The Mountaineer Marching Band performs the second verse of "Hail, West Virginia" as part of its pregame performance at Mountaineer football games. The band's pregame arrangement of "Hail, West Virginia" was arranged by WVU's 7th band director - Dr. Budd Udell. "Hail West Virginia" Let's give a rah for West Virginia It's West Virginia, It's West Virginia A graduate student in 1938, Corson composed the song after an editorial in the Daily Athenaeum student newspaper noted that WVU did not have an alma mater and called on students to write one. Corson's composition was selected, and the song's lyrics were published in the Morgantown newspapers. The alma mater was sung for the first time at the Nov. 12 Homecoming Game. The version the band plays and sings has been altered several times throughout the band's history. The present version was arranged by WVU's Director of Bands Don Wilcox. "Alma Mater" Alma, our Alma Mater, "Fight, Mountaineers" Fight, fight, fight, fight, Mountaineers!
And let us pledge to her anew,
Others may be black or crimson,
but for us it's Gold and Blue.
Let all our troubles be forgotten,
Let college spirit rule,
We'll join and give our loyal efforts
For the good of our old school.
The Pride of every Mountaineer.
Come on you old grads, join with us young lads,
It's West Virginia now we cheer!
Now is the time, boys, to make a big noise
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear; the gang's all here,
So hail to West Virginia, Hail
The home of Mountaineers,
Sing we of thy honor
Everlasting through the years;
Alma, our Alma Mater,
We pledge in song to you,
Hail, all hail our Alma Mater,
West Virginia 'U.'
We're here to cheer for you.
Take that old ball down the field.
We're putting our faith in you.
Play that team right off its feet.
You can't be beat we know.
And when the game is through,
we'll all cheer for you.
West Virginia, West Virginia, rah!
