Former football coach addresses Moundsville event
By JOSELYN KING
MOUNDSVILLE - Former West Virginia University head football coach Don Nehlen thinks those in Washington who regulate coal need to come to West Virginia and get to know the industry better.
He also believes the key to the industry's survival is voting out President Barack Obama in 2012.
Nehlen - who now serves as spokesman for the "Friends of Coal" organization - was among those speaking during the "Rally in the Valley for Coal" Thursday night at Riverfront Park in Moundsville.
It was noted during the rally that the U.S. coal industry is actually booming, as producers are exporting much of their product to foreign countries that continue to use coal.
"It makes no sense," Nehlen told the crowd. "Everybody wants our coal. We're one of the few countries where our natural resources are a liability, and that's ridiculous.
"I'm just a football coach, I don't know how to turn things around," he continued. "But I can vote that guy (President Barack Obama) out of the White House. That's a start."
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