C.J. Crawford played his high school football at Huntington High and says he “grew up on Marshall,” which meant getting a chacne to play collegiately for the Thundering Herd was pretty special.

Something similar can surely be said of players who starred at Morgantown and University High and then were able to play for WVU. Why, those kids might be compelled to get a WVU-specific tattoo on an arm or a leg or somewhere.

Crawford felt similarly inspired when destination met realization and … well, allow him to explain his curious ink.

There, on the back of his arm in indelible ink, is the West Virginia University athletics symbol – the “Flying WV.” The short sleeve of a jersey fails to conceal the tattoo, so it appears the Marshall University football player has allegiances to the state’s other FBS program. 

Unprovoked and without mention of the tattoo, Crawford, a redshirt freshman and tight end for the Thundering Herd, defended his loyalties to Marshall ahead of Friday night’s Friends of Coal Bowl against West Virginia.

“This game always means a lot because I’m from here,” he said. “And I’m not a West Virginia fan. I never was. I’ve grown up on Marshall.”

Crawford’s defense was unsolicited. Did the former Huntington High School star feel his looming debut against WVU was the perfect time to set the record straight?

“That’s exactly why I said that,” Crawford said. “People here ask me about the tattoo all the time and I just want to clear the air.”