HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — On Monday’s MetroNews “Talkline”, Marshall Atheltic Director Mike Hamrick called the agreement with Virginia Tech to play a football game on Saturday, December 1, a “win-win-win.”
Hamrick stated that not only will Virginia Tech (5-6) be paying Marshall (8-3) $300,000 as part of this agreement but the two schools reached a deal on a future home-and-home series and Marshall will receive $1.4 million through a Conference USA event cancellation insurance policy agreement.
Marshall was scheduled to receive $1.4 million from South Carolina in September but the game was canceled due to Hurricane Florence.
“Our kids are excited to play,” Hamrick said on MetroNews “Talkline.” “We are going to try and go down there and win the game. We don’t look at it as it is disparaging towards Marshall.”
The Hokies sit at 5-6 and need one more win to become bowl eligible. The game that kicks off at noon on Saturday would not have been played if Virginia Tech lost its last game to Virginia and fell to 4-7. That did not happen as the Hokies beat the Cavaliers, 34-31 in overtime.
Both teams had a game canceled in September due to Hurricane Florence. Marshall was slated to play at South Carolina on September 15 while Virginia Tech was set to host East Carolina on that same date.
“We had been in contact with Virginia Tech for a few weeks,” Hamrick said. “We both had games canceled.
“Our attitude was we wanted to play a 12th game, we wanted to play someone from the ACC. Our kids are excited.”
The future home-and-home series will start in 2023 when Virginia Tech will travel to Huntington and play at Joan C. Edwards Stadium then the Herd goes back to Blacksburg in 2024.
Marshall has had a string of ACC schools come to Huntington, as Heisman winner Lamar Jackson and Louisville came in 2016 and North Carolina State played at Joan C. Edwards Stadium this season. Pittsburgh is scheduled to play at Marshall in 2020.
Hamrick also stated that Marshall would not have received the $1.4 million from the C-USA event cancellation insurance policy if Marshall had an opportunity to play a 12th game and declined.
“Tech is a great program with great football tradition,” he said. “They have the longest consecutive bowl streak appearances right now, I understand. We are excited about going down there and trying to break it.
“There are only a handful of college football games this weekend and Marshall is one of them. It is great exposure to our program. It’s going to be on ESPN + for a national audience. I don’t see any downside for Marshall except for people whose feelings were hurt thinking that Virginia Tech is using Marshall to try and get that sixth win to get bowl eligible.”
Tickets are now on sale for the noon kick off between Marshall and Virginia Tech. More information can be found on Marshall Athletics’ website by clicking here.