Marshall
University football fans finally can finalize
travel plans for the Sept. 2 season opener at
West Virginia University.
WVU officials announced Tuesday (July 25) that
the renewed series, dubbed the Friends of Coal
Bowl, will kick off at 3:30 p.m. at Milan Puskar
Stadium. The Mountain State's two NCAA Division
I-A programs begin a seven-game series with this
season's clash.
Both the date and time for the game were
uncertain for much of the summer because of
television negotiations. ESPN approached West
Virginia officials about both a Friday and
Sunday kickoff, but WVU eventually purchased
rights to the game from the sports network.
WVU deputy athletic director Mike Parsons said
convenience for both Mountaineer and Thundering
Herd fans led to the 3:30 p.m. kickoff.
"With so many additional West Virginia residents
traveling to this game and with hotel rooms
being scarce, this gives fans time to travel to
Morgantown in the morning and still travel home
that night," Parsons said.
Marshall-WVU likely will be broadcast statewide
on television and be available on pay-per-view.
"I
think several stations in West Virginia will
carry the game and I think it will also be on
ESPN GamePlan," Marshall athletic director Bob
Marcum said.
Parsons said plans for television coverage
should be announced this week, but agreed with
Marcum's assessment.
"I
think it will be something like that," Parsons
said.
With kickoff less than six weeks away,
Thundering Herd fans patiently awaited a start
time. A noon kickoff likely equaled a Friday
night hotel stay; a nighttime start meant a
Saturday night stay in north central West
Virginia.
"It's great having a time set, because now
people can go ahead with their plans," Marcum
said. "And we can get on with the game."
Marshall has sold its allotment of 5,000 tickets
for the anticipated matchup. The lone option for
Herd fans, according to Marshall ticket manager
Matt Monroe, is to purchase season tickets
through the WVU ticket office. Fans can call
1-800-WVU GAME to check on availability.
