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History Book Of WVU Football Published By New Martinsville’s John Antonik

By Staff | Aug 20, 2009

New Martinsville native and Magnolia High School alumni John Antonik has published a new book that chronicles the history of West Virginia University football, from 1891 to the present.

“West Virginia University Football Vault: The History of the Mountaineers” appeared in April from Whitman Publishing, with a forward by Sam Huff and a postscript by former WVU Head Football Coach Don Nehlen.

The text/photo style is similar in appearance to “Magnolia Football: A History,” published by the Wetzel Chronicle and there may be a basketball companion to the WVU Vault in the works.

Charleston Daily Mail Sports Editor Jack Bogaczyk noted that the book is “peppered liberally with pockets, pamphlets, flaps and folders containing copies of everything from ticket stubs, to bowl itineraries, depth charts and program covers.” Bogaczyk also reported that the publishing house staff was “stunned at how much memorabilia has been preserved … in excellent condition” in the Mountaineer athletic archives.

Antonik, director of new media at WVU, is responsible for coordinating the official athletic Web site MSNsportsNET.com and several other related Web sites. His 144-page work, available in both hardback and softback, is already believed to have outsold vaults released previously this year from Miami, Maryland, and a second edition on Tennessee football.