HUNTINGTON, W.Va—This week is the first of two consecutive home games for Marshall against opponents that have a combined record of 2-12. Southern Miss enters Saturday’s game on a 19-game losing streaking, dating back to last season’s disastrous 0-12 campaign.
For Thundering Herd players, they are just happy to be back at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. Marshall has played just one home game over the last 55 days.
“We haven’t been here in a month,” pointed out Garrett Scott. “Everybody is happy to be back at the Joan and more important just want to get this win.”
Getting off to a quick start would go a long way in helping propel Marshall to a victory. Last week against Middle Tennessee, The Herd received the opening kickoff and promptly went three-and-out, squandering an opportunity to set the tone early on. Coach Doc Holliday wants the offense to come out clicking and moving fast.
“We got to come out of the blocks executing a little better than what we did,” notes Holliday. “We went into that game (vs. MTSU) thinking tempo the entire game because I think we play better when we go fast. The second half we were able to go more tempo because we got some first downs. You can’t be a tempo offense when you’re going three-and-out.”
Getting the offense cranked up early may also squash any hopes Southern Miss has of pulling off an upset on the road and ruining Marshall’s season. Tailback Essray Taliaferro understands that allowing a team that is starving for a win to hang around in a game will give them extra confidence.
“When you let a team like that stay in the game their morale gets higher and higher. We need to punch them in the mouth early,” insists Taliaferro.
Holliday is hoping one of his offensive weapons will be closer to full strength this week. Kevin Grooms has been hampered by an ankle injury all season. Holliday is hopeful this is the week Grooms looks like the C-USA Freshman of the Year.
“It’s about time he starts looking like Grooms and now’s a great time for that to happen,” says Holliday. “He’s still not to where he was a year ago but he’s getting closer.”