West Virginia athletic director Wren Baker (left) and Rich Rodriguez pose during a news conference introducing Rodriguez as the Mountaineersòòò½ÊÓƵ™ new football coach on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, at the òòò½ÊÓƵU Coliseum in Morgantown.
Rich Rodriguez speaks during a news conference introducing him as the new football coach at West Virginia University on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, at the òòò½ÊÓƵU Coliseum in Morgantown.
Rich Rodriguez speaks during a news conference introducing him as the new football coach at West Virginia University on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, at the òòò½ÊÓƵU Coliseum in Morgantown.
West Virginia athletic director Wren Baker (left) and Rich Rodriguez pose during a news conference introducing Rodriguez as the Mountaineersòòò½ÊÓƵ™ new football coach on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, at the òòò½ÊÓƵU Coliseum in Morgantown.
HUNTINGTON òòò½ÊÓƵ” Tony Gibson and Rich Rodriguez are friends but vehemently disagree on one matter.
Gibson, Marshall Universityòòò½ÊÓƵ™s new football coach, and Rodriguez, newly rehired at West Virginia University, expressed different opinions on whether the Thundering Herd and Mountaineers should revive the Friends of Coal Bowl that pitted the teams against one another.
òòò½ÊÓƵœIòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve had the honor to work for a lot of great head football coaches,òòò½ÊÓƵ said Gibson, who coached under Rodriguez at òòò½ÊÓƵU from 2001 through 2007. òòò½ÊÓƵœOne of them just got hired at the school up north. So itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s time for the Friends of Coal Bowl again.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Gibson was speaking at his introduction as Marshallòòò½ÊÓƵ™s coach on Thursday. He pointed to former Herd coach Bobby Pruett, who stood and applauded when Gibson called for the revival of the series. Pruett coached Marshall in the first Friends of Coal Bowl in 1997. òòò½ÊÓƵU rallied to win 42-31.
But Rodriguez, introduced one day later in Morgantown, said he has no desire for the teams to play one another again.
òòò½ÊÓƵœGibby is a great friend of mine,òòò½ÊÓƵ Rodriguez said. òòò½ÊÓƵœHe was a great staff member and weòòò½ÊÓƵ™re still dear friends, but if you think Iòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve spent one second thinking about Marshall, youòòò½ÊÓƵ™re wrong. I (couldnòòò½ÊÓƵ™t) care less whatòòò½ÊÓƵ™s going on in Huntington.òòò½ÊÓƵ
GIBSON ON THE 75: Gibson, a native of Van, West Virginia, said he realizes the gravity of the Marshall job in light of the 75 people killed on the Nov. 14, 1970 plane crash near Tri-State Airport.
The worst air disaster in United States sports history killed 37 players from the Herd football team.
òòò½ÊÓƵœI thank those guys so much for what they did,òòò½ÊÓƵ Gibson said. òòò½ÊÓƵœI will honor them every time we go on the turf for practice or a game.òòò½ÊÓƵ
RECRUITING PHILOSOPHY: Gibson said he and his staff will cast a wide recruiting net but begin in the Tri-State.
òòò½ÊÓƵœI want the best players who can help us win the Sun Belt,òòò½ÊÓƵ Gibson said. òòò½ÊÓƵœIf they can play for us, weòòò½ÊÓƵ™ll recruit them. We wonòòò½ÊÓƵ™t recruit players just because theyòòò½ÊÓƵ™re from here, but if they can help us win, weòòò½ÊÓƵ™ll recruit them.òòò½ÊÓƵ
TRANSFER TALK: Harvard defensive end Brandon Svets said heòòò½ÊÓƵ™s been offered by Marshall.
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