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MARSHALL SPORTS
Camp Randall Stadium a tough place to play
Marshall's head coach Mark Snyder talks about the upcoming game agains Wisconsin on Tuesday, September 2, 2008.
Purchase this photoHUNTINGTON -- Blending history, folklore and success, Camp Randall Stadium ranks with any college football venue.
Wisconsin's home since 1917 served as living quarters for military personnel and students during the 1940s. The original Camp Randall grounds were used as a Civil War training site.
Fast forward to the future, and a 2005 makeover costing approximately $110 million expanded seating capacity to 80,321. Three new video scoreboards were added, along with FieldTurf, football and administrative offices and 72 suites.
Such investments are paralleled with a 26-1 home record since the start of the 2004 season. Wisconsin has won 15 straight at Camp Randall Stadium and limited 11 opponents to less than 10 points during the past four seasons.
With such daunting numbers to ponder, what can Marshall expect in Saturday's non-conference matchup in Madison, Wisc.? Thundering Herd head coach Mark Snyder, a former Big Ten assistant at Minnesota and Ohio State, is virtually alone within his program with working knowledge of the Camp Randall experience.
"The student section will be live, and one corner of the end zone is going to be very, very loud," Snyder said. "And the fourth quarter they play "Jump Around." That's a pretty neat scene in all of college football.
"It's a pretty neat scene and kind of sends them into the fourth quarter with a little extra swagger I guess.
"And they're going to be massive when they come onto the field. They just keep coming and coming and coming out of that tunnel. And they're big human beings."
Marshall will meet those big human beings, also known as the No. 11 Badgers, for the first time and are listed as a 21-point underdog. Kickoff is noon (EST) and the Big Ten Network will televise the game.
College football is evolving offensively, which dozens of programs hopping the spread bandwagon. Wisconsin is an exception, successfully dancing with the one that brought them. It's the definition of smashmouth football, with 236-pound P.J. Hill running behind a 259-pound fullback and five 300-plus pounders along the line.
"After looking at the film they're still the Wisconsin of old," Snyder said. "They haven't changed one iota. They're very solid."
Hill rushed for 210 yards and two touchdowns in last week's 38-17 season opening victory over Akron, headlining a 404-yard team performance on the ground. Physical backups Zach Brown and John Clay combined for 158 yards and two scores on 27 handoffs.
"Obviously we're going to see a steady dose of P.J. Hill, but I like the other two backs too," Snyder said. "They're a little bit like our stable. We've got Darius (Marshall) and then you've got Chubb (Small) and Terrell (Edwards) as complements - and our young freshman (Martin Ward), he a freshman as well.
"There are a lot of similarities there."
In something of a surprise, Darius Marshall took on workhorse duty in last Saturday's 35-10 victory over Illinois State. The sophomore carried 20 times for 115 yards and a touchdown, weighed against just five carries for Small and Edwards combined. Edwards scored on a 49-yard touchdown and Small totaled 32 yards and a TD on three carries.
Snyder said to expect much of the same Saturday and beyond.
"I believe this - a little bit like the philosophy coach (Bret) Bielema has at Wisconsin - he has three or four really good backs, but P.J. Hill's going to get the ball," the fourth-year coach said. "We feel like we've got three or our pretty good backs. Darius Marshall's going to get the football.
"That's the way it's going to be. He's the best that we have for what we do so he's going to play the most. And then Chubb and Terrell and those guys - Ward has been impressing me again in practice -- I'd love to get him in the game at some point and time.
"But we'll go with Darius. He's our guy. Wisconsin, they've got a stable of guys but P.J. Hill is their guy. He's going to get his 150, 200 (yards) and then the other guys are going to get what they get.
"But I was pleased. Both of those guys got touchdowns Saturday. That would make my mom and girlfriend happy."
During his weekly Tuesday press conference, Snyder clearly stated the quality of Wisconsin's talent is concern No. 1 in lieu of fans in the stands. Snyder embraces the lively Camp Randall atmosphere but is 1-7 lifetime in Madison.
"I remember being a player, even as a coach you really don't even notice the crowd until something good or bad happens," Snyder said. "You really don't.
"Now when something good or bad happens you kind of feel the momentum, the mo' swinging when you have a big hostile crowd. But in between plays you really don't feel it.
"You feel it when you run onto the field. And that's really about it until something good or bad happens.
"I think as long as things are going well for us we'll be fine, keep that crowd out of it."
