Marshall has been playing baseball against West Virginia University since William Howard Taft was President.
That was in 1910.
But for some reason West Virginia's only two NCAA Division I baseball programs quit playing during the Bush League years.
Politics aside, isn't it time for the Herd and Mountaineers to resume their baseball rivalry with an annual game at Charleston's Appalachian Power Park?
I believe so.
And so does Marshall head baseball coach Jeff Waggoner.
"Absolutely," said Waggoner emphatically. "There's no question."
Well, actually, there is one question.
Will veteran WVU head coach Greg Van Zant agree to revive the rivalry with an annual neutral site game in Charleston?
I wish I knew. But despite repeated telephone calls, Van Zant couldn't be reached for comment.
This much is known. Marshall and WVU have played 58 times during the last 98 years with the Mountaineers leading the series, 36-22.
Although the pair actually played this season with WVU beating the Herd, 5-3, in a tournament in Myrtle Beach, the state rivals haven't played in Charleston since the Mountaineers' 12-11 win at since razed Watt Powell Park in 1998.
That was 10 years ago.
Since then, Marshall has joined a league -- Conference USA -- which is clearly superior to the Big East in baseball. Besides, MU's RPI ranking of No. 85 is even higher than WVU at No. 89.
So, the timing is perfect to resume the MU-WVU baseball rivalry in Charleston. It's merely a matter of getting Van Zant to agree.
"When I was at North Carolina State I was doing the scheduling," said Waggoner, a former Wolfpack assistant coach. "And we were scheduling West Virginia at the time. I called the coach (Van Zant) and said, 'I'm up for this job at Marshall. If I get the job, do you want to play us every year and get the rivalry going?'
"And he said, 'Yeah, coach, that sounds good.' After a couple of weeks, I got the job and called him and he didn't want to play us."
But Waggoner refuses to give up.
"I've tried him a couple of times," said MU's second-year coach. "I actually got him (for a game) in a tournament at Wake Forest next year and he pulled out of it.
"He said that he didn't want to play anybody in-state. He didn't want to leave home, any ways, and play anybody in-state. I said, 'Coach, I'll come up there.'
"I think me and him are going to talk a little bit more and try to get that going."
It just makes sense, considering Marshall and WVU play annually in five other sports including football, men's basketball, women's basketball, volleyball and women's tennis.
Adding baseball to the mix is a no-brainer.
"That would be huge for the state," said Waggoner. "We need that in this state. There's no doubt about it.
"It helps the state in baseball. That's what we should look at No. 1. It helps in recruiting. It generates some interest.
"Hopefully, we can get it done during the next couple of years. If not, it's going to be a shame."
If not, WVU should be called for a balk. At least, that's this fielder's choice.
Chuck Landon is a sports columnist for The Herald-Dispatch. Call him at 526-2827. E-mail him at clandon@herald-dispatch.com.
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