I will attempt to be careful what I say because Dan has requested I not post on Herd Nation things we discuss. He does not read nor "get caught up in some of the nonsense" that is posted here.
West Virginia is a poor state. Both major universities can use the revenue generated from playing the annual basketball game in Charleston. Same goes for the city of Charleston. The folks of WV needs the excitement the game generates...if for only a few days or hours the contest is played. High School basketball players (ie Marshall's Elmore) get excited and hope to be recruited to play at one of the schools. Dan wants more WV guys to play for The Herd and his recruiting of WV players proves this. Appears this is not the case in Morgantown.
The Charleston Civic Center seats about 12,337 for basketball. This years contest, played on a December Thursday evening sold 11,784 tickets...shy of 553 tickets for a sell out. On a THURSDAY night! No legislature in session because of Christmas break. This is the reason the game is played in Charleston in the first place. WVU hosted James Madison in an earlier game at the CCC with ticket sales around 8,101.
I saw on the local Charlotte news this week that West Virginia leads the Nation in prescribed chemical drug deaths. Not a good thing to be proud of...or happy about. On a personal note, I hope all the doctors "getting West Virginians hooked on pain medication" are found guilty and spend prison time.
Again, folks in West Virginia need positive news and sporting functions, played by both universities, to ease their unhappy minds for a while, as reported in another national survey showing West Virginia is one of the worst states to live & work in. I support sports is good medicine for folks that enjoy this type entertainment.
Dan's comments had little to cause the contract to be cancelled. His comments were blown out of context after last year's game. For those that know or have known Dan for as long as I have.....He is a jokester and finds pleasure in kidding people. His heart for the state of WV is enormous. If not, he would not be coaching Marshall....his dream job.
I do not know Coach Huggins. I have only watched him coach on television. His persona is grim...he always appears to be angry. I recall he was a "fighter" when he was a college basketball player at WVU. I recently witnessed a basketball game at Hinkle Fieldhouse (Indianapolis) between Butler-Providence, two Big East teams. A lady (graduate of Michigan State---her son graduated from Butler) from Chicago was seated beside me in the sold out arena. We chatted about different sporting events. When the subject of West Virginia arose...she was well informed about Marshall's sporting history and the fact we are nationally known as a friendly place to visit. She alluded to the comments from Purdue fans & players that were posted after our football game this year. Here's her comments on Coach Huggins...."Watching him on TV is painful for me...he always appears condescending, angry, uses foul language...a successful coach, but I would never want my child play for him." She then proceeded to ask if all the national negative comments are true about "some students" at WVU. I stated the ones I have witnessed in Morgantown to be factual. She asked..."what's all their couch burning about?" I had no answer. She asked..."is it true that females are subjected to foul language & negative insults as reported?" Again, I replied..."this is what I have HERD----I have not witnessed this behavior first hand!"
Point being.....the State of West Virginia needs our two Universities competing in sporting contests. The state of West Virginia needs the money the games generate to pay bills. Neither school sells out for football games.....unless Marshall is playing the Mountaineers. I know this is fact....I see the empty seats in both stadiums when playing other teams.
If Coach Huggins & their AD are responsible for the basketball contract being terminated.....in my opinion....they care little for the families in West Virginia. I can witness for Dan....he is proud of our state and LOVES being the basketball coach at Marshall. You might notice how he has incorporated the State Map Outline on The Herd's clothing. Morgantown & WVU does not own our STATE!
Shame on you "huggy bear".....you have now added more to your resume how you are viewed OUTSIDE West Virginia.
Gary (HERDZILLA22) Sweeney in Charlotte
West Virginia is a poor state. Both major universities can use the revenue generated from playing the annual basketball game in Charleston. Same goes for the city of Charleston. The folks of WV needs the excitement the game generates...if for only a few days or hours the contest is played. High School basketball players (ie Marshall's Elmore) get excited and hope to be recruited to play at one of the schools. Dan wants more WV guys to play for The Herd and his recruiting of WV players proves this. Appears this is not the case in Morgantown.
The Charleston Civic Center seats about 12,337 for basketball. This years contest, played on a December Thursday evening sold 11,784 tickets...shy of 553 tickets for a sell out. On a THURSDAY night! No legislature in session because of Christmas break. This is the reason the game is played in Charleston in the first place. WVU hosted James Madison in an earlier game at the CCC with ticket sales around 8,101.
I saw on the local Charlotte news this week that West Virginia leads the Nation in prescribed chemical drug deaths. Not a good thing to be proud of...or happy about. On a personal note, I hope all the doctors "getting West Virginians hooked on pain medication" are found guilty and spend prison time.
Again, folks in West Virginia need positive news and sporting functions, played by both universities, to ease their unhappy minds for a while, as reported in another national survey showing West Virginia is one of the worst states to live & work in. I support sports is good medicine for folks that enjoy this type entertainment.
Dan's comments had little to cause the contract to be cancelled. His comments were blown out of context after last year's game. For those that know or have known Dan for as long as I have.....He is a jokester and finds pleasure in kidding people. His heart for the state of WV is enormous. If not, he would not be coaching Marshall....his dream job.
I do not know Coach Huggins. I have only watched him coach on television. His persona is grim...he always appears to be angry. I recall he was a "fighter" when he was a college basketball player at WVU. I recently witnessed a basketball game at Hinkle Fieldhouse (Indianapolis) between Butler-Providence, two Big East teams. A lady (graduate of Michigan State---her son graduated from Butler) from Chicago was seated beside me in the sold out arena. We chatted about different sporting events. When the subject of West Virginia arose...she was well informed about Marshall's sporting history and the fact we are nationally known as a friendly place to visit. She alluded to the comments from Purdue fans & players that were posted after our football game this year. Here's her comments on Coach Huggins...."Watching him on TV is painful for me...he always appears condescending, angry, uses foul language...a successful coach, but I would never want my child play for him." She then proceeded to ask if all the national negative comments are true about "some students" at WVU. I stated the ones I have witnessed in Morgantown to be factual. She asked..."what's all their couch burning about?" I had no answer. She asked..."is it true that females are subjected to foul language & negative insults as reported?" Again, I replied..."this is what I have HERD----I have not witnessed this behavior first hand!"
Point being.....the State of West Virginia needs our two Universities competing in sporting contests. The state of West Virginia needs the money the games generate to pay bills. Neither school sells out for football games.....unless Marshall is playing the Mountaineers. I know this is fact....I see the empty seats in both stadiums when playing other teams.
If Coach Huggins & their AD are responsible for the basketball contract being terminated.....in my opinion....they care little for the families in West Virginia. I can witness for Dan....he is proud of our state and LOVES being the basketball coach at Marshall. You might notice how he has incorporated the State Map Outline on The Herd's clothing. Morgantown & WVU does not own our STATE!
Shame on you "huggy bear".....you have now added more to your resume how you are viewed OUTSIDE West Virginia.
Gary (HERDZILLA22) Sweeney in Charlotte