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SPORTS
Snyder: Herd can't take opener lightly
Marshall football coach Mark Snyder speaks during a weekly press conference on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008, in the Big Green Room at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
Purchase this photoHUNTINGTON -- It appears Mark Snyder and the media are operating on their collective "A" games entering the 2008 Marshall University football season.
Snyder's opening game week press conference Tuesday flowed over with news and opinion during a lengthy back-and-forth session. Among the highlights from Snyder, Marshall's fourth-season head coach, included a release of the depth chart, officially dubbing redshirt freshman Mark Cann as starting quarterback.
Marshall's entire senior class has been selected as team captains, a salute to a group that provided leadership throughout the offseason. Several true freshmen are set to shed redshirts, but overall depth was the story of the depth chart.
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Snyder's Thundering Herd unveils Saturday against Illinois State. Kickoff at Joan C. Edwards Stadium is 4:30 p.m. and the game will be televised by WOWK (Huntington-Charleston), WVNS (Beckley-Bluefield) and WBOY (Clarksburg). CSTV also will stream the game live to All Access subscribers.
Following are top topics discussed during Snyder's lively session.
- Overall thoughts on Illinois State, an NCAA Division I-AA member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference: "They're very solid in all aspects of what they do," Snyder said. "They kind of look like a Big Ten football team. I think that whole conference is going that way a little bit.
"They're very sound on defense, very aggressive on special teams. We'll have to come to play. They have a very good football team.
"A lot of unknowns. Not a young quarterback, but an inexperienced quarterback (three-year backup Kevin Brockway) we don't have a lot of film on. A couple of running backs who transferred in and have some talent.
"I know (tailback) Geno Blow has a lot of talent. He's a very good player, but they've complemented him with some transfers.
"And on the other side of the ball they have a new defensive coordinator (David Ross), so I'm sure they'll have a couple of wrinkles up their sleeve that we haven't seen."
- On the recent trend of I-AA programs upsetting Division I-A opponents, including New Hampshire's win last year at Edwards Stadium: "You can't take anybody lightly," Snyder said. "You have to put your best players out there and there are some good coaches in the I-AA ranks.
"We saw Appy jump up (Appalachian State knocked off Michigan last year). The parity in college football, you've got to come to play every Saturday. And the key for us is we can't turn the ball over and have takeaways and play solid special teams."
- On Cann formally taking over a new-look offense: "As I look at our offense as a whole from, let's go all the way back to spring practice number one, coming into two-a-days the most development I've seen has been with our offense," Snyder said. "Our offensive line and our quarterback -- I've been very pleased with our quarterbacks.
"Mark's got some moxie. (Second team quarterback) Brian Anderson needs to understand he's one snap away from going in the game. And (third team signal-caller) Jonathan Garner needs to understand he's two snaps away from going in the game.
"But I think the improvement in that group has been a pleasant surprise. And it should be that way. We're young over there at positions and they'll continue to get better, so I'm pleased there."
- Analysis of a defensive front makeover, featuring 300-pound newcomer Delvin Johnson at tackle and Ian Hoskins, who will play both end and tackle: "Delvin obviously has the girth and has done a good job and Ian will still play some three technique (interior end position) and he can play tackle, but to start the game depending on what they come out in we're more comfortable with him at end,"
"And (nose guard) James Burkes, James plays the run very well. Lord forbid you ever try to throw a screen on him, because he will stop your screens. For this week, there's the lineup we went with because of the type of offense that we're going to face.
"And that will change. Once we get into league play that will change dramatically."
- Thanking the seniors by naming the entire class as team captains: "Those guys have done a great job of leading, and they've bought in," Snyder said. "We've had the conversations, you know they come in under the pretense of another coach and they got me. And they've done a great job of leading this summer, this preseason camp.
"And I know for a fact when you have a very veteran football team and you divide and pick three or four, five guys, guys kind of go to the back of the group a little bit.
"And I don't want that to happen. We want those guys to keep pushing and coaching and being the leaders in the locker room and off the field, handling curfew and getting guys to class and helping this coaching staff.
"You'll see all the seniors go out for pregame coin toss."
Other notables included slotting true freshman Ahmed Shakoor as a second team cornerback. Fellow true freshman Tyson Gale, a reserve long-snapper, also will travel with the team. Overall, Snyder listed Shakoor, Gale, running backs Martin Ward and Jordan Taylor, defensive end John Youboty and George Carpenter as true freshmen who "will all be in our plans," Snyder said, adding, "we'll see how injuries go and those kinds of things, but they understand they'll probably not be redshirting."
