By: Jonathan K. Martin | WV Sports Chat
Tony Gibson, the newly appointed head coach of the Marshall University Thundering Herd, dropped a cryptic message on Twitter (X) that sparked conversation through the college football community in the state of West Virginia.
With a simple “2027” accompanied by a face with monocle emoji, which signifies curiousity, Gibson—quoting a post from the Marshall Football account—appears to be teasing a potential revival of the storied Friends of Coal Bowl rivalry against West Virginia University.
Tony Gibson, who took the helm at Marshall in December 2024 following Charles Huff’s departure, brings a unique perspective to this potential revival. Gibson is no stranger to WVU, having served as the Mountaineers’ defensive coordinator from 2014 to 2019 under head coach Dana Holgorsen.
The Friends of Coal Bowl, sponsored by the West Virginia Coal Association at the urging of then-Governor Joe Manchin, was intended to be a seven-year series starting in 2006. However, the rivalry has only seen 12 matchups, with the last game played on September 1, 2012, resulting in a 69-34 WVU victory.
The Mountaineers have dominated the series, winning all 12 games with an average margin of victory of 29.8 points per game.
So we ask … do you want to see the WVU/Marshall football series return?
