One of the most successful runners of West Virginia University football history was admitted into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday.
Noel Devine, who graduated as the school’s all-purpose career yardage leader, has been officially recognized as one of the legendary players of Mountaineer athletics and football legends.
“On behalf of me and my family, I want to say thank you guys for inducting me into the Hall of Fame,” Devine declared on Saturday, during his speech to accept the honor. “I cherish and honor this moment.”
Devine was a major element in his role in the Mountaineer triumph in the Fiesta Bowl over Oklahoma. The same pregame speech from the former coach Bill Stewart that has inspired WVU fans since then also instilled confidence in the running back who ran for two touchdowns and 108 yards during that unforgettable night.
“Before the game, coach [Stewart] told us, ‘leave no doubt.’ And that’s what we did,” Devine stated.
Stewart who scored 28-12 during his tenure as head coach interim and head coach for the Mountaineers and left an indelible impact on Devine.
“Even though coach Stew isn’t here, I want to give recognition to coach Stew for the impact that he had on my life,” Devine said. Devine He also thanked his other coaches, as well with his academic teacher.
The Fort Myers, Florida, native started the Hall of Fame induction speech by recounting how his mother and the sport of football, had a profound impact on his life, particularly after losing his mom at a young age.
“Football became an outlet in my life, to where I could express the pain that I was feeling for my loss,” Devine stated. “Football taught me to be strong. You get knocked down, you get back up.”
Football was a constant source of lessons throughout his time at WVU. It was at that time during his career that the unanimous All-Big-East First Team choice changed his outlook regarding academics. Despite his low academic standing at the time, WVU took a chance on the highly skilled running back, and offered the opportunity to grow beyond the game.
Devine was a winner that he was able to return at WVU following his soccer playing career was over to finish his education in the year 2019.
“When I was here, I learned the blue collar work ethic, and gold standard mentality,” said the man declared.
Devine was an all-time starter for three years in Morgantown and racked the program’s best 5,761 all-purpose yards. He finished his college career with 4,315 yards of rushing. Devine ranks among the top 10 of numerous individual-season and career marks for the program.
He ran for 19 hundred yards in running games during his career. He also had 12 runs that were 50 or more yards 28, runs with 30 or more yards and 36 runs with a minimum of 25 yards.
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Devine had 1,254 all-purpose yards during his senior season which was enough to give him more than 1,000 yards over the course of all four seasons of his college career. In that season He was WVU’s leading back, racking up 934 yards of rushing on 6 touchdowns and 208 carries. Devine is also WVU’s Mountaineers third-highest receiver, making 34 receptions for 258 yards and scoring a touchdown.
After graduating from college, Devine enjoyed a three-year period with the Canadian Football League. Devine is among seven athletes who were inducted into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame as part of the 2021 class.