Smith rings NYSE opening bell

NEW YORK  -- One of the perks of bowl week in the Big Apple was the opportunity for West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith and Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib to ring the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange this morning.

Just before the pair simultaneously pressed the button that rings the bell at 9:30 a.m. sharp, a short chant of “Let’s goooo Mountaineers” broke out on the trading room floor by a pair of brokers who are from West Virginia.

Smith said several of his teammates who are finance majors were a bit jealous this morning as he and teammate Stedman Bailey were whisked away for the event.

President Jim Clements, AD Oliver Luck and Coach Dana Holgorsen were also there.

“I’ve always seen this getting ready for school in the morning but to be here is surreal,” said Smith, who quickly stood for a photo op with a trader from Barclay’s who said his brother goes to West Virginia.

Nassib, who is an accounting major, was pretty geeked out as well.

“It was pretty cool I’m not gonna lie,” said Nassib who said he has a good idea of the intricacies of what will take place today. “Not as much as I used to. But I used to intern at an investment brokerage firm up in Syracuse. For a finance guy coming here is pretty cool.”