Make or Break: Marshall Football 2009

It's spring time in Huntington, WV, and that can mean only one thing—speculation. Without fail as the whole of Herd Nation sits in this pause after basketball season, known to many as baseball season (though hardly anyone notices baseball in this town), the thoughts about what football season with bring begin. Some thoughts are good, some thoughts are bad, but it can safely be assumed that most people are thinking about football.

Most of the buzz this year seems to be a little less than positive, especially when it comes to the topic of the man at the helm. Mark Snyder is heading into his fifth season as a head coach and his fifth season guiding the Thundering Herd. In his time in Huntington, Snyder has amassed a record of 16-31, and for those keeping score at home that is a win percentage of 37 percent.

However, Snyder does not seem to be letting the numbers get to him and with spring practice starting Tuesday he said he was excited to get things underway.

"We feel good. We feel really good inside this building right now. I'm excited, first and foremost, for spring ball and then to get to the season." 

Despite the excitement Coach Snyder feels, there were still some questions to be addressed and he acknowledged this in his recruiting efforts.

Mark Cann, the freshman quarterback out of Landrum, SC, had a shaky season and the Marshall coaching staff has tried to bring in more options. They did this by bringing in junior college transfers Press Taylor and Jacob Laudenslayer, this coupled with Brian Anderson still being on the roster looks to provide plenty of competition at quarterback this spring.

"It's going to be exciting to watch these guys compete. They're all very competitive kids. Mark (Cann) has another year under his belt. We have some fresh blood from some guys who have played college football at the junior college ranks." Coach Snyder knows a little competition is a good thing and the addition of quarterbacks who have seen game time could bring helpful insight to the team.

The Thundering Herd will have to stay excited as they face a less than warm public and growing doubts going into this season. Coach Snyder will be completely on his own ground going into this season, with the last of the hold overs from the Pruett era departing after the 2008 season as well.  

The road won't be easy for the Herd this season with non-conference games scheduled against the Mountaineers of West Virginia and Virginia Tech, both of those games on the road.

As well as having the toss up that is the Conference USA East Division, with East Carolina, Southern Mississippi, and Central Florida always able to perform. Marshall will also take on the UTEP Miners from the C-USA West Division who are often overlooked given the abilities of Houston, Rice, and Tulsa as of late.

Marshall fills up the rest of the schedule with non-conference contests against Bowling Green and D-IAA Southern Illinois. Marshall's conference schedule is rounded out with games against Tulane, UAB, SMU, and the on again, off again Memphis Tigers. 

It's going to be a long and interesting season for Snyder and the Thundering Herd. There is potential in this team, however it is hard to say what that potential will amount to.

The only certainty in this season is that the speculation about game-to-game performance, Snyder's future, and any other number of things won't stop until the final whistle on the 2009 football season.