WVU marches into Huntington, WV today to play what’s basically a scrimmage game vs. the once mighty Thundering Turds. I understand why people are tricked into thinking this game is an “awesome new rivalry” or “good for the state”, but honestly when you think about it this type of game hurts each team more than it helps.

This game is not a rivalry and Marshall is not a rival. Webster defines a rivalry as:

1. One who attempts to equal or surpass another, or who pursues the same object as another; a competitor.
2. One that equals or almost equals another in a particular respect.

Marshall doesn’t qualify. They cannot equal us, they will not surpass us, and they haven’t been nor ever will compete for the same goals… a National Championship.

This game isn’t good for Marshall either (unless your talking money, cause they are bankin’ this weekend). It’s a big fat guaranteed L for them. Their weaknesses will be exposed, they will lose by a large margin, their stats will take a big hit, their conference will be embarrassed.. the list goes on and on.

Equally this game isn’t good for the Mountaineers. It makes our schedule look weak. Period. A #3 rankd team shouldn’t play this scrub. Even if we win by 100 points we will not move up the rankings after this week.

It’s too bad we didn’t play each other back in the 90’s. You could have an arguement that Marshall could hang if not even beat WVU. Espcially in the Pennington/Leftwich/Moss years.

Also, I hear reporters out there saying that the “Friends of Coal Bowl” will bring positive national attention to the state. I can’t disagree more. This game will only perpetuate the negative image of WV as a Dirty, Poor, Small Coal Mining State. You watch, they will talk about coal the whole friggin’ time and make it sound like WV is a state full of dirty coal miners and nasty strip mines.

This isn’t the state I know. Coal mining isn’t WV’s #1 industry anymore, it’s tourism. They should rename this bowl, the “Friends of WV Bowl” and showcase WV as a one of the last great untouched natural beauties in the country.

If your from WV I bet you’ll be embarrased by something stupid said either by the reporters covering the game or by some idiot they show in the crowd looking like a freakin’ dirty redneck coal miner. ESPN is just looking for this type of image to put out over the airwaves. It gives Lee Corso something to make fun of.

GO MOUNTAINEERS. GO WEST VIRGINIA!