MURFREESBORO, TN — Marshall’s last trip to Murfreesboro was a watershed moment for the program under Doc Holliday. The Herd’s defense could not slow down the Blue Raiders on that Thursday night in October and Middle Tennessee came back to win the final play of the game, 51-49. Marshall’s record under Doc Holliday fell to 21-23 with the loss.
“At that point, the culture had not changed. That was a point where we had an opportunity in that game to win it at the end multiple times,” recalled coach Doc Holliday. “A couple times, we could’ve intercepted the ball. We didn’t find a way to get it done. We didn’t do it.”
Marshall won six of its final seven games of 2013, including a 31-20 victory over Maryland in the Military Bowl. Since Marshall last visited Murfreesboro, it has a 27-3 record. Looking back, you can mark Oct. 24, 2013 as the turning point in the program when the culture change that Doc Holliday had been preaching about actually happened.
“I think that was a turning point. It started a couple years ago and this is where we are right now. I don’t think you realize it totally until you’ve done it for a while, how you find a way to get another one, and another one. Then you look up and you’ve won (27 of your last 30) and you feel pretty good about where you are. I know it’s a great feeling to know that the kids are finding ways to win games and we’ve done it for the last three years.”
This trip to battle the Blue Raiders also has the potential to be a turning point in the Herd’s season and the development of young players such as Chase Litton. Marshall has won seven straight games but the nine teams the Herd has faced so far are a combined 26-48. The Herd opened up the offense last week against Charlotte and rolled up 630 yards of total offense but the same 49er defense gave up a whopping 70 points to Middle Tennessee earlier this year.
This will be the toughest defense Marshall has faced since Southern Miss.
Middle Tennessee ranks seventh nationally in defensive scores (3), 18th in interceptions and 27th in turnovers gained. Over the last 38 games, the Blue Raiders have come up with 48 interceptions. So far this season, Middle Tennessee has 11 picks to its credit.
Safety Kevin Byard has led the Blue Raiders in interceptions in each of the last three seasons. He’s trying to become the first player in school history to lead the team in picks four years in a row. Byard has two interceptions this season and 17 for his career.
“He’s a tremendous athlete. Those are the types guys that you want to success against because he’s an NFL guy,” complimented quarterback Chase Litton. “He’s going to play on Sundays and we just have to know that’s a great player but we can’t treat him differently. We just have to and run our scheme.”
Saturday has the potential to be another watershed moment for this Thundering Herd team. We may look back and consider a win over Middle Tennessee the moment when Marshall’s offense proved itself and the Herd launched itself toward the conference title.