WVU-MU series may end in 2012
By Dave Poe POSTED: April 20, 2009
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If Rocky Balboa had tried to orchestrate the details of his opportunity to fight Apollo Creed, the champ simply would have found himself another chump.

That's what may be about to happen in the proposed upcoming negotations between West Virginia University and Marshall University to extend the Friends of Coal Bowl football series beyond 2012, the last of the seven-game series between the state's two major universities.

Marshall University Athletics Director Bob Marcum is pushing for any extension of the series to be on a home-and-home basis. In other words, for every Marshall visit to Morgantown there be one WVU visit to Huntington.

Marcum should know that isn't going to happen and that if he sticks to that stance, the series will end in 2012.

WVU is in the driver's seat in these negotiations.

It's the nationally ranked program. It's the one with a stadium more than twice the size of Marshall.

Thus, it is entitled to at least a two-for-one deal.

The original seven-year series called for two of the first three games (2006, 2008) to take place in Morgantown with the other game in Huntington (2007). The site of the fourth game of the series would be determined by the winner of a majority of those three games, which is why Marshall will be making its third trip to Morgantown in four years this Oct. 17.

When this series started, I figured it would be like the successful basketball series between the schools. That while West Virginia would win the majority of games, Marshall would be competitive and would win often enough to keep things interesting.

That hasn't happened. The first three games of the series have resulted in WVU wins of 32, 25 and 24 points.

If those results continue -and there's little to indicate they won't -even those of us who have supported the series must look at whether or not it is beneficial.

Yes, it generates a good crowd and a great deal of statewide media hype.

That can be said of virtually any game WVU plays. In other words, WVU doesn't need the Marshall series.

If Marcum sticks to his home-and-home scenario, the series will end. That would allow Marshall to blame WVU for ending the series, but this isn't a public relations game. It's a football game -one that isn't all that popular with WVU fans and is starting to lose its luster with Marshall fans, who are frustrated by the decline in the quality of the Thundering Herd program.

When WVU and Marshall met in 1997, it was a competitive game. The Mountaineers came from behind to win 42-31 before a jam-packed, raucous Mountaineer Field.

It was hoped the Friends of Coal Bowl would generate that type of excitement, but frankly it hasn't.

It will be interesting to see what transpires. But my guess is 2012 will be the last football meeting between the Thundering Herd and Mountaineers for the foreseeable future.

Contact Dave Poe at dpoe@newsandsentinel.com

Quote:King Joe has been wrong more than once that I can think of, Jackson. How about you?

LOL...yeah..once or twice

Jackson

Great for ECTC. Terry Holland has been doing an excellent job as AD since his arrival from Charlottesville.

(04-17-2009 05:34 PM)Jackson1011 Wrote:  

(04-17-2009 02:58 PM)KnightChris Wrote:  I agree as well! This seems like a good series for both schools and it's great to see it's on the books for years to come... The crux of the article you linked though seemed to be the different way in which West Virginia treats Marshall and ECU. Apparently West Virginia is perfectly happy to schedule home-and-homes with ECU, but will only accept 2 for 1s with Marshall. That does seem... odd considering both are two of the better programs (historically) in CUSA. I think some Marshall fans might have theories on why the two schools are receiving different treatment.

One other minor note: I think West Virginia fans prefer to be called "WVU" instead of "WVA."

-- It seems to me there are times in business where you treat your "friends" or long term partners differently then others. From the outside looking, I would consider East Carolina WVUs stronges non BE partner. The two schools have played seemingly every sport against each other and have had a long term football relationship that is benefical to both. Marshall is certainly not a friend or a long term partner, and often their administration spews quotes like this that certainly gives the impression that the feel they are owed games simply because they are within the boundries of the state.

Also, WVU is willing to play @ ECU because it serves a purpose. We have a huge alumuni base in North Carolina and that would like to see the Mountaineers reguarly.

However, I would highly doubt that this is the end of the squaking that will be coming from Marshall officals in Huntington. They seem to forget that MU built a hell of a football program without playing WVU. Playing WVU is not a requirement for their program's success. A lot of MU fans seem to acknowledge that fact, just not the administration

Jackson

that about sums it up perfectly.

(04-17-2009 06:59 PM)BJUnklFkr Wrote:  

(04-17-2009 05:33 PM)CatsClaw Wrote:  If Marshall is as good a program as they think they don't NEED West Virginia, so begging looks pathetic. Cincinnati fans take jabs at Ohio State but we don't need Ohio State, we just like playing them. But if OSU doesn't play us that's their perogative. It would be bush league if politicians forced Ohio State to play us.

Bravo Claw I wish so many UC fans would stop paying attention to them

Me too. I could understand UC fans worrying about playing them in the past when we were in C-USA. But, now, UC has all the tools that Ohio State has. Obviously not at OSU's level, but we have what they have. UC makes millions of dollars. has unbelievable television coverage thanks to conference affiliation, solid non-conference games, a Top 20 program, top notch facilities, spots in elite bowl games, and a spot in a BCS conference. We have gotten to a point I never imagined, we don't need Ohio State. And everything we have envied about Ohio State, from a tools stand point, we have gotten. And we didn't have to beg Ohio State or threaten them to get it. That's why I think Marshall complaining is silly and makes them look bad.