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MARSHALL SPORTS
QB's spirit earns respect of teammates
Marshall quarterback Brian Anderson fumbles the ball as he is sacked by Southern Miss defender Cordarro Law during the C-USA football game on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009, at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
Purchase this photoHUNTINGTON -- A career high passing total was established, but still, quarterback Brian Anderson and Marshall University football suffered another frustrating loss.
Throughout Saturday afternoon's 27-20 home setback to Southern Miss, however, Anderson more than earned teammates' respect. The junior signal-caller was sacked six times, hurried seven times more. One of the hits knocked the wind out of Anderson. One other time he had to drag himself up from the Joan C. Edwards Stadium turf.
Anderson threw for 337 yards and a touchdown on 29-of-52 passing, but Southern Miss produced enough plays late to exit Huntington with a win.
Physically and otherwise, Anderson and the Thundering Herd (5-5, 3-3 Conference USA) now must recover in preparations for Saturday's home meeting with C-USA West Division leader SMU (6-4, 5-1), coming off a 35-31 win over UTEP.
Following the Southern Miss loss, Anderson spoke with reporters, his non-throwing arm wrapped in ice. More ice and training room hours certainly are coming this week, but Anderson isn't complaining.
"They wanted me to get in the cold tub because I needed about five more bags, but I really didn't feel like walking around with that much ice," Anderson said. "I'll just come in (Sunday) and get ready to get better for next week."
Such an attitude, backed by his refusal to leave the game after repeated knockdowns, wasn't lost on teammates.
"In order to be a successful football team you have to have a relentless quarterback, and that's what Brian Anderson has been all year," Thundering Herd tight end Lee Smith said. "He got banged up against UAB, and what people don't notice is, he practices every day. He doesn't take practice off.
"He wants all of his teammates to know that he's there for us. He's just a warrior, and I can't even begin to explain how much I enjoy playing with a guy like Brian Anderson."
Two Anderson interceptions in the final 2:06 helped secure Southern Miss' victory. He was pressured throughout, however, and was without his two top weapons -- tight end Cody Slate and tailback Darius Marshall -- because of injuries.
Anderson connected with redshirt freshman wide receiver Antavious Wilson 13 times for 153 yards and on six passes to Smith for 77 yards.
"Just like all the young guys, they're getting better each and every week," Anderson said. "We're getting more familiar with each other and what each person is good at. The more you work with someone, the more you're going to get a connection.
"(Wilson) is doing a great job of reading what I'm doing.
"It was an unfortunate situation where Cody, one of our leading receivers, went down and Lee Smith did a great job of stepping up. He did it last year against Wisconsin, had a great game and whenever Cody's out he's more than willing to step in and make plays.
"If you would have told me we were going to lose both of them at the beginning of the game, I wouldn't have been too happy. Our guys did a great job of stepping in."
