MarshallÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s JÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™Coryan Anderson (25) brings down Middle Tennessee running back Amir Rasul (34) during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021 at Johnny ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œRedÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Floyd Stadium in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Marshall coach Charles Huff gives instructions during a special teams drill during the Thundering Herd's first spring practice on Monday, March 25, 2024, at Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington.
MarshallÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s JÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™Coryan Anderson (25) brings down Middle Tennessee running back Amir Rasul (34) during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021 at Johnny ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œRedÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Floyd Stadium in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Marshall coach Charles Huff gives instructions during a special teams drill during the Thundering Herd's first spring practice on Monday, March 25, 2024, at Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington.
HUNTINGTON ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” Marshall football coach Charles Huff is a firm believer that there is strength in numbers, which led to a change in how leaders among the 2024 Thundering Herd were identified.
From week to week, different players may go out as game captains for the opening coin toss, but every one of them is a part of the same internal leadership group.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe have a leadership committee. On that leadership committee is one player from each position that the coaches and the team feel have influence,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Huff said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIt doesnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t mean they are perfect or they are the best player, doesnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t mean theyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ll start or not start, but who has influence in the room when things are going well and not going well?ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
ThatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s MarshallÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s approach to picking captains this year, and it has brought out the best in the players named to the committee back in June.
The leadership committee includes Braylon Braxton, Ethan Payne, Toby Payne, Elijah Metcalf, Logan Osburn, Landyn Watson, Mike Green, Ahmere Foster, Josh Moten and Rece Verhoff.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œItÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s not trying to tell people what to do, which is the way some people see leaders,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Green said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œItÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s more of a thing where IÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™m going to run 100 miles per hour, so hopefully the guy next to me wants to run 100 miles per hour. If someone sees one that is considered a leader running that fast, heÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s going to want to as well.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Huff handles the XÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s and OÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s and oversees the bigger picture for the Herd, but tasked the leadership committee with the responsibility of coming into each practice with the right attitude, energy and drive each time it took the field for practice.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI told them they have full autonomy of this team and this team will go how they go,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Huff said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œNot win or lose, but as far as connectivity and mindset coming out every single day. ... We put that group together in June, and from then to now, that group has taken complete ownership of the energy and effort in practice every day.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
The decision has already reaped rewards, Huff said.
About a month after this leadership committee was formed, one more player was added to it when team leaders noticed a shift in mindset of longtime Herd linebacker JÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™Coryan (JC) Anderson.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œ(The team) saw what the leadership committee meant and (the committee) felt like he was a person who represented that as well. ThatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s our captains,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Huff said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œBecause of that, I think we have a really good leadership group with a lot of influence.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Luke Creasy is a sports reporter for HD ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥. He can be reached by phone at 304-526-2800.
