Well, was asked but just as I disappeared. Joe Manchin is running for and likely winning RCB’s senate seat. The primary is late next month and the election in November.

This, in a very relevant way, affects the future of the WVU-Marshall series, as explained by Jack Bogaczyk.

It’s Manchin’s baby, but a lot has been thrown out with the bath water since then.

Of the seven principals in the room at the state Capitol for the formal contract signing on May 17, 2005, only Manchin is still in the same position. (The others were Mike Farrell, Bob Marcum and Mark Snyder for Marshall and WVU’s David Hardesty, Ed Pastilong and Rich Rodriguez.)

However, the overwhelming statewide notion is that it would probably take Manchin to extend the series, and if Manchin runs as expected for Byrd’s old seat and wins in November, he goes to Washington immediately after election results are certified.

If that occurs, Marshall loses its hammer in trying to forge a new deal.

The question now is if and perhaps when does Carte Goodwin picks up the political football>