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MARSHALL SPORTS
MU Notebook: Marshall opponent struggling despite talent
Dual tunnel vision, oxymoron that it is, would serve Marshall University football well this week.
UAB undoubtedly is struggling at 1-6 overall and 0-3 within Conference USA play. The Blazers have lost three straight, including last week's 45-20 setback to Houston.
Still, this talented but uneven team boasts a pair of versatile threats. Joe Webb is nearing C-USA's single-season quarterback rushing record and has thrown for more than 1,500 yards; wide receiver Frantrell Forrest leads the Blazers in four major categories, including all-purpose yards a game (168.2).
Marshall (3-3, 2-0) will be challenged defensively and in special teams by Forrest and/or Webb Saturday. Kickoff at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., is 4 p.m. (EST).
Despite starting just games last season, Forrest led UAB in receptions (49), receiving yards (563) and touchdown catches (five). In five games in 2008, the 6-foot-2, 195-pound sophomore again tops Blazers receivers with 33 receptions, along with 419 yards and two TDs.
Forrest averages 23.4 yards on kickoff returns and has scored on a 90-yarder.
Webb, a 6-4, 220-pound junior, has thrown for 1,509 yards, rushed for 588 and combined for 14 touchdowns. His rushing yardage total ranks third among C-USA single-season quarterback totals, trailing SMU's Justin Willis (699) and Cincinnati's Chad Plummer (606).
He completed 24 of his 40 passes for 234 yards and a touchdown and added a team-best 72 yards on 25 carries and one TD against Houston.
GETTING CLOSE: Tulsa (6-0, 3-0 in the C-USA West) is No. 26 in The Associated Press, USA Today and Harris Interactive polls this week. The Golden Hurricane beat SMU, 37-31, Saturday to go 6-0 for the first time since 1942. Tulsa, who entered the game No. 1 in the nation in scoring and total offense, rolled up 602 yards. This was the first time the Golden Hurricane failed to score 40 points. Tulsa is the only league team with a winning record.
UTEP ON MOVE: For the first time in school history, UTEP has overcome a 3-0 start to even its record at 3-3. The Miners share the West lead with Tulsa. They visit Tulsa on Saturday night.
SURE THING: East Carolina's Ben Hartman was 2-for-2 in PATs in Saturday's 35-20 loss at Virginia, extending his school-record string to 67.
TOUGH STRETCH: No. 15 Boise State's 24-7 win at Southern Miss on Saturday makes the Golden Eagles 13-56-1 all-time against ranked opponents, including 1-8 at home. Southern Miss is 18-4 all-time at home in non-conference games since joining C-USA. However, the Golden Eagles have lost their last three homes games. The last time that happened was 1977. At 2-4 under new coach Larry Fedora, they are in danger of snapping a streak of 14 straight winning seasons. Their next two games are at Rice and Memphis. They also travel to UAB and East Carolina and have home dates against UCF and SMU.
BRIGHT SPOT: Andre Anderson was a bright spot for Tulane in its 24-21 loss to UTEP as he rushed for a career-best 255 yards. It's the fourth most in a single game by a Green Wave runner. Anderson becomes one of just four players to rush for over 200 yards twice in his Tulane career, joining Matt Forte (six times), Mewelde Moore (twice) and Eddie Price (twice), each of whom went on to play in the NFL.
QB CLUB: Marshall football head coach Mark Snyder and equipment manager Rich Worner are among guest speakers at Tuesday's Huntington Quarterback Club luncheon at the Pullman Plaza Hotel. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. and the event begins at noon.
Anthony Hanshew covers Marshall football for The Herald-Dispatch. He can be reached at 526-2766. His e-mail address is hanshew@herald-dispatch.com.
