HOUSTON -- John Shannon changed locations.

It didn't help any.

For the first time in 11 games, Marshall's beleaguered offensive coordinator moved from the sidelines to the more customary confines of the press box.

But Shannon's shift in vantage points didn't provide an advantage for Marshall's sputtering, struggling offense.

Instead, it was more of the same here Saturday during Marshall's 35-10 loss to Rice in front of 15,131 fans at Rice Stadium.

The same lack of scoring.

The same lack of total offense.

The same lack of a passing attack.

Just the same old, same old.

And that's what it is getting.

Old.

Could anyone imagine the once proud, once prolific Marshall passing attack free-falling to the level of not even producing 100 yards?

The Herd used to do that in one quarter. Now, Shannon's offense can't do it in an entire game.

For the second consecutive game, Marshall's passing game didn't muster 100 yards.

Quarterback Mark Cann completed 13 of 24 passes for 83 yards with one touchdown and one interception. That comes on the heels of Cann and Brian Anderson's combined effort of 7 of 29 for 84 yards with one TD and two interceptions against UCF.

So, in Marshall's last two games, the passing attack -- and I use that word figuratively -- has managed to complete only 20 of 53 throws (37.7 percent) for 167 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions.

That's un-Herd of.

What's worse, Rice out-Marshalled the Herd here Saturday.

The Owls' first three possessions of the second half were strikingly reminiscent of the glory days of Marshall's passing offense.

Rice's passing attack dissected Marshall's secondary with Chad Pennington- and Byron Leftwich-like efficiency on three consecutive touchdown drives.

The first was 77 yards in nine plays in a quick 2:37 span. Next, the Owls went 73 yards in 13 plays in 4:29. And, finally, Rice posted a flashy 5-play, 70-yard drive in a rapid 1:18.

Sound familiar?

Once upon a time. But not anymore.

In fact, during the second half against Rice, Marshall struggled to produce any offense -- passing, rushing or scoring.

Check the statistics.

In the second half, Rice had 231 yards passing to Marshall's 25 and 78 yards rushing to MU's 60.

Rice rolled up a whopping 309 yards total offense in the second half. Marshall? A meager 85 yards.

So, Marshall had more total offense on its 18-play, 99-yard touchdown drive in the first half than it did during the entire second half.

As a direct result, Rice out-scored Marshall, 28-3, after intermission.

The Herd simply didn't show up for the second half here Saturday.

The concern is that Marshall will do another vanishing act when the Herd hosts Tulsa at 3:30 p.m. next Saturday in the season finale.

Goodness knows, that has been Marshall's history.

In 2005, after a loss to East Carolina clinched a losing season, Marshall didn't show up at Memphis for the season-ending game, losing 26-3.

In 2006, despite having a 5-6 record and a chance at postseason, Marshall didn't show up at Southern Miss, losing 42-7.

And last season, Marshall barely showed up during the final game against UAB, escaping with a 46-39 win that went right to the wire.

So, it's a legitimate concern.

If that happens, it won't matter whether Shannon is on the sidelines or in the press box.

Besides, his new forwarding address isn't improving Marshall's forward pass anyway.

Chuck Landon is a sports columnist for The Herald-Dispatch. Call him at 526-2827. E-mail him at clandon@herald-dispatch.com.

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