MORGANTOWN, West Virginia — When West Virginia unveiled its new uniform patch featuring Antero Resources, my initial reaction wasn’t positive. In fact, I was pretty blunt about it. My first thought was that WVU was taking the jersey patch concept too far and that, if the university was going to go down that road, it should have partnered with a recognizable West Virginia brand like Sheetz or Little General instead of a natural gas company.
After spending more time looking into Antero Resources and the company’s impact on our state, though, I realized my initial take missed the mark.
WVU allowing Antero Resources to put its branding on the #WVU uniforms is…gross. Does the university really have to milk this patch idea for all it's worth? Why not give it to a known regional company, like Sheetz or Little General or ANYTHING other than a gas company?
— The Voice of Morgantown (@voicemorgantown) August 4, 2026
It’s easy to see a logo on a jersey and immediately form an opinion, but there’s a bigger picture here. Antero has become one of the largest employers in West Virginia, employing more hardworking West Virginians than any other company in the state. Beyond that, the company has invested millions of dollars into communities across West Virginia through education, charitable giving, infrastructure, workforce development, and countless local initiatives that have benefited families throughout the state.
Whether you agree with jersey patches or not is a completely fair debate. There are plenty of fans who simply don’t like advertisements on college uniforms, and I understand that perspective. But that’s a different discussion than questioning whether Antero is a company that has earned the opportunity to partner with West Virginia University.
My initial reaction missed the mark. After digging into it more, I learned that @AnteroResources has made a tremendous impact in West Virginia and employs more hardworking West Virginians than any other company in the state. I’m man enough to admit when I get something wrong, and… https://t.co/ApKF2n34Ce
— The Voice of Morgantown (@voicemorgantown) August 4, 2026
One thing I’ve always believed is that if you’re willing to share your opinions publicly, you also have to be willing to admit when you’re wrong. The more I researched Antero’s presence in West Virginia, the more obvious it became that my original reaction wasn’t based on all the facts. I judged the partnership before I fully understood the company’s impact on the state.
So I’ll say it plainly: I got this one wrong.
I don’t think admitting that makes me weaker—it makes me more credible. If new information changes my perspective, I’m going to be honest about it. After learning more about what Antero Resources has done for West Virginia and the thousands of West Virginians whose livelihoods are tied to the company, I have a much greater appreciation for why this partnership makes sense. Even if jersey patches aren’t everyone’s favorite addition to college athletics, this is one partnership that deserves to be viewed in its full context.
