Thanks for the tailgate invite. If me and my lady aren’t working, we will try and be there. Lol on the bet, I'll have to think about that one!
Why did I start coming here, it's very simple actually. My girlfriend got a big promotion with one of the media outlets in the state and was forced to move down here. She works in both Charleston and Huntington and we live in Scott Depot.
My neighbor is a big Marshall fan. He moved here 11 years ago from Pittsburgh and started following Marshall soon after. After some good natured ribbing back and forth, toward the end of last season he told me since I was a West Virginia boy and living here now, I should follow both. I never really gave it much thought. I know most Marshall fans think most WVU fans obsess about them, but honestly, I’m 36 and never thought much about them until recently, positive or negative.
I've actually enjoyed the basketball rivalry the last several years but not the football for a very good reason. 10 years ago when Pruett put that billboard up in Morgantown, a lot of fans like me saw red.
I didn’t really have that much love for Marshall after that until I met a girl named Tiffany. She was an intern at the station and new Grad of Marshall. I loved her dearly until she died in a car accident in Marion County in 2004. She was a diehard fan and one of your programs greatest cheerleaders to the many, many Mountaineers that worked at the station.
Back on topic, my neighbor said I should go to a few games with him. I had gone to this website a couple times in the past but never posted. I started following all the websites at that time and with the exception of a VERY few people have had a negative reception. I started posting very lightly and cryptic on this board because you soon realize unless you are a diehard fan, they take your voice away...which they did, which makes it a cowards board in my opinion, but, still a decent place to get info, so I come back and read (I find it funny, I’ve had some BLOODY conversations on the Pitt board, and never been banned there, I guess they have thicker skin). As a football fan, I visit LOTS of boards every week, not just the Marshall ones, and have never been banned once.
I do stand up for my team and myself when I have to and post some negative things from time to time on the smack board (and on other teams boards, that’s what they are there for, intelligent banter), but, mostly just scan the topics and move on.
As for me being a fan of both teams, I just don't know. I don't actively root for or against Marshall at this time, but, time will tell. I have met some VERY good and decent people here....Marshall, WVU, Kentucky, Ohio State fans etc, so it's been interesting.
I guess that kind of sums it up. Thanks again for the invite!