norfolk st game notes

Marshall Football 2015

Marshall Media Relations Contact Information

Jason Corriher (Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations)Work: 304-696-4660Cell: 740-331-1497E-mail: [email protected] Website: HerdZone.com

Online ResourcesHerdZone.comHerdzone.com is Marshall Athletics offi cial website. Roster,biographical information, Marshalls football record book, complete statistics and historical information regarding Thundering Herd football can be found here. Each week game notes, statistics and other media resources can be found here.

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2015 Game-by-Game CaptainsPurdue-22 D.J. Hunter, 54 Michael Selby, 78 Clint Van Horn, 94 Jarquez SamuelOhio-17 Taj Letman, 54 Michael Selby, 71 Sebastian Johansson, 93 Steve DillonNorfolk State-

Marshall University Thundering Herd 2015 Football Game NotesMarshall Thundering Herd (1-1) vs. Norfolk State Spartans (0-2)Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015 - 3:30 p.m. ET - Joan C. Edwards Stadium (38,148) -Huntington, W.Va.TV: American Sports Network (Ron Thulin-PBP, Keith Moreland-Analyst)

Marshall University Information

Location______________________________________ _____Huntington, W.Va.Founded______________________________ ____ 1837 (as Marshall Academy)Enrollment____________________________________________ ______ 14,000Nickname______________________________________ ____ Thundering HerdColors _______________________________ ____Green (PMS 356C) and WhiteStadium__________________________________ ___Joan C. Edwards StadiumCapacity_______________________________________________ _____ 38,148Year Opened____________________ __ 1991 (as Marshall University Stadium)Surface______________________________________________ _____ FieldTurfConference__________________________ ____ Conference USA (East Division)Interim President_____________________ ____________________ Gary WhiteDirector of Athletics____________________ ____Mike Hamrick (Marshall, 1980)Head Coach________________________ ___Doc Holliday (West Virginia, 1979)Record at Marshall________________________________________ _____ 41-25Career Record___________________________________________ _____ sameMarshalls 2014 Record_____________________________________ _____ 13-12014 C-USA Record/Finish_____________________________ ___7-1 (1st, East)Off ense______________________________________________ ______MultipleDefense_____________________________________________ ______MultipleOff ensive Starters Returning/Lost______________________________ _____ 6/5Defensive Starters Returning/Lost______________________________ ____ 7/4Letterwinners Returning/Lost_______________________________ _____67/15

Marshall Football Staff Head Coach_______________ ____________Doc Holliday (West Virginia, 1979)Off ensive Coord./QBs________ ______________ Bill Legg (West Virginia, 1985)Defensive Coord./Secondary___ ____________ Chuck Heater (Michigan, 1975)Running Backs_____________ ____________ Chris Barclay (Wake Forest, 2009)Defensive Ends_____________ ________ Sean Cronin (Georgetown, Ky., 2003)Linebackers_______________ ____________ Adam Fuller (Sacred Heart, 1998)Wide Receivers_____________ ___________ Mike Furrey (Northern Iowa, 2000)Tight Ends/Recruiting Coord.__ ________ Todd Goebbel (Northern Iowa, 1998)Off ensive Line_____________ ____________________ Alex Mirabal (FIU, 1993)Defensive Tackles___________ _______________ J.C. Price (Virginia Tech, 1998)Assistant AD for Football Ops __________ Mark Gale (Oklahoma State, 1981)

2015 Marshall Football ScheduleDate Opponent (TV) Time (ET)/ResultSept. 6 PURDUE (FS1) W, 41-31Sept. 12 at Ohio (ASN-WVAH) L, 21-10Sept. 19 NORFOLK STATE (ASN-WVAH) 3:30 p.m.Sept. 26 at Kent State (ASN-WCHS) 3:30 p.m.Oct. 3 OLD DOMINION (ASN-WCHS) 3:30 p.m.Oct. 9 SOUTHERN MISS (CBSSN) 7 p.m.Oct. 17 at Florida Atlantic (FOX College Sports) 12 p.m.Oct. 24 NORTH TEXAS (FOX Sports TBA) 3:30 p.m.Oct. 31 at Charlotte (FOX Sports TBA) TBA (12-day window)Nov. 7 at Middle Tennessee (FOX Sports TBA) TBA (12-day window) Nov. 14 FIU (FOX Sports TBA) TBA (12-day window) Nov. 27 at Western Kentucky (FS1) 12 p.m.

Bold - Indicates a C-USA gameHome games in CAPSAll times are Eastern Time Zone and subject to change.

Stat Comparison

MU Norfolk State

Scoring Off ense 25.5 (90th) 11.5

Scoring Defense 26.0 (76th) 43.5

Total Off ense 330.0 (108th) 231.0

Total Defense 422.0 (90th) 499.5

Rushing Off ense 160.0 (80th) 50.0

Rushing Defense 209.0 (105th) 314.5

Passing Off ense 170.0 (98th) 181.0

Passing Defense 213.0 (70th) 185.0


Norfolk State NotesMarshall game captains at Ohio, as selected by Coach Doc Holliday and his staff , were guard Sebastian Johansson and center Michael Selby on off ense and tackle Steve Dillon and safety Taj Letman. Selby was a captain for the second straight game.

Junior Devontrea Tyler made his fi rst career start at middle linebacker for the Herd.

The Herd 2015 roster has only two players who played in the 2011 game at Ohio redshirt seniors Keith Baxter (cornerback) and Evan McKelvey (linebacker).

Redshirt freshman right guard Jordan Dowrey made his fi rst career start for the Herd.

Herd safety Taj Letmans interception (2:56 fi rst quarter) was his second this season and seventh of his career. Its the Herds fi fth pick in 2015.

Devon Johnsons 73-yard touchdown run (10:07 second quarter) was the second-longest run of his Herd career. He had a 75-yard yarder (no touchdown) in a 2014 win at UAB. It also was Johnsons 28th touchdown (rush and receive) in his last 19 games.

Devon Johnson passed the 100-yard rushing mark in the second quarter with his 73-yard touchdown run. He has 11 games of 100 or more yards rushing in his Herd career, tied for fi fth with Ahmad Bradshaw. The top four are Chris Parker (31), Doug Chapman (20) and Ron Darby and Darius Marshall (12) tied for third.

With 28 career touchdowns (22 rushing, six receiving), Devon Johnson has tied former teammate and tight end Gator Hoskins for No. 13 on the all-time Marshall career touchdown list. No. 12 is Orlando Hatchett (29 from 1989-92).

With a 42-yard kick return to start the second half, senior Deandre Reaves reached 1,982 career kick return yards, eclipsing the former Herd record of 1,966 set by Ray Crisp from 1975-78.

With 7:30 remaining in the game, Devon Johnson totaled 2,039 rushing yards for his Herd career. He is the 15th back in Herd history to reach 2,000.

Herd redshirt senior defensive end Armonze Daniels fi rst-down sack (late third quarter) was the fi rst of his career.

Tyler Williams nine punts in the game are the most in his 42-game Herd career.

Purdue NotesMarshall game captains versus Purdue for the 2015 opener, as selected by Coach Doc Holliday and his staff , were tackle Clint Van Horn and center Michael Selby on off ense and nose tackle Jarquez Samuel and linebacker D.J. Hunter on defense.

Marshall had eight players make their fi rst Herd career starts, including six on the off ensive side of the ball. The new starters on off ense were quarterback Michael Birdsong, receivers Hyleck Foster and Deon-Tay McManus, tight end Ryan Yurachek, right guard Nate Devers and left tackle Sandley Jean-Felix. The two fi rst-time starters on defense were end Joe Massaquoi and nickel back Antavis Rowe. Birdsong, a transfer from FCS member James Madison, previously had made 14 starts for the Dukes.

Junior safety Tiquan Langs two interceptions returned for touchdowns (fi rst quarter, 14:53; fourth quarter, 1:20) are a fi rst for the Herd. No other player in Marshall history has returned two interceptions for scores in a single game. His two interceptions for touchdowns ties the Marshall season record for a single player. Marshall had two versus Akron in 1997 (by Tim Dempsey and B.J. Summers) and two against East Carolina in 2001 (by Ralph Street and Terence Tarpley).

Langs fi rst pick-six may very well be a record. Nebraska also scored seven seconds into its 1996 meeting with Texas Tech on a fumble return and Marshall Media Relations research following

the game did not produce anything faster.

Lang joins Shawn Ferguson of Cincinnati in 1998 as the only C-USA players with two interceptions for touchdowns in one game.

Langs picks are the third and fourth of his career, and the fi rst two touchdowns of his career. They are the fi fth and sixth interception touchdown returns for the Herd in defensive coordinator Chuck Heaters three Marshall seasons. There were three in 2013 (Raheem Waiters, Gary Thompson, Monterius Lovett), one in 2014 (Corey Tindal) and Langs two Sunday.

Marshalls team total of 117 interception return yards is the third most in school history (164 vs. Weber State 1987 on seven INTs and 141 vs. Akron 1997 on three INTs).

Lang had a career high 17 tackles. His previous high was 10 in a 2014 home victory over Ohio University.

Marshalls fi rst punt of the season, a 54-yarder by senior Tyler Williams, was the seniors 39th punt of 50 or more yards in his Herd career.

The 60-yard punt by Herd senior Tyler Williams (6:46, third quarter) was the 10th of his career to travel 60 or more yards.

Senior running back Devon Johnsons fi rst-quarter touchdown reception was his 26th career touchdown (20 rush, six receiving), tying him for 15th on the Herd career list with Mike Barber (1985-88) and Erik Thomas (1993-96).

Slot receiver Nick Mathews (0:38 left, fi rst quarter), of Haymarket, Va., became the fi rst true freshman to play for Marshall this season. Coach Hollidays team played 10 redshirt freshmen against Purdue.

Marshalls four interceptions were the most for the Herd since getting four picks in a 32-14 victory at Miami (Ohio) in October 1999. That game was the Herds fi rst win in Oxford, Ohio, in 60 years. Only four times in history has Marshall intercepted more than four passes in a game seven against Weber State in 1987 and Appalachian State in 1990, and fi ve against Western Michigan in 1956 and East Tennessee State in 1989.

Sundays attendance of 38,791 is the third largest crowd in Joan C. Edwards Stadium history (1991-present; capacity is 38,148). It was the opening game of the 25th season for The Joan. Heres a look at the largest crowds:

41,382 West Virginia 24, Marshall 21 -- Sept. 10, 201040,383 West Virginia 48, Marshall 23 -- Sept. 8, 200738,791 Marshall 41, Purdue 31 -- Sept. 6, 201536,914 Kansas State 21, Marshall 19 -- Sept. 10, 200534,424 Virginia Tech 30, Marshall 10 -- Sept. 24, 2011

Effi ciency at its bestThe Herd has averaged more yards per play than the opposition in 16 of its last 17 games (the 2015 loss to Ohio the only exception).

Whats up? DocMarshall Coach Doc Holliday enters his sixth season on the Herd sideline, and the only current Conference USA head coach who was in the Texas-based league when Holliday arrived is Rices David Bailiff .

Holliday, named at Marshall in December 2009, was part of a 23-man FBS coaching-hire class prior to the 2010 season. Of those 23 coaches, only six remain on the job at the schools hiring them in 2010 Holliday, Florida States Jimbo Fisher, Notre Dames Brian Kelly, Ruffi n McNeill at East Carolina, Virginias Mike London and Todd Berry of Louisiana-Monroe.

Holliday is 41-26 (.612) in fi ve-plus seasons. The only coaches in his hiring class with better records are Fisher (60-11, .845) and Kelly (47-20, .701).


Holliday received a six-year contract extension this past spring, through June 2021, bumping his base and supplemental salary to $755,500. Near the topWith back-to-back season of double-digit victories 10-4 and 13-1 Marshall enters 2015 owning one of the best FBS records in that two-plus-season span. Only seven FBS teams have a better record since the start of the 2013 season than Marshalls 24-6.

Florida State (29-1), Ohio State (28-3), Michigan State (26-3), Alabama (25-4) are the top four. Oregon, Missouri and Northern Illinois, which the Herd downed last December in the inaugural Boca Raton Bowl, are all at 25-5.

50+Marshalls 52-23 win over NIU last season was the 14th time that the Thundering Herd has reached the 50+-point plateau under coach Doc Holliday. Jim Donnan (1990-95) holds the all-time school mark in that department with 15, while Bob Pruett (1996-2004) also reached that mark 14 times and Cam Henderson (1936-42, 1946-49) did it on 13 occasions.

Herd Finishes Under HollidaySince Doc Holliday became head coach in 2010, the Herd has an excellent record of fi nishing off its opponents once it takes the lead. Marshall is 31-6 when it scores fi rst, 29-3 when leading after the fi rst quarter, 32-2 when leading at halftime and 31-3 when leading after three quarters.

10+Since the start of the 2012 season (42 games), MU boasts 810 10+ yard plays, an average of 19.3 per contest. As you might imagine, those numbers have yielded the following: In that same period, off ensive coordinator Bill Leggs attack has 26 games of 500 or more yards total off ense and 26 games with 40 or more points.

Feel The RushMarshall has outrushed 23 of its last 32 opponents overall and 15 of its last 20 Conference USA opponents, dating back to the 2012 season.

Protecting the Home TurfMarshall is nationally known for being one of, if not the, toughest places to play in college football. The program has won 84.6 percent (143-26) of its home games in Joan C. Edwards Stadium, the third-highest mark in the country. Baylor, who is in just its second season in McLane Stadium, is fi rst at 7-0 and Georgia Southern (Paulson Stadium) has slipped into second (182-33) by a hair over the Herd.

Leaves Fall, Herd WinsThe Herd is 21-6 after Oct. 28 in Doc Hollidays four-plus years as head coach, including a 12-1 mark at home.

Tyler, tooHerd senior Tyler Williams impressed quickly upon his 2012 arrival in the program, winning the punting job as a true freshman walk-on and then setting the school single-season record with a 45.19-yard average. Now, he has a shot at the career average record.

The Fort Wayne, Ind., resident currently has a 43.9-yard average over his three-plus seasons. The school record of 43.4 belongs to Pat Velarde (1982-83). And only 59 of Williams 155 career punts have been returned, an average of 2.62 per game.

In three-plus seasons, Williams has had 44 punts of 50 or more yards, including 10 of 60-plus. He has placed 45 inside the 20, with only 15 touchbacks. His stellar performance in the 2013 Military Bowl was a key to the Herds victory over Maryland, as Williams pinned the Terps at their own 1, 5, 1 and 8 among his seven kicks. His career-long boot was a 66-yarder at Rice in 2012.

Williams is the fi fth four-year starting punter in Marshall annals, following Bob Esbaugh (1971-74), Chris Hanson (1995-98), Curtis Head (1999-2002) and Kase Whitehead (2008-11).

Happy returnsHerd kick return man Deandre Reaves has set the school record for single-season return yards in each of the last two years 924 in 2013 and 931 last season. In the loss at Ohio, he also claimed the schools career record.

Reaves has 1,999 career kick return yards. The school mark that lasted nearly four decades was Ray Crisps. who posted 1,966 yards from 1975-78.

Reaves has gotten his kick runback yardage in the last two-plus seasons. He didnt have a kick return as a freshman in 2012. Extra pointsSeconds after Tiquan Lang returned an interception 30 yards seven seconds into the win over Purdue, placekicker Nick Smith trotted onto the fi eld for the ensuing extra point.

Smith has a PAT streak to continue. Justin Haig made his fi nal 102 extra points last missing Nov. 2, 2013 in a win over Southern Miss (third quarter), and Smith kicked one in last seasons victory at FIU.

With fi ve in the Purdue win and one at Ohio, the Herd streak is 109 when Norfolk State visits Edwards Stadium on Saturday.

Marshall had a streak of 156 straight when Haig missed in 2013. So, the Herd has converted its last 264-of-265.

Hang on!Its easy to see why Herd Coach Doc Holliday talks about ball security so often. His fi ve previous Marshall teams have provided a strong indicator of why turnover margin is so important.

Hollidays six Herd teams have a combined 41-26 record. When Marshall has an edge in turnover margin, it is 23-4. When the turnover number is equal, Marshall is 10-4. But when the opponent is more sure-handed, the Herd is 8-18.

Of Marshalls 66 games under Holliday, the Herd has played 33 while producing zero or one turnover.

Perfect vs. Texas at HomeInterestingly enough, Marshall has never lost to a school from Texas at home. The Thundering Herd is a perfect 11-0 against Texas schools in games played in Huntington. Marshall owns a win over North Texas (1988), two wins over Houston (2008, 2012), three wins over Rice (2007, 2011, 2014), two wins over SMU (2005, 2009), two wins over UTEP (2006, 2010) and one victory over UTSA (2013).

Bowling for winsWith a 9-3 all-time record in bowls, Marshall ranks at the top of major college teams in postseason percentage success (.750), among schools that have played in at least 10 bowl games. Utah is next at 14-5 (.737), followed by Miami (Ohio) at 7-3 (.700).

Marshall has won nine of its last 10 bowl appearances, including four in a row, three of those under Coach Doc Holliday. The Herds current four-game postseason win streak also shares the FBS lead with Michigan State, South Carolina, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Louisiana-Lafayette. The graduatesMarshall will play the 2015 season with 13 players already owning their MU undergraduate degrees a record for a Herd football team. MU had fi ve 2015 seniors (athletic eligibility) graduate last December wide receiver Davonte Allen, linebacker D.J. Hunter, safety Taj Letman and tight end Joe Woodrum in management, and off ensive guard Sebastian Johansson in sports management/marketing. The roster gained four more graduates in May cornerback Keith Baxter (health science), defensive end Joe Massaquoi (criminal justice), off ensive tackle Clint Van Horn (political science) and punter Tyler Williams (marketing). Then, four summer graduates were added in August defensive end Armonze Daniel (management), defensive tackle Steve Dillon (Regents bachelor of arts), kick returner Deandre Reaves


(marketing) and linebacker Evan McKelvey (marketing and management). In addition, former off ensive lineman Cam Dees gained his fi nance degree. Dees had to give up football because of multiple knee injuries.

Watch outThe 2015 Herd has three players on six of the preseason watch lists for major national awards, led by running back Devon Johnson. A look at the Herd on those watch lists:Walter Camp Award RB Devon JohnsonMaxwell Award RB Devon JohnsonDoak Walker Award RB Devon JohnsonRimington Trophy C Michael SelbyOutland Trophy OT Clint Van HornRotary Lombardi Award LB D.J. Hunter, OT Clint Van Horn

Tops againMarshall placed a league-best six players on the 2015 All-Conference USA Preseason Football Team announced July 14. The 34-player team was selected by the leagues 13 football coaches.

The six selections for Coach Doc Hollidays team included running back Devon Johnson and right tackle Clint Van Horn on off ense, nose tackle Jarquez Samuel and strongside linebacker D.J. Hunter on defense, and punter Tyler Williams and long snapper Matt Cincotta on special teams. All six are 2015 seniors.

Johnson, Van Horn, Williams and Cincotta were among the Herds league-record 10 All-C-USA fi rst team selections for the 2014 season last December.

Following the Herds six selections were fi ve for FIU and four each for Western Kentucky and Louisiana Tech.

Men of SteeleMarshall produced a Conference USA-record 10 all-conference fi rst team selection in 2014, and if magazine publisher Phil Steeles 2015 preseason forecast is any barometer, the Herd could be stacking up more honors after this season.

Steele named Herd senior Deandre Reaves to his All-America third team at kick returner. Joining Reaves on Steeles All-C-USA fi rst team are running back Devon Johnson, off ensive tackle Clint Van Horn, linebacker D.J. Hunter, safety Taj Letman and punter Tyler Williams.

Second team picks by Steele were off ensive guard Sebastian Johansson and cornerback Corey Tindal, with center Michael Selby, wide receiver Deon-Tay McManus, defensive end Gary Thompson and linebacker Evan McKelvey on the third team. Safety A.J. Leggett was named to the fourth team.

The 14 overall selections and six fi rst team picks led all C-USA schools.

More titlesThe Sporting News 2015 preseason magazine anointed the Herd in several special categories among Conference USA teams, including Doc Holliday as the best recruiting coach and Joan C. Edwards Stadium as the best C-USA football game venue.

Herd players singled out were senior Davonte Allen as the fastest wide receiver, running back Devon Johnson as having the best instincts and wide receiver Raylen Elzy as a top impact freshman.

Lindys preseason guide named Van Horn as one of the leagues top 10 players and the best pass blocker in C-USA. Johnson was picked as the C-USA Off ensive Player of the Year. Big additionsMarshalls program its entire athletic program, in fact had two big additions this summer, when the fi nal two facilities funded by the Vision Campaign for Athletics opened as part of the Chris Cline Athletic Complex.

In early June, the Buck Harless Student-Athletic Academic Center opened, giving Herd athletes a welcome place to do their

studies outside the classroom and the campus libraries. The Harless Centers 14,150 square feet include 98 computer work stations, private tutoring room, a 34-seat classroom and 75-seat auditorium, among other amenities.

In mid-July, the Marshall University Sports Medicine Institute opened its doors for Herd athletes as well as the general public. Its a cooperative eff ort among MU Athletics, Cabell Huntington Hospitals SMART Center (Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Therapies), Marshall Orthopaedics and a hospital-run franchise of Stack Velocity Sports Performance.

The 20,000-square-foot sports Medicine Institute and Harless Center are adjacent to the MU athletics Hall of Fame room and the Herds indoor practice facility that houses the 300-meter Jeff Small Track.

BOGACZYK: Hamrick, Holliday Sign Long-Term Extensions: Marshall University strengthened its stability and continuity in athletics on Wednesday, as the Thundering Herd signed Athletic Director Mike Hamrick and football Coach Doc Holliday to long-term contract extensions.

Hamrick, who returned to his alma mater as AD in July 2009, hired Holliday in December of that year. Together, the two West Virginia natives -- Hamrick from Clendenin and Holliday from Hurricane -- have lifted Herd fortunes through new and enhanced facilities and record-breaking success on the football fi eld.

The contracts of both men extend until June 30, 2021.

Hamricks six-year extension is for $300,000 annually, a $30,000 raise. Hollidays six-year deal is for a total package of $755,500 -- up from $600,000 -- with additional dollars available through incentives tied to conference championships, bowls and season ticket sales.

The university had announced on Dec. 30 that there were agreements in principle for six-year extensions and enhanced compensation for Hamrick and Holliday. The formal contracts were revealed today.

The renewal of the contracts of Mike Hamrick and Coach Holiday is a clear indication of their commitment to Marshalls success and growth in Division I athletics, MU Interim President Gary White said. We are delighted we were able to successfully negotiate continuations that will keep Marshall moving forward. Mike and Doc have stepped up and done their part, and were looking to our great fans and supporters of Marshall athletics to help us continue our momentum and success.

Hollidays previous contract, signed in July 2014, paid the coach $600,000. Last season, he guided the Herd to its fi rst Conference USA championship, with a 13-1 record and Boca Raton Bowl rout over Mid-American Conference champ Northern Illinois. Marshall fi nished Nos. 22/23 in the national polls.

That performance came on the heels of a 10-4 record, C-USA East Division title and Military Bowl win over Maryland in 2013.

Doc has made Marshall football relevant again for the fi rst time in a long time, with the success he has had in the last two seasons, Hamrick said. The recent past -- 23-5, two big bowl wins -- has been great and the promise of the future is great. He runs an excellent program, with a commitment to doing things right on and off the fi eld.

We have the premier program in Conference USA and one of the best in the nation, as the fi nal rankings showed. Thats a credit to Coach Holliday and his staff , and Im looking forward to us having big success for a long, long time.

Holliday, who turns 58 on April 21, brings a 40-25 coaching record into 2015, his sixth season guiding the Herd. His teams are 3-0 in bowls and have won 14 of the last 15 games at Edwards Stadium.


The extension puts Holliday among the top three in football coaching salaries in Conference USA.

Im as happy as Ive ever been coaching football in my career, right here now at Marshall University, Holliday said. I just appreciate the commitment, starting with (late MU President) Dr. (Stephen) Kopp, whos sadly no longer with us. He gave me the opportunity, along with Mike Hamrick, and they made the commitment to winning championships here.

With the great facilities we have now and the opportunity to have and keep the staff I have now, its just a great, great situation to work in. Gary White, our interim president, has been very supportive, and Im just really proud to be the coach here at Marshall.

Mike and I have made a long-term commitment to Marshall and our community in the Tri-State area. Id hope we can continue to build as we have, with an increase in support from our community. I hope we can build our fan base. We play an exciting brand of football, and I hope well see more fans in the seats in coming seasons at Edwards Stadium.

Hollidays new contract includes a base salary from the university of $175,000. He also is guaranteed $330,500 annually for appearances on his weekly radio and TV shows and $200,000 (beginning this July) for annual appearances at Big Green Scholarship Foundation fundraising functions.

The contract has a maximum of $100,000 tied to success in C-USA and bowls, plus an incentive tied to MU football season ticket sales.

Hollidays buyout is $725,000 -- up from $600,000 -- unless he moves to the head coaching position at state rival West Virginia, his alma mater. In that case, the buyout increases to $3 million. If Marshall terminates the contract, the MU buyout is $755,500 for each remaining year of the deal.

Hamrick came to Marshall after AD stints at Arkansas-Little Rock, East Carolina and UNLV. He will be entering his seventh year as the Herd athletic chief this summer, and with his leadership Marshall has made more than $42 million in athletic facility construction and enhancement.

The former Herd linebacker has spearheaded the ongoing Vision Campaign, which has raised in excess of $28 million in private funding for the centerpiece of the campaign, the Chris Cline Athletic Complex.

The 101,000-square foot Cline Complex includes an indoor facility that houses a full-length football fi eld and the 300-meter Jeff Small Track; the Buck Harless Student-Academic Program home (scheduled to open this summer); the Marshall University Sports Medicine Institute; and the fi rst Marshall Athletics Hall of Fame.

The Vision Campaign also allowed the Herd to build Hoops Family Field at Veterans Memorial Soccer Complex, a 1,006-seat facility that is one of the fi nest in the nation and is used not only by Marshall but other community organizations.

Hamrick also has enhanced Herd football schedules, scheduling home-and-home series with Purdue, Louisville, NC State, Pitt, East Carolina and Navy. He also has renewed rivalries with former MAC foes Ohio and Miami (Ohio).

Hamricks years at Marshall also have included a commitment to NCAA compliance and academic success, which is displayed through the NCAAs Academic Progress Rate (APR), graduation rates and C-USA academic awards for student-athletes.

Im very humbled and appreciative that my alma mater, Marshall University, would give me the opportunity to continue in a job that I love, said Hamrick, 57. I appreciate the support Ive received over the years from Dr. Kopp, who was a great president for us, and now from Gary White and our Board of Governors.

Our intent is to continue to move forward and continue to build on our recent success. The university has made a long-term commitment to Coach Holliday and to me with these contracts, and we are committed to Marshall. Our fan base and our community want a successful athletic program, which is what we want.

Were going to be here, and we need more of you to be here, too.

Goebbel Named Marshall Tight Ends Coach/Recruiting CoordinatorMarshall football coach Doc Holliday announced Wednesday that Todd Goebbel will return to the Thundering Herd staff as the teams tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator.

Goebbel returns to the program after fi ve seasons as the assistant head coach/off ensive coordinator at Ohio Dominican University.

We are happy to welcome Todd back to Marshall, Holliday said. He has tremendous experience on the off ensive side of the ball and in recruiting. He certainly knows what it means to be a part of this program and the Huntington community.

Goebbel spent fi ve seasons (2005-09) as the Thundering Herds receivers coach. During that time, Marshall saw steady improvement among its receiving corps and in special teams, which Goebbel coached for his fi rst three years. Under his tutelage, Darius Passmore was named second-team All-Conference USA in 2009, Emmanuel Spann earned All-CUSA honors as a kick returner in 2006 and Chubb Small ranked among the C-USA leaders in the department in 2005.

In 2014, Goebbel led Dominican to an 11-2 mark, an NCAA Regional Final appearance and a No. 4 fi nish in both the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and D2Football.com poll. He also directed quarterback Mark Miller, who fi nished seventh in the Harlon Hill Trophy voting, an award that is presented annually to the best player in NCAA Division II. Goebbels off ense averaged 35.6 points and 445.3 yards per game, led the country in completion percentage (67.9) and was second nationally in red zone off ense (90.9%).

In 2013, ODU fi nished 10-1 and was Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) champions. Goebbel led an off ense that was also top 10 nationally and part of a team that made a second-round appearance in the Division II playoff s.

Goebbel directed a high-octane Panther off ense in 2012, as ODU fi nished amongst the nations best in scoring off ense. The Panthers averaged 40.8 points per game, good for 12th in the country, and ranked 13th nationally in rushing yards (244.9 per game). Ohio Dominican also ranked 27th in total off ense, racking up 452.8 yards per game, and the Panthers had the eighth-ranked off ense in passing effi ciency (161.0) while allowing just six sacks all season, the fi fth-best mark in the country.

Under Goebbels tutelage, ODU has enjoyed its most prolifi c rushing attack in school history. Running back Mike Noff singer set the school single-season and career rushing records and was honored as a Hill Trophy candidate in 2011. Jeremy Fudge emerged as one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the conference, leading all GLIAC quarterbacks in rushing while also completing over 60 percent of his passes.

The Panthers fi nished 2011 as the third-best off ense in the GLIAC, averaging 31.9 points per game, and were also the third-best rushing off ense in the conference and 27th in the nation at 211.7 yards per game. In his three seasons directing the off ense, Goebbel has had 10 players earn All-GLIAC accolades.

Prior to joining the Marshall football coaching staff , Goebbel served as Ohio States defensive quality control coach for one season. In that role, he coached the specialists and assisted with special teams, assisted with fi lm breakdown of the opponents, scouting and self-evaluation of the Buckeye defense. Goebbel


CAREER STARTS

OFFENSE TIGHT ENDS QUARTERBACKS RUNNING BACKS OFFENSIVE LINE WIDE RECEIVERS#85 Ryan Yurachek (2) #11 M. Birdsong (2) #8 Remi Watson (5) #71 Sebastian Johansson (27) #6 Davonte Allen (16) #47 Devon Johnson (14) #78 Clint Van Horn (24) #4 Deon-Tay McManus (2) #54 Michael Selby (16) #2 Hyleck Foster (2) #67 Sandley Jean-Felix (2) #76 Nate Devers (1) #58 Jordan Dowrey (1) DEFENSEDEFENSIVE LINE DEFENSIVE BACKS SAFETIES LINEBACKERS#94 Jarquez Samuel (20) #10 Corey Tindal (28) #17 Taj Letman (29) #22 D.J. Hunter (30)#93 Steve Dillon (4) #5 Keith Baxter (15) #21 Tiquan Lang (13) #31 Evan McKelvey (14)#59 Gary Thompson (2) #7 Antavis Rowe (1) #1 A.J. Leggett (11) #51 Devontrea Tyler (1) #13 Armonze Daniel (4)#73 Joe Massaquoi (1)

THUNDERING HERD SPECIALISTSLONG SNAPPER KICKER PUNTER HOLDER#88 Matt Cincotta (42) #48 Nick Smith (2) #38 Tyler Williams (42) #38 Tyler Williams (16)

helped take the Buckeyes to an 8-4 record that included a win over Oklahoma State in the Alamo Bowl.

Goebbel, a native of Delaware, Ohio, attended Kent State University and was a three-year starting quarterback for the Golden Flashes, winning MVP honors as a sophomore in 1996 while being selected as captain as a junior in 1997. Following the 1997 season, Goebbel transferred to Northern Iowa, where he was the starting quarterback in 1998 and earned Gateway Conference Newcomer of the Year honors. He graduated from Northern Iowa in 1998 and briefl y played for the Buff alo Destroyers of the Arena Football League.

He holds a bachelors degree in Physical Education from Northern Iowa and a masters degree in Educational Leadership from Quincy University.

In 1999, Goebbel coached tight ends at the College of Wooster and the following season was named the quarterback and wide receiver coach at Tiffi n University. He coached at Tiffi n for two years before moving on to Quincy University, where he served as off ensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator for the 2002 and 2003 seasons. During those two seasons as off ensive coordinator, Quincy was ranked 13th and 10th nationally in total off ense.

Goebbel and his wife Sara have two sons, Tyler and Drew.

Former Herd Star Michael Payton to Enter College Football Hall of Fame: Former Marshall football quarterback Michael Payton was one of 17 players named as part of the 2015 College Football Hall of Fame class by the National Football Foundation Friday morning.

The 1992 recipient of the Walter Payton Award as the best player in NCAA Division I-AA, Payton led Marshall to its fi rst national championship. Payton becomes Marshalls sixth College Football Hall of Fame inductee, joining halfback Harry Cy Young (inducted in 1958), halfback Jackie Hunt (2004), wide receiver Mike Barber (2005), Coach Jim Donnan (2009) and wide receiver Troy Brown (2010). Young is recognized as playing football for Marshall and Washington & Lee.

A consensus fi rst team All-American as a senior, Payton led the Herd to a 12-3 record and the 1992 Division I-AA national championship after defeating Youngstown State, which was coached by fellow 2015 College Football Hall of Fame inductee Jim Tressel. In 1991, Payton was the Walter Payton Award runner-up after leading the nation in passing effi ciency (181.3) and taking Marshall to the national championship game.

Payton was twice named Southern Conference Player of the Year and Male Athlete of the Year, and he led the Herd to the 1992 conference title. For more than 20 years, Payton held the Division I-AA record for most passing yards in a half, and he currently ranks in the top four in almost every statistical passing category in Marshall history. A two-time fi rst team all-conference selection and a team captain in 1992, he fi nished his career with 689 completions for 9,411 yards and 69 touchdowns.

Inducted into the Marshall University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1999, Payton played for coaches George Chaump and Donnan and was teammates with Brown during his career in Huntington, W.Va. He was named West Virginia Athlete of the Year and Man of the Year in 1991 and 1992. Im still on the ballot, said Payton in an October 2012 interview with HerdZone.coms Jack Bogaczyk. Just getting that far, to me is a great thing, and people have told me to be patient. Troy is in there, Coach Donnan is in there.

People say I have the stats. We won a championship. I won the Walter Payton Award, which was great. I think its all there. You just have to be patient. When youre a father (son, Donovan, is 11), you have to be patient, Payton said, laughing, That, and when youre coaching youth football.

After spending part of 1993 with the Dallas Cowboys, Payton played two seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League before fi nishing his career with the Florida Bobcats of the Arena Football League in 1996. The Harrisburg, Pa., native is active in DARE and the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Payton is currently a senior staff counselor at Alternative Rehabilitation Communities in Pennsylvania, and he serves as a personal trainer and life coach.


Marshall vs. Ranked OpponentsSince moving to Division I-A (FBS) in 1997, the Herd has enjoyed a pair of landmark victories against nationally-ranked opponents. The following is the Marshall Thundering Herds game-by-game results against NCAA FBS opponents ranked in the Associated Press (since 1936), UPI (1950-92), CNN (1993-96), ESPN/USA Today (1997-2004) or USA Today (since 2005) Top 25 polls since 1936. Date Opponent Result9/11/76 Miami (Ohio) W, 21-16 #20 (Associated Press)8/31/95 NC State L, 16-33 #25 (CNN)12/27/99 BYU (Motor City Bowl) W, 21-3 #25 (ESPN)9/9/00 Michigan State L, 24-34 #24/23 (Associated Press/ESPN)9/1/01 Florida L, 14-49 #1 (Associated Press/ESPN)9/12/02 Virginia Tech L, 21-47 #7 (Associated Press/ESPN)9/6/03 Tennessee L, 24-34 #11 (Associated Press/#12 (ESPN)9/20/03 Kansas State W, 27-20 #6 (Associated Press/ESPN)9/11/04 Ohio State L, 21-24 #9 (Associated Press/ESPN)9/18/04 Georgia L, 3-13 #3 (Associated Press/ESPN)10/7/05 Virginia Tech L, 14-41 #3 (Associated Press/ESPN)9/2/06 West Virginia L, 10-42 #5 (Associated Press/ESPN)9/23/06 Tennessee L, 7-33 #15 (Associated Press/ESPN)9/8/07 West Virginia L, 23-48 #3 (Associated Press/ESPN)9/6/08 Wisconsin L, 14-51 #11 (Associated Press)9/12/09 Virginia Tech L, 52-10 #14/#15 (Associated Press/ESPN) 9/2/10 Ohio State L, 7-45 #2 (Associated Press/ESPN)9/10/10 West Virginia L, 24-21 OT #22/#23 (Associated Press/ESPN)9/4/11 West Virginia L, 34-13 #24 (Associated Press/USA Today)9/24/11 Virginia Tech L, 30-10 #13/#11 (Associated Press/USA Today)10/22/11 Houston L, 63-28 #21/20 (Associated Press/USA Today)9/1/12 West Virginia L, 69-34 #11/11 (Associated Press/USA Today)

Marshall Football on National TV Marshall football games began appearing on local television as far back as the 1950s, however the Thundering Herd made its national television debut in the 1987 NCAA Division I-AA National Championship game against Northeast Louisiana. Marshall has appeared on national television (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, ESPN3, CSTV, Fox, CBS , ABC, American Sports Network) 103 times posting a record of 54-52. The following is a list of Herd national television appearances with results:

12/19/87 ................ NE Louisiana (ESPN) ................................................................. L, 43-42 12/21/91 ................ YSU (CBS) ..................................................................................... L, 25-17 12/19/92 ................ YSU (CBS) ....................................................................................W, 31-28 12/18/93 ................ YSU (ESPN) ......................................................................................L, 17-5 12/16/95 ................ Montana (ESPN)......................................................................... L, 22-20 12/21/96 ................ Montana (ESPN)........................................................................W, 49-29 12/5/97 .................. Toledo (ESPN2) ..........................................................................W, 34-14 12/26/97 ................ Ole Miss (ESPN2) ....................................................................... L, 34-31 12/4/98 .................. Toledo (ESPN2) ..........................................................................W, 23-17 12/23/98 ................ Louisville (ESPN2).....................................................................W, 48-29 10/14/99 ................ Toledo (ESPN) ............................................................................W, 38-13 11/26/99 ................ Ohio (Fox) ..................................................................................... W, 34-3 12/3/99 .................. Western Michigan (ESPN2) ...................................................W, 34-30 12/27/99 ................ BYU (ESPN2) ................................................................................. W, 21-3 9/9/00..................... Michigan St. (ESPN) .................................................................. L, 34-24 10/5/00 .................. Western Michigan (ESPN) ...................................................... L, 30-10 12/2/00 .................. Western Michigan(ABC).........................................................W, 19-14 12/27/00 ................ Cincinnati (ESPN2) ...................................................................W, 25-14 9/1/01..................... Florida (ESPN2) .......................................................................... L, 49-14 11/30/01 ................ Toledo (ESPN) ............................................................................. L, 41-36 12/19/01 ................ East Carolina (ESPN2) .............................................................W, 64-61 9/12/02 .................. Virginia Tech (ESPN) ................................................................. L, 47-21 9/20/02 .................. UCF (ESPN2) ...............................................................................W, 26-21 11/12/02 ................ Miami (ESPN) .............................................................................W, 36-34 11/30/02 ................ Ball State (ESPN2) .....................................................................W, 38-14 12/7/02 .................. Toledo (ESPN2) ..........................................................................W, 49-45 12/18/02 ................ Louisville (ESPN2).....................................................................W, 38-15 9/6/03..................... Tennessee (ESPN2) ................................................................... L, 34-24 9/12/03 .................. Toledo (ESPN) ............................................................................. L, 24-17 9/13/03 .................. Kansas State (Fox Sports Net) ..............................................W, 27-20 11/12/03 ................ Miami (ESPN2) ...............................................................................L, 45-6 11/19/03 ................ UCF (ESPN2) ................................................................................. W, 21-7 9/11/04 .................. Ohio State (ABC) ........................................................................ L, 24-21 9/29/04 .................. Miami (ESPN2) ...........................................................................W, 33-25 11/5/04 .................. Akron (ESPN2) ............................................................................ L, 31-28 12/23/04 ................ Cincinnati (ESPN) ...................................................................... L, 32-14 9/10/05 .................. Kansas State (ESPN2) ............................................................... L, 21-19 10/1/05 .................. SMU (CSTV) ......................................................................W, 16-13 (OT) 10/8/05 .................. Virginia Tech (ESPN2) ............................................................... L, 41-14 10/15/05 ................ UAB (CSTV on i) .........................................................................W, 20-19 10/22/05 ................ UTEP (CSTV on i) ...........................................................................L, 31-3 10/29/05 ................ Tulane (CSTV) ............................................................................W, 27-26 11/8/05 .................. Southern Miss (ESPN2) ...................................................L, 27-24 (OT) 11/26/05 ................ Memphis (CSTV) ...........................................................................L, 26-3 9/16/06 .................. Kansas State (FSN) .......................................................................L, 23-7 10/4/06 .................. UCF (ESPN2) ................................................................................ L, 23-22 11/4/06 .................. Tulane (CSTV) ............................................................................W, 42-21 11/25/06 ................ Southern Miss (CSTV) .................................................................L, 42-7 8/1/07..................... Miami (Fla.) (ESPNU)....................................................................L, 31-3 8/8/07..................... West Virginia (ESPN2) .............................................................. L, 48-23 10/2/07 .................. Memphis (ESPN2) ..................................................................... L, 24-21 10/21/07 ................ Southern Miss (ESPN) .............................................................. L, 33-24 10/27/07 ................ Rice (CSTV) .................................................................................W, 34-21 10/3/08 .................. Cincinnati (ESPN) ...................................................................... L, 33-10 10/28/08 ................ Houston (ESPN2) ......................................................................W, 37-23 11/8/2008 ............. East Carolina (CBSSN) .....................................................L, 19-16 (OT) 11/22/2008 ........... Rice (CBSSN) ................................................................................ L, 35-10 10/24/2009 ........... East Carolina (CBSSN) .............................................................. L, 21-17 11/1/2009 ............. UCF (ESPN) .................................................................................. L, 21-20 12/26/2009 ........... Ohio (ESPN) ................................................................................W, 21-17 9/2/2010 ................ Ohio State (Big Ten) .....................................................................L, 45-7 9/10/2010 ............. West Virginia (ESPN) ........................................................L, 24-21 (OT) 10/2/2010 ............. Southern Miss (CBSSN) ........................................................... L, 41-16 10/13/2010 ........... UCF (ESPN) .................................................................................. L, 35-14 11/27/2010 ........... Tulane (CBSSN) .........................................................................W, 38-23 9/4/2011 ................ West Virginia (ESPN) ................................................................. L, 34-13 9/10/2011 ............. Southern Miss (CSS) ................................................................W, 26-20 9/17/2011 ............. Ohio (ESPN3) .................................................................................L, 44-7 9/24/2011 ............. Virginia Tech (CBSSN)............................................................... L, 30-10 11/12/2011 ........... Tulsa (Fox Sports Net) .............................................................. L, 59-17 11/17/2011 ........... Memphis (Fox Sports Net) ....................................................W, 23-22 11/26/2011 ........... East Carolina (CBSSN) ...................................................W, 34-27 (OT) 12/20/2011 ........... FIU (ESPN) ...................................................................................W, 20-10 9/1/2012 ................ West Virginia (FX) ...................................................................... L, 69-34 9/8/2012 ................ Western Carolina (FCS)...........................................................W, 52-24 9/29/2012 ............. Purdue (Big Ten) ........................................................................ L, 51-41 10/6/2012 ............. Tulsa (CBSSN) .............................................................................. L, 45-38 10/20/2012 ........... Southern Miss (CBSSN) ..........................................................W, 59-24 10/27/2012 ........... UCF (CBSSN) ................................................................................ L, 54-17 11/23/2012 ........... East Carolina (CBSSN) ..................................................L, 65-59 (2OT) 8/31/2013 ............. Miami (Ohio) (CBSSN) .............................................................W, 52-14 9/14/2013 ............. Ohio (ESPNews) ......................................................................... L, 34-31 9/21/2013 ............. Virginia Tech (ESPNU) ..................................................L, 29-21 (3OT) 10/12/2013 ........... Florida Atlantic (FCS) ..............................................................W, 24-23 10/24/2013 ........... Middle Tennessee (FS1) .......................................................... L, 51-49 11/2/2013 ............. Southern Miss (CBSSN) ..........................................................W, 61-13 11/14/2013 ........... Tulsa (FS1) ...................................................................................W, 45-34 11/23/2013 ........... Florida International (FCS) ....................................................W, 48-10 11/29/2013 ........... East Carolina (CBSSN) .............................................................W, 59-28 12/7/2013 ............. Rice (ESPN2) ................................................................................ L, 41-24 12/27/2013 ........... Maryland (ESPN) .......................................................................W, 31-20 8/31/2014 ............. Miami (Ohio) (ESPN3) .............................................................W, 42-27 9/6/2014 ................ Rhode Island (American Sports Network) ......................... W, 48-7 9/13/2014 ............. Ohio (CBSSN) .............................................................................W, 44-14 9/20/2014 ............. Akron (ESPN3) ...........................................................................W, 48-17 10/4/2014 ............. Old Dominion (Fox Sports Net)...........................................W, 56-14 10/11/2014 ........... Middle Tennessee (Fox Sports Net) ...................................W, 49-24 10/18/2014 ........... FIU (American Sports Network) ..........................................W, 45-13 10/25/2014 ........... Florida Atlantic (FS1) ...............................................................W, 35-16 11/8/2014 ............. Southern Miss (American Sports Network) ....................W, 63-17 11/15/2014 ........... Rice (FOX Sports Net) .............................................................W, 41-14 11/22/2014 ........... UAB (American Sports Network) ........................................W, 23-18 11/28/2014 ........... WKU (FS1) ...........................................................................L, 67-66 (OT) 12/6/2014 ............. Louisiana Tech (FS1) ................................................................W, 26-23 12/23/2014 ........... Northern Illinois (ESPN) .........................................................W, 52-23 9/6/2015 ................ Purdue (FS1)...............................................................................W, 41-31 9/12/2015 ............. Ohio (American Sports Network) ........................................ L, 21-10


2015 Conference USA Standings Conf. OverallEAST DIVISION W L W L WKU 1 0 2 0Charlotte 0 0 2 0Old Dominion 0 0 2 0FIU 0 0 1 1Marshall 0 0 1 1Middle Tennessee 0 0 1 1Florida Atlantic 0 0 0 2 WEST DIVISION W L W L Rice 0 0 1 1Southern Miss 0 0 1 1North Texas 0 0 0 1 UTEP 0 0 0 2 UTSA 0 0 0 2Louisiana Tech 0 1 1 1 UPCOMING CONFERENCE USA SCHEDULE (all times ET)

Saturday, Sept. 19Buff alo at Florida Atlantic, 12 p.m. (ASN)Rice at North Texas, 2:30 p.m. (FOX College Sports)UTSA at Oklahoma State, 3:30 p.m. (FS1)WKU at Indiana, 4 p.m. (ESPNews)NC Central at FIU, 6 p.m.Charlotte at Middle Tennessee, 7 p.m.NC State at Old Dominion, 7 p.m. (ASN)Southern Miss at Texas State, 7 p.m. (ESPN3)UTEP at New Mexico State, 8 p.m.

2015 Season Superlatives

Overall Record .......................................................................................1-1Current Streak ....................................................................................... L-1C-USA Record ........................................................................................0-0Division Record .....................................................................................0-0Non-Conference Record ....................................................................1-1Home Record .........................................................................................1-0Current Home Streak ........................................................................ W-2Road Record ..........................................................................................0-1Current Road Streak ............................................................................ L-1Day Games .............................................................................................1-0Night Games ..........................................................................................0-1Natural Grass .........................................................................................0-0Artifi cial Turf ..........................................................................................1-1MU wins Coin Toss ...............................................................................1-0MU loses Coin Toss ..............................................................................0-1MU leads after 1st Quarter ...............................................................1-0MU trails after 1st Quarter ................................................................0-1MU leads at Halftime ..........................................................................0-0MU trails at Halftime ...........................................................................1-1MU leads after 3rd Quarter ...............................................................0-0MU trails after 3rd Quarter ...............................................................1-1In September .........................................................................................1-1In October ..............................................................................................0-0In November ..........................................................................................0-0In December ..........................................................................................0-0vs. Top 25 teams ...................................................................................0-0vs. unranked teams .............................................................................1-1With 100-yard rusher ..........................................................................0-1vs. 100-yard rusher ..............................................................................1-0With 300-yard passer ..........................................................................0-0vs. 300-yard passer ..............................................................................0-0When MU scores fi rst ..........................................................................1-0When Opp. scores fi rst .......................................................................0-1On Big Ten Network ............................................................................0-0On ESPN ..................................................................................................0-0On ESPN2 ................................................................................................0-0On ESPN3 ................................................................................................0-0On ESPNU ...............................................................................................0-0On ESPNews...........................................................................................0-0On CBS Sports Network .....................................................................0-0On Fox Sports Net ................................................................................0-0On FX ........................................................................................................0-0On Fox College Sports ........................................................................0-0 On Fox Sports 1 ....................................................................................1-0On American Sports Network .........................................................0-1

THE LAST MEETING... This is the fi rst meeting between the two schools.


Doc HollidayHead Coach - Sixth Season(41-26 overall, 27-13 C-USA)

In fi ve seasons, Marshall Coach John Doc Holliday has brought Thundering Herd football back into the national picture.

His 2014 Herd (13-1) won the schools fi rst Conference USA Championship with a thrilling comeback, title-game win over Louisiana Tech. MU headed to the Boca Raton Bowl, where it routed Mid-American Conference champion Northern Illinois, 52-23. The Herd fi nished the season in the major polls No. 22 in the USA Today Coaches poll and No. 23 in the Associated Press media poll.

The Herd coach was named the 2014 Conference USA Coach of the Year in voting by his peers.

Holliday received a six-year contract extension (through July 2021) for $755,500 annually on April 8. He takes a 40-25 record into the 2015 season, and the Herd has won 19 of its last 21 games overall and 14 of the last 15 at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.

The 2014 title season followed a successful 2013, as Marshall went 10-4, won the C-USA East Division crown and downed ACC member Maryland in the Military Bowl -- the Terps last game before heading to the Big Ten.

In December 2014, Holliday was named the 15th annual Gazette-Mail Sportsman of the Year by Charleston Newspapers. In April 2015, the Herd coach was honored as the 2014 Lowell Cade Sportsperson of the Year by The Herald-Dispatch (Huntington).

Holliday, named as Herd coach on Dec. 17, 2009 in his fi rst collegiate head coaching job, is widely regarded as one of the top recruiters in the nation. He has more than 30 years of collegiate coaching experience, including previous stops at Florida, North Carolina State and West Virginia, his alma mater.

Marshall displayed balance on off ense and a strong defense throughout the 2014 season and boasted 10 all-conference fi rst team selections as voted by C-USA coaches, as star players like quarterback Rakeem Cato, center Chris Jasperse, defensive tackle James Rouse and cornerback Darryl Roberts were team leaders.

In 2013, Holliday took the Herd where it hadnt been in its previous eight years in Conference USA nine regular-season victories, seven league wins and a berth in the C-USA title game, mostly on the strength of an unblemished 6-0 mark at home for the fi rst time since 2002.

The Herds 31-20 win over Maryland was one of only two bowl victories by teams from non-AQ BCS conference teams over BCS league schools in the 2013 postseason. Marshall also boasted the best (scoring) defensive turnaround in the nation (19.9 fewer points allowed per game).

In fi ve seasons, Hollidays program has had 33 All-Conference USA selections (fi rst and second team, and honorable mention), including 17 this season.

During his time in Huntington, Hollidays teams have consistently improved as the season stretches into the winter months. The Herd is 21-6 under Holliday after Oct. 29, including an eye-popping 12-1 mark in the friendly confi nes of Joan C. Edwards Stadium.

In 2011, the Herd went 7-6 against the 16th-toughest schedule in the nation, a slate that was ranked second among non-BCS schools. Two of those victories came against eventual C-USA champion Southern Miss and Big East co-champ Louisville, the latter coming on the road for the programs fi rst non-conference road win since the early 2000s. Marshall also won fi ve Conference USA games, the most for the program since it had joined the league in 2005.

During his coaching career, Holliday has coached in 23 bowl games, three national championship games and coached 12 players that have gone on to the National Football League. He has also coached fi ve All-Americans.

A native of Hurricane, W.Va., Holliday was a three-year letter-winner at linebacker at West Virginia (1976-78) and has earned bachelors (1979) and masters (1981) degrees from WVU. He won a state high school wrestling title at 175 pounds (all divisions) in 1975 at Hurricane.

Holliday and his wife, Diana, have four children -- Meghan, Cade, Chase and Cody.


2015 Marshall Football Fall Roster1 A.J. Legge 6-1 199 S RS JR Miami, Fla. (South Miami) 2 Hyleck Foster 5-11 185 WR SO Ga ney, S.C. (Ga ney) 3 Davonte Allen 6-2 200 WR RS SR Belle Glade, Fla. (Glades Central) 3 Stefan Houston 6-3 217 TE JR Clarksburg, Md. (Fork Union Military Academy) 4 Deon-Tay McManus 6-1 228 WR RS SO Bal more, Md. (Atlanta Sports Academy) 5 Keith Baxter 6-0 193 DB RS SR Homestead, Fla. (Homestead) 5 Donquell Green 5-8 170 WR SO Waynesboro, Ga. (Burke County) 6 Doyle Grimes 6-1 210 LB FR Miami, Fla. (South Dade)7 Antavis Rowe 5-11 167 DB SO Atlanta, Ga. (Washington) 8 Remi Watson 5-11 207 RB RS SR Lakeland, Fla. (Lake Gibson) 9 Jus n Hunt 6-3 203 WR JR Memphis, Tenn. (Whitehaven) 9 Shawn Pe y 6-2 241 LB RS JR Greenbelt, Md. (U. of Maryland) 10 Gunnar Holcombe 6-3 212 QB RS JR Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (University School) 10 Corey Tindal 5-10 182 DB RS JR Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (Atlanta Sports Academy) 11 Rodney Allen 5-11 180 DB RS SO Dallas, Texas (Lincoln) 11 Michael Birdsong 6-5 241 QB RS JR Matoaca, Va. (James Madison U.) 12 Kyle Gallup 6-2 211 QB FR Greenwood Village, Colo. (Chapparal)12 Chris Williams-Hall 6-0 186 DB RS FR Miami, Fla. (Miami Jackson)13 Armonze Daniel 6-4 251 DL RS SR Avon, Ind. (Avon) 14 Kendall Gant 6-3 199 S SO Lakeland, Fla. (Lake Gibson) 14 Chase Li on 6-6 211 QB FR Tampa, Fla. (Wharton)15 Raylen Elzy 6-4 206 WR FR Lithonia, Ga. (Georgia Sports Prep Academy)16 Antonio Howard 5-10 173 DB FR Hialeah, Fla. (Hialeah-Miami Lakes)16 Coy Pe 6-2 175 QB FR Barboursville, W.Va. (Cabell Midland)17 Taj Letman 6-3 190 S RS SR Elberton, Ga. (Elbert County) 18 Keion Davis 6-1 206 RB RS FR Fairburn, Ga. (Langston Hughes)19 Deandre Reaves 5-10 181 WR RS SR Sterling, Va. (Dominion) 20 T.J. Gri n 5-9 185 DB FR Virginia Beach, Va. (Ocean Lakes)21 Emanuel Byrd 6-3 236 TE JR Albany, Ga. (Georgia Military College)21 Tiquan Lang 5-9 182 S JR Valdosta, Ga. (Lowndes) 22 D.J. Hunter 6-0 210 LB RS SR Middletown, Ohio (Middletown) 23 Tony Pi man 5-10 212 RB RS SO Hampton, Va. (Phoebus) 24 Michael Johnson 5-9 172 DB JR Miami, Fla. (Booker T. Washington) 25 Kaleb Harris 6-3 226 TE RS FR Creston, Ohio (Norwayne) 27 Deiondre Coleman 5-10 157 DB FR Louisville, Ky. (Male)28 DAndre Wilson 5-10 169 DB RS SO Myrtle Beach, S.C. (Myrtle Beach) 29 Malik Gant 6-2 182 S FR Washington, D.C. (Woodson)30 Kaare Vedvik 6-4 208 P/K RS SO Stavanger, Norway (McPherson (Kan.)) 31 Evan McKelvey 6-1 220 LB RS SR Moncks Corner, S.C. (Berkeley) 32 Delvin Weems 5-8 185 RB FR Tucker, Ga. (Tucker)33 Marquis Couch 6-1 207 LB FR Miami, Fla. (Miami Central)34 Ellis Cain 5-10 204 RB FR Louisville, Ky. (Male)35 Zach Acord 5-10 165 WR FR Logan, W.Va. (Logan)35 Frankie Hernandez 6-2 205 LB RS FR Largo, Fla. (Largo)36 Cody Carter 5-10 176 DB RS JR Barboursville, W.Va. (U. of Charleston) 37 Chase Hancock 6-2 211 LB RS FR Daniels, W.Va. (Woodrow Wilson) 38 Tyler Williams 6-0 203 P SR Fort Wayne, Ind. (Atlanta Sports Academy) 39 Amoreto Curraj 6-3 218 K RS SO Tampa, Fla. (Leto) 40 Corey Neely 6-1 175 S JR Rock Hill, S.C. (Georgia Military College)41 Davon Durant 6-2 233 LB JR Greenwood, S.C. (Butler CC/Arizona State)42 Aus n McGugan 6-2 208 K FR Grayson, Ga. (Grayson)42 Blaine Thompson 5-9 204 LB RS SO Mt. Pleasant, S.C. (Wando)44 Blake Keller 6-2 237 DL RS SO Bradenton, Fla. (U. Central Florida) 45 Raheim Huskey 6-2 208 LB RS SO Ga ney, S.C. (Ga ney) 46 Daryl Nickerson 5-8 170 WR FR Durham, N.C. (Riverside)47 Devon Johnson 6-1 243 RB SR Richlands, Va. (Richlands) 48 Kyle Camacho 6-0 221 LB RS SO Greenwich, Ct. (Greenwich)48 Nick Smith 5-10 177 K RS SO Plain City, Ohio (Alder) 49 Wya Ford 6-1 177 LB FR West Union, W.Va. (Doddridge County)50 Melvin Stubbs 5-11 220 LB RS FR Parkersburg, W.Va. (Parkersburg)51 Devontrea Tyler 6-1 240 LB JR Arcadia, Fla. (Iowa Central CC)52 Eli Gates 6-4 215 LS RS FR Mar nsburg, W.Va. (Hedgesville) 54 Nyquan Harris 6-2 293 DL RS FR Norfolk, Va. (Lake Taylor)54 Michael Selby 6-2 289 OL JR Sandersville, Ga. (Washington County) 55 Aaron Plan 6-1 238 DL RS SO Hallandale, Fla. (Hallandale)


57 Ma Harless 6-2 267 OL RS FR Cyclone, W.Va. (Westside) 57 Zach Higginbotham 5-11 228 LB RS SO Cincinna , Ohio (Country Day/University of Cinn.) 58 Jordan Dowrey 6-1 299 OL RS FR Winchester, Va. (Handley) 59 Gary Thompson 6-2 249 DL RS JR La Mesa, Ca. (Helix) 61 Levi Brown 6-4 267 OL FR Franklin, Ga. (Heard County)62 Kyle Varnell 6-5 209 LS FR Norcross, Ga. (Norcross)63 Will Mendoza 6-6 282 OL RS FR Las Vegas, Nev. (Bishop Gorman) 65 Cody Collins 6-1 279 OL RS SO Trotwood, Ohio (Trotwood-Madison) 66 Jason Jean 6-4 251 OL FR Miami, Fla. (Miami Central)67 Sandley Jean-Felix 6-5 322 OL RS SO Sunrise, Fla. (Boyd Anderson) 68 Tom Collins 6-6 270 OL RS SR Williamstown, W.Va. (Bethany College) 69 Aaron Dopson 6-4 233 DL FR Hagerstown, Md. (North Hagerstown)70 Ryan Riedel 6-1 279 OL RS JR Hun ngton, W.Va. (Cabell Midland) 71 Sebas an Johansson 6-5 297 OL RS SR Karlstad, Sweden (Raceland (Ky.)) 73 Joe Massaquoi 6-5 253 DL RS JR Alexandria, Va. (T.C. Williams) 74 AJ Addison 6-6 293 OL SO Ruther Glen, Va. (Fork Union Military Academy) 75 Tyler Combs 6-4 280 OL RS SO Louisa, Ky. (Lawrence County)76 Nate Devers 6-3 288 OL RS FR Massillon, Ohio (Washington) 77 Alex Locklear 6-5 315 OL FR Hun ngton, W.Va. (Spring Valley)78 Clint Van Horn 6-5 322 OL RS SR Beckley, W.Va. (Woodrow Wilson) 79 Fedrice Binot 6-2 290 OL RS FR Lakeland, Fla. (Lake Gibson) 80 Jack Gammon 5-10 176 WR RS JR Columbus, Ohio (Bishop Wa erson)81 John Hathaway 6-1 183 WR FR Winfi eld, W.Va. (Winfi eld)82 Emanuel Beal 6-1 213 WR RS FR Powder Springs, Ga. (Hillgrove)83 Michael Clark 6-7 200 WR SO St. Petersburg, Fla. (Lakewood) 84 Josh Knight 6-1 197 WR JR Fort Pierce, Fla. (Fort Pierce Central) 85 Ryan Yurachek 6-3 237 TE SO Myrtle Beach, S.C. (Carolina Forest) 86 Brandon Ford 6-2 176 WR FR Hurricane, W.Va. (Hurricane)87 Nick Mathews 5-10 168 WR FR Haymarket, Va. (Patriot)88 Ma Cinco a 6-1 210 LS SR Charlo e, N.C. (Charlo e Catholic) 89 Joe Woodrum 6-6 251 TE RS SR Bluefi eld, W.Va. (Bluefi eld) 90 Damien Dozier 6-4 207 DL FR Raleigh, N.C. (Virginia Episcopal School)91 Ryan Bee 6-7 268 DL RS FR Ashland, Ohio (Hillsdale) 92 Kamen Reynolds 6-3 202 TE FR White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. (Greenbrier East)92 Ty Tyler 6-3 248 DL FR Punta Gorda, Fla. (Charlo e)93 Steve Dillon 6-4 285 DL RS SR Palmdale, Ca. (Palmdale) 94 Jarquez Samuel 6-5 290 DL RS SR Valdosta, Ga. (Valdosta) 95 Tomell One 6-4 281 DL SO Palm Bay, Fla. (Bayside) 96 Milan Lanier 6-5 240 DL FR Cincinna , Ohio (Mount Healthy)96 Zach Wood 6-1 212 LS FR Williamsburg, Ohio (McNicholas)97 Malik Thompson 6-6 251 DL RS FR Winter Garden, Fla. (Fork Union Military Academy)98 Jason Smith 6-3 296 DL RS FR Hackensack, N.J. (East Coast Prep) 99 Ricardo Williams 6-5 268 DL RS SR Homestead, Fla. (U. of Miami)

PRONUNCIATION GUIDE2 hi-LEAK Foster3 Ste-FAHN Houston8 REE-MEE Watson13 Ar-MAHNZ Daniel17 TAHJ Letman21 TIE-kwan Lang30 Corey Vedvik39 Am-o-RET-oh CURRY47 Dev-in Johnson67 Sandley JEEN-felix70 Ryan Rye-DELL73 Joe Mass-uh-QUOY79 Fedrice bin-OH88 Matt SIN-cot-uh94 Jar-KEZ Samuel95 Toe-mel 1


Marshalls Projected Depth ChartOFFENSE X-WR- #3 DAVONTE ALLEN (6-2, 200, R-Sr., Belle Glade, Fla.) #9 JUSTIN HUNT (6-3, 203, Jr., Memphis, Tn.) Z-WR- #4 DEON-TAY MCMANUS (6-1, 228, R-So., Baltimore, Md.) #19 DEANDRE REAVES (5-10, 181, R-Sr., Sterling, Va.) OR #84 JOSH KNIGHT (6-1, 197, Jr., Fort Pierce, Fla.) SL-WR- #2 HYLECK FOSTER (5-11, 185, So., Gaff ney, S.C.) #19 DEANDRE REAVES (5-10, 181, R-Sr., Sterling, Va.) OR #87 NICK MATHEWS (5-10, 168, Fr., Haymarket, Va.)

LT- #67 SANDLEY JEAN-FELIX (6-5, 322, R-So., Sunrise, Fla.) #79 FEDRICE BINOT (6-2, 290, R-Fr., Lakeland, Fla.) LG- #71 SEBASTIAN JOHANSSON (6-5, 297, R-Sr., Karlstad, Sweden) #68 TOM COLLINS (6-6, 270, R-Sr., Williamstown, W.Va.)

C- #54 MICHAEL SELBY (6-2, 289, Jr., Sandersville, Ga.) #65 CODY COLLINS (6-1, 279, R-So., Trotwood, Ohio)

RG- #58 JORDAN DOWREY (6-1, 299, R-Fr., Winchester, Va.) #76 NATE DEVERS (6-3, 288, R-Fr., Massillon, Ohio)

RT- #78 CLINT VAN HORN (6-5, 322, R-Sr., Beckley, W.Va.) #74 AJ ADDISON (6-6, 290, So., Ruther Glen, Va.) TE- #85 RYAN YURACHEK (6-3, 237, So., Myrtle Beach, S.C.) #21 EMANUEL BYRD (6-3, 236, Jr., Albany, Ga.)

QB- #11 MICHAEL BIRDSONG (6-5, 241, R-Jr., Matoaca, Va.) #14 CHASE LITTON (6-6, 211, Fr., Tampa, Fla.) OR #10 GUNNAR HOLCOMBE (6-3, 212, R-Jr., Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.)

RB- #47 DEVON JOHNSON (6-1, 243, Sr., Richlands, Va.) #8 REMI WATSON (5-11, 207, R-Sr., Lakeland, Fla.) #23 TONY PITTMAN (5-10, 212, R-So., Hampton, Va.) DEFENSE

DE- #59 GARY THOMPSON (6-2, 249, R-Jr., La Mesa, Ca.) #73 JOE MASSAQUOI (6-5, 253, R-Jr., Alexandria, Va.)

NT- #94 JARQUEZ SAMUEL (6-5, 290, R-Sr., Valdosta, Ga.) #95 TOMELL ONE (6-4, 281, So., Palm Bay, Fla.)

DT- #93 STEVE DILLON (6-4, 285, R-Sr., Palmdale, Ca.) #99 RICARDO WILLIAMS (6-5, 268, R-Sr., Homestead, Fla.)

DE- #13 ARMONZE DANIEL (6-4, 251, R-Sr., Avon, Ind.) #44 BLAKE KELLER (6-2, 237, R-So., Bradenton, Fla.) SLB- #22 D.J. HUNTER (6-0, 210, R-Sr., Middletown, Ohio) #37 CHASE HANCOCK (6-2, 211, R-Fr., Daniels, W.Va.) MLB- #51 DEVONTREA TYLER (6-1, 240, Jr., Arcadia, Fla.) OR #45 RAHEIM HUSKEY (6-2, 208, R-So., Gaff ney, S.C.)

WLB- #31 EVAN MCKELVEY (6-1, 220, R-Sr., Moncks Corner, S.C.) #9 SHAWN PETTY (6-2, 241, R-Jr., Greenbelt, Md.) #53 FRANKIE HERNANDEZ (6-2, 205, R-Fr., Largo, Fla.)

LCB- #5 KEITH BAXTER (6-0, 193, R-Sr., Homestead, Fla.) #11 RODNEY ALLEN (5-11, 180, R-So., Dallas, Tx.) S- #17 TAJ LETMAN (6-3, 190, R-Sr., Elberton, Ga.) #1 A.J. LEGGETT (6-1, 199, R-Jr., Miami, Fla.)

S- #21 TIQUAN LANG (5-9, 182, Jr., Valdosta, Ga.) #14 KENDALL GANT (6-3, 199, So., Lakeland, Fla.) RCB- #10 COREY TINDAL (5-10, 182, R-Jr., Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) #7 ANTAVIS ROWE (5-11, 167, So., Atlanta, Ga.)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------NICKEL- #7 ANTAVIS ROWE (5-11, 167, So., Atlanta, Ga.) #12 CHRIS WILLIAMS-HALL (6-0, 186, R-Fr., Miami, Fla.)


SPECIALISTSKO- #39 AMORETO CURRAJ (6-3, 218, R-So., Tampa, Fla.) #30 KAARE VEDVIK (6-4, 208, R-So., Stavanger, Norway) FG/PAT- #48 NICK SMITH (5-10, 177, R-So., Plain City, Ohio) #39 AMORETO CURRAJ (6-3, 218, R-So., Tampa, Fla.) P- #38 TYLER WILLIAMS (6-0, 203, Sr., Fort Wayne, Ind.) #30 KAARE VEDVIK (6-4, 208, R-So., Stavanger, Norway)

H- #38 TYLER WILLIAMS (6-0, 203, Sr., Fort Wayne, Ind.) #30 KAARE VEDVIK (6-4, 208, R-So., Stavanger, Norway) LS- #88 MATT CINCOTTA (6-1, 210, Sr., Charlotte, N.C.) #96 ZACH WOOD (6-1, 212, Fr., Williamsburg, Ohio)

KR #19 DEANDRE REAVES (5-10, 181, R-Sr., Sterling, Va.) #8 REMI WATSON (5-11, 207, R-Sr., Lakeland, Fla.) PR #2 HYLECK FOSTER (5-11, 185, So., Gaff ney, S.C.) #19 DEANDRE REAVES (5-10, 181, R-Sr., Sterling, Va.)

Blocked Kicks by MU Since 1996

1996-none1997-none1998-Danny Derricott, George Miller1999-Yancey Satterwhite2000-Chris Crocker (2), George Miller, Willie Tisdale2001-Johnathan Goddard, Terrance Tarpley2002-Jamus Martin, Willie Smith2003-none2004-Brad Bates, Ivan Clark (2), Shawn Lauzon2005-James Johnson, Dennis Thornton2006-Phillip Gamble, Curtis Keyes, Jon Moravec2007-Ashton Hall (2), Byron Tinker2008-Aaron Johnson, Johnny Jones (2)2009-Johnny Jones (2), Albert McClellan2010-Johnny Jones (2), Essray Taliaferro2011-Vinny Curry (3), Zach Dunston, Jermain Kelson, Derek Mitchell, Darryl Roberts2012-Marques Aiken (2), C.J. Crawford, Jermain Kelson, Deon Meadows, Jeremiah Taylor (2)2013-James Rouse, Darryl Roberts2014-Raheim Huskey (2), Ricardo Williams, Arnold Blackmon

2015 Off ensive Starting LineupsOpponent X-WR Z-WR SL-WR TE LT LG C RG RT QB RBPurdue Allen McManus Foster Yurachek Jean-Felix Johansson Selby Devers Van Horn Birdsong Johnsonat Ohio Allen McManus Foster Yurachek Jean-Felix Johansson Selby Dowrey Van Horn Birdsong Johnson

2015 Defensive Starting LineupsOpponent DE NT DT DE SLB/NICK MLB WLB S S LCB RCBPurdue Massaquoi Samuel Dillon Daniel Rowe McKelvey Hunter Letman Lang Baxter Tindalat Ohio Thompson Samuel Dillon Daniel Hunter Tyler McKelvey Letman Lang Baxter Tindal


The Last Time ...MarshallShut Out An Opponent: Sept. 7, 2013 vs. Gardner-Webb (Marshall 55, Gardner-Webb 0)Shut Out An Opponent in the First Half: Sept. 13, 2014 vs. Ohio (27-0 fi rst half, 44-14 win)Shut Out An Opponent in the Second Half: Nov. 8, 2014 at Southern Miss (35-0 second half, 63-17 win)Allowed 60+ Points at Home: Nov. 28, 2014 vs. WKU (67-66, OT)Allowed 50-59 Points at Home: Oct. 27, 2012 vs. UCF (54-17)Rushed For 300-399 Yards: Nov. 8, 2014 at Southern Miss (38 carries for 335 yards)Rushed For 400+ Yards: Sept. 6, 2014 vs. Rhode Island (432 yards)Rushed For Six Touchdowns: Kevin Grooms (3), Remi Watson (2) and Steward Butler (1) at Rice, Sept. 22, 2012Rushed For Seven Touchdowns: Remi Watson (3), Steward Butler (2), Tony Pittman (1) and Rakeem Cato (1) at Southern Miss, Nov. 8, 2014Passed For 300-399 Yards: Dec. 6, 2014 vs. Louisiana Tech (308), Rakeem Cato (25 of 46 for 308 yards and 2 TDs)Passed For 400-499 Yards: Nov. 28, 2014 vs. WKU (417), Rakeem Cato (29 of 46 for 417 yards and 7 TDs)Passed For 500 or More Yards: Dec. 19, 2001 (576), Byron Leftwich vs. ECU (41 of 70 for 576 yards)Passed For Four Touchdowns: Rakeem Cato vs. Rice, Nov. 15, 2014Passed For Five Touchdowns: Rakeem Cato (4) and Blake Frohnapfel (1) at FIU, Nov. 23, 2013Passed For Six Touchdowns: Rakeem Cato (5) and Blake Frohnapfel (1), vs. Southern Miss, Nov. 2, 2013Passed For Seven Touchdowns: Rakeem Cato (7), vs. WKU, Nov. 28, 2014Failed To Pass For A Touchdown: Sept. 12, 2015 at Ohio (L, 21-10)Had 500-599 Yards Offense: Dec. 23, 2014 vs. Northern Illinois (75 plays, 505 yards)Had 600-699 Yards Offense: Nov. 14, 2013 at Tulsa (103 plays, 619 yards)Had 700 or More Yards Offense: Nov. 28, 2014 vs. WKU (82 plays for 708 yards)Rushed and Passed for 300+ Yards: Nov. 2, 2013 vs. Southern Miss (304 rushing, 332 passing)Scored 50-59 Points: Dec. 23, 2014 vs. Northern Illinois (75 plays, 505 yards)Scored More Than 60 Points: Nov. 28, 2014 vs. WKU, WKU 67, Marshall 66 (OT)Had 30 or More First Downs: Nov. 28, 2014 vs. WKU (37)Ran 100+ Plays: Nov. 14, 2013 at Tulsa (103)Won a Game with less than 21 minutes of Time of Possession: Nov. 9, 2013 vs. UAB (20:59)Failed to Pass for More than 100 Yards: Oct. 8, 2011 at UCF (87 yards)Failed to Pass for More than 100 Yards in Back-to-Back games: Nov. 15, 2008 vs. UCF (84 yards); Nov. 22, 2008 at Rice (83 yards)Failed to Rush for More Than 50 yards: Oct. 8, 2011 at UCF (43 yards on 21 carries)Held An Opponent to Less Than 50 yards Rushing: Sept. 4, 2011 at West Virginia (42 yards on 26 attempts)Held An Opponent to Negative yards Rushing: Sept. 9, 2006, vs. Hofstra (-5 yards on 18 carries)Held An Opponent To Less Than 100 Yards Passing: Dec. 6, 2014 vs. Louisiana Tech (72 yards on 7 of 20 passing)Held An Opponent To Negative yards Passing: Nov. 26, 2005 at Memphis (1 of 8 for -3 yards)Held An Opponent To Less Than 200 Yards Total Offense: Nov. 15, 2014 vs. Rice (180 total yards)Failed To Score a Touchdown: Sept. 27, 2008 at West Virginia (L, 27-3)Failed To Score an Offensive Touchdown: Oct. 8, 2011 at UCF (L, 16-6)Did Not Punt in a Game: Oct. 21, 2006 at UABAveraged 50+ Yards Per Punt: Oct. 25, 2014 vs. Florida Atlantic (Tyler Williams, 51.4 on fi ve kicks)Returned A Kickoff For A Touchdown: Dec. 23, 2014 vs. Northern Illinois (Deandre Reaves, 93 yards)Returned A Punt For A Touchdown: Oct. 12, 2013 at Florida Atlantic (Devon Smith, 77 yards)Returned A Blocked Punt For A Touchdown: Oct. 4, 2014 at Old Dominion (Brandon Byrd, 0 yards)Returned A Blocked FG For A Touchdown: Sept. 2, 2010 at Ohio State (Ahmed Shakoor, 61 yards)Returned One Interception For A Touchdown: Oct. 18, 2014 at FIU (Corey Tindal, 30 yards)Returned Two Interceptions For Touchdowns: Sept. 6, 2015 vs. Purdue (Tiquan Lang, 30 and 55 yards)Returned A Fumble For A Touchdown: Nov. 22, 2014 at UAB (RaShawde Myers, 0 yards)Returned A PAT for 2 points: Oct. 6, 2012 vs. Tulsa (D.J. Hunter)Player Had 20 or more tackles: Mario Harvey vs. Tulane, Nov. 27, 2010 (21 total tackles, 9 solo)Blocked A Punt: Oct. 4, 2014 at Old Dominion (Raheim Huskey)Blocked A FG: Nov. 28, 2014 vs. WKU (Arnold Blackmon)Blocked An XP: Nov. 14, 2013 at Tulsa (Darryl Roberts)Scored A Safety: Sept. 10, 2011 vs. Southern Miss (Vinny Curry tackled Kendrick Hardy in the end zone)One Player Rushed For 100-199 Yards: Sept. 12, 2015 at Ohio (Devon Johnson rushed for 170 yards on 21 carries)Two Players Rushed For 100 or More Yards: Oct. 4, 2014 at Old Dominion (Devon Johnson, 20-198-3 TDs & Remi Watson, 9-102-2 TDs)Three Players Rushed For 100 or More Yards: Nov. 9, 2013 vs. UAB (Steward Butler-7 for 139 yards, TD; Essray Taliaferro, 12 for 118, 2 TDs; Kevin Grooms (8 for 108, TD)One Player Rushed For 200 or More Yards: Steward Butler vs. WKU on Nov. 28, 2014 (24 carries for 233 yards and 2 TDs)One Player Rushed For Three Touchdowns: Remi Watson at Southern Miss on Nov. 8, 2014One Player Rushed For Four Touchdowns: Devon Johnson vs. Florida Atlantic on Oct. 25, 2014One Player Had 100-199 Yards Receiving: Tommy Shuler vs. Northern Illinois on Dec. 23, 2014 (18 catches for 185 yards, TD)One Player Had 200+ Yards Receiving: Tommy Shuler at Purdue on Sept. 29, 2012 (19 catches for 200 yards)Two Players Had 100+ Yards Receiving: Davonte Allen (141) and Tommy Shuler (132), Nov. 28, 2014 vs. WKUTwo Players Had Double-Digit Receptions:Tommy Shuler (13) and Aaron Dobson (11) vs. Ohio, Sept. 15, 2012 vs. OhioOne Player Had Three Touchdowns Receiving: Gator Hoskins, Nov. 23, 2013 at ECU (3 TDs-25, 15 and 32 yards)Two Receivers Had Two Touchdowns Receiving: Gator Hoskins and Tommy Shuler, Nov. 14, 2013 at Southern MissThree Receivers Had Two Touchdowns Receiving: Davonte Allen, Hyleck Foster and Eric Frohnapfel, Nov. 28, 2014 vs. WKUOne Player Had Two Interceptions: Sept. 6, 2015 vs. Purdue (2 INT by Tiquan Lang)Allowed six or more sacks: Nov. 14, 2008 vs. Southern Miss (allowed seven sacks)Posted 7+ sacks: Nov. 23, 2013 at FIU (7)Posted 14+ tackles for loss: Nov. 23, 2013 at FIU (14)Turned the ball over 5+ times: Nov. 14, 2013 at Tulsa (5)Intercepted 4+ passes: Sept. 6, 2015 vs. Purdue (4)Lost 4+ fumbles: Nov. 14, 2013 at Tulsa (4)Converted 4+ fourth downs: Oct. 11, 2014 vs. Middle Tennessee (4)Played An Overtime Game: Nov. 28, 2014 vs. WKU (Lost 67-66 in overtime)Ranked In The Final Season Poll: Amway USA Today 2014 #22, Associated Press 2014-#23Ranked In The Top 10 Of Regular Season Poll: ESPN/USA Today and Associated Press Final Poll 1999, #10Ranked In 11-25 Of Regular Season Poll: Associated Press #19 (Nov. 23, 2014), USA Today #20 (Nov. 23, 2014)Defeated a Nationally-Ranked Opponent: Sept. 20, 2003 at #6 (AP) Kansas State (27-20)


An OpponentShut Out Marshall: Oct. 14, 2000, at Toledo, Toledo-42, Marshall-0Shut Out Marshall in the fi rst half: Oct. 8, 2011 at UCF (trailed 16-0, MU lost 16-6)Shut Out Marshall in the second half: Sept. 21, 2013 at Virginia Tech (MU lost 29-21 in triple overtime)Rushed For 200-299 Yards: Sept. 12, 2015 at Ohio (51 carries for 229 yards)Rushed For 300-399 Yards: Oct. 24, 2013 at Middle Tennessee (60 carries for 308 yards)Rushed For 400 or More Yards: Sept. 12, 2009 at Virginia Tech (53 carries for 444 yards)Passed For 300-399 Yards: Aug. 30, 2014 at Miami (Ohio) (318 yards)Passed For 400-499: Nov. 23, 2012 at ECU (439 yards)Passed For 500+ Yards: Nov. 28, 2014 vs. WKU (516 yards)Passed For 7 Touchdowns: Oct. 22, 2011 at Houston (Case Keenum-6, Cotton Turner-1)Passed For 8 Touchdowns: Nov. 28, 2014 vs. WKU (Brandon Doughty)Had 500-599 Yards Total Offense: Oct. 24, 2013 at Middle Tennessee (100 plays for 585 yards)Had 600-699 Yards Total Offense: Sept. 22, 2012 at Rice (93 plays for 647 yards)Had 700+ Yards Total Offense: Nov. 28, 2014 vs. WKU (86 plays for 738 yards)Scored 50-59 Points: Oct. 24, 2013 at Middle Tennessee, Middle Tennessee 51-Marshall 49Scored 60+ Points: Nov. 28, 2014 vs. WKU, WKU 67-Marshall 66 (OT)Had 30 or More First Downs: Nov. 28, 2014 vs. WKU (37)Recovered a Fumbled Kickoff in the end zone For A Touchdown: Toran Davis (Ohio) on Sept. 14, 2013Returned A Kickoff For A Touchdown: Quincy McDuffi e (2), UCF, Oct. 27, 2012 (97 & 98 yards)Returned Two Kickoffs For A Touchdown: Quincy McDuffi e, UCF, Oct. 27, 2012 (97 & 98 yards)Returned A Punt For A Touchdown: Jackie Williams, UAB, Nov. 10, 2012 (79 yards)Returned An Interception For A Touchdown: Kalan Reed, Oct. 20, 2012 at Southern Miss (19 yards)Returned Two Interceptions For A Touchdown: Sept. 29, 2012 at Purdue (Ricardo Allen-39 yards and Josh Johnson-74 yards) Returned A Fumble For A Touchdown: Dwight Dobbins, Tulsa, Oct. 6, 2012 (11 yards)Returned Two Fumbles For A Touchdown: Nov. 17, 2011 at Memphis (Kendrick Golden-36 yards and Frank Trotter-18 yards)Blocked A Punt: Dec. 6, 2014 vs. Louisiana Tech (Paul Turner blocked a Tyler Williams punt)Returned A Blocked Punt For A Touchdown: Chris Brown at Middle Tennessee on Oct. 24, 2013 (3 yards)Blocked A Field Goal: Nov. 9, 2013 vs. UAB (Shaquille Roberson blocked a Justin Haig FG attempt)Blocked An Extra Point Attempt: Nov. 2, 2013 vs. Southern Miss (Dylan Bradley blocked a Justin Haig PAT)Scored A Safety: Oct. 8, 2011 at UCF (MUs Gator Hoskins was called for holding in the end zone)One Player Rushed For 100-199 Yards: Sept. 6, 2015 vs. Purdue (D.J. Knox rushed for 102 yards on 22 carries)Two Players Rushed For 100 or More Yards: Oct. 24, 2013 at MTSU (Jordan Parker-127 yards on 21 carries and 1 TD, Reggie Whatley-104 yards on 16 carries)One Player Rushed For 200 or More Yards: Nov. 28, 2014 vs. WKU (Leon Allen rushed for 237 yards on 33 carries with 1 TD)One Player Had Three Rushing Touchdowns: Dec. 6, 2014 vs. Louisiana Tech (Kenneth Dixon)One Player Had 100 or More Yards Receiving: Oct. 25, 2014 vs. Florida Atlantic (Lucky Whitehead, 11 catches for 102 yards)Two Players Had 100 or More Yards Receiving: Nov. 28, 2014 vs. WKU (Taywan Taylor 122, Jared Dangerfi eld 117)One Player Had Three Touchdowns Receiving: Nov. 28, 2014 vs. WKU (Tyler Higbee)

The Last Time ...


Tyler Williams Pun ng Numbers (2012-present)

2012 (Freshman)No. Yds. Avg. Lg tb fc i20 50+ 55+ 60+ blk TD return43 1,943 45.19 66 4 9 16 13 7 5 2 (team) 1Note: Avg of 45.19 is school record for a season

at West Virginia 4-205 (51.2 avg) 39 (ob6), 53, 54, 59 Western Carolina 1-37 (37.0) 37 Ohio 5-217 (43.4) 38, 59 (tb), 49 (ob4), 33, 38 (fc8) at Rice 5-254 (50.8) 62 (down4), 47 (down19), 34 (down5), 45, 66 at Purdue 3-129 (43.0) 51 (15), 35 (ob36), 43Tulsa 1-38 (38.0) 38at Southern Miss 3-124 (41.3) 42 (fc12), 38, 44UCF 7-329 (47.0) 40, 41 (fc9), 61 (tb), 40, 64 (tb), 43, 40 (down1)Memphis 3-133 (44.3) 35, 48, 50at UAB 5-218 (43.6) 53 (17), 41 (TD), 31 (ob), bl (team), 41, 52 (fc19) Houston 4-158 (39.5) 37 (fc11), 40 (fc17), 40 (tb), 41 (fc11)at East Carolina 2-101 (50.5) 40, bl (team), 61 (ob1)

2013 (Sophomore)No. Yds. Avg. Lg tb fc i20 50+ 55+ 60+ blk TD return56 2,366 42.2 65 5 13 13 13 8 2 2-TDs (team) 0

Miami (Ohio) 4-191 (47.8) 41, 65 (12), 44 (tb), 41 (ob27)Gardner-Webb 3-129 (43.0) 39 (fc9), 65 (18), 25at Ohio 3-109 (36.3) 35 (fc14), 38 (19, return 48yd), 36 (fc20) at Virginia Tech 4-179 (44.8) bl (team), 42, 35 (8), 45, 57 (11, return 6yd)UTSA 3-110 (36.7) 34, 43 (fc), 33 (fc)at Florida Atlan c 6-256 (42.7) 58 (tb), 38 (16), 38, 38, 45, 39at Middle Tennessee 4-159 (39.8) 36, bl (team), 27, 38 (tb), 58Southern Miss 3-119 (39.7) 23 (ob), 51 (ob), 45UAB 1-43 (43.0) 43at Tulsa 4-138-34.5 45 (fc), 43, 18, 32 (fc12)at FIU 6-286-47.7 53, 55, 51 (tb), 49, 53 (12), 25 East Carolina 2-100-50.0 43, 57 (10)at Rice (C-USA) 6-263-43.8 54 (fc), 40 (1), 40 (fc), 33, 40 (ob), 56 (15)Maryland (bowl) 7-284-40.6 39 (fc21), 40 (1), 38 (5), 44 (tb), 47 (1), 35 (8fc), 41

2014 (Junior)No. Yds. Avg. Lg tb fc i20 50+ 55+ 60+ blk TD return42 1,851 44.1 64 5 11 12 12 4 2 1 (team) 0 at Miami (Ohio) 5-233 (46.6) 45 (4), 46 (fc33), 64 (7), 47 (39, return 54yd), 31 (45fc)Rhode Island 2-88 (44.0) 51, 37Ohio 1-56 (56.0) 56 (tb)At Akron 4-182 (45.5) 49 (fc), 38, 43, (20ob), 52At Old Dominion 1-32 (32.0) 32 (ob)Middle Tennessee 3-142 (47.3) 54, 35, 53 (dwn)at FIU 3-152 (50.7) 52 (5 dwn), 43 (tb), 57 (tb)Florida Atlan c 5-257 (51.4) 47 (fc), 47 (fc), 51 (16), 48 (dwn), 64 (tb)at Southern Miss 2-88 (44.0) 51, 37 (fc)Rice 2-85 (42.5) 9 (fc), 31 (fc)at UAB 4-152 (38.0) 22 (ob), 43, 53, 34 (dwn1)Western Kentucky 2-88 (44.0) 42 (fc), 46 (dw1)Louisiana Tech 5-193 (38.6) 31 (fc), 42 (12), 48, 37 (2 dwn), blk, 35Northern Illinois 3-103 (34.3) 20 (ob), 41 (fc), 42 (tb)

2015 (Senior)No. Yds. Avg. Lg tb fc i20 50+ 55+ 60+ blk TD return14 644 46.0 60 1 2 4 5 3 1 0 0 Purdue 5-218-(43.6) 54 (16), 28 (37dwn), 38 (5dwn), 60 (tb), 38 (30fc)at Ohio 9-426-(47.3) 46(34), 51(20), 40(18fc), 42(27), 58(24), 33(10fc), 46(16), 56(22), 54 (21)


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