Herd Insider Magazine vol 19 #1

Bob Pruett: The Columnist

we welcome the ol’ ball coach to herd insider in grand fashion

HERDINSIDER.COM

AUGUST 29, 2016

by Woody Woodrum

UP FRONT 8.29.16

VOLUME 19 NO. 1

Welcome back to things I’m hearing all over by Woody Woodrum in your new-­look Herd Insider. We hope you love what we have done with the magazine, which can be picked up all over town or downloaded at herdinsider.com or directly delivered to your home twice a month and each month throughout the year.

Let’s see what else is new ... ... Everything old is new again as Greg Perry jumps back in to the Publisher of Herd Insider while I am writing and editing — hopefully better than when Greg was first here, as four years with legendary newspaperman Jack Bogaczyk has certainly made me a better writer and editor ... ... Is Marshall going for the American Athletic Conference? I don’t think the Athletic Department is excited about joining a league where Marshall is about $15 million under the average budget in the AAC (around $43 million). But I’m hearing the new President of Marshall, Dr. Jerry Gilbert, likes the strong academic standing of schools like UConn, Tulsa, Tulane, SMU and Navy that are in the American.

That is why a video presentation has been green lighted to promote Marshall... ... First off, however, the Big 12 Conference of our brethren to the

North, WVU, will have to take a couple of schools out of the AAC themselves. I’m hearing Houston and Cincinnati are the leaders, but if BYU is one of two - who knows, the AAC may stand pat.

If UConn or Memphis is chosen for basketball to be a member, the Herd, Southern Miss, Old Dominion and others in C­USA might be raising their respective hands. Reportedly, Dr. Gordon Gee, President at West Virginia, is high on BYU as a Mormon himself but the rest of the Big 12 might not want another Texas school, instead just taking UC with the BYU (not Houston) Cougars ... ... Get ready for Herd action (even with Marshall football another week from opening on September 10). For now get ready for September 2-­3 as Mitch Jacobs’ volleyball team is at the Charleston Civic Center for matches with Morehead State, WVU and Indiana State, then at Bowling Green State on September 7 and 9; Kevin Long’s women’s soccer team hosts IUPUI and ETSU at “The Vet” September 2 and 4; and Bob Gray’s men’s soccer is at BGSU and at Eastern Illinois on September 2 and 4. …We’ve been waiting all summer long to let this one rip: Let’s. Go. Herd.

WHAT WE’VE GOT

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VOLUME 19 NO. 1

FEATURE

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7 REASONS

As if you needed a reason to go to football games. If you do, however, we give you 7 Reasons to be in the seats at The Joan in 2016.

COLUMNIST

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BOB PRUETT We proudly introduce none other than the great Marshall coach, Bob Pruett as a Herd Insider columnist. And Bob has a need - A need for green.

FEATURE

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LEAPS & BOUNDS

Marshall football has been in summer camp, and recently held their first scrimmage. Herd Insider was on the scene, and here’s our report.

555 Fifth Avenue Huntington, WV 25701 (304) 523-4801

General Manager Mike Kirtner Publisher Greg Perry Associate GM Reeves Kirtner Senior Editor Woody Woodrum Web Operations Alex Hackney First Subscriber Geoff Sheils Printing Printograph - Hebron, KY All contents ©2016 Kindred Communications, Inc

On the cover: illustration by Adobe Stock/Lightvision

This page: Guardian Caps debuted this summer, in hopes of reducing concussion injuries to players. Receiver Justin Hunt got a hand in the face during summer drills from cornerback Rodney Allen. photo by Greg Perry/HI staff

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Sholten Singer/Herald-Dispatch

COLUMNIST

PUBLISHER

SOME PEOPLE ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS OVERNIGHT. SOME NEVER DO. THIS IS ONE DREAM THAT WAS 19 YEARS IN THE MAKING.

GREG PERRY

gregkperry@herdinsider.com

W

hat you are holding in your hands at this very moment is a 19 yearold dream.

It’s the dream of a (then) 31 year-old kid who didn’t know the first thing about being a magazine publisher, but did know that there was a need at the very university he graduated from and its community.

It’s the dream of a guy who soldiered on when forces in the area teamed up against him, trying to put him out of business in the early years of business.

It’s the dream of a person who knew what great images can do for people, and enjoyed every single time he managed to nab one of those moments with the camera that had been on his shoulder for years.

Nevermind the days and years spent toiling in the business, seeing great moments in priveleged locations occur in front of him; some were incredibly sad, but most were of a happy nature.

And, it’s the dream of a person who found himself laying in a bed in a local facility one day not too long ago, wondering why on earth he had let it all slip away, choosing foolish things like alcohol over the dream.

It is that cunning, that baffling, and that powerful.

That one thought had preoccupied his mind for over four years, nonstop.

And I can tell you for a fact that four years is a very long time.

In case you can’t figure it out, that dream belongs to me.

Please pardon the impropriety of my selfishness on display.

Herd Insider was conceived in the hopes of one day becoming a Sports Illustrated for Marshall fans like me. And, for the first 15 years or so, we had all the elements to make that vision a reality, save one: the limitations of being printed on newsprint.

I owe a lot of success in my life to newsprint. My early years in the business were spent in Lexington, KY shooting images for great newspapers and publications that took the risk of hiring me. Ink and newsprint paper have been a staple of my career since 1989. On numerous occasions, I have been a veritable self-inking human, leaving my prints all over creation due to handling bundles of Herd Insiders.

But there’s something about glossy magazine paper that was always appealing, always desirous. All the big magazines always looked great, the images and words simply jumping off the pages of slick, glossy paper.

And, that desire was always left unfulfilled over an 18 year span.

Until today.

Welcome to the “new” version of Herd Insider Magazine. To say we are proud of this would be an understatement. Many years in the making –yet only realized within the last two months – the effort that has been undertaken this summer has been just this side of overwhelming.

Consider the fact that on July 1, the very future of this magazine was in doubt.

Consider the fact that on August 1, many supporters and advertisers still needed convincing that our vision of Herd Insider v.2016 was indeed one that could become a reality in short order.

Heck, we didn’t even have a printing company that could do what we needed done.

Consider the fact that just three months ago, my job had nothing to do with publishing, athletics, or anything even remotely related. Yet, here we are.

When ordinary folks like you and I do the best with what we’ve got, where we’re at, today…invariably the rewards of such are called blessings. Almost all of us are taught from an early age that if you work hard and do what is asked of you, that great things will happen in your life.

When ordinary folks like you and I somehow stumble into getting what we do not deserve, well, there’s only one word for that: Grace. It takes quite a while to pick up on the instances of this in one’s life, due to our tendencies to be knuckleheads of various calibers as we meander through life’s parade.

I do not pretend to know what the future holds for Herd Insider, but I can tell you this: the 19 year-old dream is today a reality solely by grace.

Many of you know the reason for my four-year hiatus from the pages of this magazine. It is one I freely share in hopes of carrying the message that people like me can and do recover from the myriad conditions that life has brought them. My condition is alcoholism.

The ad for the place that saved my life (left) contains a single word that best sums up what is going on.

Hope.

For that is what abounds here at Herd Insider Magazine, starting with this first issue of our 19th year.

Because where there is hope, dreams do come true.

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COLUMNIST

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Beckley, WV Register-Herald photo

We Should All Feel A Need: The Need for Green.

COACH BOB PRUETT

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hat is the most pressing need for Marshall’s athletics program year in and year out? The color green certainly is near the top — but which color green?

Is it the green that former Marshall President Dr. Dan Angel thought the Herd needed to switch to, a slightly darker green that for most Marshall fans was too close to Ohio U.’s forest green?

Is it the Kelly green that current Marshall Director of Athletics Mike Hamrick changed the Herd teams back to — although football never really changed, as football has always worn Kelly Green. We were branded, so we didn’t change our uniforms when they changed shades.

The green I’m talking about is money — the green back dollars you and I, as fans and boosters of Marshall University, put into the program with the purchase of tickets to games and the donations of money to the Big Green Scholarship Foundation.

When I played from 1962­-65, Marshall was short of money then, also. We once took a bus to Buffalo for a game and the bus ran so poorly, we had to get out so it could climb up a hill while we walked up that same hill, and then got back on the bus.

Once, Coach Snyder was so happy over a win we had on the road, he took us to a steakhouse and let us order off the menu — he was nearly fired over spending that much

money on a meal.

How does lack of green affect schools at Marshall’s level, the so­called “G5” teams of Conference USA, the American, the Mountain West, the Sun Belt and the MAC, and schools below this level in FCS or lower divisions?

Sometimes schools are limited to only in­state tuition, because it doesn’t cost as much. This is what happened to Coach Snyder when I played, when players like Jim Cure, Larry Coyer, Bill Winters, Howie Lee Miller, George Bobbit, Jack Mahone, Tommy Good, Jim Lewis — all starters, all West Virginians — made up the bulk of the team.

Another way to have athletic dollars is for a school to have a large enrollment. UCF has an enrollment of 59,000 now; FIU is now over 50,000 in the Herd’s own league.

Marshall’s total enrollment is about 14,000 and all of those are not full­time students. If my math is right — and I think it’s close — Marshall Athletics gains about $1 million for every 1,000 additional full­time students who enroll, via activities fees.

In 2002, the enrollment was higher than it was in 2012, in the transition of the university from a teacher’s college to a more technical college. And having so many teacher’s college graduates as alums and supporters over the years, well…everyone knows teachers are very much underpaid in West

Virginia.

One other thing is ACT scores. When I attended, those numbers were on average around a 17 — not a bad number, but probably not turning out doctors and engineers the way Marshall and other schools in the state do now.

Season ticket sales trending downward is another problem. The number one way Marshall Athletics increases its revenue is for the fans to buy season tickets and making donations to the Big Green.

North of here, WVU is having another downturn year on season tickets, down to around 27,000. And, both Marshall and West Virginia began promoting mini­season ticket plans for three or four selected games, starting their campaigns earlier than usual in July. Both schools are expected to have winning seasons, with WVU being 7­-5 or 8-­4 and Marshall 8­-4 or 9­-3 by local and national publications.

Both coaches are doing a great job, the administrators are doing a great job of funding them to win, but the economic situation in the state is also hurting teams. WVU is dropping for the seventh year straight and Marshall is stagnant on ticket sales, to say the least.

I think the core fans –the fans who have continued on page 22

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illustration by Adobe Stock/Lightvision

by Woody Woodrum

Marshall fans — a great bunch who supports the program through thick and thin — let’s be honest here: it is a lot easier to be a Marshall fan during the thick years.

Right about now, everybody is still drunk on summertime. Some are in the process of deciding whether they are coming to all the home games this year or not, thinking they might check the weather first or stay at home and get cozy in that La-Z-­Boy recliner with the built-in mini fridge right there in the Marshall room at the house.

Don’t you dare.

As Uncle Sam said 100 years ago, Uncle Marco Needs You. Bad.Okay, maybe Uncle Sam never said precisely that. Our point? Coach Doc Holliday and his Thundering Herd will be looking for 10 or more wins in a season for the fourth season in a row — the most since Marshall posted 10 or more wins for nine straight seasons from 1991 (11­4) to 1999 (13­0), including 15-­0 in 1996, 12 wins in 1992­, ‘94­, ‘95­, and ‘98, plus 11 wins in 1991 and 1993 and 10 in 1997 - and the first time with four 10-win seasons in a row in the FBS era.

So to help you make up your mind about joining your other kelly green brethren at all seven — yes, SEVEN —home games this year, here’s all the reason(s) you will ever need to venture outside without your Pokemon Go app, in search of some great football at The Joan.

1

Reason Number

Morgan State at 6 p.m. on Saturday, September 10 — Are you kidding me? Do we have to remind you this is both the season opener as well as the home opener? This year’s schedule even made you wait an extra week for this first game. I’m surprised most of you are not being restrained from tailgates at other football games in the area on the weekend of September 3, just so you can get one under your belt when the rest of NCAA football opens up.

Face it: You’ve been dreaming of this first glorious Saturday ever since the not-so-great Snowstorm of late January 2016. Well, here it is. Open the door, get in car, park at The Joan, and finally exhale that breath you took back in the winter.

Damn the opponent, full tailgates ahead.

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Reason Number

Akron at 12 noon on Saturday September 17 — The Zips are an old rival, going back to 1974, and matched up with the Herd in the MAC from 1997­-2004. We’ve never liked these guys, and quite frankly, we suspect they don’t like us.

So be it.

After Marshall waxed coach Terry Bowden’s team by a 48­-17 margin back in 2014 at Akron, the Zips — picked to battle Ohio for the MAC East crown this year — would like nothing more than to upset the Herd in Huntington.

And to that we say, “Not a chance.” There is no love lost between Marshall and the Ohio Bobcats, so anything we can do to make their season dismal, we’re all for. If that means beating Akron, well, that’s a bonus for us.

Plus, this game is great for those of you who wax nostalgic for the MAC days, if nothing else. Any time we get to thinking, “Hey, Marshall would fit in well with the MAC these days,” make sure you flick us on the forehead.

Come to the game and see why that won’t happen. continued on page 7

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Reason Number

Louisville at 8 p.m. on Saturday September 24 — Oh my, my, my. Where do we begin with reasons to be in The Joan for this one?

The Cardinals, now members of the ACC, have lost four in a row to Marshall in a series started in 1921: 17­-13 at UofL in 2011; two bowl games, at Mobile, Alabama by a 38­-15 in 2002; and at Pontiac, Michigan by a 48­-29 clip in 1998; and at UofL in 1987, 34­-31.

Modern-day Marshall teams have literally owned the Cardinals, but it’s all been played in cities other than Huntington.

Well, here they are, rolling in to The Joan with thoughts of reversing the trend against Marshall, starting with this very game. It is THE game of the season, as far as we are concerned. Hopefully, you feel the same about this one.

One last reason, in case you’re not sold: Louisville is also a top 25 opponent that could be even higher-ranked if they beat Clemson the week before coming to Huntington for the first time since 1977 (which was an ugly 56­-0 Louisville win). Any momentum they have this early in the 2016 season can come to an abrupt halt, right here in your backyard. Don’t have tickets? Find them any way you can.

Reason Number

4

Florida Atlantic at 7 p.m. on Saturday October 15 — Well, this one is Homecoming at Marshall, and that usually means a win. It’s good for the alumni, good for the town, and good for football in general. However, it is bad for the opponent.

How bad?

Holliday’s Herd has won five­of its ­last ­six in the “coming home to Marshall” game. That is an 83.3% chance of seeing a win for you, the fan. Pretty good odds, if you ask us. “The Thundering Twenties” is the theme for the Herd’s C­USA home opener, in case you were wondering.

Add in the fact that Marshall edged out FAU 33-­17 last year in Boca Raton but by only one in 2013, and it is normally a hard­-fought game.

The 113th Homecoming — you don’t want to miss this. Especially after the Herd has been on the road for two consecutive games at Pitt and at North Texas. They’ll be ready to thump somebody, anybody, at home.

Reason Number

5

Charlotte at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday October 22 — The first trip to Huntington for former Herd assistant Brad Lambert (head coach of the 49ers), for former Herd player Jim During (strength coach for Charlotte) and the first game in Huntington since former Herd All-­ American and Marshall and Charlotte assistant Phil Ratliff passed away prior to the 2015 season.

For such a young rivalry, the Marshall-Charlotte one is already one that features deep ties on both sides of the ball. Diehard Marshall fan, you are? On this particular Saturday, your world all centers on being part of the emotional mix that comes from a rivalry such as this. We can think of only two other rivalries that hold the same level of emotion for all Marshall fans: East Carolina and Virginia Tech.

This one is sure to be emotional for Herd and 49ers fans, if Marshall’s 34-10 win at Charlotte last year is any indication.

You do not want to miss this one.

Reason Number

6

Middle Tennessee at 7 p.m. on Saturday November 12 — Hoo boy, where to begin with this one. Again, the Herd will have been away for two weeks, at Southern Miss and at Old Dominion, prior to coming home. So this week, the team picked to beat Marshall for the C­USA East crown brings QB Brent Stockstill, son of coach Rick Stockstill, and one of the top QBs in the league.

MU lost at MTSU 27-­24 last year and 51­-49 in 2013 (remember that one? Heartbreaker.), and leads the Herd 2­-1 in C­USA play.

These guys are getting to be a thorn in the side of all things Marcontinued on page 21

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True freshman quarterback Garet Morrell was pressured by linebacker Tyler Kopp, but the QB finished his first live scrimmage with 13-of-17 passing for 164 yards and a touchdown.

photographs by Greg Perry/HI staff

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Leaps Bounds The first scrimmage of the season gave an indication of exactly where the Marshall football team is, just three weeks away from the season opener against Morgan State.

by Woody Woodrum HI senior editor

D

oc Holliday took his team out on a perfect scrimmage day — an unusual summer Saturday with temps in the upper 70s and a bit overcast —while a crowd of over 300 people including Big Green Scholarship Foundation members, Marshall football season ticket holders and students came out to see the Herd in the final semi-public workout. What they witnessed was Marshall rolling up 451 yards of offense in 76 plays in about an hourand-one-half of scrimmage.

nature of the kickers. Redshirt junior Amoreto Curraj was 5-for-8 with a long of 46-yards coming near the end of practice when he made two in a row, from 36 and 46. Redshirt junior Nick Smith hit four-of-six with a long of 38, making two in a row from that distance. Sophomore Grayson Pontius from East Mississippi Community College also hit four-of-six, the one from 41 yards and three from 36 yards (including making one tipped by corner Chris Jackson) but in-between missed from 36 twice.

There were outstanding plays on both sides of the ball throughout the day.

You would have to give the nod to the offense, who overcame a Corey Neely interception return for a touchdown against the first team in just their second series after the second team scored and drove the ball to the four in its first time under center. Neely, a safety from Georgia Military College who played special teams last season, is pushing for more time in a crowded secondary as a senior out of Rock Hill, S.C. and the 21-yard return for score cannot hurt his chances. He took in a ball from Chase Litton high off the hands of receiver Josh Knight untouched for a score.

It took awhile, but the offensive units eventually put seven scores on the board in each of their last seven drives, scoring eight times on the day – plus hitting for 13-of-20 field goals from three kickers. Then the offensive unit, dressed in green jerseys, won the 4th&-1 Holliday challenge between the first and second teams at the end of the practice, which Senior receiver Justin Hunt eventually made this catch, despite tight coverage by Herd freshman allowed the offense to hoot at their teammates cornerback Jestin Morrow. Hunt had three catches in the first scrimmage, for 45 yards in all. while the white-clad defense did up-downs 20 times to end the day. It was a short 1.5 hour scrimmage with officials “At some point, we are going have to pick one and go with him, supplied from the Division II Mountain East Conference of schools like give him more reps than the backups, but with three weeks before the WV State University, the University of Charleston and Glenville State first game, we have time,” Holliday said of his kickers. “But we will University. make a decision soon on who will start at kicking.”

Litton came back to hit his last six passes in a row in the workout, being especially good in the two-minute drill and in the red zone. He finished his day by hitting 10-of-19 for 95 yards and two touchdowns to offset the lone interception.

If there was a downer to the workout, it was the inconsistent

Another point of interest was seeing how true freshman quarterbacks Garet Morrell and Xavier Gaines played in a real scrimmage format, as the numbers two and three quarterbacks behind Litton.

Morrell did not disappoint with a 13-of-17 passing day, with no interceptions, and hitting sophomore slot Nick Mathews for a 9-yard touchcontinued on page 14

Eagle Eye‌ Marshall football coach Doc Holliday kept an eagle eye on his players during the incredibly hot and humid early days of summer practices in August. photo by Greg Perry/HI staff

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side, we still do not play for another three weeks, so we can continue to work in practice and get better every day with our quarterbacks, and both young quarterbacks, all those young quarterbacks, they are learning more every day and they will all be very good. We will be extra-ready as slots.

Leaps & Bounds from page 11 down. Morrell hit his first nine passes in a row, Gaines was efficient in his time in and fellow true freshman quarterbacks Jackson White and D.J. Phillips appear to be headed towards a redshirt this year (and time with the scout team this fall).

“Morrell has made great strides since he first stepped on campus a few weeks ago,” Holliday said of the current second team quarterback, “and for being such a young kid, he is doing some good things. I think he will get better and better. With our team still having three weeks to the opener, he will continue to improve and by the time of the first game, he will be ready to go.”

“I feel like among the slots, we have made ourselves better, we have taken (lessons) from each other and we have pushed each other to get better. We all just remind everyone at the slot to make big plays every chance we get.”

Among the receivers, there was no surprise when junior tight end Ryan Yurachek led the offense with two touchdowns (from 7 and 5 yards out) and caught three passes in all for 26 yards.

The leading receivers were all the slot receivers, starting with senior Josh Knight, who had five catches for 52 yards. Knight was followed by Mathews with five catches for 29 yards and the touchdown, and Green was next with three catches for 55 yards.

Gaines, who was slightly behind walk-on Alex Roy from Fairview, Ky. after the first few days of camp, has really bloomed since Roy decided to leave the team at the end of week one. Gaines hit two-of-three, and also did not throw an interception. He threw long balls for a 29-yard completion to redshirt sophomore slot Donquell “Gator” Green and a 30-yard touchdown to true freshman wideout Deyton Jackson.

“I came out to make big plays today when I got the chance, and I did make some today,” Green said. “On the plus

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Junior college “big” back Anthony Anderson led all rushers with 67 yards on 14 carries, and scored three touchdowns in the scrimmage with plays like this stiffarm.

Senior “X” wide out Justin Hunt had three catches for 45 yards, sophomore Raylen Elzy at “Z” had one catch for 24 yards. Junior Tyre Brady from Micontinued on page 15

Leaps & Bounds from page 14 ami-Fla. – who will have two years to play after sitting out 2016 per his transfer to Marshall – caught one pass for 22 yards. Also making catches was running back Keion Davis (1-for-8) and three freshmen: wide outs Deyton Jackson (2-for-37 yards), Brandon Rodgers (1-for-11 yards), and tight end Cody Mitchell from Point Pleasant, W.Va. (1-for-4 yards).

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Finally, last year was a bit of a “running back by committee” year for the Herd. Injuries to a number of backs forced the Marshall coaches to eventually shift junior Hyleck Foster from slot (where he was struggling) to running back, which he played in high school. Foster responded two 100+ yard rushing games and almost 500 yards in total on the ground. It also forced the Herd to play Keion Davis as a redshirt freshman and Tony Pittman as a redshirt sophomore, and both also had injuries.

While Foster, Davis and Pittman all have worked at tailback this fall — and Foster is now carrying 15 more pounds at 190, while not losing any speed — the Herd staff was looking for a big back to replace Devon Johnson. That led them to sign Anthony Anderson at Iowa Western Community College, and originally out of Eden Park, Minn.

While reporting to camp this summer at 262 pounds and admittedly out of shape, Anderson got in shape during Herd conditioning and is now about 245 pounds, with great vision and quick feet. In the Saturday scrimmage, he led the Herd rushing attack with 14 carries for 67 yards (4.8 yards per rush) and scored three touchdowns — from 14 yards out, from eight yards and from two yards away.

“We wanted to see how Anthony ran in a real live football setting, with tackling,” Holliday said. “Until you get a back like him in pads you really find out about a back. I saw him drop his pads down a couple of times today (for extra yards) and we are going to need him. He can be a real big difference maker for us.” continued on page 16

Junior tight end Ryan Yurachek was no surprise in the scrimmage, scoring two touchdowns (including this one from seven yards out).

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Leaps & Bounds from page 15 Other rushing totals included Foster with eight rushes for 46 yards (5.8 ypr), while Davis had 7 for 17 yards and one score, Pittman had three for five yards, Gaines rushed one time for four yards and Morrell was sacked for a safety and lost −6 yards on four carries, including three yards on a pass he fumbled, but recovered.

Outstanding defensive players for the Herd included Neely’s interception for a 21-yard touchdown, redshirt sophomore linebacker Chase Hancock of Beckley, W.Va. Woodrow Wilson High School, who led all players with seven tackles. And, there were five tackles each for junior college junior safety C.J. Reavis, redshirt freshman safety George Davis, and redshirt freshman defensive lineman Channing Hames. Four tackles each were recorded for redshirt freshman linebacker Doyle Grimes, true freshman safety Jeremiah Maddox, and redshirt sophomore linebacker Eli Gates.

Butler Community College/Arizona State transfer junior linebacker Davon Durant forced a fumble, while redshirt junior corner Rodney Allen broke up a team-best three passes. In addition, redshirt freshman defensive lineman Charkie Johnson had a tackle for loss, one sack and safety on Morrell, as well as a QB pressure. Meanwhile, redshirt Nyquan Harris had a sack on Litton (called by line coach JC Price) and Hames recorded a sack on Morrell. Redshirt freshman safety Gant, senior defensive end Blake Keller and senior defensive tackle Joe Massaquoi each had a tackle for loss.

Passes were broken up by Allen (3), Reavis, Neely and Maddox, but Allen, Maddox and fellow freshman Jaylon McClain-Sapp were called for pass interference (and one other was refused after Elzy made a remarkable catch for a 24-yard gain from Morrell). Morrell and guard Michael Selby each recovered an offensive fumble.

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COLUMNIST

Welcome To A New Era At Herd Insider Magazine MIKE KIRTNER General Manager

I

mikek@kindredcom.net

am very pleased to welcome you to the “All New” Herd Insider.

From today forward, I can use the word “Magazine” after writing those words, because, well, it’s now a bona fide magazine. Take a look.

It may be a little unusual to reference a publication that is approaching its 20th year of Marshall coverage as new, however. Such is life around the Kindred Communications offices these days. Things are changing.

Today, Herd Insider Magazine has an all new design. The magazine style is full color on all pages. And, the picture quality has been upgraded via our transition to being printed on glossy paper.

However, the print side is not the only place where you, the reader and Marshall fan, will find all the changes taking place.

By the time you read these words on paper, we will be available on the internet in a very interesting form. By partnering with the folks at ISSUU (www.issuu.com), we are able to deliver Herd Insider Magazine on the internet in a form that mimics the printed pages. In short, you can view the pages exactly as they appear in print, flipping from one page to the next, just like holding a real magazine in your hands.

In addition, the advertisers who give us life will benefit in the form of ads that are clickable. See a product or service you want to know more about? Just click on the ad in the magazine when viewing us at ISSUU, and voila’, you will be whisked to the advertiser’s internet site to find more information.

For folks who grew up in the black-and-white era, this is akin to magic. And, it is but one way in which quality publications are offering their content for your consumption.

The magazine’s staff knew changes were coming and have been making preparations for you during the past year. The bulk of the work, however, happened in the last 60 days. To say it is amazing how much can be accomplished when you put your collective minds to the task, is an understatement.

We hope you like our maiden voyage.

You can also expect to find a change in terms of our content here at the magazine.

For nearly a decade, Herd Insider worked in conjunction with Marshall Athletics to spread the “Word on the Herd.” Beginning with the issue that you are currently reading, that has changed.

The Herd Insider is once again an independent publication.

With Insider independence comes the opportunity to open more doors that you as a fan have an interest in. Ultimately, this will benefit you, the reader, the most.

As an example, when Marshall makes decisions that will affect you as a fan, the Insider will offer not only Marshall’s point of view; but also, yours.

In the next few weeks, The Insider will take a look at the results of the reseating plan for football that was put into place last year.

Perhaps you have heard the results of the controversial plan. We have spoken to both fans and athletic department officials and will share their stories.

Beer sales have been added to the game day experience at Edwards Stadium for the first time this season.

We will keep a close watch on the results from the point of view of both fans and administration. And, we’ll will share with you why beer sales could not have occurred until now. continued on page 18

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/ August 29, 2016

Kirtner continued from page 17 The landscape of college football is changing daily. Mid-major conference such as C-USA have been victimized by the changes.

Herd Insider will look into the challenges that Marshall will face as it enters into uncharted waters of a new era.

The “new” Herd Insider will be more insightful; we will not be belligerent. After all, we love Marshall as much as you do. Every single person on the staff bleeds green.

However, our goal is to become the conscience of a historical program that has support throughout the country.

We believe that you will like what you’re about to read.

Enjoy our revitalization. It’s meant for you to do precisely that.

You can always reach me, Greg Perry, Woody Woodrum, and the rest of the staff by email. Our addresses are freely printed on these pages.

Now, buy your Marshall shirts, clean up your tailgate kit, and get ready to enjoy another season of fine college sports through the lens of Herd Insider Magazine.

The best is truly yet to come.

/ August 29, 2016

/ HERD INSIDER /

Publication Schedule August 2016-March 2017 Vol. # Iss. # Cover Date Advertising Deadline Submit to Printer (Wednesdays) (Tuesdays @ 12 noon) 19 #1 August 29, 2016 August 15, 2016 August 23, 2016 19 #2 September 14, 2016 August 31, 2016 September 6, 2016 19 #3 September 28, 2016 September 14, 2016 September 20, 2016 19 #4 19 #5

October 12, 2016 October 26, 2016

September 28, 2016 October 12, 2016

October 4, 2016 October 18, 2016

19 #6 19 #7

November 9, 2016 November 23, 2016

October 26, 2016 November 9, 2016

November 1, 2016 November 15, 2016

19 #8 19 #9

December 7, 2016 December 21, 2016

November 23, 2016 December 7, 2016

November 29, 2016 December 13, 2016

19 #10 January 11, 2017 December 21, 2016 January 3, 2017 19 #11 January 25, 2017 January 11, 2017 January 17, 2017 19 #12 19 #13

February 8, 2017 February 22, 2017

January 25, 2017 February 8, 2017

January 31, 2017 February 14, 2017

19 #14 March 8, 2017 February 22, 2017 February 28, 2017 19 #15 March 22, 2017 March 8, 2017 March 14, 2017

19

20 / HERD INSIDER

/ August 29, 2016 This Is An Advertisement

There Is Nothing Better Than Viewing West Virginia’s Beauty From The New River Train

HUNTINGTON — As the New River Train slices through the New River Gorge this October, it will signify the 50th year of a passenger railroad tradition that started in Huntington in 1966. The New River Train is a long­standing railroad tradition that gives passengers a unique perspective of southern West Virginia’s scenic New River Gorge.

Operating from Huntington to Hinton and return each third and fourth weekend in October, the New River Train takes riders through some of the state’s most scenic regions by rail.

The New River Train is a tradition like no other. Beginning in Huntington, passengers follow the route of the former Chesapeake & Ohio railroad mainline east toward West Virginia’s capital city of Charleston and then slowly transitioning from residential communities into the wilderness of southern West Virginia.

The scenic train ride offers beautiful views of popular tourist attractions, such as Kanawha Falls, Hawks Nest, the New River Gorge Bridge, Thurmond and east into the small town of Hinton – a town built by the railroad to serve local industries on the New River.

Once in Hinton, passengers disembark for a local street fair that features local food, entertainment, and novelties that are distinct to the culture of southern West Virginia. Home

baked goods, arts and crafts, and other attractions make Hinton’s annual Railroad Days Street Festival a popular event.

After a three­hour layover, passengers return to the train for Huntington on the same route.

Whether you elect to ride coach class or experience luxurious rail equipment that has been restored to pristine condition from the mid­20th century, riders can step back in time and experience the golden age of railroading. Premium class, which places passengers on historic railroad passenger cars from all across the country, will offer unique views of the gorge and even includes multiple meals and refreshments throughout your trip.

Come and experience the New River Train experience in 2016 and be a part of our 50th anniversary celebration. Tickets are selling quickly. Excursions will operate October 15-­16 and October 22­-23, 2016. For more information, visit www. newrivertrain.com.

The Collis P. Huntington Railroad Historical Society is a Huntington, W.Va. based non­profit historical society that operates several passenger railroad excursion, special trips all year and preserves railroad history and equipment in the Tri­State region of West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio.

7 Reasons, from page 8 shall, it appears. So, welcome them to Huntington via a taste of the Full Joan (kinda’ like the Full Monty, but not really). Sending MTSU back to Tennessee with a loss will be a statement game in C-USA this year.

And lest we ever forget, it is also the 46th Anniversary of the Marshall football plane crash on 11/15, and they will be honored at this game.

So, a statement game and it is the anniversary of the Marshall plane crash. This will be a big, emotional rollercoaster of a Saturday.

You should be there.

Reason Number

7

Western Kentucky University, time is still TBA on Saturday November 26 — Good day, and welcome to Senior Day 2016. This one features the newest rivals capable of really (and we mean really) rile up Marshall fans, the Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky.

WKU plowed through the Herd, 49-­28, last year and ruined the Herd’s perfect season in 2014 in overtime. That one game will never be forgotten in the hearts and minds of many Marshall fans. We still cringe when we think about it, to be honest.

WKU is the other team picked in front of Marshall in the C­USA East pre-season polls, so revenge is on the mind of Herd fans.

And most likely, the players, too.

In short, this game caps the season for Marshall and determines the overall situation heading into conference title time, as well as the bowl season. The fact that it is against Western Kentucky is just icing on the cake.

Didn’t like the taste in your mouth the last time WKU ventured into Huntington in 2014? Here’s your chance to do something about it and cheer, Thunderclap, and yell your head off in support of The Herd, at a point of the season when it is really, really needed.

The warmarks will be pretty severe on the pretty chrome helmets of Western Kentucky, we predict.

-So, there you have it. Sometimes as college football fans, we need a little inspiration, a little motivation, a little something in order to get things moving. As hot and wet as Huntington has been this summer, we know the effort required to simply go outside for any length of time, lately.

Being a Marshall fan is great, but it takes action in order to truly be a part of the great Thundering Herd brigade of fans.

So, buy tickets. Rent those comfy stadium seats. Nab your annual “football shirt” at Glenn’s Sporting Goods downtown. Plunk down cash for some Scraggle Pop kettle corn that is made right in front of your eyes at the game.

But no matter what, do something this season.

You have 7 reasons, now.

We’ll see you at The Joan this season.

22 / HERD INSIDER

/ August 29, 2016

Pruett from page 5 always been with Marshall–that fan base came with us to the new stadium from Fairfield, the crowds of 27,000 to 30,000 who have consistently filled the Joan C. Edwards Stadium in the past.

They need to continue to buy tickets and donate, and they need to encourage friends and other fans to do the same.

icine Institute; and the recent additions like the soccer facility, the softball complex and new weight rooms.

However, Marshall still lacks an outdoor track. And, Marshall

But every time you build a new facility, it not only takes money to buy the land, clear the land, and build the facility, it also takes money to maintain it. As an exmaple, Western Michigan Uni-

still does not have a baseball facility.

That’s not because Mike Hamrick, Kayo Marcum, Lance West or Lee Moon didn’t want one during their stints as director of athletics in Huntington.

versity spent $25 million on an indoor facility while in the MAC with Marshall, but then couldn’t use it except for football practices and game day events due to lack of staffing in the WMU building and grounds department.

One thing I think I know as the former head coach of The Herd: Money does not guarantee championships. But lack of money makes it difficult to win.

Marshall has always been a university that gets more from a dollar than any other school.

Every Athletic Director wants to give all their coaches a chance to win and the best advantages to win, and every coach at Marshall wants to win.

Marshall has some terrific facilities including the new indoor facility; a robust student-athlete program as well as a Hall of Fame; the new Marshall Sports Med-

The university was contractually bound to use their union employees, allowing only athletic department staff to clean up after those first two events. The olympic sports locker rooms and coaches offices and training rooms — those sat empty.

If we want to continue to be in whatever conference Marshall is in, we need to be in the top third of that conference financially. Marshall has finally done that in Conference USA, and is playing for championships in many sports — women’s soccer, volleyball, baseball, softball and football, most visibly.

The number one person that can help Marshall is looking back at you in the mirror every day.

The Herd needs you to help fund the program with tickets and donations, so Marshall will continue to Play For Championships.

—with Woody Woodrum No stranger to Marshall fans, Bob Pruett is the beloved former football coach of The Herd. His column will appear regularly in Herd Insider.