The Friends of Coal Bowl from Eyewitness Sports Online

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS OF THE
1997 West Virginia University vs. Marshall University Football Game

West Virginia 42, Marshall 31

While the 1997 game wasn't referred to as the Friends of Coal Bowl, perhaps it planted a seed for the future.

For the first time since 1923, West Virginia and Marshall faced off against each other in a football game. West Virginia had won that '23 affair by a final of 81-0.

Things were a lot different years later.

Marshall was coming off a perfect 15-0 record and a second 1-AA National Championship. The school was making the move from 1-AA to 1-A and was switching to the Mid-American Conference after several seasons in the Southern Conference.

West Virginia jumped out to a 28-3, before the Herd stormed back to take a 31-28 lead early in the fourth quarter.

The Mountaineers managed to fend off their visitors from the south to capture a 42-31 victory.

The game featured an array of future NFL players including: Marshall quarterback Chad Pennington, WVU quarterback Marc Bulger, Marshall punter Chris Hanson, WVU punter Todd Sauerbrun, Marshall wide receiver Randy Moss, Marshall lineman John Wade, WVU running back Amos Zereoue and countless others.

Enjoy scenes from the 1997 showdown between West Virginia and Marshall.

FRIENDS OF COAL BOWL WEBCAST

MORE VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
1997 2006 2007 2008

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