Topic: H-D: After tough week, Herd savors win over Blazers

[ZackUSAF82]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., -- It's easy when you're winning, but Marshall University's football team had fun on Saturday.

Emmanuel Spann's leaping grabs triggered scoring drives. Ahmad Bradshaw ran with his usual purpose. The Thundering Herd defense tackled in groups and forced turnovers.

It was an entertaining payoff following a demanding week from Mark Snyder's Marshall coaching staff.

"It was a wakeup call," Herd free safety C.J. Spillman said. "It wasn't that we were doing the big things wrong. It's just that little things were adding up and it was a ripple effect. We were feeling it on both sides of the ball.

"I think this can set the tempo for the season. We played as a team and we did things from a team perspective."

The complete effort equaled a 31-24 victory at UAB Saturday night, placing Marshall very much in Conference USA's East Division race. Five of six teams have at least two league losses; Southern Miss is the exception at 2-1.

Along with the win, Snyder was most pleased to watch his team relax, particularly on the road where mistakes have been costly.

Link: http://www.heralddispatch.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061023/SPORTS0301/610230333/1002/SPORTS