— By Bill Cornwell
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Marshall veterans and newcomers have a final chance to showcase their abilities to the coaching staff when the Thundering Herd conducts its annual Green-White Spring Game at 4 p.m. Saturday at Joan C. Edwards Stadium to wrap up spring football.
Third-year MU head coach Charles Huff hopes the fans enjoy the show on Saturday.
“For the fans to get back into the stadium, it’s kind of the kickoff to the 2023 season,” Huff said. “We have other sports that have games that day, too, so this is what Marshall’s all about — the community — and this Saturday is a great opportunity to show that.”
Huff and his staff have split the roster and created Green and Black teams for the spring contest. Black jerseys are being utilized for the spring game due to Marshall’s white jerseys being given to players following a victory over UConn in the 2022 Myrtle Beach Bowl.
The spring game will have four 12-minute quarters with a running clock, except for the final 2 minutes of the second and fourth quarters, when normal rules will apply. Halftime will last 20 minutes and feature on-field activities.
First-string quarterback Cam Fancher, who had a 6-1 record as a starter last fall after replacing injured starter Henry Colombi, suits up for the green team. New linebacker Tah Mac Bright is also on the green roster.
Team Black has familiar names to Thundering Herd fans, including running back Rasheen Ali, defensive end Owen Porter, cornerback Micah Abraham and linebacker Eli Neal. Wake Forest transfer defensive back J.J. Roberts, a Cabell Midland High alumnus, is also on the Black squad.
The spring game is also the 15th and final team session of the spring.
“I’m looking forward to another opportunity to go out and improve,” Huff said. “Even if we’re running a small portion of the playbook, it’s a chance to see the guys operate in a game situation and see them go out, execute and get some consistency going. For the younger guys, it’s a chance to get some more reps before summer gets here.”
The Spring Game is part of a busy sports weekend in Huntington as the Marshall softball team hosts James Madison in a Sun Belt Conference series at Dot Hicks Field and the baseball team hosts Georgia Southern in a league series at the Kennedy Center.