Topic: What a story it could have been

[herd1990]

A depleted Marshall football team galliantly fights to an improbable win against Army in the Independence Bowl!  Full of back ups, walk on and 3rd stringers they someone found a way to shock the college football world.  Recruits suddenly think, "Hey, I wanna be apart of that"!  We end the season ranked #22.  And a giant FU to Coach Huff.  But instead, we take our marbles and go home.  Shameful.  Disappointed.  We certainly didn't honor the 75 with this decision.

[Garbanjo]

A depleted Marshall football team galliantly fights to an improbable win against Army in the Independence Bowl!  Full of back ups, walk on and 3rd stringers they someone found a way to shock the college football world.  Recruits suddenly think, "Hey, I wanna be apart of that"!  We end the season ranked #22.  And a giant FU to Coach Huff.  But instead, we take our marbles and go home.  Shameful.  Disappointed.  We certainly didn't honor the 75 with this decision.

The optics are not good, that's for sure.

I think we need to hear more from the AD.

[CharlestonHerdGuy]

A depleted Marshall football team galliantly fights to an improbable win against Army in the Independence Bowl!  Full of back ups, walk on and 3rd stringers they someone found a way to shock the college football world.  Recruits suddenly think, "Hey, I wanna be apart of that"!  We end the season ranked #22.  And a giant FU to Coach Huff.  But instead, we take our marbles and go home.  Shameful.  Disappointed.  We certainly didn't honor the 75 with this decision.

Anything could happen, but unfortunately, the much more likely outcome would be the following headline after the game: Marshall loses by most points in bowl history.

[herd1990]

Anything could happen, but unfortunately, the much more likely outcome would be the following headline after the game: Marshall loses by most points in bowl history.

It's a better headline than "Marshall Quits!"

[whf]

It's a better headline than "Marshall Quits!"

I like this one "After 54 years of fighting through the effects of the 1970 plane crash that killed 75 people, players, coaches and fans of the university, Marshall opts out of bowl game because of lack of players and coaches."

[bbcard1]

Or howaboout "Decimated Marshall attempts to play game with three offensive lineman, two running backs suffer career ending injuries, popcorn vendor play QB in the 4th quarter, most lopsided game in bowl history."

[Flat Tire 2]

A depleted Marshall football team galliantly fights to an improbable win against Army in the Independence Bowl!  Full of back ups, walk on and 3rd stringers they someone found a way to shock the college football world.  Recruits suddenly think, "Hey, I wanna be apart of that"!  We end the season ranked #22.  And a giant FU to Coach Huff.  But instead, we take our marbles and go home.  Shameful.  Disappointed.  We certainly didn't honor the 75 with this decision.

That is one perspective and another view might be Miami 66- Marshall 6. Check the link below, there were 5 games where we didn't even score a point and we only played 10 games that season. That is what happens when you put a depleted team on the field.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1971_Marshall_Thundering_Herd_football_team

[herdman22]

The blame for this falls 100% on the NCAA. I honestly think they are trying to force the smaller schools out and make it all about the "Big 4" conferences. But all they are really doing is losing fans. All ages. Once players started leaving I heard big fans from 20 on up say they really didn't care about the bowl game anymore. This is exactly what the NCAA wants. I'm honestly losing interest in all sports. They are taking the fun out of it.

Let's put the blame where it truly belongs. Until that happens and big changes are made, which they won't be, this will happen more and more and the NCAA will not care.


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[whf]

Or howaboout "Decimated Marshall attempts to play game with three offensive lineman, two running backs suffer career ending injuries, popcorn vendor play QB in the 4th quarter, most lopsided game in bowl history."

Would be great, if only true.  We have a slew of olinemen, a bunch of running backs, three qbs, a plethoria of wide receivers, and three TEs. 

We have six or seven Dline players, admittedly weak at Linebacker, but plenty of DBs as well.  They just aren't that experienced. BUT they do exist, and saying they don't isn't true.  And how do you think they must feel, pracitced for a whole year, some more than one year, then told we dont' think you are "countable" when figuring our how many players at each position.

[miltonherdfan]

Would be great, if only true.  We have a slew of olinemen, a bunch of running backs, three qbs, a plethoria of wide receivers, and three TEs. 

We have six or seven Dline players, admittedly weak at Linebacker, but plenty of DBs as well.  They just aren't that experienced. BUT they do exist, and saying they don't isn't true.  And how do you think they must feel, pracitced for a whole year, some more than one year, then told we dont' think you are "countable" when figuring our how many players at each position.

makes you wonder what all those big green scholarship contributions are actually for, doesn't it?  guys that don't count?!

[CharlestonHerdGuy]

Army is much better off playing a full strength 5 and 7 team than our tremendously depleted 10 and 3 team. It has potential to have been a joke remembered forever like the band storming the field before the game was over.

[bbcard1]

Would be great, if only true.  We have a slew of olinemen, a bunch of running backs, three qbs, a plethoria of wide receivers, and three TEs. 

We have six or seven Dline players, admittedly weak at Linebacker, but plenty of DBs as well.  They just aren't that experienced. BUT they do exist, and saying they don't isn't true.  And how do you think they must feel, pracitced for a whole year, some more than one year, then told we dont' think you are "countable" when figuring our how many players at each position.

We're hearing very different accounts and while either one of us can choose to believe what we want to, odds are we are neither one getting a completely accurate story. I can pretty well assure you based on fairly recent facts that we could not be competitive. Up until the rules changed in terms of redshirting, Marshall would play JV games against schools like Hargrave Military Academy. They had to play players out of position to field a team while Hargrave would play their normal teams. We usually weren't very competitive for that reason even though we were playing against generally younger teams. The last one I remember going to was in the Snyder era. 

[parshall2marshall]

Army is much better off playing a full strength 5 and 7 team than our tremendously depleted 10 and 3 team. It has potential to have been a joke remembered forever like the band storming the field before the game was over.

A realistic take IMHO. Could you imagine the Academy's 3rd string trying to hold the score down, already say around 63-17. A complete embarrassment to everyone involved is a more likely scenario. I don't understand how so many on here are upset that we opted out of the bowl. Marshall brass certainly coveted the 2 shares and expenses but chose the only practical thing to do.

[herd1990]

A realistic take IMHO. Could you imagine the Academy's 3rd string trying to hold the score down, already say around 63-17. A complete embarrassment to everyone involved is a more likely scenario. I don't understand how so many on here are upset that we opted out of the bowl. Marshall brass certainly coveted the 2 shares and expenses but chose the only practical thing to do.

The fact we are scared of a fight concerns me.  Would it have been an uphill battle?  Absolutely.  But I say our 2nd and 3rd stringers could have competed against army as well as our 1st stringers did against Ohio St.  So what if we lose 49-3.  At least people would say, "Man that Marshall team gave it their all with their scout team and 3rd stringers.....respect."  Instead we look scared.  As far as I know we still have 55 or so guys on scholarship here. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[Flat Tire 2]

The fact we are scared of a fight concerns me.  Would it have been an uphill battle?  Absolutely.  But I say our 2nd and 3rd stringers could have competed against army as well as our 1st stringers did against Ohio St.  So what if we lose 49-3.  At least people would say, "Man that Marshall team gave it their all with their scout team and 3rd stringers.....respect."  Instead we look scared.  As far as I know we still have 55 or so guys on scholarship here. 🤷🏻‍♂️

It doesn't matter since we are not playing the game. In a few days no one will think about it since is a minor bowl. The news cycle will change nationally, except for maybe Huntington. Time to let it go and move on.

Edit: I just checked ESPN main page and their college football and I don't see anything about Marshall cancelling the game. It is apparently old news now unless they plan to report it later.

[Greg H]

You people are delusional.  Our starters would have destroyed army.  What?s left would only humiliate Marshall and probably get several people hurt.

[elginherd]

You people are delusional.  Our starters would have destroyed army. What?s left would only humiliate Marshall and probably get several people hurt.

I wish that coud be proven...I don't believe Army wins, but I also believe that Army would've been felt.

[herd1990]

You people are delusional.  Our starters would have destroyed army.  What?s left would only humiliate Marshall and probably get several people hurt.

So you are saying we have 55 or so guys on scholarship not equipped to physically handle a football game against usually undersized Army?  😂😂😂. Wow.  The delusion is real.

[Flat Tire 2]

So you are saying we have 55 or so guys on scholarship not equipped to physically handle a football game against usually undersized Army?  😂😂😂. Wow.  The delusion is real.

I am not even sure if we could would have "55" players for the game. Rumors are that the Marshall seniors let be know that had no interest in playing the game. That is probably why the rumor of only 41 players would be available for the game is floating around. Plus a couple of the assistant coaches are leaving for new jobs. It is hard to play a game without players and coaches.

[miltonherdfan]

I am not even sure if we could would have "55" players for the game. Rumors are that the Marshall seniors let be know that had no interest in playing the game. That is probably why the rumor of only 41 players would be available for the game is floating around. Plus a couple of the assistant coaches are leaving for new jobs. It is hard to play a game without players and coaches.

the asst coaches -- unless they've resigned or TG has dismissed them -- should still be under contract & available to coach