Before and after the WVU "coal wall"...
- Thread starter Vernon
- Start date
Don't spread those photos too far. Obama will have all of the football players wearing oxygen masks by executive order.
That's awesome. I'd love to see them in corporate that design into the stadium, it could use a character boost.
I imagine they sealed the wall with some type of impenetrable sealant to prevent "dusting".
It's ok.
WV and WVU should really consider trying to separate themselves from the 'coal miner' image. I'm not saying that the coal industry (as it stands now) is embarrassing...it's just not going to be what it was in the future.
....and what it was in the past isn't exactly flattering.
WV needs to redefine itself to the rest of the country.
WV and WVU should really consider trying to separate themselves from the 'coal miner' image. I'm not saying that the coal industry (as it stands now) is embarrassing...it's just not going to be what it was in the future.
....and what it was in the past isn't exactly flattering.
WV needs to redefine itself to the rest of the country.
By unflattering I assume you are referring to the past labor unrest. This is not unique to the coal industry; the steel industry's labor history is almost identical to coal's and I hardly see Pittsburgh or Western PA trying to separate themselves from their steel heritage (i.e, The Steelers). Although certainly not perfect, both industries have contributed greatly to the infrastructure of this country. Besides, the coal angle is simply a tool to appeal to a fan base that is familiar with the industry. The fact that the mascot is the Mountaineer obviously shows that emphasis has never been on coal.
I would say it has more to do with the human price paid and the disregard for the value by the mine operators. Miners were a commodity with a strong "next man up" mentality by the Company for decades. I think that is a bigger taint on the industry, which ultimately caused the labor issues. Today it is also environmental issues and the media.
The new coal wall looks great! However, I understand the argument to begin separating from our coal heritage given that the industry appears to be on its last legs. With that said, I think the coal wall is more of a mentality and honor to our history and brings a work-like mentality to the team.
I remember an interview done with Slim Arnold, the first WVU Mountaineer who grew up in Bayard WV. He said that men were easy to replace. They would haul a body out of the mines and 50 men were lined up to take his place. Replacing a mule was another matter entirely. Finding a mule willing to go underground was a rare thing. Mules were valued much higher than men. Look it up in Goldenseal Magazine.
Pittsburgh has absolutely distanced themselves from the steel industry with a migration towards tech. You can see the change in the city everyday.
You can still recognize your past even if it may not be your future. History is important. One of the common threads in our culture and that of Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and us is petroleum based industry - oil, natural gas and coal. I understand the concerns with the climate but I do not think we should put our past out of our thoughts and minds. Many of us have had relatives in one of these industries including the petrochemical industry - plastics etc. I admit that I was not the biggest fan of the coal colored helmets but it is certainly bigger than me.
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It is the symbol of hard working WV coal miner and not the left wing ideology of an embarrassing image. Although I never worked in the mines, I was raised with that old WV mentality of working and doing whatever it takes to provide for family. Instilling that type coal miner ethic in our student athletes should always be viewed as positive without the stink the left is trying to place on the entire industry.
The coal industry provided the 'stink'...the 'left' just took/takes advantage of it.
Personally, my opinion of union workers (which is closely tied to that particular trade) isn't a positive....and it only gets worse over time.
Unions, at least in today's era... ....are robbing both employers and taxpayers.
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There.... ...I said it.
....and I've officially added into making this thread political.
Personally, my opinion of union workers (which is closely tied to that particular trade) isn't a positive....and it only gets worse over time.
Unions, at least in today's era... ....are robbing both employers and taxpayers.
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There.... ...I said it.
....and I've officially added into making this thread political.
Politics aside, I think ANY tribute to coal miners has been well-earned. As the son of a miner who SURVIVED two mine cave-ins (4 feet of coal before they got to his body) before black lung got him later in life, I have more respect for coal miners than about any worker in America. Yes, coal's day is done, and the environment will be better for it, but not the people of West Virginia. Monongah, my birthplace, has a statue to the wives of coal miners, where more than 500 died in the 1907 explosions. I endorse the coal wall. It's a part of our history. Isn't that what we should honor?
As someone who has written, negotiated and enforced labor contracts in multiple industries, I sympathize with the coal industry angst that prevails to this day. I defeated two unions in the printing industry; negotiated a 1mm square foot rubber and plastics manufacturing facility closing and relocation with two very tough unions where we needed to relocate the operations from the NE to the SE; ultimately re-negotiated multiple former heavy industry union contracts which were necessary to preserve jobs and improve conditions across the board. All of these environmental conditions were less than ideal... but none as formidable as the coal industry. BTW, I represented management. At times, my heart and mind was torn but the greater good was evident. I, first, had to come to terms with that and then convince everyone else.
WV is welcome to market their state anyway they feel appropriate to usher in new business or re-develop their brand but WVU shouldn't be forced to turn away from it's own state's history (brand identity) and I doubt a Coal Wall only seen by us WVU fans matters all that much - and besides, it looks great.
If WVU appears to be heavily invested into the states coal history, it's only because their own students and faculty are too and overall, WVU represents it's citizens much better than many other flagship universities.
WVU is a major university that produces graduates from all disciplines. If you want WV, or WVU to redefine itself it won't come from ignoring coal walls or silly national TV commercials. The redefinition will come from the graduates themselves, performing in the workplace and doing incredible things.
Coal is one of the most important resources in the world. Obviously WVU and West Virginian should never want to associate themselves with that. How dare they/we be proud.....cue ignorant banjo music
Love the coal wall! Hope to see more stuff like this.
Love the coal wall! Hope to see more stuff like this.
The last time I looked, they weren't plastering Union advertisements on the coal wall. Coal is what made this state (regardless of what company or entity profited from it or did not profit from it) and its also something that the majority of WVU fans can relate to in some fashion. Most fans either worked in the mines, or worked at a company that had some affiliation with the mining industry, or who has family / friends that worked in the mines (or maybe had family / friends that were killed in the mines). The coal wall creates an extra connection to the spirit of the hard working WV people that are Mountaineer fans. It shows team pride in that same WV spirit. Everyone knows that the world is shifting away from coal towards alternate energy. Anyone whose livelihood depends on the coal industry understands that all too well. I for one like the idea of the coal wall......and it looks pretty darn spiffy to boot!
With our highways and accessibility to the Northeast and Midwest, we should market our industrious workers and, perhaps, industry friendly accommodations for them, if they exist.
Yes........I've mined a little coal down in McDowell County, WV. Most of the older folks around where I used to live and work have retired and have seen their children move out of state where they make Fords and BMWs or work in technology for the likes of IBM, etc. Soon, the old folks will be nothing more than letters on a stone. Yes.............everything does change...................except what you choose to recall. At least that's what Merle Haggard said.
I think having the stadium walls decorated by coal would be surreal and awesome. It would add a special uniqueness to the stadium. As it sits, the stadium is pretty meh or boring. Then add in that tiny little press box, just boring. No need to build a new stadium or anything, just re-do the current stadium. New turf (finally after this season), modernizing the restrooms (also going to start very soon), widening the concourse (also going to start very soon), need a brand new video board (I would like to see bigger board since we only use 1), desperately need new sound system, etc. Don't have to use coal to decorate the stadium walls but it would most definitely add a special uniqueness that you cannot find at any other stadium.
No thank you! I'd rather see red brick since I'm a "traditionalist" sort of guy.
Really we should have a WalMart Zone in our stadium......since they have been the largest private employer in the state since 1998.
Plus....our colors are damn close to matching.