The second annual Coal Bowl presented by the Pennsylvania Coal Association will take place Oct. 30 when IUP visits California in a 1 p.m. contest at Adamson Stadium. In the inaugural game played at IUP last year, the Vulcans took home the Coal Miner's Pail trophy with a 41-28 victory.
As part of the pregame festivities, IUP alum Chris Higbee (formerly of the Poverty Neck Hillbillies) will perform a concert in the parking lot at Adamson Stadium from 11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. courtesy of the Common Sense movement. Also as part of the event, the first 500 students who attend the concert will receive a voucher for a free hot dog and soft drink. Additionally, an iPad and autographed Pittsburgh Penguins Max Talbot jersey will be raffled off to students in attendance courtesy of Common Sense.
The background and genesis of the Coal Bowl began in 2009 when California alumnus Bob Lippencott (class of 1966) and his brother Barry, a 1967 graduate of IUP, established endowed football scholarships in the amount of $10,000 to their respective universities. As part of their initiatives, the families have donated a “Coal Pail” trophy that is presented to the winner of the rivalry between the two PSAC member institutions. Originally from Brownsville, Pa., the Lippencott family has a long history of working in the coal industry and felt this game would be an excellent platform in which to honor their families, respective universities and the coal industry.
“This trophy is to honor the coal miner,” the Lippencott brothers said. “Coal miners are a special breed; every day they face danger, routine hardships and difficult work. They work underground in a dangerous environment doing a job that many do not envy.
“In creating these scholarships, we wanted to recognize and offer a thank you to the universities that have played a major role in the successes we've had in our personal and professional lives. The work ethic reinforced in the football programs, combined with the work ethic we gained working in the coal mining area, certainly carried over into our lives” the Lippencotts added.
The Pennsylvania Coal Association will once again be the presenting sponsor of the game, with Alpha Natural Resources, CONSOL Energy, F.O.R.C.E. (Families for PA Coal), Joy Mining, P & N Coal, Roberts & Schaefer, United Mine Workers of America District 2 and Washington Reprographics joining the event as participating sponsors.
“The Pennsylvania Coal Association, whose members produce over 80% of the bituminous coal mined each year in western Pennsylvania that is used to generate affordable and reliable electricity, is honored to once again sponsor the Coal Bowl between two of the Commonwealth's finest universities which are located in the heart of the coalfields,” Pennsylvania Coal Association President George Ellis said.
Following the game, the winning team will receive the Lippencott Brothers Coal Miner's Pail Trophy which will be presented by the Lippencott brothers along with George Ellis of the PA Coal Association to the winning university president and football coach. Additionally, Joy Mining will present an award to the Most Valuable Player.
