Thoughts after Herd's morning session

As the first practice for Marshall football's 2014 season got underway this morning inside Joan C. Edwards stadium, many of the faces present were just like the turf, brand new. With freshmen and newcomers to the program filling out many of the uniforms, it was visibly easy to see that nerves hovered over the new members of the Thundering Herd much like the haze that lingered throughout Huntington.

While dropped passes and players lining up in the wrong position were only among the list of early mistakes during the opening session of fall practice, things progressed as the morning wore on as the players began to settle in.

The team worked through 22 different stations with the final workout before the huddle on the block "M" at midfield was offense vs defense 11 on 11. Although the players are only in helmets, shirts and shorts, the intensity level was easily seen that this group was hungry to make an impression to not only the coaches, but also some of the veterans who were also a part of the session.

Senior TE Eric Frohnapfel spent his morning donning one of only three helmets that did not contain a red-stripe--something this must be earned to have the stripe removed--preparing himself for the grind of the three weeks of practice that leads up to the opening game with Miami-Ohio.

"I'm out here with the young guys due to a class conflict," Frohnapfel said. "Its good for me to be able to work with the younger guys and provide the leadership they need to learn what is expected of them at practice."

With full contact practice not permitted until Friday, the field is covered with smiles and up-beat attitudes as players try to do anything to work their way up the depth charts. One of those players was Donquell "Gator" Green.

Although he shares a nickname that many Herd fans know all too well, "Gator", physically there is no comparison to the former Herd TE Gator Hoskins who is currently fighting for a roster spot with the Miami Dolphins. Green, who was Georgia's player-of-the-year, stands 5-8 and weighs only 160 pounds and shows signs of a combination of Tommy Shuler and Devon "Moo-Moo" Smith all in one.

"When the ball is in his hands (Gator), he's Tommy Shuler size and is so dynamic because he's quick as lightning too," Marshall receiver's coach Mike Furrey said.

Green made several quick adjustments on misguided passes to convert an incomplete pass to a completion. His best catch of the morning, a one-handed grab on a ball thrown behind him on a post-route that was an easy six in a live game situation.

Furrey said while it was way to early to think about who would be doing what with the young group he was happy to see the guys come out and compete to get the session off to a positive start.

Another topic of interest for the morning session was the first chance to see Michael Birdsong (will red-shirt due to transfer) and Cole Garvin who will battle with Gunnar Holcombe for the back-up quarterback role that was vacated by Blake Frohnapfel who transferred to Massachusetts.

Garvin seemingly had the better arm early on when working with the receivers as many of his passes hit the intended target on time and in stride, it was Birdsong who marched the offensive unit down the field to end the session with many of those connections going to Green.

One final note from this morning, about the last 10 minutes of the workouts starting offensive linemen Chris Jasperse and Clint Van Horn made an appearance to see the underclassmen at work. I could see each of the members in the line group step up their drive with the presence of the upperclassmen.

No injuries to speak of and all in all, a good start to the 2014 campaign.

This afternoon will be the vets of the team with names like Cato, Shuler and Butler ready to ramp up this high-octane offensive unit while Rouse, Thompson and Holmes prepare to defense to repeat its dominate performance from 2013.

Post Practice Interview with Marshall FB Linebacker Kent Turene

Kent Turene speaks about his first day at practice and how its a blessing to have overcome so many hurdles just to get a chance to start on the practice field this season.

Kent Turene Interview

Post Practice Interview with Marshall Football Asst. Coach Mike Furrey

Coach Furrey discusses his new wideouts after the first practice and the importance the new NCAA regulations that allowed summer contact with players has helped prepare the freshmen and newcomers to the program.

Coach Furrey Interview

Post Practice Interview with Eric Frohnaphel

Post practice interview with Herd Football TE Eric Frohnapfel as the senior breaks down the first practice of the season and how his involvement with the younger players can be beneficial to the team.

Eric Frohnapfel Interview

Marshall Football Morning Practice

Here is a list of who is on the field this morning.

Offense:
Hyleck Foster
Donquell Green
Michael Birdsong
Cole Garvin
Andre Scott
Tony Pittman
David Gaydosz
Assani Mudimdi
Jamon Cofield
Jordan Dowrey
Will Mendona
Chris Huhn
Nathaniel Devers
Austin Mays
Fedrice Binot
Chris Alston, Jr
Eric Frohnapfel
Ryan Yurachek
Rodney Allen

Defense:
D'Andre Wilson
Mark Shaver
Michael Johnson
Kaleb Harris
Antavis Rowe
LaDerrick Hammond
Jacob Parker
Ryan Riedel
Kyle Camacho
Kent Turene
Josh Cox
Eli Gates
Ryan Bee
Matt Harless
Tomell One
Blake Keller
Austin Hill
Nigale Cabell

Special Teams:
Justin Haig
Kaare Vedvik
Chad Garrett

Marshall Football Practice Begins

As the fog rises from the Ohio River just outside Joan C. Edwards Stadium, the haze could been seen forming in the distance which means only one thing, its time for football. Marshall began its first official practice of the 2014 season at 9:45 a.m. this morning with eager freshman and hungry newcomers gracing the brand new turf officially beginning the push towards August 30th and a trip to Oxford, Ohio where the Herd opens its season with Miami-OH.

Follow along here as I will update throughout both practices with players performances and answer any questions that I can.

So let it begin...2014 Herd Football is underway!

Nightmare at Arrowhead

Chiefs Linebacker Jovan Belcher
Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Early Saturday morning, the Kansas City Chiefs organization had a disappointing season take a tragic turn for the worse. General manager Scott Pioli and head coach Romeo Crennel were at work early Saturday making final preparations for Sunday’s game with the Carolina Panthers. The tandem received a phone call telling them to hurry to the parking lot.

The men exited the building to find 25-year-old linebacker Jovan Belcher standing on the other side of the exit doors holding a gun to his head. They engaged in a conversation with Belcher, ending with Belcher thanking them for giving him a chance to play in the NFL. That would be the final words Belcher would say as the four-year player took his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

The beginning of this tragic morning started just as it ended for Belcher, unfortunately with another person losing their life. Kasandra Perkins, 22, was shot several times in her home Saturday morning. She was later pronounced dead at the hospital. The unfortunate connection in both deaths was Belcher himself.

Belcher shot Perkins several times in her home after the couple had a dispute. Perkins was Belcher’s girlfriend and mother of his three-month-old daughter. Authorities have yet to release information on a motive for the murder-suicide, only noting the couple had been arguing frequently.

Kansas City mayor Sly James commented to the Kansas City Star regarding the tragedy at Arrowhead. “He’s trying to do his job under probably more adverse circumstances than he’s ever seen in his life,” James said of Pioli. “He knows all the players. He knows that particular player; he’s very emotional.”

James could not imagine of being in Pioli or Crennel’s shoes, adding: “You have absolutely no idea of what it’s like to see somebody kill themselves. If you can take your worst nightmare and put somebody you know and love into that situation, and give them a gun and stand 3 feet from them and watch them kill themselves, that’s what it is like.”

“It’s unfathomable. Think about your worst nightmare and multiply it by five,” James said.

Players and friends of Belcher were stunned by the news, adding that he appeared happy in life and was a model citizen and a happy father.

Belcher’s agent, Joe Linta, told Sports Illustrated’s Peter King on Saturday: “Javon was a happy, proud father, with pictures of his baby on his Facebook page. This is shocking. Something went crazy wrong, and we’ll probably never know what it is.”

“I never take on anyone as a client I wouldn’t be proud to take home and spend time with my wife and kids,” Linta said to King. “Jovan was one of those type of people. There’s no word for this other than shocking. That’s all I can think of.”

While there are numerous victims in this tragedy, no one has been affected more than the three-month-old infant who is now orphaned and will never have the opportunity to know her mother and father.

Chiefs quarterback Brady Quinn told the Kansas City Star the team was so stunned, it was hard to digest what had happened.

“It’s hard mostly because I keep thinking about what I could have done to stop this,” Quinn said. “I think everyone is wondering whether we would have done something to prevent this from happening.”

The unfortunate part of this tragedy is so many unknowns that may never be answered. Rather than to provide judgment in this horrific event, the victims should be the main concern moving forward. Pioli and Crennel witnessed something they will never forget and a three-month-old infant is left without her mother and father.

Having children of my own, this story hit close to the heart. I pray that this innocent girl will find happiness in her life and that she will be cared and provided for. Reports were discussed this morning that the Chiefs’ organization plans on playing a substantial role in her care.

No matter how one choses to remember Jovan Belcher, he is and always will be a murderer. However, the true reasoning that lead to this event may never be known.

No one plans for an accident, hence the reasoning of the name. While it is easy to point fingers and cast judgment, the events that occurred cannot be reversed. Only events in the present and future can be changed and learning from mistakes in the past can prevent future reoccurrences.

Depression and suicide are states of mind that may lead one to do something out of the ordinary. Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States claiming over 38,000 lives each year as reported by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Persons considering suicide or to learn more about the signs and symptoms of suicide call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or online at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org or the National Hopeline Network at 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433).

Morehead State's head coach returns from suspension

MSU Head Coach Sean Woods

Passion is an element in life that can cause one to lose control of one’s emotions and react in an unacceptable manner. For first-year Morehead State men’s head basketball coach Sean Woods, his passion for the game of basketball overtook his emotions and allowed him to react to a situation in a manner that Morehead State Athletic Director Brian Hutchinson claimed was “unacceptable.”

Woods is a legend in the state of Kentucky. He was a member of the 1992 East Regional final team and scored 21 points against Duke in one of the most memorable games in the history of NCAA basketball. He was named SWAC Coach of the Year last season and earned the prestigious Ben Jobe Award, which honors the top minority coach in NCAA Division I men’s college basketball. He led Mississippi Valley State into the NCAA tournament last season after finishing with a record of 21-13 overall, 17-1 in the SWAC. While Woods’ resume speaks for itself, his action last Wednesday night in Lexington, Ky., were deemed out of line.

During the game against his alma-mater, Woods shoved one of his players who had fouled out of the game and was slow to leave the court. After the altercation, Morehead State suspended Woods for one game for his action during the contest.

“My behavior during Wednesday night’s game was inappropriate and unacceptable,” Woods said. “I value the opportunity I have been given as the head men’s basketball coach at Morehead State. I am passionate about the young man on our team and the opportunity we have together. I care for them deeply. I can assure our student-athletes, university community, alumni and fans that anything approaching this type of situation will not happen again.”

The rest, according to Woods, is history and he and the university are ready to move on from the mistake; although, do not expect Woods’ passion to fade away.

Woods style of coaching is labeled as out of control by some and complete passion by others. Woods prefers the later of the two and is quick to explain why he brings passion to the court every day.

“Basketball is a game of expression,” Woods said. “Play with emotion and a reason. If you don’t have any type of expression, you don’t need to be on the court.”

Forced from the sidelines Monday night, Woods had to watch his team endure a battle with Norfork State without him at the controls of the ship. Morehead State overcame 16 lead changes and seven ties in the contest to eventually secure a 73-67 victory. Woods praised his staff and players for sticking together and finding a way to get the win.

“We found a way,” Woods said. “Playing under distress and with emotion brings us as a program closer and makes us more relentless. It shows me that everyone is looking at the big picture.”

People make mistakes every day, some more serious than others, but for Woods, his mistake was one that he has acknowledged and is ready to move on. How a person reacts after admitting a mistake is often how one is remembered. Woods would not comment about the episode during the Kentucky game, but provided his thoughts about his future with Morehead State basketball. “I have to be Sean Woods and do what is best for my team,” Woods said. His new beginning starts tonight inside the Cam-Henderson Center as his Eagles travel to Huntington to battle the Herd for the first time since 2007. While Woods admits he must stay under control, he admits you can never be too passionate about something you love.

“I bring passion to my team,” Woods said. “It’s contagious and that’s how my team plays. When I see my players reflecting my passion, it’s gratifying.”

HERD SWEEPS ITS WAY INTO CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT

HUNTINGTON, W.Va—Marshall women’s volleyball played itself into a corner after losing seven straight games and not winning a match in nearly a month. This weekend inside the Cam Henderson Center, Marshall not only got out of the losing corner, but it played itself into the Conference USA tournament. Marshall was 16-12 on the season and 6-8 in conference play before the matchup Friday night against Tulane, needing wins against both Tulane and Sunday opponent UTEP. Marshall wasted little time righting the ship.

In its first home game in three weeks, Marshall swept Tulane in three straight sets, (25-17, 25-21, 25-17), never letting the Green Wave to establish itself in the matchup. Marshall’s fast-paced offense kept Tulane off-balance the entire matchup, providing the Herd opportunities to score early and often.

Marshall’s 13 service aces combined with 37 kills and a .216 hitting percentage proved too much for Tulane to handle.

Marshall head coach Mitch Jacobs said it was Marshall’s service that kept Tulane out of system. “I felt like we put a lot of pressure on Tulane in the service game,” Jacobs said. “We were able to come out and play defense consistently. Better than that, we were on both sides of the ball. We played decent on offense and defense. When mistakes were made, we didn’t harp on them and moved on. We executed in key times.”

Junior Laura Der with the attack.

Marshall was led by outside hitter Laura Der with 15 kills, three service aces and nine digs, while finishing with a .244 hitting percentage. Sophomore Katie Potts collected four kills on a .300 hitting percentage, while dropping in three service aces. Freshman Lauren Legge lead the team in services aces, collecting a career high four.

Der praised the play of both underclassmen. “Potts is a great role player,” Der said. “She may not score a lot of points, but she isn’t going to go out and make a bunch of errors. She added so much in today’s match. Lauren has played four different positions this season as a freshman and is always willing to just step in and do what she can to help the team.”

Tulane offensive attack was smothered by the Herd defense, not collecting a single player with double digit kills while having a .083 hitting percentage.

Before Sunday’s matchup with UTEP, Marshall was in a four way tie in the conference at 7-8, tied with Houston, Memphis, and SMU. Although Marshall had many different ways to play its way in, the goal was simple, just win. A Marshall win and the worst possible outcome could be a number 8 seed in the tournament next week in Tulsa.

Before the contest began, seniors Katy Schad and Andrea Snipes-Booker were honored during “Senior Day” inside the Henderson Center. While it was a special day for the seniors, it would prove to be special day for the entire team.

Junior Dorothy Rahal digs a ball.

Marshall combined a fierce offensive attack with stellar defensive play, seemingly having the UTEP players guessing at where the next ball would be. UTEP was led by junior Jeane Horton with 14 kills, but Marshall’s defense kept the junior off-balance most of the contest, sweeping the Miners in three sets.

Junior Laura Der found a rhythm early in the first set and her team was quick to follow her lead. “I try to lead by example of my play on the court,” Der said. “I may not be the most vocal person on the court, but I try to let my hustle and speak for itself.”

Der produced the most kills by a league player in three sets, earning 22 in the three set sweep. Her performance in the matchup made her the second ranked player in C-USA in kills and points. Horton finished third.

The Herd finished the match with an average side-out percentage of 76.3, including 82 percent in the final stanza. UTEP never broke 60 percent in the contest.

Marshall head coach Mitch Jacobs was pleased with his team’s effort and its ability to play its way into the tournament.  “Our service game came back pretty strong,” Jacobs added. “UTEP just didn’t look like the team we have seen on tape. You can credit our kids for playing really hard with their backs against the wall, knowing it could be win or be out of the tournament today. We played as if it was tournament time.”

The Herd had three players finish with over a .400 hitting percentage in the match providing an answer to every UTEP attack. Der, Byous-McConnell and Potts lead the Marshall attack that totaled 49 total kills and scored its highest hitting percentage of the season.

Although the offense was firing on all cylinders, Marshall’s defense held the UTEP counter-attack in check, allowing Marshall to control the tempo of the game.

Senior Katy Schad on the attack.

While noted for her offensive productions in most of this season’s contest, senior Katy Schad provided 20 digs while posting 10 kills, recording the games only double-double in her final game inside the Henderson Center.

“They didn’t ace us tonight,” Jacobs added. “If you look back at our stats from weeks past when we were really on a roll, we would have five, six, seven or more aces against our opponent. Tonight was more like that serve and pass game. We didn’t get aced and they have a few really good servers.”

After losses by Houston, Memphis and SMU, Marshall vaulted into the No. 6 seed and will face UCF Friday night at 8 p.m. ET in the Donald W. Reynolds Center located in Tulsa, Okla. The winner will move on to face the winner of Rice/Houston Saturday at 6 p.m. ET.

“Our goal was to make the conference tournament,” Jacob commented. “And we did that. Now we would like to do something in that tournament positive. It’s a long way to go to Tulsa, so let’s go there and enjoy the tournament and get after it.” 

Marshall split with UCF this season, defeating the Knights 3-2 at home and losing 3-1 in Orlando.

Huntington, W.Va—Marshall women’s basketball concluded its exhibition season Sunday with a 67-50 win over Kentucky State. Marshall defeated both its opponents in exhibition but the win this weekend was more of what is expected from the program.

“That was a little bit better,” Head Coach Matt Daniel said. “Today’s performance was a little more of what we expect.” Marshall scored the first nine points of the contest, but did not record its first field goal until 5:42 into the first half when sophomore Shay Weaver buried a three-point basket giving Marshall an eight point lead.

Marshall’s offensive attack put Kentucky State into early foul trouble, picking up its seventh team foul before the half-way point of the first half. After senior JoAnna Powell and freshman Taylor Sanders were forced to the bench early with two fouls each, Kentucky State Head Coach Serena King-Coleman turned to her bench for a spark.

Trailing Marshall by 11 just before halfway in the first half, Coleman turned to senior guard Jasmine Davis for a lift, and she gave more than expected. Davis rolled off back-to-back three pointers to cut the lead to three and finished the half as the game’s leading scorer with 10 points.

Marshall’s defensive pressure created 11 Kentucky State turnovers in the first half but managed only 31 points while shooting 32.3 percent from the field going to the locker room with a nine point lead.

Daniel made adjustments at half forcing his team to refocus on the game plan for the matchup. Junior guard Jasmine Shaw led the way for the Herd on both sides of the court. With 15:10 remaining in the game and Kentucky State trimming the lead to five, Shaw forced a turnover by Davis and converted the steal into a three-point basket.

Shaw contributed her preparation for her early season success. “It’s all about practice, working hard, and adjusting to the system,” Shaw said after the victory.

Shaw puts up a jumper in exhibition play.

Kentucky State would make one final push at the six minute mark trimming the lead to six, but Marshall’s defense created its offense, giving the Herd four fast-breaks resulting in lay-ups and its biggest lead of the game of 15 points. “We took a two possession game to a 10 possession game simply because of our focus,” Daniel added.

Daniel applauded the manner his team conclude the game in his “Full-Tilt” philosophy. “If players want to play one-on-one, they can do that tomorrow,” Daniel added. “Teams will play one on five against Marshall.”

Weaver put the final exclamation point on the win after draining a three-point bucket, running the lead to 20 and giving Marshall its largest lead of the game.

“When you are prepared, things go so much smoother,” Daniel said. “Game day is a celebration of preparation.”

Marshall had 10 players score in the contest as Shaw led the way with a game-high 18 points, nine which came from behind the arc. Weaver added 11 shooting 3-5 from behind the arc. Marshall finished the game shooting 41.1 percent from the field, 38.9 percent from behind the arc and 77.8 percent from the foul line.

Marshall’s starts its regular season at home Friday against Radford with a noon tip-off.