MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – When the Mountaineers take the field Saturday against the 11th-ranked Iowa State Cyclones, they will wear their new all-black apparel to commemorate the state’s legacy of coal mining.

The “Coal Rush” uniform for the players will consist of a black helmet, black jerseys and black pants.

The largest student group on campus, The Mountaineer Maniacs, is encouraging students to show up at Milan Puskar Stadium on Saturday wearing black to show their respect and support for the Gold and Blue, said director Tyler Faulstick.

“With the deep-rooted history of West Virginia and the coal mines, I think there is a community behind this game,” Faulstick said.

Sales of “Coal Rush” merchandise and apparel were strong; In fact, his all-black jersey won’t arrive until later this year. With that in mind, Faulstick expects there will be a strong display of blackness, respect and pride in the stadium.

“I have the ‘Built on Bravery’ sweatshirt and also the hat that I wear,” Faulstick said. “I couldn’t get the jersey; they went very fast. But. I bought one, and it will be here by Christmas.”

The Mountaineer community is very excited to share their identity and legacy with a national audience, and Faulstick said there will be a strong Black presence on game day.

“Obviously if you go to WVU, you’re a mountaineer and you love West Virginia,” Faulstick said. “It’s really cool to be able to represent that on such a high stage.”

On the field, Faulstick hopes the fans can give the Mountaineers the edge with an overwhelming “Coal Rush” presence and plenty of noise.

“I think you have to take the fans into account; the fans will go crazy, and the hype will be high,” Faulstick said.

Nine hours of MetroNews GameDay coverage begins Saturday at 4 p.m.