HUNTINGTON - Marshall's 27-20 Conference USA loss to Southern Miss Saturday was much like West Virginia's Big East loss to Cincinnati Friday.

There were bad special-teams plays from the Mountain State team.

There was an awful officiating call that went against it.

There were some terrible coaching decisions.

The losing coach, a terrific person, felt his seat get hotter.

There's one large difference between those Mountain State coaches, though.

WVU's Bill Stewart will probably keep his job another season. Mark Snyder's tenure as Thundering Herd coach probably went south when, on fourth-and-15 at game's end, his quarterback, Brian Anderson, was chased, cut loose of a pass and watched Southern Miss safety Justin Wilson intercept the ball.

Snyder's team is 5-5. His overall record is 21-36. He's almost through his fifth season. And last, it seems, at his alma mater.

Call Saturday's loss what you will in regard to the coach. The last straw. The final nail. It was also, though, an opportunity. It was an opportunity to keep MU afloat in the C-USA East Division. It was an opportunity to redeem after an awful loss to Central Florida. It was an opportunity, perhaps, to save a job.

The opportunities, though, along with the game and, more importantly, the fans, are lost.

If Snyder keeps his job now, it will be an upset like that of Appalachian State over Michigan in 2007.

Because, quite frankly, his fans are upset.

On a stunningly beautiful November day, with a traditionally fine program in town, 21,036 showed. The average attendance before Saturday's contest was 23,183. The fans are speaking with their wallets. It's become a business decision for the MU higher-ups.

"I think we're playing good football,'' Snyder said after Saturday's game. "We're just coming up a little short. We're playing good football - against some good football teams. I told the kids down there [in the locker room] tonight, they gave everything they had. We were there at the end to win the game.

"It makes it a little rough on everybody. For me to sit here and say we're not doing this or we're not doing that well or we're not getting better, we're getting worse and all those things, I can't say that. I think this team is getting better each week.

"I really have no complaints right now. I'm happy with my guys. Wouldn't trade them for a bunch of the teams we've played. They give us everything they've got. They've got no quit in them. We've got some talent out there.''

Indeed, they do. And the view from here is Marshall's team has improved over the years. His players certainly enjoy playing for Snyder.

There were bad special-teams plays from the Mountain State team.

There was an awful officiating call that went against it.

There were some terrible coaching decisions.

The losing coach, a terrific person, felt his seat get hotter.

There's one large difference between those Mountain State coaches, though.

WVU's Bill Stewart will probably keep his job another season. Mark Snyder's tenure as Thundering Herd coach probably went south when, on fourth-and-15 at game's end, his quarterback, Brian Anderson, was chased, cut loose of a pass and watched Southern Miss safety Justin Wilson intercept the ball.

Snyder's team is 5-5. His overall record is 21-36. He's almost through his fifth season. And last, it seems, at his alma mater.

Call Saturday's loss what you will in regard to the coach. The last straw. The final nail. It was also, though, an opportunity. It was an opportunity to keep MU afloat in the C-USA East Division. It was an opportunity to redeem after an awful loss to Central Florida. It was an opportunity, perhaps, to save a job.

The opportunities, though, along with the game and, more importantly, the fans, are lost.

If Snyder keeps his job now, it will be an upset like that of Appalachian State over Michigan in 2007.

Because, quite frankly, his fans are upset.

On a stunningly beautiful November day, with a traditionally fine program in town, 21,036 showed. The average attendance before Saturday's contest was 23,183. The fans are speaking with their wallets. It's become a business decision for the MU higher-ups.

"I think we're playing good football,'' Snyder said after Saturday's game. "We're just coming up a little short. We're playing good football - against some good football teams. I told the kids down there [in the locker room] tonight, they gave everything they had. We were there at the end to win the game.

"It makes it a little rough on everybody. For me to sit here and say we're not doing this or we're not doing that well or we're not getting better, we're getting worse and all those things, I can't say that. I think this team is getting better each week.

"I really have no complaints right now. I'm happy with my guys. Wouldn't trade them for a bunch of the teams we've played. They give us everything they've got. They've got no quit in them. We've got some talent out there.''

Indeed, they do. And the view from here is Marshall's team has improved over the years. His players certainly enjoy playing for Snyder.

"Ashton Hall, one of our captains, asked the coaches to please leave the locker room,'' said tight end Lee Smith on Saturday. "Then he stated it's on us. Coach Snyder takes so much heat for us. He always says he's proud of us. He always tells us we're playing hard. And we are. We're just coming up short.

"That lies on us. The coaches get us prepared. But on Saturdays, between those lines, it's the 11 on that field. It's not Coach Snyder. It's not the coordinators. It's us.

"We're going to try and win these next two to try and help him out a bit.''

Unfortunately for the coach, it's probably too little, too late. The shanked punts, the Anderson sacks, the blown pass coverages, the 93-yard kickoff return and the shots to the end zone in the closing moments (when a first down would have been fine) probably sealed the deal Saturday.

It's kind of tough to write because, quite frankly, I like the guy. I know he's had Marshall's best interest at heart. He's worked hard and represented his school with class.

But the fans that were on his bandwagon - I sincerely wonder how many were ever on it, though - have jumped.

I know. School president Dr. Stephen Kopp spoke at a recent Quarterback Club about the team like it's Texas. There are rumors he can save Snyder. There are questions whether the school can afford to fire Snyder.

The bottom line, though, is Kopp hired athletic director Mike Hamrick to make such decisions. He's paying the guy a lot of money to do so.

Also, yes, Marshall can pay the money to send Snyder on his way. Will it strain the athletic department? No doubt. But it can do so - especially if the big donors are on board.

The hope from here is if or when Snyder is released it is with dignity. The man deserves it. He's given his all to the program.

He just came up a little short.

Reach Mitch Vingle at 304-348-4827, mitchvin...@wvgazette.com or follow him at http://twitter.com/MitchVingle.