Brandon Burns is calling in a season's worth of favors.

UAB remains nearly two weeks away, but the Columbiana, Ala., native already is smothered in requests for tickets. Marshall University's breakout strong side linebacker returns home for the Oct. 18, Conference USA clash, and ducats are in demand.

Approximately 200 family and friends are scheduled to attend Burns' homecoming and Marshall's return to Conference USA play, and the junior playmaker openly is lobbying teammates for comp tickets.

"They've giving me a lot of them," Burns said. "I might not get the whole 200, but I'm getting a lot of them."

When reminded of the modest (at best) UAB crowds at cavernous, yet historic Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., Burns again referenced his strong personal support group. In 2006, an overestimated, announced Legion Field crowd of 12,344 witnessed Ahmad Bradshaw power Marshall to a 31-24 win at Legion Field.

For Marshall fans who travel, think Akron's Rubber Bowl in terms of atmosphere.

"It's probably going to be more than they have coming," Burns said. "We might have more people coming than they do.

"I've always wanted to play there. I've never played there so I'm looking forward to it. The state championship used to be played there but I never played in a state championship so this is my first time at Legion Field."

Mom, dad and a collection of Shelby County High School friends will attend Burns' Alabama return. It's been an eventful first half of Burn's initial Marshall season; the junior college transfer has ascended from safety to third string to strong side linebacker starter and ranks sixth on the team with 36 tackles.

The 6-foot-4, 205-pound junior also has intercepted a pass and been credited with half a sack. Those friends and family who will file into Legion Field have been tracking Burns' ahead-of-schedule progression.

"They're real excited, especially when they got to see me on ESPN (Friday's loss to Cincinnati)," Burns said. "I couldn't get off the phone after the game. Even though we lost, I still couldn't get off the phone.

"I really didn't want to talk, but I had to."

And just how many calls/texts did Burns receive?

"They were blowing me up, but sometimes I just had to turn it off," he said.

Instead, Burns is working overtime with defensive coordinator Rick Minter. A life-long safety, Burns admittedly had minimal clue of what he was doing entering his first start at linebacker at Wisconsin. It remains a process, but he's acclimating entering the season's second half. Marshall (3-3, 2-0 Conference USA) leads the East Division, and is the division's lone unbeaten team within league play.

"We have these two weeks to go back and work on our fundamentals from these past two games," Burns said of consecutive losses to West Virginia and Cincinnati. "We're going to be working hard for UAB.

"I'm getting comfortable with that role at linebacker. I'm getting used to it. I'd say after this week, I'm ready. I've got a lot of it, so I'm ready.

"I've been in the film room every day, especially with coach Minter. He said he saw me as a playmaker before spring play, (but) coming in I didn't think I was going to be that good. I'm lighter in weight.

"But coming in every day coach Minter helps me. He'll go over plays with me. On Thursdays and Fridays, he'll make time for me and help me with anything I need."

QB CLUB: Today's weekly Huntington Quarterback Club luncheon features Snyder and Marshall sports information director Randy Burnside as speakers. Pullman Plaza Hotel doors open at 11:30 a.m. and the event begins at noon.

TULSA ON ROLL: Tulsa's 63-28 win over Rice on Saturday marks the second straight game the Hurricane have surpassed 60. Tulsa's gone over 50 four straight games, something that hasn't happened since the 1919 season. The last time the Hurricane started 5-0 was 1945 on the way to an 8-3 season and trip to the Oil Bowl. Tulsa piled up 577 total yards against Rice, the sixth straight game the Hurricane have reached 500 and ninth in the last 10. Tulsa is No. 27 in this week's AP poll and Harris Interactive poll and No. 28 in the USA Today poll. Marshall fans can relax for a moment. Tulsa doesn't visit Huntington until Nov. 29, the final game of the regular season.

C-USA NOTES: Army had scored just 37 total points before rolling to a 44-13 win Saturday at Tulane. It was the first win for the Black Nights. ... UTEP beat Southern Miss, 40-37, in double overtime to make the Golden Eagles 0-2 in C-USA for the first time in the league's 13-year history. Southern Miss back Damion Fletcher had career day, carrying 34 times for 260 yards to become the No. 1 rusher in school history (3,654 yards). ... SMU, under new coach June Jones, is 1-5 overall and has lost four in a row. ... Rice receiver Jarrett Dillard caught a memorable 25-yard TD pass from Chase Clement in the second quarter in the loss to Tulsa. It was his 51st touchdown reception, breaking the NCAA record of 50 TD receptions he shared with Troy Edwards of Louisiana Tech. The Clement-Dillard combination raised their NCAA record for touchdown passes by a duo to 42. Marshall gets to see that duo on Nov. 15 in Houston. ... UTEP is 2-0 in C-USA for the third straight year, marking just the second time in school history that the Miners have done so. The Miners achieved the feat from 1948-50, when they were members of the Border Conference. UTEP is 3-0 all time on double-overtime games. ... UCF's 31-17 win over SMU at home makes the Golden Knights 8-0 in Bright House Networks Stadium against unranked teams and 6-0 against C-USA squads.

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.

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