HUNTINGTON, W.Va.— It’s the start of another workweek for most of us but for The Herd it’s already Wednesday. In fact yesterday was Tuesday and tomorrow will be Thursday.
Confused?
Don’t be. It’s just a sample of how teams have to adjust their schedule to play on a midweek game.
Marshall had little time to enjoy it’s 56-14 blowout win over UAB Saturday with it’s Thursday night matchup with Tulsa looming. Quarterback Rakeem Cato barely savored the victory and fact Marshall reached bowl eligibility, knowing there was another challenge just days away. Cato was ready to start preparing for the game as soon as he left the lockerroom Saturday evening.
“We’ll watch film for about 45 minutes on the UAB game then we’ll move on,” said center Chris Jasperse.
The good news for The Herd it wasn’t in a dogfight Saturday with the Blazers. The Herd kept the throttle wide open and put the game away early enough it was able to rest starters on both sides of the football. Most of The Herd’s starters only played about two-and-a-half quarters Saturday.
“That was part of the plan in that fourth quarter and late in the third quarter because we do have a quick turnaround with the Tulsa game on Thursday,” said Doc Holliday after the UAB game. “It was a good situation and we were able to get some guys some rest. Hopefully that will help us.”
The Herd has struggled on the road under Doc Holliday and is just 1-3 on the road with losses at Ohio, Virginia Tech and Middle Tennessee State. It must play two of its final three games away from the confines of Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
Marshall has never beaten the Golden Hurricane in Tulsa and must change that if it wants to continue controlling its own destiny in the race for the conference title game.
“You’re scoring in someone else’s house. We have two road games still and its go-time. We have to win these two,” knows Jasperse. “This is where we have to pick it up. Sure we’ve got a home game later one but its time to hit the road.”
Tulsa comes into the game with just two wins, over Colorado State and UTEP. Last week the Golden Hurricane was swept away by East Carolina 58-24. Tulsa was hanging with ECU, trailing 28-17 with 5:17 to play in the third quarter. Then the Pirates exploded, outscoring Tulsa 31-7 over the final 20 minutes of the game.