MarshallÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Ethan Payne (28) runs through a play as Marshall football conducts its 2024 spring game on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington.
Bryan Robinson (3) celebrates after a reception as Marshall football conducts its 2024 spring game on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington.
MarshallÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Ethan Payne (28) runs through a play as Marshall football conducts its 2024 spring game on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington.
Bryan Robinson (3) celebrates after a reception as Marshall football conducts its 2024 spring game on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington.
HUNTINGTON ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” There was a different energy in the Fred and Christine Shewey Athletics building Tuesday morning when the Marshall football team began to turn its attention to its opponent in the season opener.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œBecause weÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re actually going to be playing a game on Saturday,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Thundering Herd safety JJ Roberts explained. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThe past month and some change, weÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ve been installing and all that other stuff and focusing on us. Now we get to focus on the opponent, which is definitely exhilarating.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
The opponent is Stony Brook, and the Thundering Herd wonÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t take the SeawolvesÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ 0-10 record in 2023 at face value in the opening week.
Marshall is prepared for an opponent that plans to fight.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œTheyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ve got a new culture, new system, 40-plus new players and a new staff, so itÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s going to be a challenge,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Herd coach Charles Huff said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œEveryone (wants to think) that itÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s just an (FCS) school, lower-level school or whatever, but IÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™m sure Notre Dame said that about us and we showed up, so I want to make sure thatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s not the mentality from our players.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Marshall, winner of its last 11 season openers, has not lost to an FCS opponent since New Hampshire pulled off the upset in Huntington in 2007, a game in which the Thundering Herd trailed 24-0 at halftime and lost 48-35.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œReally good opponent,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Huff said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œCoach Billy Cosh has taken over (at Stony Brook). I worked with his dad way, way, way back in the day when I was a young coach. His dad was a legendary coach and a brilliant mind, and you can see those qualities in coach Cosh.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Cosh took the Stony Brook job after serving as Western MichiganÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s offensive coordinator last season, and it will be his second trip to Huntington after VMI paid a visit while he was on staff for the Keydets in 2019. He has an extensive history with the Air Raid offense, which Marshall also switched to this season.
It doesnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t mean the Seawolves will have all the answers for the Thundering Herd, and Cosh certainly recognizes the challenge of opening the season with against an FBS opponent, but isnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t scared.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œItÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s a great place, great venue, theyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ve had a lot of great teams and IÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ve got a lot of respect for them and weÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ll have to play well, for sure,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Cosh said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIf we play physical and play with an edge, weÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ll have a shot.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Four FCS teams that came away with wins over FBS opponents last year, eight in 2022 and 12 in 2021, so Stony BrookÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s task is not impossible. Even last week, FCS member Montana State went on the road to defeat New Mexico of the FBS in its season opener. The Herd has been mindful of that this week.
During MarshallÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s practice this week, the videoboard that overlooks Joan C. Edwards Stadium has contained a graphic that read ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œexecution season starts now,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ and thatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s the exact mindset it will take into SaturdayÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s game against Stony Brook.
Though the Seawolves havenÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t yet announced a starting quarterback, much like Marshall, Huff said the Herd is preparing to face someone who will be confident in the new offensive scheme.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI have a lot of respect for coach CoshÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s offensive mind, so the quarterback is going to be able to operate the offense the way (Cosh) sees it,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Huff said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œHeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s also a smart enough coach to know that at some point, the athleticism has to take over, so I expect it to be somebody who can make throws and make the reads.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Cosh was complimentary of MarshallÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s defense, highlighting the team speed, especially in the secondary, as something that stood out to him in preparations.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThey are very physical, No. 1,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Cosh said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThey have closing speed, the secondary will hit you, a really good D-line that is very disruptive and a lot of playmakers that can use the perimeter.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
The game will kick off at 5 p.m. Saturday.. ItÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s expected to be much cooler than the rest of the week due to rain moving into the area, but thatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s not going to take away from the excitement of opening the 2024 season at the HerdÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s home.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™m really excited, especially going into my last year, getting to run out there one last time for the first game,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Marshall running back Ethan Payne said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIt feels like yesterday I was a freshman getting ready to go to Navy (for the 2021 opener). This is definitely a different feeling.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Luke Creasy is a sports reporter for HD ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥. He can be reached by phone at 304-526-2800.
