Doc admits disappointment

HUNTINGTON -- It's not easy to shake off a 54-17 loss for the Marshall Thundering Herd to UCF in perhaps the most pivotal football game of the season, and on its home field, no less.

But, if Marshall wants to retain any hope of going to a bowl, they have to stop a three-game home losing skid by beating Memphis (1-7, 1-3 Conference USA) when the Herd (3-5, 2-2 C-USA) and Tigers meet at 2 p.m., Saturday, in Joan C. Edwards Stadium.

Still, the sting of disappointment lingers for coming out flat in every phase of the game against UCF, when MU had a chance to take control of C-USA's East Division.

Seven dropped passes, poor tackling and allowing two kickoff returns for touchdowns all helped doom the Herd, which now sits in third place in the East.

"For us to get where we've got to go, we've got to win games like that," Marshall head coach Doc Holliday said at a Tuesday press conference. "That's what Marshall University has to do to get this program to where the fan-base wants it, where I want it and where everyone wants it.

"We all want championships, that's what it's all about. To do that, you have to win those games," he said. "Are we disappointed? Yeah. I'm disappointed as a coach, the kids are disappointed and I'd be disappointed if our fans weren't disappointed. I don't want to be anywhere where the fans don't care."

Holliday said the plan now has to be preparing for Memphis and taking each game one at a time.

The coach said the team still has the opportunity to win six conference games and go to a bowl, and the players have to be mindful that there is still a lot of football left to be played.

Marshall will have to do that without starting linebacker and fourth-leading tackler Devin Arrington, who suffered a leg injury against UCF. Holliday said Arrington is at least two to three weeks away from returning to the field. Deon Meadows is expected to step in for Arrington.

Other players banged up in Saturday's contest -- leading tackler Dominick LeGrande and defensive back Derrick Thomas -- are expected to play in the Memphis game.