Northwestern | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 280 lb (130 kg) | – | Mar 10, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 73 |||||||
| Christian Brown DT | Bridgeton, NJ | Bridgeton Senior | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 76 |||||||
| Roshard Burney RB | Palm Beach Gardens, FL | Palm Beach Gardens | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | 4.5 | Nov 28, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 75 |||||||
| Ford Childress QB | Houston, TX | Kinkaid | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | 4.8 | Apr 19, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 80 |||||||
| Torry Clayton RB | Homestead, FL | South Dade | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 4.4 | Jan 17, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 76 |||||||
| Travares Copeland ATH | Port St. Lucie, FL | Treasure Coast | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | – | Feb 1, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 77 |||||||
| K. J. Dillon DB | Apopka, FL | Apopka | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | 4.6 | Dec 11, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 76 |||||||
| John DePalma LS | Cumming, GA | Pinecrest Academy | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 235 lb (107 kg) | – | Mar 3, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: – |||||||
| Mark Glowinski OT | Scranton, PA | Lackawanna C.C. | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) | – | Jan 21, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: – |||||||
| Jarrod Harper DB | Frostburg, MD | Mountain Ridge | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | 4.5 | Feb 22, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 74 |||||||
| Korey Harris DE | Fruit Cove, FL | Bartram Trail | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 230 lb (100 kg) | 5.3 | Jan 19, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 76 |||||||
| Garrett Hope LB | The Woodlands, TX | The Woodlands | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | 4.7 | Jan 21, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 69 |||||||
| Will Johnson TE | Osseo, MN | Osseo | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 245 lb (111 kg) | 4.8 | Dec 15, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 75 |||||||
| Karl Joseph DB | Orlando, FL | Edgewater | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | – | Dec 15, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 77 |||||||
| Darreal Joyner WR | Miami, FL | Miami Central | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | 4.4 | Aug 1, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 76 |||||||
| Eric Kinsey DE | Miami, FL | Northwestern | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 240 lb (110 kg) | 4.7 | Feb 2, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 78 |||||||
| Nana Kyeremeh DB | Worthington, OH | Thomas Worthington | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | 4.4 | Jan 16, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 75 |||||||
| Josh Lambert K | Garland, TX | Garland | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | – | Feb 2, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: – |||||||
| Sam Lebbie LB | Hyattsville, MD | DeMatha | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 240 lb (110 kg) | 4.7 | Jul 30, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 79 |||||||
| Devonte Mathis WR | Miramar, FL | Miramar | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | 4.6 | Nov 15, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 78 |||||||
| Tony Matteo OL | Akron, OH | Manchester | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 275 lb (125 kg) | 5.3 | Jul 30, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: – |||||||
| Deontay McManus WR | Baltimore, MD | Dunbar | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | 4.5 | Jun 27, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 78 |||||||
| Brandon Napoleon ATH | Jersey City, NJ | St. Peter's Prep | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | 4.5 | Jun 18, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 78 |||||||
| Noble Nwachukwu DE | Wylie, TX | Wylie | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 240 lb (110 kg) | 4.7 | Jul 30, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 78 |||||||
| Tyler Orlosky OL | Lakewood, OH | Lakewood St. Edward | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) | 5.1 | Jul 30, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 77 |||||||
| Adam Pankey OL | Hamilton, OH | Hamilton | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 300 lb (140 kg) | 5.1 | Feb 1, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 73 |||||||
| Devonte Robinson WR | Delray Beach, FL | Village Academy | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | 4.5 | Jul 13, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 78 |||||||
| Rick Rumph DB | Daytona Beach, FL | Mainland | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | – | Jun 15, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: – |||||||
| Jordan Thompson WR | Katy, TX | Katy | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | 160 lb (73 kg) | – | Dec 1, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 75 |||||||
| Sean Walters DB | Hallandale Beach, FL | Hallandale | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | – | Dec 11, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 77 |||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 26 Rivals: 48 |||||||
| ‡ Refers to 40 yard dash Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height, weight and 40 time. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "West Virginia 2012 Football Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 2, 2012. "2012 West Virginia Commits". Scout.com. Retrieved August 2, 2012. "2012 Player Commitments – West Virginia". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 2, 2012. "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved August 2, 2012. "2012 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 2, 2012. |||||||

### Big 12 media poll

* Oklahoma (32), 396
* West Virginia (7), 339
* Texas 291
* Oklahoma State, 267
* TCU (1), 260
* Kansas State (1), 257
* Baylor, 162
* Iowa State, 121
* Texas Tech, 116
* Kansas, 46

### Awards candidates
## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 1 | Noon | Marshall* | No. 11 | Mountaineer FieldMorgantown, WV (Friends of Coal Bowl) | FX | W 69–34 | 59,120 |
| September 15 | 4:30 p.m. | vs. No. 4 (FCS) James Madison* | No. 9 | FedExFieldLandover, MD | ROOT | W 42–12 | 45,511 |
| September 22 | Noon | Maryland* | No. 8 | Mountaineer FieldMorgantown, WV (rivalry) | FX | W 31–21 | 58,504 |
| September 29 | Noon | No. 25 Baylor | No. 9 | Mountaineer FieldMorgantown, WV (Stripe the Stadium) | FX | W 70–63 | 60,012 |
| October 6 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 11 Texas | No. 8 | Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial StadiumAustin, TX | FOX | W 48–45 | 101,851 |
| October 13 | 3:30 p.m. | at Texas Tech | No. 5 | Jones AT&T StadiumLubbock, TX | ABC | L 14–49 | 57,328 |
| October 20 | 7:00 p.m. | No. 4 Kansas State | No. 13 | Mountaineer FieldMorgantown, WV | FOX | L 14–55 | 60,101 |
| November 3 | 3:00 p.m. | TCU | No. 21 | Mountaineer FieldMorgantown, WV | FOX | L 38–39 $^{2OT}$ | 52,322 |
| November 10 | 3:30 p.m. | at Oklahoma State | | Boone Pickens StadiumStillwater, OK | ABC | L 34–55 | 57,799 |
| November 17 | 7:00 p.m. | No. 12 Oklahoma | | Mountaineer FieldMorgantown, WV (Gold Rush) | FOX | L 49–50 | 50,238 |
| November 23 | 3:30 p.m. | at Iowa State | | Jack Trice StadiumAmes, IA | ABC | W 31–24 | 53,792 |
| December 1 | 2:30 p.m. | Kansas | | Mountaineer FieldMorgantown, WV | FSN | W 59–10 | 51,112 |
| December 29 | 3:15 p.m. | vs. Syracuse* | | Yankee StadiumBronx, NY (Pinstripe Bowl, rivalry) | ESPN | L 14–38 | 39,098 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll and BCS Standings after October 14 released prior to gameAll times are in Eastern time ||||||||

## Game summaries
### Marshall

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Thundering Herd | 0 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 34 |
| #11 Mountaineers | 13 | 21 | 21 | 14 | 69 |

### James Madison

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #4 (FCS) Dukes | 0 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 12 |
| #9 Mountaineers | 21 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 42 |

### Maryland

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Terrapins | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| #8 Mountaineers | 14 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 31 |

### #25 Baylor

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #25 Bears | 14 | 21 | 7 | 21 | 63 |
| #9 Mountaineers | 14 | 21 | 21 | 14 | 70 |

### #11 Texas

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #8 Mountaineers | 14 | 13 | 7 | 14 | 48 |
| #11 Longhorns | 7 | 21 | 10 | 7 | 45 |

### Texas Tech

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #5 Mountaineers | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Red Raiders | 14 | 21 | 7 | 7 | 49 |

### #4 Kansas State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #4 Wildcats | 10 | 21 | 21 | 3 | 55 |
| #17 Mountaineers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |

### TCU

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | 2OT | Total |
| Horned Frogs | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 8 | 39 |
| #23 Mountaineers | 0 | 21 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 38 |

### Oklahoma State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mountaineers | 7 | 10 | 17 | 0 | 34 |
| Cowboys | 21 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 55 |

### #13 Oklahoma

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #13 Sooners | 10 | 21 | 7 | 12 | 50 |
| Mountaineers | 3 | 14 | 13 | 19 | 49 |

### Iowa State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mountaineers | 3 | 14 | 3 | 11 | 31 |
| Cyclones | 0 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 24 |

### Kansas

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Jayhawks | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
| Mountaineers | 14 | 21 | 17 | 7 | 59 |

### Syracuse–Pinstripe Bowl

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mountaineers | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| Orange | 3 | 9 | 23 | 3 | 38 |

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
| AP | 11 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 17 | 25 | 23 | — | — | — | — | RV | — |
| Coaches | 11 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 15 | 22 | 19 | RV | — | — | — | — | — |
| Harris | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | 4 | 15 | 22 | 20 | RV | — | — | — | RV | Not released |
| BCS | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | 13 | 19 | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | Not released |