I've got a good summer debate topic for you while you're sitting around with friends enjoying the warm weather. 

 

Who would be considered the "first family of WVU athletics?" 

 

I'll start the nomination process by throwing one out there, but also giving you a family to keep an eye on over the next few years (seasons). 

 

My vote would go to the Bulger family. Here's why:

 

Over the course of 12 years (1996-2008), we watched three different Bulger kids excel in two different sports. 

 

Marc came first. He threw for 8,153 yards and 59 TDs in his career and left WVU second on both the all-time passing yards list and career passing touchdowns list. 

 

Kate came next and proceeded to become the fourth all-time leading scorer in WVU women's basketball history, finishing her career following the 2004 season. Kate finished with 1,733 points and 302 made three-pointers while playing in 115 games.

 

And last, but certainly not least came Meg. Marc often claimed Meg was the best athlete in the family and her career as a Mountaineer did nothing to disprove that theory. 

 

Meg wrapped up her career in 2008 with 1,665 career points (good for fifth on the all-time scoring list), 500 career rebounds and 265 made three-pointers in 108 games.

 

Take a quick look at the WVU women's basketball record book and you will see the Bulger name often. The all-time leader in single game points at the Coliseum? Meg is number one with 38 points against Cleveland State in 2005. Second on the list? You guessed it, Kate Bulger. She put up 36 points against Syracuse in 2003.

 

And so it goes with the Bulger girls. All-time three-point field goal percentage leaders: Meg and Kate Bulger, one and two. Three-point field goals made in a single game: Meg has the record with eight makes. Kate is third on the list with six made threes in a single game. And she did that six times.

 

Three kids, one in the WVU sports Hall of Fame (Marc) and two on the way in the coming years. 

 

We tried the other night on Sportsline to come up with a family that had at least three members contribute so much to WVU athletics. 

We didn't come up with one. There have been quite a few father and sons to play at WVU and have really good careers. Or two brothers. But, three kids? That's hard to find.

 

So for now, my vote goes to the Bulger family. But, is a new contender on the way?

 

After hearing earlier this week that the Mountaineer football team had received a verbal commitment from Kyzir White, brother of former Mountaineer receiver and current Chicago Bear, Kevin White, it got me thinking. 

 

In a few years, could the White family lay claim to the title "first family of WVU Athletics?"

 

Although Kevin was only in Morgantown for two years, he left quite a mark. Biletnicoff Award finalist (best receiver in the nation), first team Big 12 and the 7th overall selection in the 2015 NFL Draft. 

 

Next up is Kevin's brother, Ka'Raun. Like Kevin, he arrives in Morgantown as a receiver. Living up to big brother's production will be tough, but if he comes close he will hand the baton off to Kyzir with a chance to do something not many families have done. 

 

Again, certainly a long way to go for the White family to match the production of the Bulgers, and it's way too early to be having this discussion. That said, it could make for some fun conversation as you count down the final couple of months until Mountaineer football begins again.

 

Who gets your vote for "first family of WVU athletics?" Leave a comment below or send me a tweet: @bradhowe07

 

Editor's Note: Top photo of Marc Bulger courtesy of WVU Sports Communications. Bottom photo of Kevin White by www.benqueenphotography.com.