MORGANTOWN. W.Va. — For the greater part of the past two months, “Play for Eight” has been a rallying cry for West Virginia, a phrase born after safety Karl Joseph, who wears No. 8, had a season-ending knee injury in October.
Joseph, a star senior with an NFL future, will never play another down for the Mountaineers; instead, he walks the sideline with crutches and a brace on his knee. His teammates, however, were determined to do whatever they could for him.
The mantra still lives, but as West Virginia heads into its final regular-season game, it has taken on another meaning.