The Braxton Family
The Braxton Family, 2021 Ultimate Mountaineer Family
The Braxton Family's Ultimate Mountaineer story is their family's story. Their family took a trip through life including life changing decisions, personal firsts, and the moments that defined their choices and life as Mountaineers. Their family's history starts from its roots in Virginia, to Pennsylvania's coal-country, to one of their sacred places, West Virginia University. It's a story that spans three generations. It began as WVU was integrated in the 1960's and continues to this day, six decades later.
SHOP THE BRAXTON FAMILY'S FAVORITE GEAR
Get to Know The Braxton Family
What is your favorite Mountaineer game you attended?
Melissa - 2006 Nokia Sugar Bowl in the Georgia Dome vs the Georgia Bulldogs.
The game was traditionally held at the New Orleans Superdome but was moved due
to Katrina and essentially became a home game for UGA. The atmosphere was electric.
The 5th ranked Mounties shocked Georgia to finish the season 11-1.
Jamie
- November 20, 1993, vs. Miami was a cold night in Morgantown. My cousin Melissa
and I were students, and several of our friends were members of the football
team. The trash-talking was at an all-time high. At the time, our team was undefeated,
and we all knew this game would define the Big East championship. It was an extremely
emotional win.
West
- October 29, 1984, WVU beats Penn State after a 28-year dry spell, and I participated.
PSU took us for granted, and we took it to DJ Dozier and the rest of the Lions.
Phil
- November 30, 2002, WVU went into Heinz Field for what everybody thought would
be a winner-goes-to-the-Gator-Bowl Game lol, I was blessed with the opportunity
to catch a 79 yard TD with many friends and family in attendance, and we won
a hard fought game.
In one word describe what being a Mountaineer means to you?
Pam - Home
West - Friendships
Jenn - Connections
Jamie - Pride
Melissa - Family
Phil - Relationships
Natalie - Community
Share one Mountaineer fun fact about you.
Pam - My roommate was Linda Burdette-Good. The best WVU Gymnastics
coach ever!
West - I am the only Mountaineer that was Heavyweight Boxing Champion
of West Virginia.
Phil - West, Jamie, Melissa, and Natalie all lived in Braxton Tower
their freshman years.
What is your favorite WVU Athletics venue and why?
Pam - Mountaineer Field and The Coliseum...purely nostalgic reasons!
Natalie - Milan Puskar Stadium. There is no greater pride
and kinship than singing Country Roads after a win. When I was there,
I would call my mom, Jamie every time so she could hear it after she finished
watching at home.
Who is your favorite Mountaineer player (past or present)?
Pam - My late husband, Jim "Bubby" Braxton of course.
West - Jim Braxton - offense; Darryl Talley - defense.
Phil - Jim Braxton and Chris Henry.
If you could go back and relive any Mountaineer moment, what would it be?
Jenn - In October of 1996, seeing my birth family at the Mountaineer
game the day they retired my father’s jersey. I hadn’t met them yet - I just
saw them from afar!
Melissa - As a student, pouring onto the field after WVU beat Miami
17-14 to go 10-0 (This time I would make it to the goal post before it comes
down.)
If you attended a University, what school, what was your major and when did
you graduate?
We are ALL WVU Alumni!
Pam - BS, Physical Education, 1973
West - BA, Liberal Arts, 1998 & MS, Safety Management, 2000
Jenn - MM Music Performance 1999, DMA (abd)
Jamie - Secondary Education, 1994 & Educational Leadership,
1997
Melissa - Physical Ed, 1994 & Community Health, 1996
Phil - Physical Ed, 2003
Natalie - Multidisciplinary Studies, 2021
Maurice (deceased) - BS, Physical Education, 1965
Jim (deceased) - BS, Physical Education, 1971
My first Mountaineer memory is…
Pam - Everyone dressed up for football games. And the fraternity
row hill trek up to my dorm. Exhausting!
Jenn - Watching a gymnastics meet at the coliseum - probably 1978
or 1979 - I didn't know then that Coach Linda Burdette would turn out to
be a player in my adoption reunion story!
Melissa - My first home game at Mountaineer field. I was only 10
years old but the atmosphere blew me away. I was hooked.
Where do you currently live?
Pam - Williamsville, NY (Buffalo, NY suburb)
West - Irmo, SC
Jenn - Carbondale, IL
Jamie - Sterling, VA
Melissa - Pittsburgh, PA
Phil - Pittsburgh, PA
Natalie - Sterling, VA
What is the biggest "thing or event" you have missed to watch a WVU game?
West
- My nephew's wedding reception, but I went to the wedding!
Jamie
- March 27, 2020 - WVU basketball v. Kentucky in a ½ seed matchup. However,
I had committed to represent my high school at a scholarship gala hosted
by a civic organization at a luxury resort. However, it was the NCAA tournament.
I may or may not have been in the sports bar area in a ball gown to see the
game, and I watched the second half from my muted phone on my lap during
the scholarship presentations. WVU won!
What is your favorite piece if WVU gear to wear when you are watching the Mountaineers?
Pam - My Cue Country Roads shirt! Always the optimist. Let's Go
Mountaineers!
Jamie - It actually belongs to my husband. He wears a shirt that
reads, “I married into this."
West - WVU pullover
Phil - WVU hat and hoodie