Mountaineers Now

Friends of Coal Bowl? Rich Rod Gives Brutally Honest Opinion About Playing Marshall

It doesn't sound like WVU will be playing Marshall anytime soon.

Schuyler Callihan

Pat McAfee Sho
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For the first time in a while, the two Division-I football programs in West Virginia, WVU and Marshall, have West Virginia natives leading the way.

Earlier this week, former WVU defensive coordinator Tony Gibson was named the next head coach at Marshall. In his introductory press conference, "Gibby" dropped the thought of trying to get the Friends of Coal Bowl game back on the Herd's schedule.

“I have had the honor to work for a lot of great head football coaches. One of them that just got hired at the school up north. So I think it’s time for the Friends of Coal Bowl again.”

West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez was asked about his thoughts on trying to get Marshall back on the schedule during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show and gave an answer that fired up Mountaineer fans in the WVU Coliseum.

"Gibby is a great friend of mine. Was a great staff member, and we're still very dear friends. But if you think I've spent one second thinking about Marshall you're wrong. I could care less what's going on in Huntington."

History of the Friends of the Coal Bowl

1911: West Virginia 17, Marshall 15

1914: West Virginia 20, Marshall 0

1915: West Virginia 92, Marshall 6

1923: West Virginia 81, Marshall 0

1997: West Virginia 42, Marshall 31

2006: West Virginia 42, Marshall 10

2007: West Virginia 48, Marshall 23

2008: West Virginia 27, Marshall 3

2009: West Virginia 24, Marshall 7

2010: West Virginia 24, Marshall 21

2011: West Virginia 34, Marshall 13

2012: West Virginia 69, Marshall 34

MORE STORIES FROM WEST VIRGINIA ON SI

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WVU's 2025 Recruiting Class Reacts to the Hire of Rich Rodriguez

WVU Football Shares Special Moment as Rich Rodriguez Reunites with Rasheed Marshall

Stedman Bailey Gives His Seal of Approval on the Rich Rodriguez Hire

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Schuyler Callihan
SCHUYLER CALLIHAN

Publisher of Mountaineers Now on FanNation/Sports Illustrated. Lead recruiting expert and co-host of Between the Eers, Walk Thru GameDay Show, Mountaineers Now Postgame Show, and In the Gun Podcast.

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