MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Long Island University has been added to West Virginia’s 2021 football schedule as its FCS opponent after a change in plans from Indiana State.
Any hopes of a ceremonial coin flip featuring Jerry West and Larry Bird were extinguished when the Sycamores signed a contract to play a far more local game against Northwestern in 2021. The Mountaineers found LIU as a fill-in for the open date on Sept. 11, 2021.
West Virginia opens its 2021 schedule at Maryland on Sept. 4, then hosts Virginia Tech on Sept. 18.
West Virginia will pay LIU $475,000 for the game. MetroNews obtained the game contract from WVU with a Freedom of Information Act request. MetroNews also received the mutual termination agreement between WVU and Indiana State that voided their previous contract.
Fans who haven’t heard of LIU can hardly be blamed — the program is currently in its first year of existence at the Division I level. Long Island combined its Brooklyn and Post campuses heading into this year. LIU-Post played Division II football, while LIU-Brooklyn was Division I in all sports but did not feature football. The Sharks play in the Northeast Conference.