MORGANTOWN —
Carl “Chuck” Kinder of St. Albans had the distinction of doing something that no other West Virginia University football player ever did.
That was to wear No. 100 on his jersey in observance of the Mountain State’s 100th birthday in 1963. WVU apparently received NCAA permission for the freshman place-kicker to do that.
Kinder revealed recently that “there was a little bit of background to that.”
He explained, “I discovered that numbers were based on the positions individuals played. For example, linebackers and centers were numbers in the 50s.
“So I asked the coaches for a number from among zero, one, three or seven. I am a Christian, and Bible teachings preferred one of those.”
However, Kinder didn’t complain when they decided to commemorate the centennial year by having him wear No. 100. He did not object.
“I just didn’t realize it was the state’s birthday,” he continued. “And when they gave me 100, I was disappointed and surprised.
“It not only was to honor the centennial, but also score 100 points, which I did, for the Mountaineers.”
For his career, he made 61 of 69 extra-point attempts and 14 of 26 field-goal tries, with a long of 47 yards.
Kinder broke an ankle while making a tackle in the 1964 season’s opener in a game at Richmond. But he was medically redshirted and that enabled him to play in 1966 when Jim Carlen replaced Gentleman Gene Corum as WVU head coach.
The legendary Bobby Bowden coached him in 1966, because Bowden was the offensive coordinator. But Carlen’s staff made Kinder change his number to 10 “because they thought I was getting too much publicity wearing No. 100,” he remembers.
“That was fine with me, though. I was very thankful to get a full scholarship. When I left Morgantown, I had both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree.”
He was a good student as well as an outstanding kicker.
Kinder served as general manager of the Charleston Civic Center for several years. That included overseeing construction of the $18 million Coliseum in the 1970s.
After leaving that employment in 1983, he returned to military service, after previously being enlisted during the Vietnam War. But he remained in the United State working in the Army.
Kinder retired in January 1995 with the rank of lieutenant colonel. In all, he served 24 years, including active and reserve duty.
He felt like it was his patriotic duty. He said, “I think it was good judgment for me to retire.”
Chuck and wife Rachel have been married 46 years. They have two sons. John works for Dominion Energy in Richmond, Va., and Dan works for a security firm in Charleston.
The Kinders also have five grandchildren.
WVU Sports
WVU kicker wore No. 100 proudly
- WVU Sports
-
-
HERTZEL COLUMN: Jarrod West treasures time with his family
It came along too late to do me any good, but today I want to offer a very warm thank you to Jarrod West, the one-time West Virginia University basketball hero.
-
WVU in eight-team Cancun Challenge field
West Virginia University’s basketball team will be in a field with seven other teams in the 2013 Men’s Cancun Challenge, played at the all-inclusive Aventura Palace resort near Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
-
Kansas pitcher Taylor shuts down Mountaineers
In its first game of pool play against Kansas at the Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship, the West Virginia University baseball team was defeated, 7-2.
-
HERTZEL COLUMN: Big 12 baseball tournament is about America
All of a sudden the Big 12’s annual baseball tournament is more about America and the American way than it is about baseball.
And that makes it a wonderful thing. -
Musgrave to pitch WVU’s second game
West Virginia University baseball coach Randy Mazey believes that the change in format of the Big 12 Tournament will benefit his Mountaineers because it allows him to hold conference Pitcher of the Year Harrison Musgrave until the key second game of the tournament.
-
HERTZEL COLUMN: Bill Stewart is missed, remembered
It was Monday, the first anniversary of Bill Stewart’s sudden death while playing the 16th hole of a charity golf tournament with West Virginia University’s former athletic director and his former boss, Ed Pastilong.
-
Miles granted release from WVU
Junior forward Keaton Miles, who suffered through a disappointing sophomore season as West Virginia fell below .500, has been granted a release and will seek a transfer, according to published reports.
-
WVU baseball team helps those in tornado’s path
In so many ways it was a day that called for celebration.
Randy Mazey’s West Virginia baseball team, the team that was supposed to finish last in its first Big 12 season, was sitting in third place on what should have been the eve of the conference tournament. -
FURFARI COLUMN: WVU should reinstate men’s track — not golf
West Virginia University has not had a men’s golf team since 1982 in its sports program.
But Oliver Luck, who’s been the school’s athletic director going on three years, reportedly is talking about bringing back that sport “because it’s cheap.” -
HERTZEL COLUMN- Catastrophes make you stop and think
The scenes have been gruesome, devastation everywhere, words flowing from the mouths of reporters that are as difficult to comprehend as are the images on the eyes.
- More WVU Sports Headlines
-
HERTZEL COLUMN: Jarrod West treasures time with his family
