HUNTINGTON — Full-pad workouts remain a few days away, but competition throughout Marshall University’s football depth chart kicks off this afternoon.
The 2008 Thundering Herd formally was introduced during Media Day activities Monday at Joan C. Edwards Stadium, but game day jerseys and a relaxed atmosphere now are shelved. In their place during preseason camp are practice gear and an overriding, palpable drive to return Marshall football to the postseason.
On Monday, players spoke of learning multiple positions and accepting whatever roles are defined prior to the Aug. 30 season opener against Illinois State. Versatility on both sides will be a theme throughout the coming season, beginning with today’s afternoon workout (closed to the public).
“I think these older guys want to get these younger guys a sense of a winning season,” said Marshall head coach Mark Snyder, entering his fourth season. “Much like the seniors when (this year’s senior class) were freshmen. They want to give those guys that feeling and get those guys back on track.
“As for the young guys, a lot of them are from a lot of good programs, a lot of winning programs.
"They’re just not used to losing, and I think you can sense that and feel that in their voices.
“The thing I’m most excited about is the unselfishness of the older guys. That teaches the younger guys how to act, how to practice. It teaches them to be unselfish.”
That winning trait will be tested this month with numerous players learning varied positions. Defensive tackles occasionally will move outside and several pass-rushers likely will serve as defensive end/outside linebacker hybrids. Offensive linemen likewise will log practice time at dual spots.
And, how has the heavy workload been received?
“Everybody’s good with that,” Snyder said.
It begins today with the first of 24 practices in 18 days. Saturday’s 3 p.m. practice is the first in full pads and the initial preseason workout open to the public. From a players’ perspective, today has been a long time coming after months of voluntary, early morning workouts without the pay day of game day.
“It’s better than it was,” said senior Chubb Small, coming off a stellar spring and set to again share tailback time with Darius Marshall. “Everybody has their mind set to get to a bowl game and get a championship and this is the way to do it.
“There’s always that time when you second-guess yourself, but that’s the hump you have to get over. Everybody knew we had to get over that hump.”
Redshirt freshmen offensive lineman Ryan Tillman said summertime dips into the occasional grind.
“There were a bunch of those, but you just have to fight through it because that’s part of it,” Tillman said. “If you can get through that, it will be fine on the other days.”
The other days have arrived, and focus now shifts to fully absorbing new systems under offensive coordinator John Shannon and defensive coordinator Rick Minter. A productive summer could lead to something of a head start entering camp. Yes, Mark Cann or one of his three fellow quarterbacks will take over as a first-year starter, but experience and depth gradually has developed under Snyder.
“Maybe we’re a little bit more ahead than where we’ve been,” Snyder said. “You’re never satisfied, but again hats off to the seniors showing these young guys and hat’s off to the young guys for showing up when it was not mandatory.
“When you have 72 guys on campus, that’s pretty rewarding.”
Small was among the large majority who remained on campus and the results are obvious; his muscular build conjures images of former Marshall tailback Butchie Wallace. The speedy playmaker now is more than ready to apply months of offseason training toward a potential turnaround season.
“It’s unexplainable,” Small said of his excitement on the eve of practice. “I can’t express my feelings right now.”
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