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Jeff Hostetler

Quarterback William Jeffrey ‘‘Jeff ’’ Hostetler was born April 22, 1961, at Hollsopple, Pennsylvania. He starred in four sports in high school, earning All-American honors as a linebacker, all league honors in basketball, and all-state honors in baseball. In 1981, he transferred from Penn State where he was a linebacker to West Virginia University to play quarterback. After sitting out that season, he led the Mountaineers to 9-3 records in 1982 and 1983 and to back-to-back bowl games, becoming one of the greatest quarterbacks in WVU history. Perhaps the most memorable moment of his college career was leading WVU to an upset 41-27 road victory against the University of Oklahoma to open the 1982 season. The win helped establish WVU as an ascending national football power for the coming decades.

Hostetler joined the New York Giants in 1984 and became an instant hero in 1991 when, filling in for the injured Phil Simms, he led the Giants to the Super Bowl title. He played with the Raiders from 1993 to 1996 and was with the Washington Redskins in 1997 and 1998. Hostetler married the daughter of WVU coach Don Nehlen and now lives in the Morgantown area.

Written by John C. Veasey