Imagine Marshall's spring football practice ending today, after playing the Green-White game last Saturday.

Piques your curiosity, doesn't it?

What if MU head coach Mark Snyder had decided to save two of the three NCAA-mandated, shorts-and-helmets practices and utilized them after the spring game?

I pose that question because one Conference USA football coach did exactly that.

And wouldn't you know it? It was the guy who is the best coach in the league, in my book. It was the coach who always seems to find an edge.

It was Central Florida's George O'Leary.

UCF beat the Knights, 16-7, in a defense-dominated spring game in Bright House Networks Stadium in Orlando, Fla., on April 12. Then, on the following Monday and Tuesday, UCF concluded spring drills with helmets-and-shorts practices in its indoor facility -- Nicholson Field House.

"Wow," said Snyder when informed of UCF's creative spring practice schedule. "That's interesting. You know I think I've heard of that before, but it's been a while.

"It's not done very much. I've never done it."

Leave it to the wily O'Leary to resurrect a forgotten ploy.

"See, you're mandated to go out in shorts and helmets three days in spring," explained Snyder. "So, we took our first two days -- especially since we had the new staff -- and worked on getting the timing up and all that stuff.

"And, then, we had one shorts day before the jersey scrimmage in Charleston.

"So, what he has done is saved two of his three shorts days."

Which means O'Leary rolled the dice. After only one practice in shorts and helmets, the Golden Knights went out in full pads and started banging.

"Uh, huh," said Snyder. "You've got to think about the injury part of it. You know you're going to get three or four practices the first week without getting anybody hurt probably.

"I'm sure that's why the NCAA does it (three shorts and helmets days) -- safety. You go banging the first day and you lose somebody, you get no practices out of them.

"Except maybe the last two, I guess."

O'Leary managed to dodge the injury bullet as 82 Golden Knights played in UCF's spring game.

So, is his post-game spring practices concept worth emulating?

"If you've got a veteran football team with a coaching staff that has been together for a while," said Snyder, "that would make sense."

Yet, even a year from now after the youngish Herd has gotten a season of experience, Snyder still can't imagine adopting the unusual spring practice schedule.

"My opinion?" he said. "I kind of like coming out and getting the underwear days out of the way. I like knocking that out.

"I don't necessarily agree with the rule. We only get 15 practices now and you're going to put three of them in shorts and helmets.

"I think most of us coaches across the country say, 'Let's get this out of the way and get our timing down.' So, when we come out here first day of pads, it's crisp.

"It's not ugly. ... from a functional stand-point."

Just about every coach in the country agrees with Snyder. Except one. O'Leary.

So, what does he know that everybody else doesn't?

Maybe nothing. But, do you remember who won the C-USA championship last season?

O'Leary.

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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