What wasn't said spoke volumes of Marshall University's kickoff to preseason football camp.
Media members tend to lean toward the cynical, normally ready to jump on the negative. Coaches are known to poormouth players on occasion, keeping egos in check and playing misdirection with opponents reading on the Internet.
Not once Tuesday, however, was the familiar phrase "Well, it looked like a first practice" uttered from head coach Mark Snyder following his team's first practice. The extended afternoon session developed more into the feel of a third or fourth workout, with players and coaches set in their practice routines.
"It was good," Snyder said. "It looked like we were a little more athletic, a little bit further along than I thought maybe we'd be -- a good first day."
Spurring early optimism is the simple matter of depth. For the first time under Snyder, entering his fourth season, the Thundering Herd boasts legitimate numbers along both the offensive and defensive fronts; five receivers with at least 21 catches last season return, and veteran defensive backs C.J. Spillman, John Saunders and Ashton Hall combined for 265 tackles in 2007.
"It's great," Snyder said of the depth development. "It's great. It's a great feeling."
IT'S A DIFFERENT WORLD: Marshall's 2008 recruiting class joined their new teammates at Joan C. Edwards Stadium Tuesday, beginning a challenging process of learning a new town, fending off homesickness and learning the full-time work that is NCAA Division I-A football.
Impressions must quickly be established to earn second team snaps or more for most newcomers, but Snyder and his coaching staff are conscious of involving true freshmen early.
"You just have to work them in," Snyder said. "We've got a lot of practices coming so you work them in as we go.
"They've got to show us. They can't make many mistakes and that's typically the way it is at most schools. If you're a freshman coming in, your margin of error (is) very small because you have depth.
"The guys who can pick it up and make it work are the guys who get reps and they're the guys you see on Saturday."
At the same time, Snyder also appreciates adjustments made in August beyond the game.
"It's hard anytime there's change," Snyder said. "They're away from mom and dad and girlfriend for the first time, sleeping in a new bed. It's a little rough.
"(Recent NCAA rules) took away our three days where we could love them up a little bit (freshmen previously reported to preseason camp three days prior to returning players). But conversely we get them for the summer, which is a good thing.
"We get them a whole month to get their feet wet. It's a little rough. It's like going to an NFL camp. It's just like the rookies at an NFL camp. It's a little rough on them."
TAKING NOTICE: Mark Cann obviously was paying attention last season while watching from the sideline.
The redshirt freshman and presumptive lead candidate to win the starting quarterback job connected deep with tight end Cody Slate and Darius Passmore on Tuesday. Slate and Passmore were the Herd's top receivers last season, combining for 111 catches, 1,478 yards and 10 touchdowns.
"I'm happy he knows who his playmakers are," Snyder said. "When we get the one-on-one matchups we have to win those matchups."
PRACTICE SCHEDULE: Practice resumes today with a closed afternoon session. Marshall's first practice in full pads begins at 3 p.m. Saturday, coinciding with the first open workout to the public.
Three practices separate the Herd from donning full pads, but players already are anticipating that first day of full contact.
"I think they are," Snyder said. "I think they're just excited to be out here. I think they feel like we've got something rolling here a little bit."
Anthony Hanshew is the Marshall football beat reporter for The Herald-Dispatch. Call him at 526-2766 or e-mail him at hanshew@herald-dispatch.com.
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