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MARSHALL SPORTS
Passmore changes game in 10 seconds
HUNTINGTON -- Fans at Joan C. Edwards Stadium had been waiting nine months to see the "Thunder" roll again for Marshall University, but as halftime loomed, the air was stagnant and so were people in attendance.
Illinois State dictated play throughout the opening half, and Marshall had not looked much improved from the 3-9 finish of 2007. At the break, the Redbirds had the ball for more than 21 of 30 minutes.
It was bad enough that another forecast had been projected in the press box -- a thunderstorm of boos once the teams went to the locker room.
But oh, how unpredictable the weather can be.
Marshall took the ball over after an Illinois State punt with just 35 seconds remaining before halftime.
Instead of playing conservative, the Herd went for the big play. 10 seconds later, Darius Passmore was flying past the Redbirds' secondary for an 88-yard touchdown to give Marshall a 14-7 lead at the half.
"Coach Shannon, the offensive coordinator, came up to the offense and said we are going for the big play right here," Passmore said. "He just believed in me to do it, and I believed in the call. The whole offense just went out and executed the play and we got six off of it."
Quarterback Mark Cann fired a beautiful ball on the play, but his confidence in Passmore's ability made him less weary of making such a risky throw in his first start.
"Pass is a guy where you can throw it out there and let him go get it," Cann said. "With his speed, you don't have to be perfect. You can make a mistake and he will make a play."
The big play not only blew some of the negativity of a shaky first half out of the atmosphere, but also took the wind out of the Redbirds' sails.
"The emotional swing of that -- at the time, we felt like we maybe should be up -- and they hit us on that play," Illinois State coach Denver Johnson said. "That play altered the emotions of the game."
After halftime, Passmore came back with a 12-yard run on a reverse and later scored on a 14-yard screen to put Marshall up 21-7.
In the end, the game was a chance for Passmore, who finished with 111 yards receiving on four receptions, to show just how fast he can be.
He is fast enough to bring the winds of change to the Herd offense.
WELCOME BACK, ALBERT: Coming off of knee surgery that kept him out the entire 2007 season, Marshall defensive end Albert McClellan was anxious to get back on the field.
McClellan took advantage of his return, notching a sack with 58 seconds left in the first half and then with another just two minutes into the second half.
"It felt great," McClellan said. "I still felt a little rusty, but it got a little better toward the end (of the half).
"I missed it a lot. Football is everything to me, so I felt like nothing last year. Now, I feel like something."
PRESS BOX DEDICATION: Prior to the start of Saturday's game, the official unveiling of the Ernie Salvatore Press Box was presented to media members.
The new-look press box features displays with the names of media members who have received awards from the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association as well as the names of past Marshall University sports information directors and radio voices.
The press box was named for Salvatore, who covered Marshall athletics for The Herald-Dispatch for 40 years.
A "KASE" OF FIELD POSITION: Marshall freshman punter Kase Whitehead pinned the Redbirds inside the 20-yard line on four different occasions.
Whitehead averaged 41.2 yards per punt and also had a punt downed at the 1-yard line on the evening.
TIME-CHEWING DRIVE: On Illinois State's first quarter scoring drive, the Redbirds drove 76 yards in 17 plays and took 9:38 off the clock to knot the game 7-7. The drive ended with a 4-yard touchdown pass from Drew Kiel to Eyad Salem.
Illinois State had the ball for 11:18 in the first 15 minutes.
HALL OF FAME WEEKEND: Before kickoff, Marshall presented its 25th anniversary Athletic Hall of Fame class of seven members.
Marshall assistant coach Phil Ratliff, former Marshall head coach Jim Donnan, basketball star J.R. VanHoose, tennis standout Anna Mitina, soccer star Byron Carmichael, golfer Tom Kies, and three-sport athlete Bill Harris were honored.
Donnan also served as color analyst for the regional television broadcast of the game.
MU QUARTERBACK CLUB: There is a Quarterback Club meeting at noon Tuesday at the Pullman Plaza Hotel. Athletic director Bob Marcum will be the guest speaker.
