While our final grades will come this Wednesday, here are my initial thoughts on yesterday's game:

• Mountaineer Mantrip was a success.  There is room for improvement (mainly on the fans part) but this was a good start.
• Initial reports of beer sales being less than anticipated due to the heat.  Even so, I think the concerns voiced in the off-season were overblown.
• Weirdest game I've ever sat through, weather-wise.
• Geno looked as poised as ever, even when flushed from the pocket.
• Offensive line still has room for improvement, but no longer appear to be "soft" as a former Mountaineer lineman said to me yesterday.
• In conjunction with the line play, the running game is a work in progress, but flashes were there.
• Defense may not be as good as last year, but still extremely solid...with many youngsters playing.
• Special teams coverage looked solid, except for one time and that one time killed them.
• Return game looks to be improved.  Tavon could score several more here this year.
• Kicking game was solid as Smith had a couple real nice punts and Bitancurt hit all of his kicks.

Overall, I thought it was a good effort for the first game.  There is plenty of room for improvement and I'm glad there are still two more games to get things corrected before LSU comes to town.  All of the media coverage I could dig up is after the jump.

Recaps and Features:

Football: Joint University Statement - MSNsportsNET.Com
A joint statement by West Virginia University Director of Athletics Oliver Luck and Marshall University Athletic Director Mike Hamrick:

No. 24 W. Virginia gets best of Marshall in storm-shortened opener - ESPN
Recap, stats, video, etc

Lightning Strikes; Herd Loses Thunder - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Recap, gallery and audio of HCDH's post game presser

WVU vs. Marshall Game Recap - WVillustrated.com

WVU Stayed Active, Positive During Lightning Delays - WVillustrated.com

Coal Bowl: No. 24 WVU pulls away from Marshall in shortened season opener - Charleston Daily Mail

Coal Bowl: ‘There’s just no reason to put these kids back out on this field’ - Charleston Daily Mail
with video

Coal Bowl notebook: Marshall’s Booker pays tribute to Evans not once, but twice - Charleston Daily Mail
Bogaczyk's notebook

Coal Bowl: Plenty is expected from Holgorsen, Cato in the future - Charleston Daily Mail

Some Coal Bowl fans hang tough during lightning delays - Charleston Daily Mail

Mountaineers storm to weather-shortened victory against in-state rival Marshall - PPG

Taken by storm - Charleston Gazette
WVU's 34-13 win over Marshall comes after long lightning delays; plug pulled early in 4th quarter

Chiming in on a striking night - Charleston Gazette

WVU notebook: Passing OK, but WVU running attack missing - Charleston Gazette

A Wild Win - BGN

Holgorsen era starts with WVU win in weather-shortened game - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

WVU Offense Still A Work In Progress - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register

Stormy start - Times West Virginian

HERTZEL COLUMN - A debut not like any other - Times West Virginian

Many firsts in Holgorsen’s WVU debut - Times West Virginian

Delays can’t stop WVU QB Smith - Register-Herald

Herd’s Holliday: ‘I had no choice’ - Parkersburg News and Sentinel

WVU must improve on opener - Parkersburg News and Sentinel

Mother Nature strikes again - Martinsburg Journal

Beer sales make debut at WVU - Charleston Daily Mail

Fans Mixed On Beer At Milan Pusker Stadium (Video) - WVMETRONEWS.COM
The fans had mixed reviews on selling alcohol at a college event.  Some people feel it gives Milan Puskar Stadium and professional feel and some feel it's taking away from the college atmosphere.

Photos: 

Photos from the 2011 Friends of Coal Bowl - WVillustrated.com

Video:

Dana Holgorsen - MSNsportsNET.Com
West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen's postgame remarks following Sunday's 34-13 win over Marshall.

Video: Marshall Postgame - BGN
HCDH, Barclay, Goode and Geno

Quarterback Geno Smith - MSNsportsNET.Com
Geno Smith's postgame comments following Sunday's 34-13 win over Marshall.

Linebacker Najee Goode - MSNsportsNET.Com
Najee Goode's postgame comments following Sunday's 34-13 win over Marshall.

Mountaineer Mantrip Video - WVillustrated.com

Sights And Sounds: Mountaineer Mantrip - WVMETRONEWS.COM
gallery and video

Tales from the Tailgates: WVU vs. Marshall - WVillustrated.com