By Dave Morrison
Sports Editor
MORGANTOWN —
With the exception of his own family, nobody was happier for Marshall kicker Tyler Warner last week when he was put on scholarship by the Thundering Herd than WVU fullback Matt Lindamood.
As a fellow walk-on, he was happy for his former Parkersburg High teammate.
“I just called him up to congratulate him on getting his scholarship (a week ago Sunday),” Lindamood said. “I know how important that is.”
On Tuesday, Lindamood, a redshirt sophomore, received his own scholarship from WVU.
One of the first to call?
That’s right, Warner.
The two will be playing Friday night in the annual Friends of Coal Bowl at Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington.
Parkersburg will be well represented in the game.
In addition to Lindamood and Warner, WVU also has starting guard Josh Jenkins and long snapper Cody Nutter.
“To a lot of guys on the (WVU) team, (Parkersburg) is just another smaller town,” Lindamood said. “For us, it’s where we came from. We’re out here trying to help this state out and try to make names for Parkersburg. But it’s a lot more than just about us.”
In fact, it doesn’t take long for Lindamood to get emphatic about how he feels about his state roots.
“It means a lot for the state. Marshall-West Virginia, it brings the whole state together to represent the coal miners and what they’ve done for this state and what they’ve brought into this state.
“It’s just something that we can do to support the state.
“I just let the (out-of-state players) know, ‘This is where we came from. This is our history, we’re coal miners. And that is what made this state.’ Just bringing the state together, bringing money into the state. And we’re ready to swing. They’re going to be swinging and we’re going to be swinging.”
Lindamood looked at Marshall coming out of PHS. Shortly.
I don’t think so,” Lindamood said when asked if he strongly considered the Herd. “I talked to the coaches a couple of times. But we never went through with it. Once Josh (Jenkins) brought me to a game up here, I was pretty much sold on coming here.”
Lindamood’s father Mark was a walk-on at Marshall, much as his son was at West Virginia.
“He was there for a year or two, and he was ready to be put on scholarship,” Lindamood said. “But I think someone needed one more than he did, like someone from out-of-state. And he ended up having to leave because of insufficient funds. He just decided he had to go back home. I’d say he has mixed (feelings) about (the game). Since he didn’t get that scholarship, maybe there is some hatred that way. Maybe he is behind them. But I know he supported me all the way through getting this scholarship.”
He said he can still support Marshall, in its other games.
“This goes back to PHS and (Parkersburg) South,” Lindamood said. “When we’re not playing them, I want them to pound everybody. I want Marshall to hammer everyone else.”
Marshall’s new coach, Doc Holliday, was close to Lindamood.
“Coach Holliday was my fullback coach my first two years here,” Lindamood said. “He is a very intelligent guy. He’s going to have those guys working hard down there. They’re going to come out swinging. I know it. And we’re going to come out the same way.”
Lindamood had one carry for six yards against Coastal Carolina. But it was on a touchdown run by Ryan Clarke, with WVU in its jumbo package — which will feature the 6-foot, 234 pound Lindamood in the backfield — where he made his most significant contribution.
“I tried to stick it up in there and Ryan just made a great play with that leap. It was a nice little spin over the top. Ryan is great to block for. Even if you don’t do your job, which I try to do every time, he’s going to make his hole. He comes downhill with a full head of steam. I love blocking for him.”
Playing on a traditional high school night brings it all back for the former Kennedy Award runner-up, who led the state in rushing with 2,473 yards and 35 touchdowns his senior year.
“Friday Night Lights, yeah definitely,” Lindamood said. “It’ll be that cool air, that cool West Virginia air. I can’t wait.”
— E-mail: demorrison@register-herald.com
