| The Friends of Coal Bowl is the name that has | | | | during a timeline that spans from 1911 to 2009 |
| been given to the annual football game between | | | | the West Virginia University Mountaineers are |
| the West Virginia University (WVU) Mountaineers | | | | undefeated against their intrastate rivals the |
| and the Marshall University Thundering Herd. Every | | | | Marshall University Thundering Herd. Most recently |
| fall these two colleges based in the state of West | | | | during the four games that took place in the |
| Virginia square off for the Governor's Cup trophy. | | | | twenty-first century the Mountaineers have |
| It may come as a surprise to college football fans | | | | outscored their in state opponent by a combined |
| that even though the Mountaineers and the | | | | 98 points (141 WVU points to 43 Marshall points) |
| Thundering Herd are both located in the state of | | | | for an average margin of victory of nearly 25 |
| West Virginia that the number of times these | | | | points per contest. |
| two football programs have played one another is | | | | The name Friends of Coal Bowl comes directly |
| only in the single digits. Despite the first head to | | | | from the leading sponsor which is aptly named |
| head contest between these two schools | | | | the Friends of Coal. The Friends of Coal is an |
| occurring way back in 1911 (a 17-15 win by WVU) | | | | advocacy group that promotes the use of coal |
| there have only been nine meetings through the | | | | for energy. Coal is a particularly important natural |
| 2009 football season. | | | | resource for the local economies where these |
| Thanks to scheduling improvements these two | | | | two colleges reside in West Virginia. West Virginia |
| institutions of higher learning that are relative | | | | is located in Morgantown, WV and Marshall |
| neighbors by big time college football standards | | | | University is located in neighboring Huntington, WV. |
| are finally on pace to form some sort of local | | | | The title of the Governor's Cup trophy derives |
| rivalry. The two teams have now played every | | | | from the fact that these two teams are |
| year since 2006 and as of the time of this writing | | | | essentially playing for the title of top college |
| games are scheduled at least through 2012. | | | | football team in the state of West Virginia. Every |
| Regrettably the largest hindrance to this becoming | | | | year the governor of the state presents the |
| a thriving college football rivalry is the one sided | | | | traveling trophy (which rarely leaves Morgantown) |
| nature of the results. Over the course of the nine | | | | known as the Governor's Cup to the winner of |
| games that these two universities have played | | | | the annual contest. |
