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SPORTS
MU Notebook: Planning helps Snyder keep team on schedule
Coaches are all about routine.
College football coaches specifically regiment each moment, making certain that competitors aren't a step in front. Minimal downtime is found while coaches exhaust 14-plus hours from workdays, which is every day beginning in August.
So how did Wednesday's circumstance impact the Type A personality within Marshall University head coach Mark Snyder? Torrential downpours over Joan C. Edwards Stadium beginning at 4:30 p.m. ended practice -- 12 periods short of the scheduled 28.
Already tested to cram 24 preseason practices into 18 consecutive days and sans an indoor practice facility, makeup time is scarce at best. Snyder's Type A traits were well-served, however, with a backup plan designed prior to camp's Tuesday debut.
"We're not going to lose it," Snyder said. "We've adjusted. I've built in an hour of team meeting at night, senior talk and so forth -- team building -- that we can make up tomorrow. We'll use that and come back out here.
"It messes up your routine but we're not going to lose much as far as practice goes. We just lose my team meeting."
Lost from Wednesday's workout were 11-on-11 drills, which normally cap practices.
"That's the one part we'll miss and I'll have to try to find a way to make it up, steal something from someplace else in the next couple of practices," Snyder said.
Practice resumes at 3 p.m. today (closed to the public). Marshall's first full pads practice begins at 3 p.m. Saturday and is open to the public.
GRAHAM WORKING OVERTIME: Like coaches, Maurice Graham understands the self-discipline needed to complete heavy workdays. The junior college transfer tight end earned academic eligibility, devoting his summer to class work.
Graham now is splitting football and academics, taking every other day off from the field for studies. The 6-foot-5, 306-pound junior caught several passes during Tuesday's practice.
"It's going to be every other day for him but he's done a fantastic job," Snyder said. "We knew when we recruited him the gamble was getting the (academic course) hours.
"He did it. He did it. I had my doubts at times. I'm very proud of him."
Once academics are further secured, Graham's acclimation to NCAA Division I-A football likely will play out at an accelerated pace. He was the nation's No. 1 junior college tight end prospect last year, and boasts soft hands and athleticism, particularly for a 300-pound pass-catcher.
"He just needs to get in shape," Snyder said. "That's the big thing with him. I think it's going to be a game or two with him getting into the fold. He's missing some meetings and he missed a lot of the summer because he had a lot of academic work to do.
"But I think it's going to pay off for us. A player's a player. We just have to teach him what to do and he's got to get in shape, ball shape."
SPECIAL TEAMS VACANCIES FEW: Beyond the placekicker and punter spots, experience abounds throughout Thundering Herd special teams units.
True freshmen and other newcomers normally earn early playing time in the game's third phase, but supplanting incumbents requires a special preseason performance.
"We've got a lot of guys back on special teams," Snyder said. "We didn't lose anybody so our teams played all last year for the most part. We're looking for depth out of these young guys and some of the guys we redshirted.
". ... There really aren't (many available positions). We're (going) through real heavy special teams days for us these first four days, and as you look down the roster we've got people -- shoot they've done that all last year and some for two years now."
As for the new kickers, placekicker Craig Ratanamorn continues to impress with his strong leg and punter Kase Whitehead likewise has shown off considerable range.
"I like what I've seen out of Ratanamorn, and you won't know about the punter," Snyder said. "He's punting it well, but how is he going to act when the rush is coming at him? We'll find that out in the special teams scrimmage."
NOTES: Senior tailback Chubb Small won the overall team award for offseason workouts. Small established five new weight room personal bests during the summer. Offensive lineman Chad Schofield won the offensive award and defensive back Omar Brown earned the defensive award. Strength and conditioning coach Mike Cochran oversaw summer workouts. ... Backup center John Bruhin wore a protective boot on Wednesday, but the injury is short term. Snyder expects the redshirt freshman to return for Friday's practice. Schofield shifted to Bruhin's spot and Brandon Campbell was inserted at Schofield's backup left guard slot.
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.
