HUNTINGTON -- In lieu of breaking down opponent's game film, Monday nights are reserved for breaking bread.

Throughout Marshall University's football season, these evenings serve as needed time for distraction and perspective. "Family Night" is exactly that, with coaches and support staff family members joining at the Shewey Building for dinner.

Grownups talk everything but the game, while kids scamper and chase each other on the Joan C. Edwards Stadium turf. Families soak in every morsel of July vacations, because all involved understand that beginning with the week prior to players reporting for August preseason camp, real together time proves scarce at best.

There's practice and/or meetings every day without exception for at least four months. Each "free" day or so during off weeks are consumed by recruiting (i.e. this week). And then there's the matter of game days.

Monday nights prove the welcome exceptions.

"The coaching family is your main support group and nobody really understands what we all go through," said Beth Snyder, wife of Thundering Herd head coach Mark Snyder. "It's a good time to bond and you cling to each other in the tough times and hug when times are good.

"When we came here we wanted to keep it going."

Mark and Beth Snyder first began attending such family functions during the former assistant's coaching stint at Minnesota (1997-2000). Family Night was also the norm under head coach Jim Tressel at Ohio State, where Snyder served prior to taking over Marshall in 2005.

"It brings our families -- because we're not with them much -- it brings our families to our workplace," Mark Snyder said. "And it's not a bad place because daddy's not home all the time.

"They get to see us as a family, as a football family."

The Snyder family includes a pair of teen-agers and a youngster, all daughters. Chelsea, Lindsay and Shaylee each has grown with Family Night as part of the weekly routine. Beth, Mark and the Snyders have enjoyed Family Night for approximately a decade. Assistant coaches including Shannon Morrison and Phil Ratliff, along with respective wives Miya and Jenni, are raising young families, along with support staff families such as Brad and Tara Helton and youngsters Ryan and Haley.

"The same is happening with them," said Beth Snyder, referring to her initial Family Night experiences. "It's good for the kids to get to know each other.

"It's great because I grew up where dinner time was family time. Coaches' kids and wives don't get that. They don't get that Sunday dinner."

Mondays provide that, allowing kids to make friends and play their own pickup games. Coaches, wives, academic support staff, trainers and all the rest, meanwhile, cover every topic except for Marshall football. The Thundering Herd (3-3, 2-0 Conference USA) enjoys this weekend off before taking on UAB (1-6, 0-3) next Saturday in Birmingham, Ala. Kickoff at Legion Field is 4 p.m.

"I would agree with that," Beth said of talking about life instead of C-USA standings and upcoming opponents. "We talk a lot about raising our kids, a lot of school talk.

"A lot of them look at me and quiz me about the different stages of just getting (a family) started. Some say they're scared to death to have kids, and the ones of us who have went down those turning, rocking roads, there's definitely not a lot of football talk.

"Actually, I don't think there's ever been any."

Another benefit, Mark Snyder said, is the stress relief Monday nights deliver. Coaches' meetings that can border on the contentious take on more relaxed moods following a few family hours.

"You go, you see your family and you come back and say, 'You know what? There are more important things.' It's just a nice break," the fourth-year head coach said. "I think the families look forward to it. I know we as coaches love having our families at our workplace, because we do spend so much time here.

"When mom says dad's at work, it gives them a better feel for it. They come here and run around the field, ride the Gator (equipment ATV)."

Offensive line coach/recruiting coordinator Mike Cummings, husband of Donna and father of Elizabeth and Emily, also embraces the rare actual, dinner-setting sit-down.

"Everybody looks forward to it," Cummings said. "You don't get to see your family a lot. When you see them on Monday night, it just changes your whole attitude.

"The kids are all in the building, and it's just different.

"My daughter always wants to come. I think maybe she gets more excited about what food we're having than seeing me, but she always likes to come down here."

AP Video

Courtesy of Brad Helton/Marshall University

Marshall University offensive line coach/recruiting coordinator Mike Cummings shares dinner with his wife, Donna, and their daughter, Elizabeth, Monday night at the Shewey Building. Monday’s weekly social gathering serves as Family Night for the Thundering Herd football family, a rare in-season opportunity for coaches and support staff to enjoy dinner and needed down time from football with family.

Purchase this photo