After week 5, Marshall leads division one FBS in scoring defense.

Only giving up 21 total points after three games, leading the nation in points allowed per game.

https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/28

Can this continue, is this a trend or an anomaly?

I feel like even if we don't finish near the top, this defense is playing very aggressive, and as a complete unit. I think there's something to this.

Defense wins championships.

That and a championship-caliber QB. Need a smart, winning QB to at least manage things, if your offense isn't high-powered.

I think MU will maintain their hold on the defense scoring lead thru next weekend. But, back in the late 1970's Ball State was leading the nation in scoring defense, dueling with Penn State. BSU came to Ruston for a night game, and after what Penn State had allowed that day, they had to hold us to 13 pts or less to stay in first. Tech was leading 10-7 late in the game, and Ball State was playing conservatively, almost as if they were more concerned about being #1 in defense over trying to win the game. It backfired...Tech blocked a punt and scored a very late TD to win 17-7. So, be warned!

In the conference we have the #1 scoring offense and the #1 scoring defense. That’s a good combination.

(10-11-2020 02:25 PM)rileylives Wrote:  After week 5, Marshall leads division one FBS in scoring defense.

Only giving up 21 total points after three games, leading the nation in points allowed per game.

https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/28

Can this continue, is this a trend or an anomaly?

I feel like even if we don't finish near the top, this defense is playing very aggressive, and as a complete unit. I think there's something to this.

The Herd are off to a great start, but don’t get out in front of your skis. One game at a time.

Access Bowl is possible for the Herd...... need a couple dominos to fall the right way. Lafayette needs to lose(they will, they’ve barely escaped 2 weeks in a row, appy/costal will do it). Aac needs to beat each other up(they are). Boise needs to lose to someone (byu?) and we go undefeated and we are in.

Go Marshall!
CUSA needs games that matter.
Stay Covid free. Don’t want that messing up a good thing.

(10-12-2020 06:15 PM)notnow Wrote:  Go Marshall!
CUSA needs games that matter.
Stay Covid free. Don’t want that messing up a good thing.

Keep winning so our game in the championship is a top 25 vs top 25 matchup

One thing in watching football this year, it appear Marshall is also #1 in the nation for preparedness and following COVID protocols.

All Marshall players are wearing a clear plastic faceshield as part of their helmet. The coaching staff is wearing a N95 mask under a neck gaiter - and I have not seen a single coach or admin staff remove their face coverings at any point the entire season during games. In fact, the team, which normally takes 3 team buses to WKU, took 5 buses this year, strategically separating depth chart players to separate buses to avoid a positive case from destroying our depth and ability to field a team. On campus, we've been running a bit of an athletics bubble.

I have been very hard on Doc Holliday's performance the last 5 years. But it seems he's an unparalleled champ in terms of having managed a college football team through the pandemic. He's found the right mix so far of following protocols but still getting the team in game shape.

:::knocks wood:::

(10-12-2020 06:44 PM)CoachMaclid Wrote:  One thing in watching football this year, it appear Marshall is also #1 in the nation for preparedness and following COVID protocols.

All Marshall players are wearing a clear plastic faceshield as part of their helmet. The coaching staff is wearing a N95 mask under a neck gaiter - and I have not seen a single coach or admin staff remove their face coverings at any point the entire season during games. In fact, the team, which normally takes 3 team buses to WKU, took 5 buses this year, strategically separating depth chart players to separate buses to avoid a positive case from destroying our depth and ability to field a team. On campus, we've been running a bit of an athletics bubble.

I have been very hard on Doc Holliday's performance the last 5 years. But it seems he's an unparalleled champ in terms of having managed a college football team through the pandemic. He's found the right mix so far of following protocols but still getting the team in game shape.

As opposed to FAU which apparently has after practice French kiss parties in the locker room.

(10-12-2020 06:20 PM)IslandHerd1 Wrote:  

(10-12-2020 06:15 PM)notnow Wrote:  Go Marshall!
CUSA needs games that matter.
Stay Covid free. Don’t want that messing up a good thing.

Keep winning so our game in the championship is a top 25 vs top 25 matchup

Also will be a bonus if you guys can avoid making up that Rice game, one less wild card as it were...

(10-17-2020 08:20 AM)owl at the moon Wrote:  

(10-12-2020 06:20 PM)IslandHerd1 Wrote:  

(10-12-2020 06:15 PM)notnow Wrote:  Go Marshall!
CUSA needs games that matter.
Stay Covid free. Don’t want that messing up a good thing.

Keep winning so our game in the championship is a top 25 vs top 25 matchup

Also will be a bonus if you guys can avoid making up that Rice game, one less wild card as it were...

I mean that's one way to look at it. However we know how CUSA has been to us. Our luck we'd be in position to represent the EAST and CUSA would put someone else in because they played one more game than us.

We would be ranked 16th and Judy would put ODU in a championship game vs Rice....at Rice....

(10-11-2020 02:25 PM)rileylives Wrote:  Marshall is #1 in the nation

That's it. That's the post.

After week 6, we are now #3

https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/28

Where is all the Holliday criticism that used to be on here? Funny how winning will quiet the masses...

(10-18-2020 05:58 PM)nastybunch Wrote:  Where is all the Holliday criticism that used to be on here? Funny how winning will quiet the masses...

This is true. I wanted him fired last year, after 4 games I’m rooting for a 10 year extension

Good job. I hope you can run the table. It would be nice to see an undefeated CUSA team in the mix at the end of the year.

(10-18-2020 05:58 PM)nastybunch Wrote:  Where is all the Holliday criticism that used to be on here? Funny how winning will quiet the masses...

I’m not sure that Doc hasn’t let go of the reins this year. We take the ball if we win the flip, that’s new. We go for it on 4th down with a lead, that’s new. We go for it on 4th down within FG range, that’s new.

Seems to me that he has finally handed over the offense to his OC.

(10-18-2020 07:07 PM)banker Wrote:  

(10-18-2020 05:58 PM)nastybunch Wrote:  Where is all the Holliday criticism that used to be on here? Funny how winning will quiet the masses...

I’m not sure that Doc hasn’t let go of the reins this year. We take the ball if we win the flip, that’s new. We go for it on 4th down with a lead, that’s new. We go for it on 4th down within FG range, that’s new.

Seems to me that he has finally handed over the offense to his OC.

We beat a top 25 team and are 4-0. That’s new (since 2014).