BEST PLAY DRAWN UP IN THE BACKYARD- 69-YARD GROOMS TD RUN VS. HOUSTON
When Rakeem Cato took the snap on 1st and 10 at his own 31, the play looked doomed from the start. Cato was under pressure and scrambling around trying to avoid the sack when he turned back to his left and flipped the ball to Kevin Grooms. Grooms dodged tacklers on his way to a 69 yard touchdown run. Yes, it was a run since Cato threw the ball backward.
WORST MANNY PACIQUO IMPRESSION- DOC’S BLACK EYE
It was exciting enough when Jermaine Kelson blocked the Boilermakers’ punt and Derek Mitchell scoped up the ball and ran it back for a touchdown. However, as I was watching through the binoculars from the broadcast booth I noticed Doc Holliday getting up off the ground and I said to Steve Cotton, “I think Doc he is bleeding…” Sure enough the Herd’s head coach took a tumble and had a gash on his right cheek. He even had to be stitched up in the lockerroom after the game.
BEST FOUR DAYS- MARCH 7-10
The Herd wasn’t given much of a chance in the 2012 Conference USA Tournament by the so-called experts. However, Marshall went on a remarkable run to clash with Memphis in the tournament championship game. Marshall knocked off SMU in the opener but the highlight of the tournament was a gutsy triple-overtime win over Tulsa. Then after everyone thought Marshall would be too tired to knock off rival Southern Miss, The Herd beat the Golden Eagles 73-62 to meet Memphis in the championship.
WORST FIVE DAYS- MARCH 10-14
After the grueling run to get to the championship game against Memphis, The Herd basketball team was clearly fatigued versus a much fresher Tiger team. That didn’t take away from what Marshall accomplished and hopes were high The Herd could get an at large bid to the NCAA tournament. That invitation never came. Then Marshall was invited to the NIT but still received little respect as it was forced to go on the road again to play Middle Tennessee State. A disappointed and tired Thundering Herd was bounced from the first round of the NIT.
BEST WIN- MBB DEFEATS CINCINNATI IN OT
Four players scored in double figures for Marshall in the 73-69 win over the Bearcats at Fifth Third Arena. The win pushed Marshall to 5-0 on the season. It was the first time The Herd started a year 5-0 since the 1999-2000 season.
WORTS LOSS- FOOTBALL FALLS TO UAB 38-31
Marshall was supposed to win this game and sure up its bowl possibilities. UAB was just 2-7 coming into the game and on paper didn’t seem to be able to match Marshall’s offense. However, the Blazers rolled up a 24-7 lead at the half and recorded 406 total yards and hung on for a 38-31 win. Marshall was only able to gather 337 yards of total offense, the lowest total of the year.
BEST START TO A SEASON- SOCCER & VOLLEYBALL
The men’s soccer team started the season 9-2-2 and at one point won six games in a row. The Herd outscored the opposition 27-2 in those nine wins to start the season. Meanwhile, the volleyball team was perfect at home through Oct. 12 and was dominating the opposition. Marshall knocked off Rice to improve to 9-0 at home, 16-5 overall and 6-1 in C-USA.
WORST FINISH TO A SEASON- SOCCER AND VOLLEYBALL
After the win over South Carolina on Oct. 13, the men’s soccer team lost four of its last five games netting just three goals and being knocked out of the conference tournament in the first round. Volleyball’s collapse was even more epic. After the win over Rice to improve to 6-1 in league play, The Herd lost seven in a row, all conference games. Marshall went from first to worst in the conference and lost in round one of the tourney.
BEST SAPPY FAMILY MOMENT- FROH TO FROH TD PASS
With the Western Carolina game well in hand, redshirt freshman quarterback Blake Frohnapfel relieved Rakeem Cato. Frohapfel made the most of his opportunity tossing a 29-yard touchdown pass to his twin brother Eric. “We haven’t hooked up for a touchdown since senior year in high school. It’s been a long time and it feels good to get that going again,” Eric said.
WORST TRIO OF LOSSES- LOSING TO WVU 3 TIMES
Ugh. That’s enough to make a preacher cuss. Marshall fell to the Mountaineers 78-62 on January 18th. Then on Sept. 1st in the final edition of the Friends of Coal Bowl WVU bested Marshall 69-34. Finally, the Capital Classic was moved up on the schedule to Dec. 5th and Marshall slumped in the second half and lost to WVU again 69-59.
BEST & WORST SHOT- GOFF FROM THE FLOOR VS. WVU
Goff finished the night just 1-of-5 from the field, but he was 2-for-2 from the floor. Goff was ejected from the game in the second half after doing his best Ndamukong Suh impression on Juwan Staten. The kick happened in front of the WVU bench prompting several players to leave their seats and also get tossed out of the game.