-- Marshall University hardly has been immune to college football's most upside-down season in recent memory.
Expectations weren't exactly through the ceiling entering 2007, but few, if any, picked 0-6 through the schedule's opening half. Yes, the non-conference schedule again was lopsided with BCS opponents Miami (Fla.), West Virginia and Cincinnati, but the Thundering Herd could get well at home against Division I-AA New Hampshire; calling for a win at rebuilding Memphis was fair as well.
Turns out Marshall joined Michigan and Minnesota among eight Division I-A teams to lose outside its division. Memphis overcame a stretch of three games in 11 games, holding off the Herd, 24-21.
Whether the record is 6-0, 0-6 or somewhere in between, Marshall football remains the talk of the town. Players and coaches remain upbeat, while a mix of knowing perspective and real concern has settled in among fans. Supporters understand that an extended injured list hamstrung their team, but a win is the only real cure.
That being considered, following are five of the top Marshall football storylines entering the season's second half tonight. The Thundering Herd (0-6, 0-2 Conference USA) hosts Southern Miss (3-3, 2-1) at 8 p.m. at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. ESPN will televise the game.
1. Can repeated slow starts be reversed?
The following fact can't be taken out of context - Marshall has not scored a first quarter touchdown through six games.
As a result, the Thundering Herd has been outscored 55-8 in the opening 15 minutes. For a team and a program learning to win, this is not the formula. Instead, it leads to a here-we-go-again mindset when staring at early deficits.
Head coach Mark Snyder and his assistants are well aware and are working to reverse the troubling trend.
"Those of you who are at practice will see us try to fix it," Snyder said earlier this week.
2. Is the new-found running game a fluke or here to stay?
Through four games, the Thundering Herd hardly thundered, averaging less than 90 rushing yards. The script flipped with 185 yards at Memphis and 184 last week at Tulsa.
Snyder tempered talk of a complete turnaround, opting for a talk-to-me-Sunday take. Memphis and Tulsa aren't known for rock-solid defensive fronts, but Southern Miss represents the real deal. This is a team that wins by controlling both sides of the line, and senior tackles Sean Merrill and Martavious Prince anchor the defense.
Another 180-yard performance isn't likely tonight, but Marshall has found its stride behind a healthy offensive line and tailbacks Darius Marshall and Chubb Small. Should the Herd top 140 on the ground, victory No. 1 is doable.
3. At 0-6, are players still "on board"?
This one's simple. Anyone at Tulsa's H.A. Chapman Stadium last week viewed first-hand enthusiasm that portrayed anything but a winless record. Marshall's sideline was involved start to finish, and this week's series of player interviews continued a theme of optimism.
It's not blind faith. Progress has been made, particularly in the past two weeks, and players remain convinced that a single win can snowball.
Most impressive has been the continued leadership from upperclassmen. Even at 0-6, it's easier for young players to maintain fire and focus; their careers remain ahead of them. The difference this year has been veterans such as John Inman, Bernard Morris, Emmanuel Spann, Shawn Lauzon, Brian Shope and others who have toted proverbial lunchpails to work each day.
4. Will a return to health equal a friendlier win-loss column?
Question No. 4 directly relates to No. 3. Recent returns of Inman, a senior offensive tackle, and defenders John Jacobs, Josh Johnson and John Saunders injected this team with a sense of a second beginning.
Jacobs, especially, was a difference-maker last week at Tulsa. Beyond his three tackles for loss, the sophomore end offered vocal support and directed less-experienced teammates.
"He's very infectious," Snyder said.
True freshman defensive tackle Shane Moore also is back, and Small is battling through turf toe to compliment Darius Marshall. Defensive end Albert McClellan (knee), Marshall's best football player, will not take the field this year, meaning this team won't truly be at full strength in '07, but the Herd is getting close.
Bottom line, a nearly intact lineup - combined with four home games down the stretch - should result in a handful of second half victories.
5. Will victory No. 1 come tonight?
Knocking off Conference USA's standard-setter on national television would erase many frustrations from the past six games. Southern Miss is no-nonsense, physical squad and nothing less than four quarters of clean play will allow for an upset (the Golden Eagles are four-point favorites.
Key games within the game feature Marshall center Doug Legursky against Merrill and the dueling performances of Thundering Herd tight end Cody Slate against his counterpart, USM's Shawn Nelson.
"There are a whole bunch of key matchups," Snyder said. "We've challenged our guys and I'm sure (Southern Miss) coach (Jeff) Bower has challenged their guys the same way. ...
"Our linebackers against their tight end and their linebackers against our tight end. I've not yet seen a linebacker cover their tight end, as I have not seen a linebacker cover our tight end.
"This is going to be a (game) of who turns the ball over. And we need the home field advantage."
Expectations weren't exactly through the ceiling entering 2007, but few, if any, picked 0-6 through the schedule's opening half. Yes, the non-conference schedule again was lopsided with BCS opponents Miami (Fla.), West Virginia and Cincinnati, but the Thundering Herd could get well at home against Division I-AA New Hampshire; calling for a win at rebuilding Memphis was fair as well.
Turns out Marshall joined Michigan and Minnesota among eight Division I-A teams to lose outside its division. Memphis overcame a stretch of three games in 11 games, holding off the Herd, 24-21.
Whether the record is 6-0, 0-6 or somewhere in between, Marshall football remains the talk of the town. Players and coaches remain upbeat, while a mix of knowing perspective and real concern has settled in among fans. Supporters understand that an extended injured list hamstrung their team, but a win is the only real cure.
That being considered, following are five of the top Marshall football storylines entering the season's second half tonight. The Thundering Herd (0-6, 0-2 Conference USA) hosts Southern Miss (3-3, 2-1) at 8 p.m. at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. ESPN will televise the game.
1. Can repeated slow starts be reversed?
The following fact can't be taken out of context - Marshall has not scored a first quarter touchdown through six games.
As a result, the Thundering Herd has been outscored 55-8 in the opening 15 minutes. For a team and a program learning to win, this is not the formula. Instead, it leads to a here-we-go-again mindset when staring at early deficits.
Head coach Mark Snyder and his assistants are well aware and are working to reverse the troubling trend.
"Those of you who are at practice will see us try to fix it," Snyder said earlier this week.
2. Is the new-found running game a fluke or here to stay?
Through four games, the Thundering Herd hardly thundered, averaging less than 90 rushing yards. The script flipped with 185 yards at Memphis and 184 last week at Tulsa.
Snyder tempered talk of a complete turnaround, opting for a talk-to-me-Sunday take. Memphis and Tulsa aren't known for rock-solid defensive fronts, but Southern Miss represents the real deal. This is a team that wins by controlling both sides of the line, and senior tackles Sean Merrill and Martavious Prince anchor the defense.
Another 180-yard performance isn't likely tonight, but Marshall has found its stride behind a healthy offensive line and tailbacks Darius Marshall and Chubb Small. Should the Herd top 140 on the ground, victory No. 1 is doable.
3. At 0-6, are players still "on board"?
This one's simple. Anyone at Tulsa's H.A. Chapman Stadium last week viewed first-hand enthusiasm that portrayed anything but a winless record. Marshall's sideline was involved start to finish, and this week's series of player interviews continued a theme of optimism.
It's not blind faith. Progress has been made, particularly in the past two weeks, and players remain convinced that a single win can snowball.
Most impressive has been the continued leadership from upperclassmen. Even at 0-6, it's easier for young players to maintain fire and focus; their careers remain ahead of them. The difference this year has been veterans such as John Inman, Bernard Morris, Emmanuel Spann, Shawn Lauzon, Brian Shope and others who have toted proverbial lunchpails to work each day.
4. Will a return to health equal a friendlier win-loss column?
Question No. 4 directly relates to No. 3. Recent returns of Inman, a senior offensive tackle, and defenders John Jacobs, Josh Johnson and John Saunders injected this team with a sense of a second beginning.
Jacobs, especially, was a difference-maker last week at Tulsa. Beyond his three tackles for loss, the sophomore end offered vocal support and directed less-experienced teammates.
"He's very infectious," Snyder said.
True freshman defensive tackle Shane Moore also is back, and Small is battling through turf toe to compliment Darius Marshall. Defensive end Albert McClellan (knee), Marshall's best football player, will not take the field this year, meaning this team won't truly be at full strength in '07, but the Herd is getting close.
Bottom line, a nearly intact lineup - combined with four home games down the stretch - should result in a handful of second half victories.
5. Will victory No. 1 come tonight?
Knocking off Conference USA's standard-setter on national television would erase many frustrations from the past six games. Southern Miss is no-nonsense, physical squad and nothing less than four quarters of clean play will allow for an upset (the Golden Eagles are four-point favorites.
Key games within the game feature Marshall center Doug Legursky against Merrill and the dueling performances of Thundering Herd tight end Cody Slate against his counterpart, USM's Shawn Nelson.
"There are a whole bunch of key matchups," Snyder said. "We've challenged our guys and I'm sure (Southern Miss) coach (Jeff) Bower has challenged their guys the same way. ...
"Our linebackers against their tight end and their linebackers against our tight end. I've not yet seen a linebacker cover their tight end, as I have not seen a linebacker cover our tight end.
"This is going to be a (game) of who turns the ball over. And we need the home field advantage."
