Focus key on starry night

[IE]

HUNTINGTON -- Throughout his two-season tenure as Marshall University's football coach, Mark Snyder has preached the importance of "road focus."

It might seem like a good problem to have, but the Thundering Herd's home focus has been tested during the past week. Tonight is about football foremost and first, but it's impossible to sidestep surrounding events.


"We Are Marshall" marquee players Matthew McConaughey and McG will lead the crowd in Marshall's signature chant prior to kickoff. McConaughey, portrayer of Young Thundering Herd coach Jack Lengyel, and McG, director of the Warner Bros. movie chronicling the comeback from Marshall's 1970 football plane crash.

Tonight's media contingent suggests Joan C. Edwards Stadium's FieldTurf has been replaced by red carpet. Numerous national entertainment outlets, including Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, Extra and MTV, will cover events related to McConaughey, McG and "We Are Marshall." The Warner Bros. movie chronicles the comeback from the 1970 Marshall football plane crash.

Again, road focus will be key.

"We'll see," Thundering Herd coach Mark Snyder said. "This is different for all of us, how crazy it's going to be. But it's going to be exciting. We'll see how our guys are going to handle it.

"Our administration has done a great job to make sure our distractions are at a minimum. It hasn't been distracting for us. Everything is in place. It shouldn't be a distraction for us."

As late as last weekend, movie business certainly wasn't taking away from preparation for the rival Golden Knights. Marshall (1-3, 0-0 Conference USA) and UCF (1-3, 0-1) kick off at 7:30 p.m. at Edwards Stadium. ESPN2 will televise the game.

"I'm going to let you know that our football team didn't know anything about anybody being back in town," Marshall junior offensive lineman John Inman said. "We've been in the film rooms, the weight rooms and at practice, going after it real hard. We want to show people what we're all about.

"It's all about that green 'M' on our helmet. We don't want anybody to upset us in our home."

Reversing last year's loss to UCF will hinge on containing the Golden Knights' Big Three. Quarterback Steven Moffett, tailback Kevin Smith and wide receiver Mike Walker account for virtually all of UCF's offense.

Moffett is a dual threat and four-year starter. Smith topped 1,000 rushing yards as a true freshman. Walker leads UCF with 28 receptions; the team's No. 2 pass-catcher has seven.

Beyond containing the talented trio, Marshall's challenge simply is to limit mistakes. Turnovers helped sparked UCF's 23-13 victory over the Herd last year, snapping a 17-game losing streak.

Particularly at 1-3, Marshall can not afford to open C-USA play with a home loss.

"This game is a must-win," Inman said. "The next game is a must-win and the next six games after that are the same. We want to be a dominant football team and win this conference.

"This game is really important because it kicks off conference play. Basically, we went down there last, had a bunch of mental busts, they found something that worked and kept running it and just beat us up offensively.

"We just have to get out there and get after people."

 

[IE]

Freshman will turn corner, coach says

He's made a few mistakes, and he's been beaten a few times for touchdowns, but that doesn't mean UCF Coach George O'Leary is losing confidence in freshman CB Emery Allen.

After the suspension of senior CB Travonti Johnson prior to the USF game, Allen, a speedy freshman, was thrust into the starting lineup at corner, with redshirt sophomore Johnell Neal moving over to free safety.

But despite some miscues and missed tackles against USF and Southern Miss, O'Leary said the learning curve for Allen, who has gotten in on eight tackles, isn't as broad as it might seem.

"He's young. He obviously missed a tackle back there [in the USF game]," O'Leary said, "but overall, I think the kid is playing pretty decent in space. I think he got to a point in the game where he got a little flustered. The biggest thing on the field is not the play, it's the next play. And I could see in his face him thinking, 'Oh, I missed that tackle, I missed that tackle.'

"You gotta forget about those things and move on. That's why we subbed in and put Johnell back at corner and Marlon [Williams] at safety. But is Allen gonna be a good corner? Yeah. The kid can cover, and obviously, his tackling is gonna improve."

Game tests

One of the most overused cliches in coaching is that you play how you practice. UCF K Michael Torres wishes his season could be that easy.

In four games this season, Torres has connected on one of four field-goal attempts. His lone make was from 22 yards, and he has missed from 45, 35 and 23 yards.

As he's done all year, O'Leary said Torres had another solid week of practice.

"He kicks well every week, but games have been a disappointment,'' O'Leary said. "But we put more heat on PATs and field goals in practice this week. I think he's had another good week, but we just have to see how that translates to the game field."

Turf wars

UCF's game at Marshall will mark its second consecutive road trip in which it will play on a non-grass surface.

The Knights practiced for part of the week inside their indoor facility to get reacquainted with the artificial surface. Including the Sept. 9 game it played at Florida, UCF will play four regular-season games on Field Turf in 2006.

 

[IE]

Bradshaw, Morris pose big concern for Golden Knights
By Gary Fauber
Assistant Sports Editor

As was the case the first four games of the season, Marshall?s running tandem is the primary concern of this week?s opponent.

Stopping running back Ahmad Bradshaw and quarterback Bernie Morris will be UCF?s top priority when the Golden Knights visit Huntington Wednesday night. Marshall (1-3) hosts UCF (1-3 overall, 0-1 Conference USA) in its league opener.

The Knights are fourth in the conference against the run, allowing 118.5 yards per game.

Bradshaw goes into the 7:30 p.m. ESPN2 game as the second-leading rusher in C-USA, averaging 87.2 yards per game. He has 349 yards on 68 carries (a 5.1-yard average) and four touchdowns.

?(Bradshaw) is a good running back,? UCF coach George O?Leary said. ?He is a very quick, dart guy. He can beat you in the run and the pass game.?

The Bluefield, Va., native is tied with receiver E.J. Wynn for third on the team with six catches, going for 41 yards.

Morris, meanwhile, has been giving opposing defenses an extra concern with his option ability.

A native of Orlando, Fla., Morris is right behind Bradshaw at 53.0 rush yards per game (212 yards, 46 carries). He has rushed for one touchdown.

?They are doing more with the quarterback now (than in the past) in keeping the ball in a lot of different situations,? O?Leary said.

?Both of them are guys you have to contend with, and there are a couple of receivers that can go and get it, and (they have) a big offensive line.?

UCF will be making its third visit to Joan C. Edwards Stadium since joining the Herd in the Mid-American Conference in 2002. Both teams, of course, moved to C-USA last season.

?The only thing that I have to be concerned about is the crowd noise and how some of the younger kids react to it,? O?Leary said. ?We all have been to major stadiums now, so we know how to deal with it.?

 

[IE]

Grading the Herd

Marshall looks to conference play to turn season around

HUNTINGTON -- Through four games, Marshall University's football team is about where it was expected to land entering Conference USA action.

A best-case scenario -- in an honest analysis -- had the Thundering Herd exiting September with a 2-2 record. Instead, its most plausible BCS road win opportunity fell flat at Kansas State, and, combined with losses at No. 4 West Virginia and No. 15 Tennessee, has Marshall staring uphill toward a winning season.


But how about the big picture? What is the state of the program entering Wednesday's hyper-hyped, star-infused C-USA opener against the University of Central Florida?

Following is a breakdown of the Thundering Herd as it approaches the pivotal game of 2006.

Offense

Undeniable pros and negatives have emerged from a demanding September stretch.

Marshall has rushed the ball well for the most part, averaging 160.8 yards a game and 4.5 yards a carry. Tailback Ahmad Bradshaw has shrugged off a sore ankle to average 5.1 yards a handoff.

As for the not-so-good, big plays have been absent, allowing teams to increasingly crowd the line of scrimmage. Following last week's 49-yard Bernard Morris connection to Hiram Moore, Marshall's longest pass play covers less than 30 yards.

After allowing just two sacks through two games, Marshall gave up six in the past two games.

"A big play comes when it comes," said Morris, who has thrown for 523 yards and rushed for 212. "You can call what you think will be a big play but if it's not there, it's not there. If we can just get guys to block downfield, complete a pass, catch a pass, make someone miss, plays will evolve.

"But the biggest play to me is Victory when I take a knee and we run that last second off the clock and come out with a win."

Defensive coordinator Jim Collins' group is developing a physical, tough-minded personality.

Over and again, Tennessee slammed its massive offensive line and talented tailbacks at Marshall with minimal results. Through three quarters, the Volunteers totaled just 36 rushing yards.

Then came the demoralizing 89-yard touchdown run by DeMarcus Coker, breaking up a competitive game.

"It felt so great," Marshall defensive tackle Byron Tinker said of the opening three quarters. "It felt like we were ranked 10th in the nation. But things happen. We have to rebound, and we will Wednesday night."

The secondary remains an unknown, simply because of youth. New cornerbacks J.J. Johnson and Zearrick Mathews are well ahead of their season-opening form, but pass coverage remains a work in progress.

Recruiting

Marshall has secured four verbal commitments, including the celebrated announcement from South Point High School quarterback Chris Smith.

A second straight undersized senior class limits this year's scholarship total to approximately 17. Keeping with last year's philosophy, Thundering Herd head coach Mark Snyder has locked down a handful of commitments to lessen the load entering crunch time in December.

Recruiting efforts significantly stepped up on Friday with Hargrave Military Academy's sub-varsity game at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. Hargrave, a productive pipeline to Huntington, could produce as many as five players in this season's recruiting class, according to Tigers coach Robert Prunty.

"They've done a great job and I don't know why any kid wouldn't want to come here," Prunty said. "We want these players up here."

State of mind

More than schemes, injuries or matchups, Marshall's psyche will determine its performance Wednesday night against UCF (kickoff at Edwards Stadium is 7:30 p.m. and ESPN2 will televise the game). Are Thundering Herd players down from a 1-3 start, or energized by the start of a new segment of its season?

"We know that we've played some good teams the first four games," Morris said. "Those are games that we thought we had a legitimate chance of winning but you can't turn the ball over. We know we're 1-3 but I think everybody who watched that game last week thinks we have a legitimate chance of beating UCF."

To prepare for Wednesday's prime-time clash, Marshall practiced under Friday night lights. Snyder was more than pleased with his team's performance.

"I feel really good about them," Snyder said. "We had the best practice we've had (Friday) night. We've had a tremendous week so far."

Hollywood hype doesn't necessarily translate to inspired football, but Wednesday should become a special snapshot in Thundering Herd history. Actor Matthew McConaughey and director McG, marquee players in the "We Are Marshall" movie, will be attendance, along with numerous national media outlets in tow.

Common sense says such a landmark event will result in a large, emotional crowd.

"I hope people turn out and show people what Marshall's all about," Snyder said. "We're the only game in the country that night."

 

[AR182]

thanks for the info, ie...