Post by cviller on Sept 3, 2007 10:58:24 GMT -5
By Anthony Hanshew
The Herald-Dispatch
There's every reason not to play this game.
Marshall University's non-conference football schedule already is loaded enough. Adding national power West Virginia University for seven years simply adds to the burden.
From WVU's perspective, what in the name of "Country Roads" is there to gain? The self-sufficient athletic department takes something of a financial hit by traveling to Huntington at least twice during the series; on the field, a win is expected, while an upset would rankle a loyal fan base (at best).
Similar gripes are annually raised when Marshall and WVU lock up in men's basketball. Why play the game when both programs already are knee-deep in conference play?
Funny thing happens each year, however, when basketball game night comes at the Charleston Civic Center. Complaints fade, the arena is filled, delivering an electric atmosphere for what is normally an entertaining game.
The basketball series, it seems, serves as a template for WVU-Marshall football. The Mountain State's two Division I-A programs clash Saturday in the second of a seven-game, home and away series. Kickoff at Joan C. Edwards Stadium is 11 a.m. and ESPN2 will televise the game.
Both in 1997 and last season, Thundering Herd fans helped sell out WVU's home stadium. Come kickoff on Saturday, Edwards Stadium will sell out for the first time since expanding to 38,019 capacity.
The showdown in '97 remains the signature game in this brief series. Top-flight NFL talent, including Randy Moss, Marc Bulger, Chad Pennington and Gary Stills dueled on a sweltering afternoon in Morgantown that left fans on both sides with bragging rights.
From a Mountaineer perspective, WVU sprinted to a 28-3 lead, eased off and then made plays late when needed to secure a 42-31 victory. The Thundering Herd points to a 31-28 lead in the fourth quarter -- with the ball -- in the program's NCAA Division I-A debut.
Last year's meeting was much more decisive. A large Mountaineer lead was not lost and WVU rode Steve Slaton's 203 rushing yards to a 42-10 victory.
Coach Rich Rodriguez' Mountaineers enter Saturday as a near three-touchdown favorite, but anticipation isn't squelched by a point spread. West Virginia is visiting Huntington for the first time in modern history, an event many considered unthinkable.
"It's going to be good for Huntington as far as bringing in money for the community and having a chance to play a team ranked as high as those guys are on our home field," Thundering Herd quarterback Bernard Morris said. "It's a great opportunity for us."
It also marks the next stage in Marshall's home scheduling evolution. Step one was Kansas State's visit in 2005. Like Saturday's WVU matchup, the nationally-televised game featured an a.m. kickoff, but Marshall set an Edwards Stadium attendance record at nearly 37,000.
Virginia Tech, Miami (Fla.) and Cincinnati are scheduled to visit Huntington in coming seasons, but WVU will provide a unique atmosphere.
"I think it's going to be 10 times better than Kansas State was," said Morris, a fifth-year senior. "With West Virginia coming to town, with the rivalry, a lot of people are almost split down the middle. This thing is going to be sold out.
"It's going to be fun. I know it's early, but people are going to be up for it."
Thundering Herd true freshman tailback Darius Marshall is new to the rivalry, but expects the same.
"It's going to be an exciting game with WVU coming here," Marshall said. "It's going to be packed."
Packing both Puskar and Edwards Stadiums for in-state bragging rights was the vision of Joe Manchin even before his election as West Virginia's governor. Making a Marshall-WVU football series long has been a priority, and his considerable leverage locked down the series, which is expected to extend beyond seven games.
Not by accident, the contract was secured in the governor's mansion.
"The governor said, 'OK, when we walk out of here, we're going to have a contract put together,'" West Virginia athletic director Ed Pastilong said.
Pastilong's counterpart, Marshall AD Bob Marcum, credits Manchin as well.
"No, I just don't think it would have happened," Marcum said. "Without Governor Manchin, it would not have taken place."
Manchin, meanwhile, didn't mask his excitement when the long-debated series finally was settled prior to the 2006 season.
"This is an unprecedented day in West Virginia sports history, it truly is," Manchin said before the state's media. "The desire of so many of us has now become a reality."
Arguments over the value of the series now is mute. For the near future, back and forth discussions center on players and coaches.
Sounds just about right for a budding rivalry.
Anthony Hanshew is a reporter for The Herald-Dispatch. He can be reached at hanshew@heralddispatch.com.
The Herald-Dispatch
There's every reason not to play this game.
Marshall University's non-conference football schedule already is loaded enough. Adding national power West Virginia University for seven years simply adds to the burden.
From WVU's perspective, what in the name of "Country Roads" is there to gain? The self-sufficient athletic department takes something of a financial hit by traveling to Huntington at least twice during the series; on the field, a win is expected, while an upset would rankle a loyal fan base (at best).
Similar gripes are annually raised when Marshall and WVU lock up in men's basketball. Why play the game when both programs already are knee-deep in conference play?
Funny thing happens each year, however, when basketball game night comes at the Charleston Civic Center. Complaints fade, the arena is filled, delivering an electric atmosphere for what is normally an entertaining game.
The basketball series, it seems, serves as a template for WVU-Marshall football. The Mountain State's two Division I-A programs clash Saturday in the second of a seven-game, home and away series. Kickoff at Joan C. Edwards Stadium is 11 a.m. and ESPN2 will televise the game.
Both in 1997 and last season, Thundering Herd fans helped sell out WVU's home stadium. Come kickoff on Saturday, Edwards Stadium will sell out for the first time since expanding to 38,019 capacity.
The showdown in '97 remains the signature game in this brief series. Top-flight NFL talent, including Randy Moss, Marc Bulger, Chad Pennington and Gary Stills dueled on a sweltering afternoon in Morgantown that left fans on both sides with bragging rights.
From a Mountaineer perspective, WVU sprinted to a 28-3 lead, eased off and then made plays late when needed to secure a 42-31 victory. The Thundering Herd points to a 31-28 lead in the fourth quarter -- with the ball -- in the program's NCAA Division I-A debut.
Last year's meeting was much more decisive. A large Mountaineer lead was not lost and WVU rode Steve Slaton's 203 rushing yards to a 42-10 victory.
Coach Rich Rodriguez' Mountaineers enter Saturday as a near three-touchdown favorite, but anticipation isn't squelched by a point spread. West Virginia is visiting Huntington for the first time in modern history, an event many considered unthinkable.
"It's going to be good for Huntington as far as bringing in money for the community and having a chance to play a team ranked as high as those guys are on our home field," Thundering Herd quarterback Bernard Morris said. "It's a great opportunity for us."
It also marks the next stage in Marshall's home scheduling evolution. Step one was Kansas State's visit in 2005. Like Saturday's WVU matchup, the nationally-televised game featured an a.m. kickoff, but Marshall set an Edwards Stadium attendance record at nearly 37,000.
Virginia Tech, Miami (Fla.) and Cincinnati are scheduled to visit Huntington in coming seasons, but WVU will provide a unique atmosphere.
"I think it's going to be 10 times better than Kansas State was," said Morris, a fifth-year senior. "With West Virginia coming to town, with the rivalry, a lot of people are almost split down the middle. This thing is going to be sold out.
"It's going to be fun. I know it's early, but people are going to be up for it."
Thundering Herd true freshman tailback Darius Marshall is new to the rivalry, but expects the same.
"It's going to be an exciting game with WVU coming here," Marshall said. "It's going to be packed."
Packing both Puskar and Edwards Stadiums for in-state bragging rights was the vision of Joe Manchin even before his election as West Virginia's governor. Making a Marshall-WVU football series long has been a priority, and his considerable leverage locked down the series, which is expected to extend beyond seven games.
Not by accident, the contract was secured in the governor's mansion.
"The governor said, 'OK, when we walk out of here, we're going to have a contract put together,'" West Virginia athletic director Ed Pastilong said.
Pastilong's counterpart, Marshall AD Bob Marcum, credits Manchin as well.
"No, I just don't think it would have happened," Marcum said. "Without Governor Manchin, it would not have taken place."
Manchin, meanwhile, didn't mask his excitement when the long-debated series finally was settled prior to the 2006 season.
"This is an unprecedented day in West Virginia sports history, it truly is," Manchin said before the state's media. "The desire of so many of us has now become a reality."
Arguments over the value of the series now is mute. For the near future, back and forth discussions center on players and coaches.
Sounds just about right for a budding rivalry.
Anthony Hanshew is a reporter for The Herald-Dispatch. He can be reached at hanshew@heralddispatch.com.
