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MARSHALL SPORTS
Chuck Landon: Marshall beat up physically
MADISON, Wis. -- Everybody knows the worst fears.
Marshall comes to Big Ten country and gets mauled both on the scoreboard and physically.
Guess what?
That's exactly what happened here Saturday.
A lot of Marshall players were on ice after Wisconsin had put the game on ice, as the Herd (1-1) limped away from a 51-14 lambasting from the 11th-ranked Badgers (2-0) before 80,396 fans at Camp Randall Stadium.
Specific injuries? There was only one noticeably hurt player. True freshman linebacker Tyson Gale limped to the locker room with an ice bag taped to his right ankle.
But there were more bumps, bruises and contusions than a team of trainers could count.
"We got beat up a little bit," said Marshall head coach Mark Snyder.
Then, he quickly amended his evaluation.
"We got beat up a lot," corrected Snyder. "We've got to get healthy this week."
That's because a make-or-break Conference USA game against fellow East Division member Memphis looms six days away at 7 p.m. Saturday in Edwards Stadium.
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Marshall shook up its starting lineup on defense.
Johnny Jones started at defensive tackle in place of Delvin Johnson. Andre Portis was at strong-side linebacker instead of Corey Hart. Cornerback DeQuan Bembry got his first collegiate start, replacing T.J. Drakeford.
And Aaron Johnson subbed for the injured Ashton Hall at strong safety.
Johnson, who normally is the Herd's nickel back, put his starting assignment to good use, finishing as the game's leading tackler with 11 (including eight solo stops).
The Herd also made some other interesting personnel moves during the game.
At one point, the Herd went big -- make that, VERY big -- in the defensive line with 285-pound Mike Janac at end, 355-pound Brandon Bullock at nose and 305-pound Delvin Johnson at tackle.
Phew.
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Cody Slate was conspicuous by his absence.
Marshall's star tight end, who has led the Herd in receiving for consecutive seasons, watched the game in street clothes as he continues to heal from a sprained right knee.
But that opened the door for Marshall's "other" tight end, Lee Smith, to shed his usual blocking role and show off his hands.
That's exactly what happened as the 6-6, 260-pound Smith caught six passes for 53 yards. That included an impressive 25-yard catch-and-run with a screen pass to the 1-yard line.
"Lee had a big day," said Marshall quarterback Mark Cann. "Cody was missed, but Lee stepped up."
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The vocal Wisconsin student section was whooping it up for more than one reason.
Sure, they loved the Badgers' 51 unanswered points, but they loved the fact that UW scored seven touchdowns even more.
Why?
Because Wisconsin students get a five percent discount at the UW bookstore on Monday for every TD the Badgers scored against Marshall.
That means UW students will get a cool 35 percent off their purchases.
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Comments worth repeating:
MU coach Mark Snyder on Wisconsin's physical play: "They took our manhood at the end of the game. They're good at that."
Starting offensive lineman Josh Evans on the Herd's uneven play: "If we come out and play like we did in the first half, we'll win a lot of games. If we come out and play like we did in the second half, we'll lose a lot of games."
Quarterback Mark Cann on his second interception: "I threw the wrong route. It was a miscommunication on my part. It won't happen again."
Defensive end Ian Hoskins putting the loss in perspective: "We're going to take the good from it and build on it. We're going to take the bad and learn from it."
Cann replying to a question about the Herd's youth and inexperience: "You can say that, but we can't let that happen. Wisconsin's defense got after it, but we've got to be better than that. That can't let that be an excuse and it won't be for the rest of the season."
Wisconson coach Bret Bielema on scoring 51 unanswered points: "To walk off that field scoring 51 straight points without giving up any, makes you want to pack up our bags and head to Fresno and keep playing."
The Badgers play Fresno State next Saturday.
