Over the years, like everyone, you get to know some of the athletes at school. During my years at WVU I knew a few guys on the football, baseball, basketball and wrestling team and not to mention a few ladies on the soccer team. Some were scrubs and some were all-stars. A few even play/played in the NFL. The point is they all were a great group of guys/gals. I have made a list of my all time favorite WVU athletes in certain categories. Here they are:
Best Friend - Matt Rubino, #16, Baseball – Yes, the same short, stocky meatball making guy at the tailgates and a groomsman in my wedding. But back in the day, he was a wicked sweet second baseman/shortstop for the Mountaineers. He has a 5 hit record against Providence, has a Big East championship ring and had a career game versus Notre Dame in 1997. He is the man and the epitome of a great WVU athlete, although temperamental at times. In fact, he acts like a grumpy old man and has been known to go hogging back in the day, but a true great friend.
Funniest – Jim Merritts, #92, Football– (if you Google him …he is not the Atheist) To me he is “King Dirty”, a big comedian (Jim tells a mean Poo Poo Pee Pee Joke) who can lighten up a large Manhattan office, but to everyone else he is #92, a nose tackle for the Mountaineers in the early eighties. He pounced on a Doug Flutie fumble in 1983, he helped beat Oklahoma State and actually won a bowl game. He was drafted by the Colts in 1987. Not only is he a nice guy but a hell of a WVU athlete.
Hardest Partiers – Wrestling Team (95-00) - I don’t want to list any names (I don’t want to incriminate anyone) but the wrestling team in the mid and late nineties were hard partiers, and not to mention a group of guys that won the EWL title in 1998. I saw enough naked wrestlers in this time period to last a lifetime. Between the ring worm and other skin ailments these guys were always the life of the party.
Favorite Ladies – Women’s Soccer (96-00) - Like the anonymous hot sweaty boys of the mat, the anonymous hot sweaty girls of the grass were always fun. These ladies of the late nineties partied hard and made a great impression as a new varsity team in the Big East. As one of the best start up programs in the country, these ladies definitely juggled their time well. In fact, this was the pre-hyphen days of Coach Izzo-Brown. Some of these ladies were always hanging out and that annoyed my girlfriend (my now wife) back in the day. In fact, after she read this she told me to go F-myself.
Most Handsome – Mike Lorello, #23, Football – Not only is he a great safety for a good Mountaineer football team but damn is he good looking. I imagine he is a lady killer in Morgantown. Keep it up Mike.
Editor's note: Billy is straight as an arrow, but we're not sure what to think of his continuous fascination with Mike Lorello. I actually wore my #23 jersey to work today, and now feel dirty.
Coolest Name – Kevin Pittsnogle, #34, Basketball – Need I say more? I am looking forward to hearing “Pittsnogled” many times this winter on ESPN.
Greatest Club Athlete – Of course, the number one lacrosse player of all time at WVU is...Me. That’s right Bill Warnick #33. I am easily the best defensemen to have stepped foot on Mountaineer Field. I was the defensive leading score my 4 years on the team. Some career highlights include: A game tying goal against Georgia Tech, 17 groundballs against University of Florida, was chosen to the Eastern Division All Star team and served as a team captain …you get the point…I am pretty darn good!
No Brainers – Jerry West and Sam Huff
Honorable Mention - Leon Agnew, Basketball
