Cliches remain proven for a reason. Through generations, they largely prove true.
Saturday serves as the cliched "statement game," for Marshall University football. Lacking road wins in recent seasons, the Thundering Herd could deliver a defining victory Saturday at Memphis. Marshall (2-1, 0-0 Conference USA) and C-USA Division rival Memphis (1-2, 0-0) kick off at 1 p.m. at the Liberty Bowl. CSS will televise the game.
"It's an important game," Thundering Herd head coach Mark Snyder said. "It's a conference game. It would be nice to get a win in a conference game on the road.
"And, then, coming back home for another conference game (next Saturday against East Carolina) that would give us a lot of momentum going into next week."
Potentially hamstringing that effort is a minor injury to defensive end Albert McClellan. Conference USA's Defensive Player of the Week rolled an ankle during practice Thursday, but should be set for Saturday.
McClellan and fellow end Vinny Curry are keys to containing Memphis sophomore Tyler Bass, who has taken over starting quarterback duties from Arkelon Hall. Bass has completed more than 81 percent of his passes, weighing four touchdowns against one interception.
Memphis is minus its top tailback, Curtis Steetle, but Bass remains an intriguing, unknown weapon against Thundering Herd defensive coordinator Rick Minter's group.
"We need to make sure we confuse him a little bit," Snyder said. "We have to get after him. We can't let him sit back there and be a young quarterback. Young quarterbacks, as we know, have to handle pressure.
"And they attempt to equalize that pressure with their screens. That's what we did last last week and that's what we're going to do this week with the tempo of their quarterback."
Troubling trends through recent seasons generally and this season particularly have been highlighted by slow starts. That circumstance has continued early in 2009. The Thundering Herd trailed 7-0 at home last week against Bowling Green before rallying for a non-conference victory. Marshall hasn't scored in the first quarter this season and trailed through two quarters in each of its three non-conference games.
Underscoring those struggles are the Herd's recent road struggles.
"We can't have any mistakes," Snyder said. "We have to be superior in special teams on the road and we have to put some points on the board offensively.
"That would be nice (a fast start), but that's why you play two halves. There's a reason you play four quarters in a football game. It's two halves. Whether we're up or down, we have to play four quarters.
"It would be nice to go into the second half with a lead, yeah, but we have to play four quarters."
Saturday serves as the cliched "statement game," for Marshall University football. Lacking road wins in recent seasons, the Thundering Herd could deliver a defining victory Saturday at Memphis. Marshall (2-1, 0-0 Conference USA) and C-USA Division rival Memphis (1-2, 0-0) kick off at 1 p.m. at the Liberty Bowl. CSS will televise the game.
"It's an important game," Thundering Herd head coach Mark Snyder said. "It's a conference game. It would be nice to get a win in a conference game on the road.
"And, then, coming back home for another conference game (next Saturday against East Carolina) that would give us a lot of momentum going into next week."
Potentially hamstringing that effort is a minor injury to defensive end Albert McClellan. Conference USA's Defensive Player of the Week rolled an ankle during practice Thursday, but should be set for Saturday.
McClellan and fellow end Vinny Curry are keys to containing Memphis sophomore Tyler Bass, who has taken over starting quarterback duties from Arkelon Hall. Bass has completed more than 81 percent of his passes, weighing four touchdowns against one interception.
Memphis is minus its top tailback, Curtis Steetle, but Bass remains an intriguing, unknown weapon against Thundering Herd defensive coordinator Rick Minter's group.
"We need to make sure we confuse him a little bit," Snyder said. "We have to get after him. We can't let him sit back there and be a young quarterback. Young quarterbacks, as we know, have to handle pressure.
"And they attempt to equalize that pressure with their screens. That's what we did last last week and that's what we're going to do this week with the tempo of their quarterback."
Troubling trends through recent seasons generally and this season particularly have been highlighted by slow starts. That circumstance has continued early in 2009. The Thundering Herd trailed 7-0 at home last week against Bowling Green before rallying for a non-conference victory. Marshall hasn't scored in the first quarter this season and trailed through two quarters in each of its three non-conference games.
Underscoring those struggles are the Herd's recent road struggles.
"We can't have any mistakes," Snyder said. "We have to be superior in special teams on the road and we have to put some points on the board offensively.
"That would be nice (a fast start), but that's why you play two halves. There's a reason you play four quarters in a football game. It's two halves. Whether we're up or down, we have to play four quarters.
"It would be nice to go into the second half with a lead, yeah, but we have to play four quarters."
