The tragic events of September 11, 2001 are remembered, today, the 16th anniversary of those terrorist attacks. Of the nearly 3,000 people who passed away, the WVU football team lost one of their own.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the WVU football team was having success as head coach Don Nehlen was truly establishing the program. One of Nehlen’s reliable quarterbacks of that era was Chris Gray. He hailed from Manalapan, New Jersey and came to the WVU football team for a taste of Division I football.
Gray was a reliable back up who played in a total of 13 games for the Mountaineers. Gray was also one of the poor souls working in the World Trade Center in New York City. He passed away at the age of 32.
Gray was not the only one with West Virginia ties who tragically died in New York City. According to WV Metronews, four West Virginia natives also passed away. Their memories live on through family members and friends, and mourners from around the world who continue to show support to the United States of America.
Chris Gray is remembered at WVU with the Chris Gray Memorial Scholarship, according to NYJnews.com. His high school alma mater, Manalapan High School, also benfits from the fund.”Chris always said he wanted to pay back the university for the education he got,” said Gray’s mother, Janet, in a NYJnews.com story.
Today, we remember former Mountaineer QB Chris Gray and all those who lost their lives in the tragic events on 9/11 #NeverForget pic.twitter.com/XVYArI0zZI
— West Virginia Football (@WVUfootball) September 11, 2017
On the football field, Gray had a total of 400 passing yards. He completed 37 of 69 passes and had one touchdown pass. Gray only appeared in games his freshman (1988) and senior (1991) seasons, according to WVUstats.com.
Even though he wasn’t a major factor in the solid Mountaineer teams at that time, Gray is still fondly remembered by diehard WVU football fans. In a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article from 2003, Chuck Finder talks to Gray’s college buddy Greg Hunter.
"“His biggest game was Virginia Tech,” Hunter said. “West Virginia was down, and he led them back. Drove them all the way back in the final seconds. Fourth-and-goal, 1-yard line. Ran an option. Kid from Tech comes in and slaps the football away, and Tech recovers the fumble. That’s the moment most Mountaineer fans remember.“Chris always made light of that moment. He always hated it, too. But you’d see him at a tailgate, with a hamburger in one hand and a beer in the other, re-enacting that play.”‘"
Gray came in for quarterback Darren Studstill in that game against rival Virginia Tech. The Hokies held on for a 20-14 victory, though. Still, Gray gave them a fighting chance.
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Darren Studstill played from 1990-93 and had more than 3,000 passing yards. Gray wouldn’t put up those numbers on the football field, but he was destined for a great career off the field and a wonderful life in New York City.