by Ron Gregory
ronjgregory@gmail.com
Rumors are rampant at the state capitol concerning the incoming administration of Governor Jim Justice.
While various names are being tossed about for administrative posts at the capitol, the latest stories involve Justice’s interest in the athletic programs at Marshall University. While many have assumed that Justice would, as one of his predecessor’s did, order resumption of a football series between MU and the state’s other major university, West Virginia University, today’s rumors are much more involved.
A close friend of former Herd Head Football Coach Bobby Pruett said the incoming governor has “told administrators at Marshall he wants a change in the football program.” That change, according to the Pruett friend, would make the ex-coach athletic director and head coach of football. Combined to make that happen, current Head Football Coach Doc Holladay and Athletic Director Mike Hamrick would be dismissed.
“It’s what the governor wants and what I expect to see happen,” said Pruett’s friend. Pruett, 73, is arguably the top football coach in Herd history, racking up 99 wins and just 25 losses. His teams played in four NCAA Division 1-AA championship playoff series with his 1996 squad claiming the national title. He was 5-2 in bowl games during his years at Marshall from 1996 to 2004.
Pruett’s teams were voted into the national Top Ten and were regular contenders for Southern Conference and Mid American Conference titles. He was the MAC coach of the year for 1997-98. His teams at Huntington had two undefeated seasons.
He is a member of the Marshall University Athletics Hall of Fame and is a native of Beckley. Among players he coached at MU were Randy Moss, Chad Pennington and Byron Leftwich.
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Holliday has been successful at MU, although many alumni view him as a “WVU leftover.” He is, in fact, a WVU graduate and was widely considered the “coach-in-waiting” on the WVU staff when hired by Marshall.
Holliday directed the Herd to three straight ten-win seasons before the team fell flat and won only three games this past season. That performance has led many fans to call for Holliday’s ouster.
Hamrick, on the other hand, has incited the ire of Herd faithful with what they see as attacks on them in social media. The AD has often criticized Marshall fans for low turnout at specific games and some think his treatment of past teams who visit Marshall Stadium are not appropriate.
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“It’s a given that Marshall and WVU will be playing football soon,” said one observer. “Now it sounds like they may have their old coach back on the sideline.”
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Some had speculated earlier that Pruett would get an appointment representing the governor’s office in a state region. “I’d guess that won’t happen now,” his friend said.
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