Mark Snyder's message was clear following Tuesday's practice.
With hands cupped around his eyes, Marshall's head football coach repeatedly hammered home his point.
Road focus," Snyder said.
Marshall plays outside of Huntington for the first time under Snyder Saturday at the University of Central Florida. Marshall's young squad (1-1) is a three-and-a-half point favorite against equally green UCF (0-2).
The Thundering Herd was 2-4 on the road last season, including consecutive, competitive losses at Ohio State and Georgia. The Herd won its lone appearance at the Citrus Bowl in 2003, knocking off the Golden Knights, 21-7.
Snyder's squad is scheduled to arrive in Orlando early Friday afternoon, and player itineraries are packed prior to Saturday's 6 p.m. kickoff. The first-year coach hopes to limit distractions prior to the program's first-ever Conference USA contest.
"We're going to a beautiful city," Snyder said. "There are a lot of distractions down there. When we get there it's all business. We're there for a reason. We're there and it's us against them and we need to maintain what we're there for."
Marshall's single-minded approach should be aided by a few thousand Thundering Herd fans. The university's allotment of 1,000 tickets has been sold, and a sizeable crowd of southern-based supporters are expected to attend.
Between 2,000-3,000 Marshall fans were on hand for the 2003 meeting.
"Anytime you get any kind of support on the road, that helps," Snyder said. "It gives you something to look to when times are tough. You can look in that corner, see your fans and it gives you something to rally behind.
"We have a big fan base in Florida."
MOFFETT'S THE MAN: Road focus is this week's theme, but Thundering Herd defenders are concentrating their time on UCF quarterback Steven Moffett.
The third-year starter has completed 58 percent of his passes for 466 yards and two touchdowns with one interception this season. On a roster dominated by youth, the junior signal-caller is the offense's most experienced playmaker.
UCF's offensive line, featuring two freshmen and two sophomores, has yielded 10 sacks in two games. Moffett moves the pocket to avoid pass rushers, a look Kansas State quarterback Allen Webb used against the Herd on Sept. 10.
"We just have to keep contain on him," Marshall defensive tackle Juan Underwood said. "The quarterback last week did the same thing so I think we can do a pretty good job of containing him and keeping him down.
"You've got to attack and be aggressive but at the same time do our jobs."
Marshall's front four absorbed a hit last week when tackle/end Byron Tinker was lost for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Starters Adrian Davis and Underwood share time with Chris Terrell and Floyd Wright at Marshall's tackle spots.
"We still have a lot of people to take his spot," Underwood said. "It's still a good rotation."
DEPTH NEVER A NEGATIVE: Marshall is dismissing the adage that having two starting quarterbacks is akin to having none.
Jimmy Skinner produced in Bernie Morris' absence against Kansas State and their numbers are nearly identical through two games. Skinner has completed 62 percent of his passes for 287 yards and Morris has thrown for 288 yards on 63 percent passing.
Morris, recovering from a shoulder injury he suffered against K-State, obviously hopes to start in his native Orlando, but Marshall appears fine under center regardless.
"He's coming along well," wide receiver Emmanuel Spann said of Morris. "He's in there every day in the morning and afternoon working. I think he should be ready but regardless of whether it's him or Jimmy, both of them can get the job done so it really doesn't matter."
NOTES: Right guard John Inman (knee) is out for the UCF game. ... Following games at South Carolina and South Florida UCF will play its home debut at the Citrus Bowl, where it has won four of its past five home openers. The Golden Knights are 18-8 all time in home openers.
With hands cupped around his eyes, Marshall's head football coach repeatedly hammered home his point.
Road focus," Snyder said.
Marshall plays outside of Huntington for the first time under Snyder Saturday at the University of Central Florida. Marshall's young squad (1-1) is a three-and-a-half point favorite against equally green UCF (0-2).
The Thundering Herd was 2-4 on the road last season, including consecutive, competitive losses at Ohio State and Georgia. The Herd won its lone appearance at the Citrus Bowl in 2003, knocking off the Golden Knights, 21-7.
Snyder's squad is scheduled to arrive in Orlando early Friday afternoon, and player itineraries are packed prior to Saturday's 6 p.m. kickoff. The first-year coach hopes to limit distractions prior to the program's first-ever Conference USA contest.
"We're going to a beautiful city," Snyder said. "There are a lot of distractions down there. When we get there it's all business. We're there for a reason. We're there and it's us against them and we need to maintain what we're there for."
Marshall's single-minded approach should be aided by a few thousand Thundering Herd fans. The university's allotment of 1,000 tickets has been sold, and a sizeable crowd of southern-based supporters are expected to attend.
Between 2,000-3,000 Marshall fans were on hand for the 2003 meeting.
"Anytime you get any kind of support on the road, that helps," Snyder said. "It gives you something to look to when times are tough. You can look in that corner, see your fans and it gives you something to rally behind.
"We have a big fan base in Florida."
MOFFETT'S THE MAN: Road focus is this week's theme, but Thundering Herd defenders are concentrating their time on UCF quarterback Steven Moffett.
The third-year starter has completed 58 percent of his passes for 466 yards and two touchdowns with one interception this season. On a roster dominated by youth, the junior signal-caller is the offense's most experienced playmaker.
UCF's offensive line, featuring two freshmen and two sophomores, has yielded 10 sacks in two games. Moffett moves the pocket to avoid pass rushers, a look Kansas State quarterback Allen Webb used against the Herd on Sept. 10.
"We just have to keep contain on him," Marshall defensive tackle Juan Underwood said. "The quarterback last week did the same thing so I think we can do a pretty good job of containing him and keeping him down.
"You've got to attack and be aggressive but at the same time do our jobs."
Marshall's front four absorbed a hit last week when tackle/end Byron Tinker was lost for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Starters Adrian Davis and Underwood share time with Chris Terrell and Floyd Wright at Marshall's tackle spots.
"We still have a lot of people to take his spot," Underwood said. "It's still a good rotation."
DEPTH NEVER A NEGATIVE: Marshall is dismissing the adage that having two starting quarterbacks is akin to having none.
Jimmy Skinner produced in Bernie Morris' absence against Kansas State and their numbers are nearly identical through two games. Skinner has completed 62 percent of his passes for 287 yards and Morris has thrown for 288 yards on 63 percent passing.
Morris, recovering from a shoulder injury he suffered against K-State, obviously hopes to start in his native Orlando, but Marshall appears fine under center regardless.
"He's coming along well," wide receiver Emmanuel Spann said of Morris. "He's in there every day in the morning and afternoon working. I think he should be ready but regardless of whether it's him or Jimmy, both of them can get the job done so it really doesn't matter."
NOTES: Right guard John Inman (knee) is out for the UCF game. ... Following games at South Carolina and South Florida UCF will play its home debut at the Citrus Bowl, where it has won four of its past five home openers. The Golden Knights are 18-8 all time in home openers.
