HUNTINGTON -- Leadership, in lieu of championships, serves as Marshall University football's senior class legacy.

Locker room policing and tutoring underclassmen lacked in recent seasons, but the trend turned in 2008. Today's Senior Day kickoff won't include the payoff of postseason possibilities -- a likely scenario following a 3-1 start -- but leadership has shifted within the program.

Thundering Herd seniors wrap their college careers this afternoon at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. Marshall (4-7, 3-4 Conference USA) and Tulsa (9-2, 6-1) kick off at 3:30 p.m. The season finale will not be televised.

Earlier this week, Herd head coach Mark Snyder praised his undersized senior class of 14 student-athletes. Most were recruited by former head coach Bobby Pruett, transitioning to Snyder's 2005 hiring.

"It will be an emotional week for our seniors," Snyder said. "I've been very proud of those guys.

"The young men came in under a new coach, under different circumstances. I think they've done a tremendous job of buying in and showing our young players what it takes on and off the field."

Snyder admitted the preceding wasn't unanimously the case early in his tenure. These seniors have maintained teammates on point, despite a disappointing record. In a rapid-fire back and forth with the media, Snyder opined on each.

WR Darius Passmore: "Came in and played hurt last year. Has had a pretty good year for us, will have a good career, probably in the NFL."

WR E.J. Wynn: "E.J. Wynn has been a good, solid player for us, done whatever we asked him to do, has been a really good special teams guy."

FS C.J. Spillman: "C.J., the Officer, will also probably have the opportunity to move on (to the NFL). He has done a good job leading our defense and have seen tremendous growths from him since he's been here."

DE Ian Hoskins: "Same thing, a great leader. He's going to be a great citizen for our country. Ian is going to be very successful."

WR Emmanuel Spann: "Same thing, he's going to give a lot back to our society. Just a great young man."

SS Aaron Johnson: "Aaron came in as a junior college guy and this is his family. This is his home. He's all the way from San Francisco and I think he feels like this is home. He's done an excellent job."

RB Chubb Small: "A guy that made a way out of no way. A very rough background that he came from and has given us everything. A great kid."

LB Phillip Gamble: "Same thing. Phillip came in as a non-qualifier. There were 17 or 18 of them and he's the only one that made it."

FB Cody Tominack: "Cody transferred down, has done whatever we asked him to do on the scout team."

LB Maurice Kitchens: "Maurice Kitchens has had a career-best senior year -- the biggest surprise probably since I've been here, from an athletic standpoint and I think he's grown up and matured and done a great job of leading."

DL Joe Bragg: "Joe Bragg has done everything we've asked him to do. The Fireman just gives us whatever he's got. Does whatever it is that the team needs him to do."

OL Matt Altobello: "Matt Altobello, another guy that has overachieved, had a career best senior year, has done a great job leading and will make something out of himself."

OL Brian Leggett: "Gives you everything he's got, undersized, been thrown into the fire, but has done a good job for us leading that offensive line."

TE Matt Parkhurst: "Has been a special teams guy who has done everything that we've asked him to do."

Collectively, this group has delivered a template for next season's senior class and underclassmen, the fourth-year coach said.

"I think they've coached our young players," Snyder said. "That will become a cycle that will pay dividends down the road. I'm very proud of these guys and it will be an emotional week for them."

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