One of the finest players to ever play at WVU, Leland Byrd has achieved a great deal during his outstanding career as both a basketball player and athletic administrator. On the hardwood, the "Hammer" was praised by many as one of the finest left-handed cagers ever. During his four years as a regular while playing for Lee Patton, the Mountaineers posted records of 12-6, 24-3, 19-3 and 17-3 and three straight NIT berths. The 1945-46 team owns the distinction of being the first Mountaineer team to reach the 20-win mark.
The late Lee Patton was an outstanding WVU basketball coach from 1946-50. A Carbon, Texas, native, Patton led the Mountaineers to a 91-26 overall record during his tenure for a .778 winning percentage, still the second best in school history. Patton led West Virginia to two straight NIT berths in 1946 and 1947. Under his direction, WVU posted a school-record 57-game home winning streak that ended in the final home game of the 1949 season against Pitt.
WVU Basketball Team Plays its Last Game in Mountaineer Fieldhouse vs. Pitt
Date:
1970/03/03
Description:
'Pitt 92, West Virginia 87; March 3, 1970; The final game in historic Mountaineer Field House found West Virginia losing to Pitt, 92-87, but finishing a 42 year span with an overall record of 347-77 in the Beechurst Avenue barn. Two stars who played in the Field House when it first opened in 1928 were honored at halftime--Dr. Marshall (Little Sleepy) Glenn, former West Virginia athlete and coach, and Charley Hyatt, then All-American basketball star at Pitt. Athletic Director Robert N. (Red) Brown presented plaques to Hyatt, Glenn, T. Edward Davis (who coached Salem College in the first Field House game in 1928), and Mickey Furfari who accepted Walter L. (Bill) Hart, columnist and former editor and sports editor of the Morgantown Dominion News. A speech by Brown on Field House highlights was the feature of the special halftime ceremony.'
West Virginia University Basketball Trainer Whitey Gwynne is handing out towels to players sitting on the bench. 'Taylor Publishing Company, Job Number 07206, Picture Number 2, page 209.'
Portrait of John Lesher, member of the West Virginia University Basketball Team. 'Taylor Publishing Company, Job Number 07206, Picture Number 1, Page Number 223. Copyright 1963 by Laughead Photographers, Dallas, Texas. Reproduction permitted by all processes except photography.'
Row one- Bill Ryczaj, Ricky Ray, Bill Maphis, Marty Lentz, Bob Camp, Buddy Quertinmont, Rudy Zatezalo, Perry Polinsky, Bob Benfield. Row two- Asst. Coaches Bob Lochmueller and Quentin Barnette, Equipment Mgr. Carl Roberts, Dave Palmer, Jerry Meadows, John Lesher, John Cavacini, Gary Shaffer, Mgr. Lance Kauf, Trainer Whitey Gwynne, Coach George King.
Kneeling- Norman Holmes, Dave Palmer, Ed Harvard, Gary Shaffer, Lewis Hale. Sitting- Mike Caryl (manager), Carl Roberts (equipment custodian), Dick Penrod, Perry Polinsky, John Lesher, Bob Benfield, George Krajack (assistant coach), Whitey Gwynne (trainer). Standing- Bucky Waters (coach), John Cavacini, Ron Williams, Dave Reaser, Bill Ryczaj, Carl Head, Jim Lewis, Letcher Humphries, Sonny Moran (assistant coach).
Kneeling left to right- Dave Cicci, Ike Harris, Larry Pugh. Sitting left to right- Larry Harris, Gary Reichembecher, Mike Carson, Larry Campbell. Standing left to right- Greg Zimm, _, Rick Davis, Levi Phillips, Harold Black, Joe Chrzaszcz, Buo Henderson, Coach Chuck Wimsor.
Babes of the Wood who won 12 of 17 games during the season and a place in the National Invitation Tournament at New York. Left to right- Bob Carroll of Wheeling, Jack Dial of Huntington, Jim Walthall of Princeton, Leland Byrd of Matoaka, Dave Wilson of Huntington.
Line up: Manager, J. B. Wyatt; Captain, P. B. Naylor; J. H. Riddle; J. M. Burns; H. H. Baumgartner; F. M. Bailey; and Quintero. Dells: 'Rah! Rah! Ru! W. V. U. Sis boom bah! Tiger!!!' 'Che he! Che ha! Che ha, ha, ha! West Virginia! Rah! Rah! Rah!' Chew terbacher! Chew terbacher! Chaw, Chaw, Chaw! Eat terbacher, eat terbacher! Rah, Rah, Rah! Drink a large, Drink a large, Drink a large beer. West Virginia Varsity! We're all here!'
Group portrait of the West Virginia University Basketball Team, 1921: 'Standing: Coach Stadsvold, Russell Meredith, Clem Kiger, Robert Hawkins, Douglas Bowers, Manager Harry Watkins. Seated: David Graham, George Hill, Captain Homer Martin, Pierre Hill, Fred White.'
