Sept. 12, 2010
Bring on THE Herd for More of This Season
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
.jpg)
Huntington, WV (HNN) - History escaped Joan C Edwards Stadium Friday night. Instead, the same ole’, same ole’ for MU versus WVU, occurred (MU lost), but following last week’s spanking by OSU few expected a loss by a field goal in OT.
The Thundering Herd came out of the gate strong and poised. They drew first blood and the defense kept trouncing the stars of WVU’s offense. Marshall has held leads going into the second half, but this team held the lead as the seconds counted down on the clock.
Coulda, shoulda opportunities would have slammed the Mountaineers chances. A critical Red Zone fumble by MU after a WVU turn over prevented the Herd on the 40th anniversary season of the plane crash putting their big Morgantown brother away for the Huntington school’s first victory in ten tries over the Mountaineers.
The #23 ranked Mountaineers struggled, until the final minutes of the game. Apparently, the Marshall adrenelinn burst and MU ‘s defensive squad kept finding itself more and more often absorbing blows as the Fourth Quarter offense could not add to the lead or eat up clock time with ball control.
The once stingy defense gave up back to back 95 yard plus drives and a two point conversion, collapsing in a manner reminiscent of highly scripted movie comeback stories.
Keeping with that “movie” feel, I watched this game in HD at the Downtown Discount Cinema. The large screen puts you closer to the field and with much better perspective than some seats in the stands. You see crisp close ups AND see replays of the questioned calls.
One thing, though, HD is awesome, but the litany of commercials and cutaways to other games prevents the same “feel” as if in the stands. But, it’s a community viewing which allows claps cheers concessions and an atmosphere that is midway between couch potato and in the stands.
.jpg)
(And it’s a non-alcoholic children and young adult friendly atmosphere, too, at the perfect recessionary price: FREE.)
Back to the game, Mountaineer fan fingernails were knolled, as were those of Marshall supporters, who sat in disbelief after the game.
The underdog and celebratory scripts had already been “called” by ESPN announcers. Still, as frowning, shoulder drooping MU fans exited, the Hail Mary possibility nearly occurred. MU hasn’t played for championships for nearly a decade, so reality thinkers hoped that the Herd could keep the game close and avoid twice being on the wrong side of a blow out.
The MU football team sent a strong signal before a record breaking crowd. It’s still on the “young” side against more powerful opponents but the Herd Friday showed sparks and tenacity that has brought them championships.
The conference portion of the season has yet to begin. After a series of non winning seasons under former coach Snyder, the “Doc” demonstrated that a new marshall has command of the Herd. What happened and nearly happened in Huntington Friday pounded home what’s been lacking for too many years on the gridiron --- the Herd is back and the buffalo is out of the corral.
The team has played two ranked teams and avoided severe injuries to crucial players. The ball may have flicked off the end zone goal tonight, but the message has been sent --- you can’t count MU out anymore. Bring on the Herd for more of the season.
Share This Story:
Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
Bring on THE Herd for More of This Season
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) - History escaped Joan C Edwards Stadium Friday night. Instead, the same ole’, same ole’ for MU versus WVU, occurred (MU lost), but following last week’s spanking by OSU few expected a loss by a field goal in OT.
The Thundering Herd came out of the gate strong and poised. They drew first blood and the defense kept trouncing the stars of WVU’s offense. Marshall has held leads going into the second half, but this team held the lead as the seconds counted down on the clock.
Coulda, shoulda opportunities would have slammed the Mountaineers chances. A critical Red Zone fumble by MU after a WVU turn over prevented the Herd on the 40th anniversary season of the plane crash putting their big Morgantown brother away for the Huntington school’s first victory in ten tries over the Mountaineers.
The #23 ranked Mountaineers struggled, until the final minutes of the game. Apparently, the Marshall adrenelinn burst and MU ‘s defensive squad kept finding itself more and more often absorbing blows as the Fourth Quarter offense could not add to the lead or eat up clock time with ball control.
The once stingy defense gave up back to back 95 yard plus drives and a two point conversion, collapsing in a manner reminiscent of highly scripted movie comeback stories.
Keeping with that “movie” feel, I watched this game in HD at the Downtown Discount Cinema. The large screen puts you closer to the field and with much better perspective than some seats in the stands. You see crisp close ups AND see replays of the questioned calls.
One thing, though, HD is awesome, but the litany of commercials and cutaways to other games prevents the same “feel” as if in the stands. But, it’s a community viewing which allows claps cheers concessions and an atmosphere that is midway between couch potato and in the stands.
(And it’s a non-alcoholic children and young adult friendly atmosphere, too, at the perfect recessionary price: FREE.)
Back to the game, Mountaineer fan fingernails were knolled, as were those of Marshall supporters, who sat in disbelief after the game.
The underdog and celebratory scripts had already been “called” by ESPN announcers. Still, as frowning, shoulder drooping MU fans exited, the Hail Mary possibility nearly occurred. MU hasn’t played for championships for nearly a decade, so reality thinkers hoped that the Herd could keep the game close and avoid twice being on the wrong side of a blow out.
The MU football team sent a strong signal before a record breaking crowd. It’s still on the “young” side against more powerful opponents but the Herd Friday showed sparks and tenacity that has brought them championships.
The conference portion of the season has yet to begin. After a series of non winning seasons under former coach Snyder, the “Doc” demonstrated that a new marshall has command of the Herd. What happened and nearly happened in Huntington Friday pounded home what’s been lacking for too many years on the gridiron --- the Herd is back and the buffalo is out of the corral.
The team has played two ranked teams and avoided severe injuries to crucial players. The ball may have flicked off the end zone goal tonight, but the message has been sent --- you can’t count MU out anymore. Bring on the Herd for more of the season.
Share This Story:
Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
