The Marshall University Thundering Herd traveled to Columbus this past week for a primetime ESPN college football contest. The game was the first game in green and white for the new Herd head man, Doc Holiday. Coach Holiday would have rather brought in his new era as Herd mentor against a more managable opponent.
The Thundering Herd took on Big 10 powerhouse, the Ohio State Buckeyes. Ohio State came into the contest ranked as high as #2 in some college pre-season football polls. Marshall, with a new head coach and many new players on both sides of the football, entered the contest just looking for some respect.
Trailing, 14-0, Marshall's special teams provided the Herd with their only bright spot, a blocked fieldgoal returned for a touchdown. OSU went on to blow out the Herd, 45-7, in an impressive show of offensive and defensive power. One Herd fan commented this is what happens when you hire a Mountaineer to coach the Herd.
MU will now turn their attention to intra-state rival, the West Virginia University Mountaineers. WVU kicked off their season with a home contest vs. Coastal Carolina. The S. Carolina squad will probably provide little competition for the Mountaineers.
The annual Friend's of Coal Bowl will take place in Huntington this season. Marshall will have to improve greatly from their contest with the nation's number two team, if they are to have any shot at knocking off WVU.