NITRO, W.Va. — West Virginia Mountaineers fans packed the Nitro Buffalo Wild Wings Tuesday to cheer on the team in the Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl, and some had to opportunity to meet former WVU players and participate in a silent auction for a local organization.
The bowl party included former West Virginia football stars such as Pat White, Avon Cobourne and Rick Sherrod, with proceeds from the silent auction benefiting to YMCA of Kanawha Valley. It was the first of such event to be held for the organization.
Cobourne, who was running back from 1999 to 2002 and now is membership and marketing director for the local YMCA, said the silent auction will go toward the organization’s summer jam tour in 10 different cities.
“People here are generous,” Cobourne said. “We had a guy just come up and say, ‘Look, I’m not going to be here but here’s $100 for this event.'”
The tour will include a block party in each respective location.
While West Virginia lost to Utah 30-14, Cobourne said it was “awesome” seeing the restaurant full of blue and gold.
“Hopefully, with the YMCA putting this event on, it’ll bring a lot more people out to it,” he said.