NOW THAT Marshall followers have been freed from three weeks of being dogged by cheesy Internet rumors, it's time to refocus on the future of Thundering Herd football.
NOW THAT Marshall followers have been freed from three weeks of being dogged by cheesy Internet rumors, it's time to refocus on the future of Thundering Herd football.
No, not the Doc Holliday-driven future. The immediate future. There's a game Saturday.
Remember, the Pepperoni-and-Double-Cheese bowl?
And here's the dirty secret: Marshall vs. Ohio stands to be a very good game. I've seen it ranked 34th out of the 34 bowl games, and I can understand that - on paper, it's as appetizing as a pizza that has sat out for three days.
But it won't turn out to be the worst bowl game of the holiday season, a la the 2004 Fort Worth Bowl. (It won't, right?)
With five days (four shopping) before the game in Detroit, here are some things to consider:
Remember Ohio from Marshall's Mid-American Conference days? Well, forget all that. It does not apply.
For much of the 1997-2004 era, the Bobcats were largely a triple-option team that used the pass as a gadget play. The quarterbacks were really glorified running backs and looked like shot-putters when they threw it. Third-and-6 was a running down.
They did diversify by 2004, though, when Miami (Ohio) transfer Ryan Hawk took over at quarterback. The run-pass ratio (408-346) in that season is not that much more ground-heavy than it is in 2009 (431-375) under coach Frank Solich.
Theo Scott has developed into a Conference USA-caliber quarterback and has a trio of wide receiver threats in Taylor Price, LaVon Brazill and Terrence McCrae. Brazill doubles as an outlandish punt-return threat, with three touchdowns on runbacks.
The Bobcats have 59 plays of 25 yards or more. That includes all manner of defensive and kick returns, but there are 29 pass plays in there. As old-school as Solich's background is - he is not only an old Nebraska coach, he played fullback there - he has developed a dangerous passing attack.
The Bobcats are probably better than at any time during Marshall's MAC days.
Let's put it this way: The seniors are going for their 29th win over a four-year period, the most for an Ohio senior class since 1963.
This is Ohio's second bowl in four years, though the Bobcats did tumble to 6-6 and 4-8 the last two seasons. As the teams renew what will be a regular rivalry again, consider this: Solich feels his program is deeper than it has been in his five seasons at Athens, and he probably isn't going anywhere soon.
The Bobcats have done one thing Marshall didn't do under deposed coach Mark Snyder: Win close games.
That started in the second overtime at North Texas. The Bobcats scored on a Scott-to-Price pass on fourth-and-goal at the 15-yard line, then went for two after a roughing-the-passer penalty and got it for a 31-30 victory.
NOW THAT Marshall followers have been freed from three weeks of being dogged by cheesy Internet rumors, it's time to refocus on the future of Thundering Herd football.
No, not the Doc Holliday-driven future. The immediate future. There's a game Saturday.
Remember, the Pepperoni-and-Double-Cheese bowl?
And here's the dirty secret: Marshall vs. Ohio stands to be a very good game. I've seen it ranked 34th out of the 34 bowl games, and I can understand that - on paper, it's as appetizing as a pizza that has sat out for three days.
But it won't turn out to be the worst bowl game of the holiday season, a la the 2004 Fort Worth Bowl. (It won't, right?)
With five days (four shopping) before the game in Detroit, here are some things to consider:
Remember Ohio from Marshall's Mid-American Conference days? Well, forget all that. It does not apply.
For much of the 1997-2004 era, the Bobcats were largely a triple-option team that used the pass as a gadget play. The quarterbacks were really glorified running backs and looked like shot-putters when they threw it. Third-and-6 was a running down.
They did diversify by 2004, though, when Miami (Ohio) transfer Ryan Hawk took over at quarterback. The run-pass ratio (408-346) in that season is not that much more ground-heavy than it is in 2009 (431-375) under coach Frank Solich.
Theo Scott has developed into a Conference USA-caliber quarterback and has a trio of wide receiver threats in Taylor Price, LaVon Brazill and Terrence McCrae. Brazill doubles as an outlandish punt-return threat, with three touchdowns on runbacks.
The Bobcats have 59 plays of 25 yards or more. That includes all manner of defensive and kick returns, but there are 29 pass plays in there. As old-school as Solich's background is - he is not only an old Nebraska coach, he played fullback there - he has developed a dangerous passing attack.
The Bobcats are probably better than at any time during Marshall's MAC days.
Let's put it this way: The seniors are going for their 29th win over a four-year period, the most for an Ohio senior class since 1963.
This is Ohio's second bowl in four years, though the Bobcats did tumble to 6-6 and 4-8 the last two seasons. As the teams renew what will be a regular rivalry again, consider this: Solich feels his program is deeper than it has been in his five seasons at Athens, and he probably isn't going anywhere soon.
The Bobcats have done one thing Marshall didn't do under deposed coach Mark Snyder: Win close games.
That started in the second overtime at North Texas. The Bobcats scored on a Scott-to-Price pass on fourth-and-goal at the 15-yard line, then went for two after a roughing-the-passer penalty and got it for a 31-30 victory.
The Bobcats scored a touchdown with 3:11 left to beat Ball State 20-17, hit a 47-yard field goal with 1:25 left to beat Buffalo 27-24. Also, an interception return with 1:39 left pushed the lead over Northern Illinois to 38-28, leading to a 38-31 win.
Those Ohio turnover figures are not typos.
That's 20 interceptions and 16 recovered fumbles for a total of 36 takeaways. That was more than Texas, Rutgers, East Carolina and everybody else entering bowl season.
On top of that, the Bobcats have blocked four punts, one resulting in a touchdown. That is one of eight non-offensive touchdowns - three on interceptions, one on kickoff returns, three on punt returns and the blocked punt.
Do we call it SolichBall?
Neither school will overwhelm the box office.
At Marshall, it's a strange time. The players, they seem to be excited about their first bowl game ever and want to prove they're a better team than 6-6.
For the fans, it doesn't feel like a bowl season. Shoot, some of them act like their team went 2-10 and there's no hope whatsoever.
Last I heard, MU's ticket office had sold 1,300 tickets at $47 a pop. The timing of the game, 1 p.m. the day after Christmas, is horrendous, and driving to Detroit the morning of the game is a risky proposition in what has become mid-winter. Herd fans generally aren't crazy about Detroit, though it must be pointed out that the downtown and Ford Field beat the suburbs and the old Pontiac Silverdome by a bunch.
Herd fans may still outdraw Ohio fans. What shade of green will we see?
You can bank on great effort from the Bobcats. What about the Herd?
Good bloody question. I played one of those "confidence pools" on Yahoo, and ranked this game 34th. I did pick the Herd because (a) I know it's not really a 6-6 team and (b) you probably can't do better for an interim coach than Rick Minter.
But really, this is an odd situation for a bowl game. Does anybody really know how this Marshall team will respond?
This game will not lack for suspense, that's for sure.
Reach Doug Smock at 304-348-5130 or dougsm...@wvgazette.com.
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