HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Today’s game brings with it the realization for 18 seniors that it could be the last time they put on a Thundering Herd uniform and take the field at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
“It’s kind of been a long career but now that I’m playing more its like ‘what the heck happened o the season?’” commented Deandre Reaves. “We’re already down to the last couple of games. It’s flying by. I wish it would slow down a little bit.”
This senior class has played a major role in Marshall’s return to championship form. Since 2013, Marshall has a record of 31-7 has played in two Conference USA Championship games and won a pair of bowl games. Some of the seniors such Davonte Allen and Remi Watson have been with the program since 2011 and have three bowl victories to their credit.
“Those are 18 guys who have changed the culture of this program. They’ve won a bunch of games around here and we’re going to miss them. It’s their last time at this stadium so it’s important that we send those guys off the right way,” emphasized Doc Holliday.
This senior class is what Doc Holliday had in mind when initially arrived at Marshall and the first thing he set out to do was to find players who loved football.
“When you get to this point in your program, that’s what it should be. When you get to this point, not only are they seniors, but they’re really good players and you have a chance to have a pretty good football team,” said Holliday.
Now, the pressure is on the underclassmen to make certain Marshall’s senior class leaves the Joan with a win on Saturday.
“These 18 seniors deserve to go out the right way. It’s important that the young kids on this football team don’t let anything other than that happen. Those young players can’t let those older guys down,” asserted Holliday. “They’ve done too much for us. That’s what great teams do. They like football. They like it and losing kills them. I mean they just hate it and that’s a good thing.”
“I feel like there is a lot on my shoulders,” admitted redshirt freshman Ryan Bee. “I don’t want to disappoint them. They’ve turned this program around and I just want to send them out with the best.”
The next senior class will have a lot to live up to but that’s what Holliday had in mind when he went out on the recruiting trail five years ago.