Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Marshall Football: Week Ten Game Notes, Memphis

Marshall returns to the football field this weekend after a humbling, 54-17 loss to UCF. Saturday's opponent, Memphis, might be just what the doctor ordered for the ailing Herd. The Tigers have won a single game this year (Rice) and dropped a season opening contest against FCS member Tennessee-Martin.

Memphis struggles on both sides of the ball. On offense they are averaging an FBS worst 17.5 points per game. The Tigers are piloted by quarterback Jacob Karam. A Texas Tech transfer, Karam has passed for 1,146 yards and six touchdowns with two interceptions. He has struggled recently, going three straight games without throwing a touchdown. During last weeks game against Southern Miss, Karam only completed eight of 17 attempts for 85 yards.

Karam's favorite targets are wide receivers Marcus Rucker and Keiwone Malone. They have accounted for 772 of Memphis's 1,170 receiving yards and five of the Tigers seven touchdowns through the air.

After starting running back Jerrell Rhodes left the team in September, junior Jai Steib emerged as the leading rusher, accumulation 241 yards on 67 carries and one touchdown. When he needs a breather, Steib is spelled by Brandon Hayes. Hayes had a season high 17 carries against UCF, rushing for 83 yards.

On defense, Martin Ifedi is trying his best to fill the large hole vacated by NFL first round draft pick Dontari Pope. So far he has done a pretty good job, registering a team high seven sacks and 33 tackles from his spot at defensive tackle.

Overall, Memphis struggles on defense allowing 251 passing and 170 rushing yards per game.Their leading tackler is linebacker Charles Harris who has recorded 58 stops. In the secondary, the Tigers have only registered three interceptions, two by safety Lonnie Ballentine.

For more on this weeks game, including quotes from both coaches, follow the links below.

Marshall

Quotes from Doc Holliday's Oct. 30th Press Conference 

Game Notes, Memphis

Memphis

Quotes from Justin Fuente's Oct.29th Press Conference

Game Notes, Marshall

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Marshall Football: Van Leaving Program

Per the Twitter account of Marshall football player Travon Van, the defensive back was granted a release from the football program two weeks ago. Although, in a press conference this afternoon, head coach Doc Holliday indicated he had not signed a release and would not discuss doing so until the seasons conclusion.

Per his Twitter account, Van is leaving Marshall to be closer to his sick mother in California.

Van came to the Thundering Herd as a transfer from the University of Florida. During his freshman season he split time at running back with Tron Martinez, rushing for 551 yards on 143 carries and three touchdowns. Van entered 2012 as Marshall's starting running back and struggled through the Herd's first three games, only accumulating 93 yards on 43 carries. With the emergence of freshman Stewart Butler and Kevin Grooms, and injuries in the secondary, Van was moved to corner back prior to Marshall's game at Rice. He saw limited action on defense against the Owls and has not been seen from since, due to what Holliday described as a neck injury.

Audio from Holliday's press conference can be found here, he talks about Van around the 11:45 minute mark.  

We will have more on this story as information becomes available. 

Marshall in the NFL: Week Eight

Weekly review of Marshall Alumni in the NFL.

1. Ahmad Bradshaw, Running Back, New York Giants

The New York Giants used six Dallas turnovers to beat the Cowboys 29-24. Ahmad Bradshaw carried the ball 22 times for 78 yards, losing a fumble of his own. 

2. C.J Spillman, Safety, San Francisco 49ers

Playing on San Francisco's punt coverage unit, C.J Spillman registered one tackle as the 49ers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 24-3 on Monday Night Football.

3. Doug Legursky, Guard/Center, Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers center 
Maurkice Pouncey returned from injury against the Redskins, relegating  Doug Legursky to back up duty during Pittsburgh's 27-12 win over Washington.


4. Byron Leftwich, Quarterback, Pittsburgh Steelers


Byron Leftwich did not play as Steelers quarterback Ben Rothlisberger took every snap during Sunday’s win over Washington.


5. Albert McClellan, Linebacker, Baltimore Ravens


Bye week.


6. Lee Smith, Tight End, Buffalo Bills


Bye week.

7. Randy Moss, Wide Receiver, San Francisco 49ers

During a play that reminded many of his early playing days, Randy Moss caught a short pass from 49ers quarterback Alex Smith and turned up field, dodging multiple defenders on his way to a 47 yard touchdown. The TD tied Moss with Terrell Owens for fourth all time on the NFL's career touchdown list. 

8. Vinny Curry, Defensive End, Philadelphia Eagles

Despite spending a second round pick on former Marshall defensive end Vinny Curry, the Philadelphia Eagles have not activated him for a game this season. That trend continued Sunday as Philadelphia lost to the Atlanta Falcons 30-17.

9. Mario Harvey, Linebacker, Indianapolis Colts

Mario Harvey did not register a tackle during the Indianapolis Colts 19-13, overtime win against the Tennessee Titans.


10. Chris Crocker, Safety, Cincinnati Bengals

Bye week.

Monday, October 29, 2012

C-USA Football: Week Nine Review

In a match-up that determine Conference USA's East division leader, UCF traveled to Marshall and earned a 54-17 victory. With wins over ECU and the Herd, Central Florida controls their own destiny and has a clear path towards the league championship game. Speaking of ECU, they hosted Navy for C-USA's lone out of conference match-up and were blown out by the Midshipman, 56-28.

In cross division action, Tulane won its second league game of the year, taking down UAB 55-45. SMU kept its championship hopes alive with a 44-13 blowout win over Memphis and Southern Miss stayed among the winless, losing at Rice 44-17

Out West, Houston running back Charles Sims made his bid for offensive player of the week, scoring three touchdowns and rushing for 119 yards in a 45-35 win over UTEP. 

Standings

East
1) UCF: 6-2, 4-0
2) ECU: 5-4, 4-1
3) Marshall: 3-5, 2-2
4) Memphis: 1-7, 1-3
5) UAB: 1-7, 0-4
6) USM: 0-8, 0-4

West
1) Tulsa: 7-1, 5-0
2) SMU: 4-4, 3-1
3) Houston: 4-4, 3-1
4) Tulane: 2-6, 2-2
5) Rice: 3-6, 1-4
6) UTEP: 2-7, 1-4

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Marshall Football: Herd Blown Out by UCF 54-17

It was not a night to remember as Marshall fell at home to UCF Saturday evening, 54-17. The loss was Marshall's worst ever defeat at Joan C. Edwards Stadium, moving the Herd to 3-5 on the season and 2-2 in Conference USA play.

Marshall struggled in all three aspects of the game, especially special teams. UCF wide receiver Quincy McDuffie returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, a first for any C-USA player in one game.

On defense, the Thundering Herd could not control Central Florida's passing or rushing attack. Knight's quarterback Blake Bortles was efficient despite throwing two interceptions as he connected on 15 of 21 attempts for 277 yards and two touchdowns. C-USA's reigning offensive player of the week Latavious Murray gained 156 rushing yards on only 15 carries with three touchdowns.

UCF did an excellent job of keeping the home teams offense out of rhythm, shutting down Marshall's ground attack. The Knight's held MU to a season low 66 yards on 36 carries, a 1.8 yards per attempt average. Through the air, Rakeem Cato completed 35 of 62 passes for 298 yards and two touchdowns. Cato found himself under duress most of the night as he was sacked four times.

The loss represents Marshall's first three game losing streak at home since 2007. Another streak was extended as UCF now owns eight straight victories over the Thundering Herd.

For continuing coverage of UCF's 54-17 blowout win over Marshall, check back with the Marshall Thundering Blog.

Box Score

The Charleston Gazette

UCF continues its hold over Marshall

Grades for UCF game

The Charleston Daily Mail

Marshall Football: UCF dominates Herd, 54-17

Video: Doc Holliday post-game comments - UCF 54, Marshall 17

The Herald Dispatch

Marshall suffers Knight-mare

Chuck Landon: Herd never gave itself a chance to beat UCF

Grant Traylor's game balls

Chuck Landon grades the Herd

Ben Fields: Special teams like bad weather

The WV Metro News

Herd Humbled at Home 54-17

The Orlando Sentinel

UCF rolls to 54-17 win at Marshall, maintains lead in C-USA East

UCF QB Blake Bortles recovers from rough start to lead offense

Friday, October 26, 2012

Marshall Football: A look behind enemy lines, UCF

Marshall hits the turf of Joan C. Edwards Stadium tomorrow for an 8pm kickoff against UCF. The game will be broadcast by the CBS Sports Network. Lets take a look at the Knight's before Saturday's match-up.

UCF
Record: 5-2, 3-0
Stats
Roster

FBS Rankings
Passing Yards: 60th (231.4 per game)
Rushing Yards: 55th (169.3 per game)
Points For: 41st (33.4 per game)
Points Against: 37th (22 per game)

Players to Watch on Offense
Leading Passer: Blake Bortles (144-217, 1,598 yards, 12 TD, 5 INT)
Starting Running Back: Latavius Murray (57 carries, 382 yards, 5 TD) 
Leading Receiver: J.J. Worton (30 receptions, 419 yards, 2 TD)

Player to Watch on Defense
Victor Gray, Defensive Tackle: A preseason, all C-USA selection, Victor Gray leads UCF with 6.5 tackles for loss. Gray has also recorded a half sack and 22 total tackles.

In the Press

The Charleston Gazette

Uptempo Herd will test UCF defense

Central Florida offense not all about the run

UCF giving up lots of ground yardage

Herd futility vs. UCF goes way back

Herd must contend with UCF defense

The Charleston Daily Mail

Marshall football: Herd on the edge for Knights

Marshall football: Knights tasked with slowing Herd

Marshall football: O'Leary, UCF like to stay grounded

Numberosity - UCF Week

The Herald Dispatch

Skid to UCF has seen it all

Grant Traylor: O'Leary will send Knight's running at Herd

Chuck Landon: Beat UCF, and Herd gets in line for success

Grant Traylor: UCF defense creates offensive opportunities

Strength vs. strength

C-USA's best to collide 

Grant Traylor: No lost lost between UCF and Marshall

Chuck Landon: Central Florida "golden" no more

The WV Metro News

UCF Hopes Ball Control Can Win

The Orlando Sentinel

UCF prepares to contain Marshall prolific passer Rakeem Cato

UCF leans on Bortles, Murray to help offense develop more consistency 

UCF's rushing attack thrives thanks to healthy offensive line

UCF morning roundup: Notes, links, and quotes previewing UCF at Marshall

UCF coach George O'Leary said team must sustain drives against Marshall with balanced offense

UCF Breakdown: Key match-ups and comparisons vs. Marshall

Despite high-flying offense Marshall's defense has struggled

UCF-Marshall: What's the word before this weekends rivalry showdown?

Thursday, October 25, 2012

News & Notes: 2013 football schedule, celebrating 92’, and in-depth with DeAndre Kane

Missed this from earlier in October but, Jack Bogaczky of HerdZone.com broke down Marshall’s in-conference football schedule for 2013. The Herd should play North Texas, Southern Miss, UAB, and ECU at home while visiting UTEP, FIU, Louisiana Tech, and Tulane.

In out of conference play, Marshall goes to Virginia Tech and Ohio with home dates against Miami (OH) and a yet to be determined FCS opponent.

This weekend Marshall is hosting a 20th anniversary celebration for the 1992 football team. GoHerd.com’s Woody Woodrum takes a look back at the 92’ season which ended with the Herd’s first national championship.

Moving to basketball, Andy Katz’s of ESPN sat down with DeAndre Kane, looking back at the loss of his father, while also previewing the upcoming season.

Speaking of Kane, CBSSports.com rated him the 23rd best wing player in college basketball.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

C-USA Football: UCF will be eligible for postseason

It looks like Central Florida will be eligible for Conference USA’s football championship and a bowl game this season.

In July the NCAA levied sanctions on UCF’s football and basketball programs, including a postseason ban for both sports, in response to major recruiting violations. The university accepted all of the penalties except for the postseason ban in football, filing an appeal with the NCAA.  Per football coach George O’Leary, the NCAA will not hear UCF’s appeal until January, making the Knight’s eligible for postseason play.

Marshall Football: Week 9 Game Notes, UCF

You know what they say, all good things must come to an end. After 11 years, Marshall host UCF for the last time as a conference opponent Saturday night. The series dates back to 2002 when the Knights joined the Mid-American Conference, a  league MU had dominated since 1997. Marshall took full advantage of a program transitioning from FCS to FBS status, defeating UCF three years in a row. Things turned around when both schools moved to Conference USA. Beginning with the 2005 season, the Knights have enjoyed seven straight victories over the Thundering Herd including last year’s 16-6 win in Orlando.

At quarterback UCF is lead by Sophomore Blake Bortles. Bortles has done a good job protecting the football, completing over 65 percent of his passes while throwing 12 touchdowns to only five interceptions. J.J. Worton is Bortles favorite target, hauling in 30 passes for 419 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The Knights have three other pass catchers, Rannell Hall, former quarterback Jeff Godfrey, and Quincy McDuffie that have caught 19 passes each. Like past UCF teams, the 2012 version is powered by a strong run game. Sophomore Storm Johnson spearheads a two headed attack with Senior Latavius Murray. Johnson leads the Knights with 416 yards on 95 attempts and four touchdowns. Last week’s C-USA offensive player of the week, Murray has registered 382 yards and five touchdowns while carrying the ball 57 times.

UCF has the stingiest defense in C-USA, they rank first in points allowed (22) and yards allowed (352.9) per game. Two Knights made C-USA’s first team all preseason list, defensive lineman Victor Gray and safety Kemal Ishmael. From his spot at defensive tackle, Gray leads UCF with 6.5 tackles for loss. Ishmael paces the Knights with 59 tackles and two interceptions. He has also recovered three fumbles.

For more on this week’s game, including quotes from both coaches, follow the links below.

Marshall


UCF


Tuesday, October 23, 2012

C-USA Football: Week Eight Review

Week seven marked a change for Conference USA football, for the first time this season the league only conducted inter-conference matchups.

In a almost upset, Tulsa struggled to put away a feisty Rice squad. The Owls held 24-21 lead late in the fourth quarter until Golden Hurricanes running back Alex Singleton rumbled in for a one yard touchdown, cementing a 28-24 win. After losing to previously winless Tulane last week, SMU responded with an offensive explosion against Houston, taking down the Cougars 72-43. Against the previously mentioned Green Wave, UTEP earned a 24-20 win despite not scoring any second half points.

In the East, Southern Mississippi’s seven game losing streak continued, falling at home to Marshall 59-24. ECU and UCF recorded road wins as the Knights defeated Memphis 35-17 and the Pirates escaped UAB with a 42-35 victory.

For a detailed wrap-up of last week’s game click here.

Standings

East
1) UCF: 5-2, 3-0
2) ECU: 5-3, 4-1
3) Marshall: 3-4, 2-1
4) Memphis: 1-6, 1-2
5) UAB: 1-6, 0-3
6) USM: 0-7, 0-3

West
1) Tulsa: 7-1, 5-0
2) SMU: 3-4, 2-1
3) Houston: 3-4, 2-1
4) Tulane: 1-6, 1-2
5) UTEP: 2-6, 1-3
6) Rice: 2-6, 0-4

Monday, October 22, 2012

Marshall in the NFL: Week Seven

Weekly review of Marshall Alumni in the NFL.

1. Ahmad Bradshaw, Running Back, New York Giants

A threat is the passing and running game, Ahmad Bradshaw rushed for 43 yards and a touchdown while catching four passes for 22 yards during the New York Giants 27-23 win over the Washington Redskins.


2. C.J Spillman, Safety, San Francisco 49ers


Although he did not register a tackle, C.J Spillman helped the 49ers punt team hold Seahawks return man Leon Washington to five yards on two attempts as San Francisco beat Seattle 13-6.  


3. Doug Legursky, Guard/Center, Pittsburgh Steelers


Doug Legursky started in place of injured Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey during Pittsburgh’s 24-17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.


4. Byron Leftwich, Quarterback, Pittsburgh Steelers


Byron Leftwich did not play as Steelers quarterback Ben Rothlisberger took every snap during Sunday’s win over Cincinnati.


5. Albert McClellan, Linebacker, Baltimore Ravens


Despite a season ending injury to Ravens middle linebacker Ray Lewis, Albert McClellan continued to split time on the outside with Terrell Suggs, Courtney Upshaw, and Paul Kruger. McClellan started in the middle last year when Lewis missed time. Baltimore was blown out by the Houston Texans 43-13.


6. Lee Smith, Tight End, Buffalo Bills


For the sixth straight week Lee Smith did not record a catch as the Buffalo Bills suffered a one point loss, 35-34, to the Tennessee Titans.


7. Randy Moss, Wide Receiver, San Francisco 49ers


Randy Moss caught one pass for 14 yards during Sunday’s win over Seattle.  


8. Vinny Curry, Defensive End, Philadelphia Eagles


Bye week.


9. Mario Harvey, Linebacker, Indianapolis Colts


Playing special teams and receiving a fair amount of reps on defense, Mario Harvey recorded one tackle as the Indianapolis Colts defeated the Cleveland Browns 17-13.


10. Chris Crocker, Safety, Cincinnati Bengals


Chris Crocker registered his second interception of the season along with one tackle during Sunday night’s game against Pittsburgh.   

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Marshall Football: Herd takes down Southern Miss 59-24

Its never good to be the homecoming opponent but, Marshall was a rude guest at M.M. Roberts Stadium Saturday night, taking down Southern Mississippi 59-24.

Thundering Herd quarterback Rakeem Cato put together another impressive performance, completing 31 of 42 passes for 342 yards and three touchdowns. Cato was aided by a running game that managed 273 yards on 42 carries with five touchdowns. In total, Marshall gained 629 yards while running 85 plays, a 7.4 yards per play average.

Marshall's defense was also as impressive, holding the Golden Eagles to 24 points, a total only equaled during the Herd's 52-24 win over Western Carolina. Southern Miss could manage just 115 passing yards while turning over the ball three times. Defensive tackle Brandon Sparrow recorded two sacks, the Thundering Herd's first player to register a multi-sack game this season.

Marshall returns home next Saturday for an important conference match-up against UCF. Kickoff is scheduled for 8pm with T.V coverage provided by the CBS Sports Network.

For more on today's game follow the links below.


The Charleston Gazette



The Charleston Daily Mail



The Herald Dispatch




Friday, October 19, 2012

Marshall Football: A look behind enemy lines, Southern Miss

Marshall travels to Southern Miss tomorrow for a 7pm kickoff at M.M. Roberts Stadium. The game will be broadcast by the CBS Sports Network. Lets take a look at the Golden Eagles before Saturday's match-up.

Southern Miss
Record: 0-6, 0-2
Stats
Roster

FBS Rankings
Passing Yards: 119th (140.3 per game)
Rushing Yards: 54th (173 per game)
Points For: 113th (18.8 per game)
Points Against: 108th (36.7 per game)

Players to Watch on Offense
Leading Passer: Anthony Alford (30-68, 373 yards, 0 TD, 3 INT)
Leading Rusher: Desmond Johnson (70 carries, 410 yards, 1 TD)
Leading Receiver: Dominique Sullivan (12 receptions, 173 yards, 1 TD)

Player to Watch on Defense
Jamie Collins, Defensive End: Few defensive lineman lead their team tackles but that is exactly what Jamie Collins has done this season. A preseason all Conference USA preseason selection, Collins has already recorded 10 stops for loss this year and five sacks.

In the Press

The Charleston Gazette

Herd not sure what to expect from Southern Miss defense

Herd no stranger to So.Miss assistant 

Southern Miss offense a mix of youth, experience

Holliday: Southern Miss no different

Southern Mississippi stung by double-overtime loss to UCF

Southern Miss breaks out throwbacks against MU

Southern Miss the nations best 0-6 team 

The Charleston Daily Mail

Marshall Football: Herd, Golden Eagles in need of victory

Marshall Football: Southern Miss QB getting up to speed 

Numberosity - Southern Miss week

The Herald Dispatch

Southern Miss QB a special talent

MU football notebook: Second quarter crucial for Southern Miss, Herd

Marshall puts focus on Southern Miss, hopes to finish season strong

The WV Metro News

Herd Not Taking S.Miss lightly

The Hattiesburg American

USM looks to buck painful trend

Eagles to sport throwback unis

Third-and-1s not so automatic for Eagles

Alford seizes control of USM's QB job

Eagles think positive, look to build on OT loss to UCF

A Look Ahead: Marshall at Southern Miss

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Marshall Basketball: Three Burning Questions

Marshall enters the college basketball season with a considerable amount of buzz. Multiple preseason publications predicted the Herd to finish second in Conference USA behind perennial power Memphis. Yesterday Marshall received one vote in USA Today’s preseason Top 25 men’s basketball poll, voted on by 31 NCAA Division I coaches.

Despite lofty expectations the Thundering Herd enters the season with a few question marks. Here are three burning questions as Marshall prepares for the 2012-2013 season.

1) Who Starts?

Replacing a four year starter at point guard is never easy but, it’s a task Marshall faces as Damier Pitts exhausted his eligibility last season. Along with Pitts, starting small forward Shaquille Johnson also graduated as did the Herd’s leading bench player, Dago Pena.

At the point, sophomore Chris Martin and incoming freshman Kareem Canty will battle for playing time. In limited action last year, Martin averaged 4.1 minutes and 1.3 points during 18 games. Canty comes highly regarded from the prep school circuit, ESPN ranked him the 19th best point guard prospect in the class of 2012.

Looking at small forward, head coach Tom Herrion could use a big lineup and play Dennis Tinnon on the wing. If Tinnon moves off the block, fellow big men Robert Goff and Nigel Spikes will start at power forward and center, giving the Herd three starters measuring over 6-foot-8, 230 pounds.

When Marshall goes small, junior college transfers Elijah Pittman and D.D Scaver figure to get a lot of minutes. Pittman comes to Huntington from Lamar State College (TX) where he averaged 18.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game last year. Known as a sharpshooter, Scaver converted 36 percent of his three point attempts at Trinity Valley Community College (TX) in 2012.

One spot is set in stone as pre-season, all C-USA first team selection DeAndre Kane returns for his junior season. Kane lead the Herd in minutes (1156) and points per game (16.5) last season and figures to carry the scoring load this year.

2) Will we see Kelvin Amayo?

A rare mid-season transfer, Kelvin Amayo enrolled at Marshall in December after being declared academically ineligible at Towson. Information on Amayo has been hard to come by but, per Twitter and other news sources it appears that he is still enrolled. A six-foot five combo guard, Amayo would provide further depth if he becomes eligible in December.

3) Will Marshall take the next step?

It has been a steady, two year climb under coach Herrion. Marshall made its first NIT appearance since 1988 last season and earned a CIT bid the year before. Still, Thundering Herd fans are clamoring for a trip to the NCAA Tournament.

For the Herd to go dancing, they must improve their conference record. Marshall had the highest RPI of any team left out of the NCAA Tournament last year, mostly because of their poor, 9-7 mark against C-USA opponents. A similar narrative played out in Herrion’s inaugural season, the Herd finished league play 9-7, only good enough for sixth place.

Marshall will have plenty of opportunities to prove themselves during the out of conference schedule. The Herd squares off against Big East opponents Cincinnati and WVU in Charleston, while also playing a road game at Villanova. NCAA Tournament qualifier South Dakota State visits the Cam Henderson Center in November and is followed by NIT participant Nevada one week later. On December 22nd Marshall travels to Lexington KY for a showdown against defending national champion Kentucky. Not to be forgotten, the Herd plays at rival Ohio on January 5th.   

Marshall starts the basketball season at home on November 9th against Longwood, tipoff is scheduled for 7:30pm. 

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Marshall Football: Week Eight Game Notes, Southern Miss

Marshall (2-4, 1-1) returns to the football field this Saturday for an important conference matchup at Southern Miss (0-6, 0-2). The Golden Eagles suffered a devastating loss to UCF last week when true freshman quarterback Anthony Alford tossed a game sealing interception to Knights cornerback Kemal Ishmael in double overtime. On a bye, Marshall searched for answer as they attempt to turn around this season’s 2-4 start.

Southern Miss has used three different quarterbacks but, Alford seems to be grabbing hold of the starting spot. In three games, the former four star recruit has completed 30 of 68 passes for 373 yards and three interceptions. A dual threat, Alford has also gained 234 yards on the ground with five touchdowns. When he is not running the ball, Alford hands off to senior running back Desmond Johnson. Johnson is pacing the Golden Eagles offense with 410 yards on 70 carries and a touchdown. At wide receiver Southern Miss uses a committee approach, three different pass catchers have recorded at least eight receptions for over 100 yards.

Much like the Herd, Southern Miss has experienced trouble stopping the opposing teams offense. The Golden Eagles rank 108th overall in points against, allowing opponents to score 35.7 points per game. Also like Marshall, Southern Miss can’t stop the run. Last week UCF raked up 182 yards on 42 attempts. Earlier this year Western Kentucky tore into USM’s defense, rushing for 369 yards while averaging 7.7 yard per carry. Compounding the problem, Southern Miss has not been able to force turnovers, only inducing four all year.

For more on this week’s game, including quotes from both coaches, follow the links below.

Marshall



Southern Miss


Marshall Football: Herd - Western Kentucky to Play in 2017-2018

Per Western Kentucky athletic director Todd Stewart, Marshall and WKU will play a home and home football series during the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

After finishing 7-5  last year, WKU head coach Willie Taggert has built on that success in 2012, recording wins over in-state rival Kentucky and Conference USA member Southern Miss as the Hilltoppers sit at 5-1.

Like Marshall, Western Kentucky heavily recruits the state of Florida. Entering the season WKU’s roster was dotted with over 25 players from the Sunshine State.  

The series is scheduled to start at Western in 2017 with a return trip to Marshall the following season.

Monday, October 15, 2012

C-USA Football: Week Seven Review

For the first time this season Conference USA did not suffer a defeat outside of league action. Yes, Rice was the only team to play an out of conference match-up, a 34-14 win over UTSA but, even little victories count.

C-USA kicked off week seven early as Tulsa hosted UTEP Thursday night. The Golden Hurricanes defended their home turf, walking away with a 33-11 victory over the Miners. In other Western division action, Tulane earned its first win of the season, 27-26 against SMU.

Marshall’s opponents for the next two weeks, Southern Miss and UCF, tangled in thrilling double overtime finish. After going up 38-31 on their second overtime possession, Knight’s cornerback Kemal Ishmael intercepted a pass from USM quarterback Anthony Alford to seal the victory. Staying in the East, ECU took down Memphis 41-7 and UAB lost a cross divisional game to Houston 39-17.

For a detailed breakdown of last week’s games click here.

Standings

East
UCF: 4-2, 2-0
ECU: 4-3, 3-1
Marshall: 2-4, 1-1
Memphis: 1-5, 1-1
UAB: 1-5, 0-2
USM: 0-6, 0-2

West
Tulsa: 6-1, 4-0
Houston: 3-3, 2-0
Tulane: 1-5, 1-1
SMU: 2-4, 1-1
Rice: 2-5, 0-3
UTEP: 1-6, 0-3

Marshall in the NFL, Week Six

Weekly review of Marshall Alumni in the NFL.

1. Ahmad Bradshaw, Running Back, New York Giants

Ahmad Bradshaw had a nice performance against the 49ers stingy defense, rushing for 116 yards on 27 carries with a touchdown. He also caught one pass for four yards as the New York Giants defeated San Francisco 26-3.

2. C.J Spillman, Safety, San Francisco 49ers

Playing special teams, C.J Spillman did not register a tackle in the 49ers loss to New York,

3. Doug Legursky, Guard/Center, Pittsburgh Steelers

Doug Legursky replaced Pittsburgh starting center Maurkice Pouncey after he was injured on the Steelers first offensive play from scrimmage. In a upset, the Tennessee Titans beat Pittsburgh 26-23 Thursday night.

4. Byron Leftwich, Quarterback, Pittsburgh Steelers

Byron Leftwich did not play as Steelers quarterback Ben Rothlisberger took every snap during Thursday’s loss against Tennessee.

5. Albert McClellan, Linebacker, Baltimore Ravens

Continuing to split time at outside linebacker with Courtney Upshaw and Paul Kruger, Albert McClellan was credited with two tackles during the Baltimore Ravens 31-29 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

6. Lee Smith, Tight End, Buffalo Bills

For the fifth straight week Lee Smith did not record a catch as his Buffalo Bills beat the Arizona Cardinals in overtime 19-16.

7. Randy Moss, Wide Receiver, San Francisco 49ers

For the first time this season Randy Moss lead the 49ers in receiving yards, catching two passes for 75 yards during Sunday’s loss to New York.

8. Vinny Curry, Defensive End, Philadelphia Eagles

For a sixth straight week, Vinny Curry was among the Philadelphia Eagles inactive players.

9. Mario Harvey, Linebacker, Indianapolis Colts

Mario Harvey recorded an assisted tackle on special teams during the Indianapolis Colts 35-9 loss to the New York Jets.

10. Chris Crocker, Safety, Cincinnati Bengals

In Sunday’s rivalry games against Cleveland, Chris Crocker was kept off the stat sheet as the Cincinnati Bengals fell to the Browns 34-24.

Friday, October 12, 2012

Marshall Basketball: New unis, Wilkerson waived, and preseason predictions

A few basketball related notes heading into Thundering Herd Madness, 8pm tonight in the Cam Henderson Center.

·    The Twitter feed of Marshall’s athletic equipment staff, @HerdEquipment released pictures of the Thundering Herd’s new home white uniforms yesterday. A few changes from last year, the jersey now has green trim around the arms and neck. Also, the side stripe has changed to white trim enclosed in black with green down the middle. On Marshall’s shorts, the school logo has moved from in front of the knee to the side. Comparison pictures below.

                                 (2012-2013 Home Uniform, picutre courtesy @HerdEquipment)     

(2011-2012 Home Uniform, picture courtesy the Herad Dispatch)

·     In his first NCAA Tournament bracket projection of the 2012-2013 season, Jerry Palm of CBS Sports sees the Thundering Herd as a 12 seed.

·     Former Marshall basketball player Tyler Wilkerson has been waived by the San Antonio Spurs. Wilkerson was invited to training camp after a strong performance with the Spurs summer league team in Las Vegas. In two preseason games Wilkerson averaged 2 points and 1.5 rebounds.

·     ESPN.com's Eamonn Brennan analyzed the out of conference schedules for each C-USA basketball team. Brennan ranked Marshall’s schedule one of the league’s toughest, with matchups against Kentucky, Cincinnati, Villanova, and WVU.

·    C-USA does not release a preseason poll for men’s basketball but, Athlon magazine has the Herd finishing second while Lindy’s places Marshall at third.  

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Marshall Football: Week Six Review

Conference USA played a mix of league and non-league match-ups last week, kicking off with ECU's trip to UCF Thursday night. With a 40-20 win over the Pirates, Central Florida was able to take first place in C-USA's East division.

Keeping our eyes on the East, Marshall took a 45-38 loss to Tulsa at home and Memphis earned its first win of the season, 14-10 over Rice. In out of conference play, Southern Miss had a tough time against Boise State, getting blown out 40-14. UAB earned a win, defeating FCS member South East Louisiana 52-3.

Looking out West, SMU beat UTEP in a battle of Texas schools 17-0. Outgoing C-USA member Houston handled future league member North Texas 44-21 and Tulane remained winless, dropping a 41-13 decision to Louisiana Lafayette.

For a in-depth look at last weeks games click here.

Standings

East
UCF: 3-2, 1-0
Memphis: 1-4, 1-0
ECU: 3-3, 2-1
Marshall: 2-4, 1-1
UAB: 1-4, 0-1
USM: 0-5, 0-1

West
Tulsa: 5-1, 3-0
Houston: 2-3, 1-0
SMU: 2-3, 1-0
Tulane: 0-5, 0-1
UTEP: 1-5, 0-2
Rice: 1-5, 0-3

Monday, October 8, 2012

Marshall in the NFL, Week Five

 Weekly review of Marshall Alumni in the NFL.

1. Ahmad Bradshaw, Running Back, New York Giants

Despite an first possession fumble, Ahmad Bradshaw rushed for 200 yards on 30 carries with one touchdown during the New York Giants 41-27 win over the Cleveland Browns. Bradshaw also caught four passes for 49 yards.


2. C.J Spillman, Safety, San Francisco 49ers

C.J Spillman matched his production from last week, registering one tackle for the San Francisco 49ers as they beat the Buffalo Bills 45-3.

3. Doug Legursky, Guard/Center, Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers won the battle of Pennsylvania yesterday, defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 16-14. Doug Legursky contributed as a backup guard and special teams lineman.

4. Byron Leftwich, Quarterback, Pittsburgh Steelers

Byron Leftwich did not play for Pittsburgh, as Ben Rothlisberger took every snap at quarterback during Sunday’s win over Philadelphia.

5. Albert McClellan, Linebacker, Baltimore Ravens

In a close, defensive battle, Albert McClellan recorded one tackle during the Baltimore Ravens 9-6 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

6. Lee Smith, Tight End, Buffalo Bills

Lee Smith did not register a catch or special teams tackle in Sunday’s blowout loss to San Francisco.

7. Randy Moss, Wide Receiver, San Francisco 49ers

Randy Moss caught one pass for 11 yards during the 49ers 45-3 win over Buffalo.

8. Vinny Curry, Defensive End, Philadelphia Eagles

For the fifth straight week Vinny Curry was among the Eagles inactive players.

9. Mario Harvey, Linebacker, Indianapolis Colts

Mario Harvey recorded a special teams tackle during the Indianapolis Colts 30-27 upset win over the Green Bay Packers

10. Daniel Baldridge, Offensive Lineman, Jacksonville Jaguars

After being promoted to the active roster on September 15th Daniel Baldridge was waived by the Jacksonville Jaguars last week.

11. Chris Crocker, Safety, Cincinnati Bengals

After recording an interception in his first game of the season, Chris Crocker was held off the stat sheet as the Cincinnati Bengals lost to the Miami Dolphins 17-13.

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Marshall Football: Herd swept away by Golden Hurricanes, 45-38 Tulsa

Want to apologize for not providing an updated on yesterday's game earlier, the Marshall Thundering Blog's in-laws are visiting.

As you surely know by now, Tulsa spoiled Marshall's homecoming Saturday afternoon, defeating the Thundering Herd 45-38. The guys who get paid to write about the Herd for a living have done a great job of breaking down yesterday's game. Follow the links below for a complete wrap up of Marshall's first conference loss in 2012.

Box Score

The Charleston Gazette

Marshall notebook: Herd unable to stop Tulsa ground game

Bad breaks stink Marshall

Inside Marshall Sports with Doug Smock

Grades for Tulsa game

The Charleston Daily Mail

Marshall football: Herd falls to Tulsa, 45-38

MU Sports Blog with Derek Redd

Doc Holliday's post game comments-Tulsa

The Herald Dispatch

Tulsa spoils Herd Homecoming

Ben Fields: Thundering Herd stung, stunned by loss

Chuck Landon: MU comes up short on toughness in the end

MU game balls

Critical plays on 4th down decide it

MU balances passing attack with runs

The WV Metro News

Herd Falls to Tulsa On Homecoming

Best & Worst From Herd Loss to Tulsa

Cato: We've Got o Win A Game

The Herd Insider

Herd Homecoming happiness here and gone after tumbling to Tulsa, 45-38

HerdZone.com

Comeback Stifled in 45-48 Loss to Tulsa 

Tulsa World

TU closes out win at Marshall

John E. Hoover: Cody Green comes through when needed for TU

Rose comes up with big plays

TU Notebook: Productive Singleton 

TU-Marshall: Report Card

Friday, October 5, 2012

Marshall Football: A look behind enemy lines, Tulsa

Marshall host Tulsa tomorrow for a 3:30pm kickoff on the CBS Sports Network. Let’s take a look at the Golden Hurricanes before this weekend’s matchup.

Tulsa
Record: 4-1, 2-0

FBS Rankings
Passing Yards: 63rd (236.6 per game)
Rushing Yards: 12th (244.8 per game)
Points For: 14th (42 per game)
Points Against: 65th (26.4 per game)

Players to Watch on Offense
Leading Passer:  Cody Green (85-166, 1041 yards, 9 TD, 6 INT)
Leading Rusher: Ja’Terian Douglas (51 carries, 374 yards, 4 TD)
Leading Receiver: Keyarris Garrett (20 receptions, 256 yards, 4 TD)

Player to Watch on Defense
Dexter McCoil, defensive back: An all Conference USA preseason selection, Dexter McCoil leads Tulsa’s high risk, high reward defense. As a three year starter, McCoil has recorded a school record 14 career interceptions. This season he is third on the Golden Hurricanes with 27 tackles.

In the Press

The Charleston Gazette




The Charleston Daily Mail




The Herald Dispatch






The WV Metro News



The Tulsa World