Before the Mountaineers take on the Pittsburgh Panthers Saturday, Feb. 16, at 9 p.m., families of WVU students will be getting together for some good old Mountaineer fun.

This is the third year for the annual Mountaineer Parents Club Pizza Party, said Sabrina Cave, director of the 8,000-plus group. She expects nearly 600 family members to attend.

The pre-game party starts at 7 p.m. at the WVU Shell Building, adjacent to the Coliseum. Besides food and friendship, tickets to the event also include the noon womens basketball game against Providence.

Tickets are $12 each and may be purchased through the Mountaineer Ticket Office by calling 1-800-WVU-GAME.

Ticket orders taken after Feb. 8 will be available on game day at the”Will Call”Coliseum box office.

WVU President David C. Hardesty Jr. and his wife Susan created the Mountaineer Parents Club in July of 1995. Since its inception, the Club has grown to more than 8,500 families, with 63 local clubs and 18 state chairs coast-to-coast that keep families connected to WVU .

Other initiatives include a toll-free Parent Helpline (800-WVU-0096), a $1,000 scholarship awarded annually to high school student body presidents in West Virginia, a newsletter for parents, a Leisure Reading Library and Parent Electronic News, bi-monthly updates sent to parents via email.

To join the Mountaineer Parents Club call 304-293-2506 or register on-line athttp://www.wvu.edu/~parents/.