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MARSHALL SPORTS
MU's losses hurt pride only
UABÕs quarterback Joe Webb (5) is sacked by Houston defender Phillip Hunt, lower left, during the second quarter of their game at Robertson Stadium in Houston on Oct. 9. Webb already has rushed for 588 yards this season, and is certain to be a focus of the Marshall defense come 4 p.m. Saturday.
Purchase this photoHUNTINGTON — Back to business.
Specifically, beginning with Marshall University football’s weekly Sunday night practice, preparations toward UAB kicked off. A sneaky scenario awaits the Thundering Herd (3-3, 2-0 Conference USA), who welcomes the season’s second half. The Blazers (1-6, 0-3) have lost three straight, but talent and intangibles should provide plenty of cause.
Marshall isn’t exactly rolling itself, having lost consecutive non-conference matchups. The Thundering Herd’s 34-27 upset win at Southern Miss provided a breakthrough for a program mightily struggling away from Edwards Stadium, but the program hardly can declare road woes cured.
Stir in a Blazers team dotted with talent but lacking consistency, and this weekend sets up as intriguing and pivotal toward Conference USA title and postseason contention. Marshall and UAB kick off at 4 p.m. Saturday at historic Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.
Youthful UAB, victims of consecutive setbacks to South Carolina (26-13), Memphis (33-30) and Houston (45-20), has been outscored by a 34.7-23.9 margin. Opponents have assumed second half control, combining for a 130-58 margin after halftime.
Marshall primarily worked on Marshall last week, coming off disappointing performances against West Virginia and Cincinnati. The Herd’s bottom line — repeatedly repeated throughout the week by players and coaches — remains C-USA East Division first place standing.
Head coach Mark Snyder’s squad is the division’s lone team without a league loss. Trailing Marshall are East Carolina (3-3, 1-1), UCF (2-4, 1-1), Memphis (3-4, 1-2), Southern Miss (2-3, 0-2) and UAB.
The Blazers’ lone win is a 45-10 rout of Alabama State on Sept. 20. Since then, Joe Webb essentially has served as the program’s lone consistent positive, a two-way threat nearing a C-USA record.
UAB’s 6-foot-4, 220-pound junior quarterback has thrown for 1,509 yards and eight touchdowns with nine interceptions on 57.5-percent passing. Following, however, is the true rub for a Marshall defense; Webb has rushed for 588 yards, a total ranking third-best among single-season C-USA quarterback performances.
Marshall’s defense, a stalwart for much of the season, occasionally has been caught in over-pursuit. The Herd likely will be favored by a comfortable margin this week, but points spreads aside, it’s back to business.
