Black Diamond Trophy
Encyclopedia
The Black Diamond Trophy was a college football
trophy
that annually went to the winner of the West Virginia University
and Virginia Tech
football game. The trophy was introduced in 1997 and was meant to symbolize the Appalachian region’s rich coal
heritage (the phrase "black diamond" is often used as a term for coal.)
Virginia Tech held the trophy in 6 of the 9 years in which it was contested, but West Virginia University holds a 28-21-1 overall series lead over Virginia Tech. The final game of the series was played on October 1, 2005, in Morgantown, West Virginia
. Virginia Tech won the game 34-17.
As of the 2006 season, neither school has the other listed on their schedule and the future of the Black Diamond Trophy is uncertain since Virginia Tech's move from the Big East to the ACC
in 2004.
began leading the Hokies to success in the 1990s, the rivalry soon elevated. As of the 2005 game in Morgantown, West Virginia leads the series 28-22-1.
The first big game of the rivalry came in 1974. Both teams were wrapping up losing seasons in Blacksburg
, but neither thought the game would be so hard fought. Former West Virginia head coach Bobby Bowden
even received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against him for arguing a personal foul that cost the Mountaineers 30 yards. The game featured a 99-yard interception return and an 85-yard touchdown run for Artie Owens
and the Mountaineers. The Hokies had two chances to hit a game-winning field goal, after a penalty on West Virginia, but missed both and lost 22-21. Only a year later, West Virginia picked up a hard-fought 10-7 win which ended with a Mountaineer game-winning field goal.
In 1979, West Virginia capped one of the greatest comebacks in the rivalry's history. Down 23-6 at halftime, the Mountaineers rallied behind quarterback Oliver Luck
and his four second-half touchdowns to pull out a 34-23 come-from-behind victory.
at West Virginia. The Hokies, who eventually made it to the Peach Bowl, thrashed the legendary coach's team 34-11. Virginia Tech runningback Cyrus Lawrence
ran for 173 yards, the most ever by a Virginia Tech back in the series. A defensive struggle in 1984 also highlighted the early 80s contests. The game was won by the Mountaineers 14-7, despite being outgained 339-240 yards by Virginia Tech (points, not stats, win ball games). The '84 contest marked the first time that both teams made a bowl as well: West Virginia the Bluebonnet Bowl
and Virginia Tech the Independence Bowl
.
The second longest win streak in the series by the Mountaineers (WVU won seven in a row against VPI from 1951 to 1958 and won five in a row from 1981 to 1985), ended in 1986. The last win in that streak, was a 24-9 win by the Mountaineers.
In 1988, en route to the first undefeated season in school history, West Virginia won against the Hokies 22-10. In the hardest game for the Mountaineers on that season, West Virginia battled six turnovers and 13 penalties to win. Former head coach Don Nehlen
remarked about playing in Blacksburg
, “Playing here is like airplane landings – any one you can walk away from is a good one.” The following year, 1989, West Virginia lost a dramatic game to the Hokies, 12-10. The win was the first for Virginia Tech in Morgantown
since 1967 and the first time that the Hokies defeated a ranked Mountaineer team (who was coming off of the undefeated '88 season).
West Virginia handed the Hokies payback for the '91 contest in 1993, when they again ended the season undefeated. The Mountaineers pulled out a 14-13 win, despite five turnovers and a late Virginia Tech field goal attempt (which sailed wide right). Head coach Frank Beamer
, on the hot seat, saved his job by leading the Hokies to the Independence Bowl
. The 1994 game was the first to be televised by ESPN
. The game was a 34-6 win for the #14-ranked Hokies and began a winning span of three years by a combined score of 92-20.
In 1997, West Virginia ended Virginia Tech's three-year winning streak in front of 64,000 fans and a CBS
television audience (the first of the series). The Mountaineers won 30-17 behind Amos Zereoue's
153 rushing yards and Marc Bulger's
passing and rushing touchdowns.
One of the greatest wins in the series by the Hokies came in 1999. With Marc Bulger
out for the Mountaineers, and freshman sensation Michael Vick
at quarterback for the Hokies, Virginia Tech won 22-20 in dramatic fashion. West Virginia scored the go-ahead touchdown to put them up 20-19 with 1:15 left to play. However, Vick led the Hokies on a dramatic drive, highlighted by a key 26-yard scramble down the sideline when it appeared Vick would be tackled. Shayne Graham
then hit the game-winning 44-yard field goal to preserve Virginia Tech's undefeated season.
dramatic comeback for the Hokies, Virginia Tech again beat West Virginia in the form of a comeback. After leading 14–7 in the third quarter, the Mountaineers collapsed. Andre Davis
, Tech's speedy receiver, scored on a 30-yard reverse, a 64-yard pass and a 76-yard punt return in the span of six minutes to lead the Hokies to a 48–20 victory. Forty one of Tech's 48 points came in the second half, which was a school record.
In 2003, West Virginia recorded one of the greatest upsets in school history against the Hokies. The #3 Virginia Tech Hokies came into Morgantown
and were upset by the double-digit underdog Mountaineers 28–7. The Hokies had beaten Syracuse 51–7 previously, while West Virginia was only 2–4. The game featured a 93-yard pass by Rasheed Marshall
to give the Mountaineers a 21–7 lead. Marshall also scored the last touchdown on a four-yard run. Head coach of the Mountaineers, Rich Rodriguez
, said, “That may have been the most electric crowd that I’ve seen since I’ve been back here. My wife said everybody stood up and yelled from the start until the finish of that game.”
In 2004, the Hokies got revenge on the Mountaineers for their upset the season before. The #6-ranked Mountaineers lost 19–13 in Blacksburg
to a key field goal block that was taken back 74 yards to give the Hokies a 13–0 lead. The last game of the rivalry came in 2005, when Virginia Tech, led by Marcus Vick
, defeated the Mountaineers 34–17.
The series was discontinued in large part because of Virginia Tech's move to the Atlantic Coast Conference.
victories shaded Maroon. West Virginia University
victories are shaded Navy.
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
trophy
Trophy
A trophy is a reward for a specific achievement, and serves as recognition or evidence of merit. Trophies are most often awarded for sporting events, from youth sports to professional level athletics...
that annually went to the winner of the West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
and Virginia Tech
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, popularly known as Virginia Tech , is a public land-grant university with the main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia with other research and educational centers throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and internationally.Founded in...
football game. The trophy was introduced in 1997 and was meant to symbolize the Appalachian region’s rich coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
heritage (the phrase "black diamond" is often used as a term for coal.)
Virginia Tech held the trophy in 6 of the 9 years in which it was contested, but West Virginia University holds a 28-21-1 overall series lead over Virginia Tech. The final game of the series was played on October 1, 2005, in Morgantown, West Virginia
Morgantown, West Virginia
Morgantown is a city in Monongalia County, West Virginia. It is the county seat of Monongalia County. Placed along the banks of the Monongahela River, Morgantown is the largest city in North-Central West Virginia, and the base of the Morgantown metropolitan area...
. Virginia Tech won the game 34-17.
As of the 2006 season, neither school has the other listed on their schedule and the future of the Black Diamond Trophy is uncertain since Virginia Tech's move from the Big East to the ACC
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
in 2004.
Early games
The first West Virginia-Virginia Tech football game dates back to 1912, but they started playing consecutively in 1973. The series lasted 51 games, from '73 to '05. When head coach Frank BeamerFrank Beamer
Frank Beamer is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University , a position he has held since 1987. From 1981 to 1986, Beamer served as the head coach at Murray State University...
began leading the Hokies to success in the 1990s, the rivalry soon elevated. As of the 2005 game in Morgantown, West Virginia leads the series 28-22-1.
The first big game of the rivalry came in 1974. Both teams were wrapping up losing seasons in Blacksburg
Blacksburg, Virginia
Blacksburg is an incorporated town located in Montgomery County, Virginia, United States, with a population of 42,620 at the 2010 census. Blacksburg, Christiansburg, and Radford are the three principal jurisdictions of the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford Metropolitan Statistical Area which...
, but neither thought the game would be so hard fought. Former West Virginia head coach Bobby Bowden
Bobby Bowden
Robert Cleckler "Bobby" Bowden is a retired college football coach. He coached the Florida State Seminoles football team from the 1976 to 2009 seasons...
even received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against him for arguing a personal foul that cost the Mountaineers 30 yards. The game featured a 99-yard interception return and an 85-yard touchdown run for Artie Owens
Artie Owens
Arthur Gene Owens was an American football running back, return specialist, and receiver that played collegiately for the West Virginia Mountaineers. He was also a track runner for the Mountaineers...
and the Mountaineers. The Hokies had two chances to hit a game-winning field goal, after a penalty on West Virginia, but missed both and lost 22-21. Only a year later, West Virginia picked up a hard-fought 10-7 win which ended with a Mountaineer game-winning field goal.
In 1979, West Virginia capped one of the greatest comebacks in the rivalry's history. Down 23-6 at halftime, the Mountaineers rallied behind quarterback Oliver Luck
Oliver Luck
Oliver Luck is the athletic director of West Virginia University, his alma mater. Luck is a retired American football player who spent four seasons in the National Football League as a quarterback for the Houston Oilers . He was also the first president and general manager of the Houston Dynamo...
and his four second-half touchdowns to pull out a 34-23 come-from-behind victory.
1980s
After West Virginia pulled off the great 34-23 comeback in 1979, the Hokies up-ended new head coach Don NehlenDon Nehlen
Don Nehlen is a former American football player and coach. He was head football coach at Bowling Green State University and at West Virginia University . Nehlen retired from coaching college football in 2001 with a career record of 202–128–8 and as the 17th winningest coach in...
at West Virginia. The Hokies, who eventually made it to the Peach Bowl, thrashed the legendary coach's team 34-11. Virginia Tech runningback Cyrus Lawrence
Cyrus Lawrence
Cyrus Lawrence was the tailback for the Virginia Tech Hokies football team from 1979 until 1982. He finished his career at Tech as the school's all-time lead rusher, with a career total of 3,767 yards...
ran for 173 yards, the most ever by a Virginia Tech back in the series. A defensive struggle in 1984 also highlighted the early 80s contests. The game was won by the Mountaineers 14-7, despite being outgained 339-240 yards by Virginia Tech (points, not stats, win ball games). The '84 contest marked the first time that both teams made a bowl as well: West Virginia the Bluebonnet Bowl
Bluebonnet Bowl
The Bluebonnet Bowl was an annual college football bowl game played in Houston, Texas. A civic group was appointed by the Houston Chamber of Commerce Athletics Committee in 1959 to organize the bowl game. It was held at Rice Stadium from 1959 through 1967, and again in 1985 and 1986. The game was...
and Virginia Tech the Independence Bowl
Independence Bowl
The Independence Bowl is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I college football bowl game that is played annually at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana, so named because it was inaugurated in the United States bicentennial year, 1976....
.
The second longest win streak in the series by the Mountaineers (WVU won seven in a row against VPI from 1951 to 1958 and won five in a row from 1981 to 1985), ended in 1986. The last win in that streak, was a 24-9 win by the Mountaineers.
In 1988, en route to the first undefeated season in school history, West Virginia won against the Hokies 22-10. In the hardest game for the Mountaineers on that season, West Virginia battled six turnovers and 13 penalties to win. Former head coach Don Nehlen
Don Nehlen
Don Nehlen is a former American football player and coach. He was head football coach at Bowling Green State University and at West Virginia University . Nehlen retired from coaching college football in 2001 with a career record of 202–128–8 and as the 17th winningest coach in...
remarked about playing in Blacksburg
Blacksburg, Virginia
Blacksburg is an incorporated town located in Montgomery County, Virginia, United States, with a population of 42,620 at the 2010 census. Blacksburg, Christiansburg, and Radford are the three principal jurisdictions of the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford Metropolitan Statistical Area which...
, “Playing here is like airplane landings – any one you can walk away from is a good one.” The following year, 1989, West Virginia lost a dramatic game to the Hokies, 12-10. The win was the first for Virginia Tech in Morgantown
Morgantown, West Virginia
Morgantown is a city in Monongalia County, West Virginia. It is the county seat of Monongalia County. Placed along the banks of the Monongahela River, Morgantown is the largest city in North-Central West Virginia, and the base of the Morgantown metropolitan area...
since 1967 and the first time that the Hokies defeated a ranked Mountaineer team (who was coming off of the undefeated '88 season).
1990s
In 1991, Virginia Tech overcame the odds to beat West Virginia 20-14. Heavy rain, a 50-minute lightning delay, and a late offensive surge by the Mountaineers threatened Virginia Tech's win. But when the Mountaineers fumbled on a one-yard line handoff with 16 seconds left in the game, the Hokies came away with the win.West Virginia handed the Hokies payback for the '91 contest in 1993, when they again ended the season undefeated. The Mountaineers pulled out a 14-13 win, despite five turnovers and a late Virginia Tech field goal attempt (which sailed wide right). Head coach Frank Beamer
Frank Beamer
Frank Beamer is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University , a position he has held since 1987. From 1981 to 1986, Beamer served as the head coach at Murray State University...
, on the hot seat, saved his job by leading the Hokies to the Independence Bowl
Independence Bowl
The Independence Bowl is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I college football bowl game that is played annually at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana, so named because it was inaugurated in the United States bicentennial year, 1976....
. The 1994 game was the first to be televised by ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
. The game was a 34-6 win for the #14-ranked Hokies and began a winning span of three years by a combined score of 92-20.
In 1997, West Virginia ended Virginia Tech's three-year winning streak in front of 64,000 fans and a CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
television audience (the first of the series). The Mountaineers won 30-17 behind Amos Zereoue's
Amos Zereoue
Amos Zereoué is an African-born former American football player in the National Football League, who last played for the New England Patriots...
153 rushing yards and Marc Bulger's
Marc Bulger
Marc Robert Bulger [] is a former American football quarterback. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at West Virginia....
passing and rushing touchdowns.
One of the greatest wins in the series by the Hokies came in 1999. With Marc Bulger
Marc Bulger
Marc Robert Bulger [] is a former American football quarterback. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at West Virginia....
out for the Mountaineers, and freshman sensation Michael Vick
Michael Vick
Michael Dwayne Vick is an American football quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League...
at quarterback for the Hokies, Virginia Tech won 22-20 in dramatic fashion. West Virginia scored the go-ahead touchdown to put them up 20-19 with 1:15 left to play. However, Vick led the Hokies on a dramatic drive, highlighted by a key 26-yard scramble down the sideline when it appeared Vick would be tackled. Shayne Graham
Shayne Graham
Michael Shayne Graham is an American football placekicker. He was signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2000, and most recently played with the New England Patriots...
then hit the game-winning 44-yard field goal to preserve Virginia Tech's undefeated season.
2000s
The following season after Michael Vick'sMichael Vick
Michael Dwayne Vick is an American football quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League...
dramatic comeback for the Hokies, Virginia Tech again beat West Virginia in the form of a comeback. After leading 14–7 in the third quarter, the Mountaineers collapsed. Andre Davis
André Davis
André N. Davis is a American football wide receiver and kick returner who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft...
, Tech's speedy receiver, scored on a 30-yard reverse, a 64-yard pass and a 76-yard punt return in the span of six minutes to lead the Hokies to a 48–20 victory. Forty one of Tech's 48 points came in the second half, which was a school record.
In 2003, West Virginia recorded one of the greatest upsets in school history against the Hokies. The #3 Virginia Tech Hokies came into Morgantown
Morgantown, West Virginia
Morgantown is a city in Monongalia County, West Virginia. It is the county seat of Monongalia County. Placed along the banks of the Monongahela River, Morgantown is the largest city in North-Central West Virginia, and the base of the Morgantown metropolitan area...
and were upset by the double-digit underdog Mountaineers 28–7. The Hokies had beaten Syracuse 51–7 previously, while West Virginia was only 2–4. The game featured a 93-yard pass by Rasheed Marshall
Rasheed Marshall
Rasheed Malik Marshall is an American football wide receiver that is currently a free agent. He previously played for the Columbus Destroyers of the Arena Football League. He was formerly a wide receiver and kick returner in the National Football League for the St. Louis Rams...
to give the Mountaineers a 21–7 lead. Marshall also scored the last touchdown on a four-yard run. Head coach of the Mountaineers, Rich Rodriguez
Rich Rodriguez
Richard A. "Rich" Rodriguez is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at the University of Arizona. Rodriguez previously served as the head football coach at Salem University , Glenville State College , West Virginia University , and the University...
, said, “That may have been the most electric crowd that I’ve seen since I’ve been back here. My wife said everybody stood up and yelled from the start until the finish of that game.”
In 2004, the Hokies got revenge on the Mountaineers for their upset the season before. The #6-ranked Mountaineers lost 19–13 in Blacksburg
Blacksburg, Virginia
Blacksburg is an incorporated town located in Montgomery County, Virginia, United States, with a population of 42,620 at the 2010 census. Blacksburg, Christiansburg, and Radford are the three principal jurisdictions of the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford Metropolitan Statistical Area which...
to a key field goal block that was taken back 74 yards to give the Hokies a 13–0 lead. The last game of the rivalry came in 2005, when Virginia Tech, led by Marcus Vick
Marcus Vick
Marcus Vick is a former college and professional football player. He is the younger brother of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, who also began playing high school football in Newport News Public Schools. After accepting a full scholarship to attend Virginia Tech, Marcus played...
, defeated the Mountaineers 34–17.
The series was discontinued in large part because of Virginia Tech's move to the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Game results
Virginia TechVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, popularly known as Virginia Tech , is a public land-grant university with the main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia with other research and educational centers throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and internationally.Founded in...
victories shaded Maroon. West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
victories are shaded Navy.
| # | Date | Site | Winning team | Losing team | Series | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | November 16, 1912 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia Tech | 41 | West Virginia | 0 | VT 1-0 |
| 2 | November 13, 1915 | Morgantown, WV | West Virginia | 19 | Virginia Tech | 0 | TIE 1-1 |
| 3 | October 14, 1916 | Charleston, WV | West Virginia | 20 | Virginia Tech | 0 | WVU 2-1 |
| 4 | November 10, 1917 | Huntington, WV | West Virginia | 27 | Virginia Tech | 3 | WVU 3-1 |
| 5 | November 15, 1952 | Morgantown, WV | West Virginia | 27 | Virginia Tech | 7 | WVU 4-1 |
| 6 | November 7, 1953 | Bluefield, WV | West Virginia | 12 | Virginia Tech | 7 | WVU 5-1 |
| 7 | September 28, 1957 | Morgantown, WV | West Virginia | 14 | Virginia Tech | 0 | WVU 6-1 |
| 8 | October 25, 1958 | Richmond, VA | West Virginia | 21 | Virginia Tech | 20 | WVU 7-1 |
| 9 | November 14, 1959 | Morgantown, WV | Virginia Tech | 12 | West Virginia | 0 | WVU 7-2 |
| 10 | September 24, 1960 | Richmond, VA | Virginia Tech | 15 | West Virginia | 0 | WVU 7-3 |
| 11 | October 7, 1961 | Morgantown, WV | West Virginia | 28 | Virginia Tech | 0 | WVU 8-3 |
| 12 | September 29, 1962 | Richmond, VA | West Virginia | 14 | Virginia Tech | 0 | WVU 9-3 |
| 13 | November 16, 1963 | Morgantown, WV | Virginia Tech | 28 | West Virginia | 3 | WVU 9-4 |
| 14 | October 17, 1964 | Blacksburg, VA | West Virginia | 23 | Virginia Tech | 10 | WVU 10-4 |
| 15 | November 6, 1965 | Morgantown, WV | West Virginia | 31 | Virginia Tech | 22 | WVU 11-4 |
| 16 | October 1, 1966 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia Tech | 13 | West Virginia | 13 | WVU 11-4-1 |
| 17 | October 28, 1967 | Morgantown, WV | Virginia Tech | 20 | West Virginia | 7 | WVU 11-5-1 |
| 18 | October 26, 1968 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia Tech | 27 | West Virginia | 12 | WVU 11-6-1 |
| 19 | September 22, 1973 | Morgantown, WV | West Virginia | 24 | Virginia Tech | 10 | WVU 12-6-1 |
| 20 | November 23, 1974 | Blacksburg, VA | West Virginia | 22 | Virginia Tech | 21 | WVU 13-6-1 |
| 21 | October 25, 1975 | Morgantown, WV | West Virginia | 10 | Virginia Tech | 7 | WVU 14-6-1 |
| 22 | October 30, 1976 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia Tech | 24 | Virginia Tech | 7 | WVU 14-7-1 |
| 23 | November 12, 1977 | Morgantown, WV | West Virginia | 20 | Virginia Tech | 14 | WVU 15-7-1 |
| 24 | October 14, 1978 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia Tech | 16 | West Virginia | 3 | WVU 15-8-1 |
| 25 | November 3, 1979 | Morgantown, WV | West Virginia | 34 | Virginia Tech | 23 | WVU 16-8-1 |
| 26 | November 1, 1980 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia Tech | 34 | West Virginia | 11 | WVU 16-9-1 |
| 27 | October 17, 1981 | Morgantown, WV | West Virginia | 27 | Virginia Tech | 6 | WVU 17-9-1 |
| 28 | October 16, 1982 | Blacksburg, VA | West Virginia | 16 | Virginia Tech | 6 | WVU 18-9-1 |
| 29 | October 15, 1983 | Morgantown, WV | West Viriginia | 13 | Virginia Tech | 0 | WVU 19-9-1 |
| 30 | September 15, 1984 | Blacksburg, VA | West Virginia | 14 | Virginia Tech | 7 | WVU 20-9-1 |
| 31 | October 5, 1985 | Morgantown, WV | West Virginia | 24 | Virginia Tech | 9 | WVU 21-9-1 |
| 32 | October 4, 1986 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia Tech | 13 | West Virginia | 7 | WVU 21-10-1 |
| 33 | November 7, 1987 | Morgantown, WV | West Virginia | 28 | Virginia Tech | 16 | WVU 22-10-1 |
| 34 | October 1, 1988 | Blacksburg, VA | West Virginia | 22 | Virginia Tech | 10 | WVU 23-10-1 |
| 35 | October 7, 1989 | Morgantown, WV | Virginia Tech | 12 | West Virginia | 10 | WVU 23-11-1 |
| 36 | October 6, 1990 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia Tech | 26 | West Virginia | 21 | WVU 23-12-1 |
| 37 | October 5, 1991 | Morgantown, WV | Virginia Tech | 20 | West Virginia | 14 | WVU 23-13-1 |
| 38 | September 26, 1992 | Blacksburg, VA | West Virginia | 16 | Virginia Tech | 7 | WVU 24-13-1 |
| 39 | October 2, 1993 | Morgantown | West Virginia | 14 | Virginia Tech | 13 | WVU 25-13-1 |
| 40 | September 22, 1994 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia Tech | 34 | West Virginia | 6 | WVU 25-14-1 |
| 41 | October 28, 1995 | Morgantown, WV | Virginia Tech | 27 | West Virginia | 0 | WVU 25-15-1 |
| 42 | November 23, 1996 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia Tech | 31 | West Virginia | 14 | WVU 25-16-1 |
| 43 | October 25, 1997 | Morgantown, WV | West Virginia | 30 | Virginia Tech | 17 | WVU 26-16-1 |
| 44 | October 31, 1998 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia Tech | 27 | West Virginia | 13 | WVU 26-17-1 |
| 45 | November 6, 1999 | Morgantown, WV | Virginia Tech | 22 | West Virginia | 20 | WVU 26-18-1 |
| 46 | October 12, 2000 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia Tech | 48 | West Virginia | 20 | WVU 26-19-1 |
| 47 | October 6, 2001 | Morgantown, WV | Virginia Tech | 35 | West Virginia | 0 | WVU 26-20-1 |
| 48 | November 20, 2002 | Blacksburg, VA | West Virginia | 21 | Virginia Tech | 18 | WVU 27-20-1 |
| 49 | October 22, 2003 | Morgantown, WV | West Virginia | 28 | Virginia Tech | 7 | WVU 28-20-1 |
| 50 | October 2, 2004 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia Tech | 19 | West Virginia | 13 | WVU 28-21-1 |
| 51 | October 1, 2005 | Morgantown, WV | Virginia Tech | 34 | West Virginia | 17 | WVU 28-22-1 |