West Virginia will step out of its seven-round fight of Big East Conference play to face in-state rival Marshall. Or, is the Friends of Coal Bowl not a rivalry? Is it just another out-of-conference game? The Mountaineers have won all eight contests against in the Herd – and every one of those wins but one, the first meeting in 1911, have been a double-digit victory. Despite the history and statistics about this series, WVU head coach Bill Stewart said the game with the Thundering Herd, or as he commonly calls it, "the team down south," a rival. "It is to me, and I think it is to the team and our players," Stewart said. "It’s a game of great importance and of much value for our program. It’s about state pride. It’s a big game." In total, West Virginia has outscored Marshall 369-88, a staggering average 35.125 point difference. In that span, WVU has won games 92-6 and 81-0 in 1915 and 1923 respectively. There have been two shutouts by the Mountaineers in the eight-game series. But games have been closer since the series started up again in 2006. West Virginia has still won convincingly in all three meetings, but in 2007, Marshall actually led the Mountaineers heading into halftime before losing 48-23 in Huntington, W.Va. NOTES Stewart might not be walking down a catwalk anytime soon, but the second-year head coach has made a fashion statement in the last two games. Against Colorado, Stewart debuted a dark blue sweater vest, similar to the outfit commonly worn by Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel. Stewart won’t go as far as saying he looks better than Tressel in his new coach of attire. "Jim Tressel is a good-looking young man," Stewart said. "He has aged better than me." Stewart also wore the vest against Syracuse. Because the vest is 2-0, Stewart said it will be a trend – one he hopes will last for a long time. "I didn’t want us to all look like mustard seeds on the sideline," Stewart said about deciding on a choice of dress for the gold rush. "It’s moxy. I guess I’ll wear the sweater vest from now on, for a long, long time. Maybe forever and ever would be nice." Stewart praised the play of junior nose tackle Chris Neild. Without junior defensive tackle Scooter Berry in the lineup, Neild has had to step up and take a larger role in the defense. There is no doubt, in Stewart’s mind, that Neild is doing that. "I think he is having a banner year," Stewart said. Berry played for the first time against Syracuse since being injured in the Mountaineers’ game against East Carolina Sept. 12. Berry and fellow defensive tackle Josh Taylor split time against the Orange. Stewart said the team and its medical staff are watching him closely and will evaluate him over the next few weeks. "We feel like his progression is adequate, not good or great, but OK," Stewart said. He will likely play the same role as he did last week – in passing downs only, but his role could increase as time goes on.
Stewart believes Friends of Coal Bowl still a rivalry
Published: Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Updated: Tuesday, October 13, 2009
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