The Friends of Coal Bowl should stay DEAD

Listen up, West Virginia. The idea of dusting off the Friends of Coal Bowl and putting WVU back on the gridiron against Marshall is floating around again like a bad smell that just won’t go away. Every few years, some nostalgic Herd fan or state politician gets a wild hair and starts preaching about “in-state unity” or “rivalry pride.” Let’s cut through the noise: this game is a terrible idea, and I’m here to tell you why. It’s a revenue suck, WVU is light-years ahead of Marshall in the football hierarchy, and the series has never been competitive enough to justify the hassle. Buckle up, because I’m about to drop some truth bombs—and I’ll swat down any counterargument like a Geno Smith fourth-quarter comeback.

Let’s talk dollars and sense, because that’s what keeps the lights on at Milan Puskar Stadium. WVU playing Marshall, especially in Huntington, is like giving away a winning lottery ticket. Morgantown sells out its home games, no matter who’s on the schedule—Albany, Robert Morris, or some FCS cupcake. Last season, WVU averaged over 52,000 fans per game, with a stadium capacity of 60,000, even for non-marquee matchups. Those ticket sales, concessions, and parking fees are pure gold for the university and the local economy. Why would WVU give up one of those guaranteed sellouts for a road game at Marshall’s Joan C. Edwards Stadium, which holds a measly 38,227? That’s 20,000 fewer seats to fill, and Marshall gets to keep the lion’s share of the revenue from tickets, concessions, and merch.

The counterargument here is that an in-state game boosts West Virginia’s economy as a whole. Some folks—looking at you, Governor Manchin back in the day—claim it’s good for state pride and local businesses. Sure, a game in Huntington might pack a few bars and hotels, but let’s be real: Morgantown’s game-day economy is a juggernaut. Hotels, restaurants, and bars in Morgantown are booked solid for home games, pumping millions into the local scene. A 2019 study estimated WVU football’s economic impact on Morgantown at over $150 million annually. Diverting even one home game to Huntington means less money for Morgantown’s businesses and WVU’s athletic department. And don’t give me that “state unity” nonsense—fans aren’t crossing state lines to cheer for the other team. Marshall fans stay in Huntington, WVU fans follow their team, and the only ones winning are the accountants in Huntington.

Let’s get one thing straight: WVU and Marshall aren’t on the same planet when it comes to football. WVU’s in the Big 12, battling heavyweights like TCU, Kansas State, and Utah. They’re competing for College Football Playoff spots and national relevance. Marshall? They’re in the Sun Belt, duking it out with App State and James Madison. No shade to the Herd—they’ve had their moments, like that 1999 MAC title with Chad Pennington—but they’re not on WVU’s level. WVU’s recruiting budget, facilities, and national exposure dwarf Marshall’s. In 2023, WVU’s athletic department revenue was $104 million, while Marshall’s was around $34 million. That’s not a rivalry; that’s a big brother-little brother beatdown waiting to happen.

Their fans like to argue that Marshall could be competitive, pointing to their 2010 game where they pushed WVU to overtime, trailing 21-6 before a furious comeback. They’ll say, “Give us a chance, we could pull an upset!” Yeah, and I could win the Powerball too, but I’m not holding my breath. That 2010 game was an anomaly—Marshall’s kicker missed a 39-yard field goal in OT, and WVU walked away with a 24-21 win. Outside of that, the average score in the Friends of Coal Bowl from 2006-2012 was WVU 37, Marshall 15. Marshall’s never beaten WVU in 12 tries, and their best shot was a fluke that still ended in an L. The idea that Marshall’s suddenly going to turn into a giant-slayer is wishful thinking, and scheduling them just to “see what happens” is a waste of a valuable non-conference slot.

Speaking of those 12 games, let’s talk about the Friends of Coal Bowl’s track record. Snoozefest alert! WVU’s 12-0 against Marshall. Not 12-1, not 12-5—12-0. The closest Marshall ever got was that 2010 overtime scare, and even then, they choked. The rest? Blowouts or comfortable wins for the Mountaineers. The 2006 opener was a 42-10 rout. In 2008, it was 27-3. In 2011, 34-13. You get the picture. This isn’t Pitt-WVU, where the Backyard Brawl’s got history, lead changes, and bad blood. This is a glorified exhibition where WVU sleepwalks to a W and Marshall prays for a moral victory.

The pro-Marshall crowd will cry, “But it’s a rivalry! It’s good for the state!” They’ll point to fan polls, like one from The Parthenon in 2025 where 68% of 117 respondents wanted the game back annually. They’ll say it’s about pride, tradition, and giving Marshall a shot to prove themselves. First off, 117 people isn’t exactly a scientific sample—my group chat’s got more opinions than that. Second, a rivalry requires both sides to have a puncher’s chance. Pitt and Virginia Tech have beaten WVU multiple times, making those games must-watch. Marshall’s never won, and their fans’ “tradition” argument is just code for “we want another chance to lose.” The bad blood from the series—Marshall accusing WVU of dodging games, WVU resenting being forced to play—only makes things worse. Why rekindle that drama for a game that’s never delivered?

Let’s tackle the biggest push from the other side: “It’s good for West Virginia.” They’ll say the game unites the state, gets fans excited, and keeps the legislature happy. They’ll point to the 2006-2012 series, mandated by then-Governor Joe Manchin, as proof it can work. Here’s the reality check: that series was a political stunt, and it left WVU’s athletic department grumbling. Former AD Oliver Luck said it best in 2011: “Our fan base kind of shrugs their shoulders.” WVU fans care about Pitt, Virginia Tech, or even Penn State—not Marshall. The 2006-2012 series only happened because Charleston twisted arms, and even then, WVU insisted on hosting five of seven games to protect their revenue. Marshall’s still bitter about that deal, claiming WVU was scared to play in Huntington. Scared? Nah, just smart enough to know a bad investment when they see one.

Another argument is that Marshall’s program has grown, and they’re more competitive now. They’ll trot out their 2024 Sun Belt title game appearance or their 1997 upset dreams with Randy Moss. Newsflash: 1997 was a lifetime ago, and even Moss and Pennington got smoked 42-31 by a mediocre WVU squad. Marshall’s 7-6 record in 2024 is fine, but WVU’s 8-4 in 2023 (before a 6-6 stumble in 2024) shows they’re playing in a tougher sandbox. The gap’s only widened since Marshall moved to the Sun Belt and WVU joined the Big 12. Scheduling Marshall means burning a non-conference game that could be used for a winnable Power 4 opponent or a cupcake to pad the resume.

The bottom line is this “rivalry” needs to stay dead. WVU playing Marshall in football is a lose-lose. It’s a financial hit, with Morgantown missing out on home-game revenue and Huntington reaping the benefits. It’s a tier mismatch, with Big 12 WVU having no business slumming it against Sun Belt Marshall. And it’s a snooze of a series, with 12 straight WVU wins proving this “rivalry” is as one-sided as a bar fight with a toddler. The state doesn’t need this game to thrive—WVU’s already carrying the flag with bigger rivals like Pitt and Virginia Tech. Marshall can stick to their Sun Belt battles and their soccer rivalry with WVU, where they actually have a shot.

So, to the Herd fans and politicians begging for another Friends of Coal Bowl: take a hike. WVU’s got bigger fish to fry, and we’re not here to subsidize your dreams of an upset that’s never coming. Let’s keep the Mountaineers climbing and leave this dead-end “rivalry” in the coal dust where it belongs.