It wouldn’t be a stretch to say last year’s heartbreaking loss has been on the minds of Marshall players everyday during the offseason. In fact, some players have been using the loss to the Mountaineers as motivation through offseason workouts and preseason camp. Now, revenge is on the mind of the Thundering Herd.
“I’ve learned first hand about the rivalry. We’ve been on the downside recently and we’re hoping to change that this year,” says senior tackle Ryan Tillman.
Of course many players on both teams are not West Virginia natives and are not familar with the rivalry, yes its a rivalry, between the two schools. However, it doesn’t take long for players to learn there is no love lost between the two schools and fan bases.
“I’ve been here four years and I’ve caught on being here in West Virginia and the tension between Huntington and that town up north,” says senior linebacker George Carpenter.
“It’s very important, not only for us but for the city of Huntington,” says senior defensive end Vinny Curry.
Curry has seen Marshall squander halftime leads twice during his career and can hardly put into words how sweet a win over the Mountaineers would be, especially if it would spoil Dana Holgorsen’s debut.
“That’d be… I can’t even explain it. It would be something amazing,” sayd Curry while trying to hold back a grin.
In 2009 at Mylan Puskar Stadium, Marshall held a 7-3 halftime lead and going into the fourth quarter trailed by only a field goal. Of course last season was The Herd’s best chance for a victory before losing it in the final minutes of the game.
“Last year we were close,” says Tillman. “Each year we’ve gotten closer and closer to beating them.”
On Sunday, Tillman, Curry, Carpenter and the rest of the Thundering Herd will get another shot.