Football on the Fringe Season Previews were ranked, then delivered in random order.
Marshall wrapped up a rollercoaster 2009 season by surprising MAC East champ Ohio in the Little Caesar’s bowl, in the heart of MAC territory, to end their campaign 7-6. Marc Snyder would resign after the regular season ended at 6-6, after failing to bring Marshall back to it’s tradition of being an elite power in the non-BCS universe.
The Thundering Herd look to improve on their 4th place division finish, and will do it behind new coach Doc Holliday and returning QB Brian Anderson, who leads a four-man battle for the starting job. Behind the QB will be Little Caesar’s Bowl MVP Martin Ward at RB, stepping into the spotlight after Darius Marshall left early for the NFL (and ultimately went undrafted). In total, 7 starters from each side of the ball return to kick off the Holliday era.
Schedule
9/2/2010 at Ohio State
9/10/2010 West Virginia
9/18/2010 at Bowling Green
9/25/2010 Ohio
10/2/2010 at Southern Miss
10/13/2010 UCF
10/23/2010 at East Carolina
10/30/2010 UTEP
11/6/2010 at UAB
11/13/2010 Memphis
11/20/2010 at SMU
11/27/2010 Tulane
If Marshall starts any better than 0-2, it will be monumental- Ohio State starts the season #2, WVU at 24. But if the schedule lets up after that, it certainly doesn’t get easy- a rematch with Ohio (2009 MAC East winner) and three consecutive games against last year’s top 3 teams in the division only get the Herd through game 7.
Coaching
Doc Holliday comes to Marshall from West Virginia, where he was associate head coach, among various other titles. He held similar positions at Florida and NC State throughout the 2000s.
Rankings
Conference USA does not issue a media or coaches poll, and Marshall does not figure in the national polls.
Outlook
Marshall may have picked a good year for a regime change and a little rebuilding. At a glance, they’re about level with East Carolina, who is also replacing a coach and losing quality players, although stopping Southern Miss and UCF would qualify as upsets for Marshall, at least from the preseason vantage point. Fast turnarounds happen every year in Conference USA, but I think the Herd is a year or two away from getting to the top of the league. I think a 7 win season is on tap, and probably 3rd or 4th in the East, with 2nd a possibility.
Marshall Connections
Herd Nation – Rivals message board
Herald-Dispatch – Local Marshall sports news