Marshall Basketball: Herd Opens Season Against South Carolina State

Marshall opens its men’s basketball season tonight against South Carolina State in the Cam Henderson, tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

A member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, the Bulldogs finished last season with a 6-24 record and 2-14 mark in league play. During a particularly rough 14 game losing streak head coach Tim Carter resigned. Named the interim head coach after Carter’s resignation, Murray Garvin was promoted to the full time position this offseason.  

South Carolina State is lead by 6-foot-11, 225-pound forward Matthew Hezekiah. A All-MEAC preseason first team selection, Hazekiah averaged a team high 12.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game last year. The Bulldogs return three other starters, sophomore forward Darryl Palmer (9.5 ppg.), guard Adama Adams (9.6 ppg) and guard Devin Joint (4.8 ppg). Palmer was named to last season’s MEAC All-Rookie Team.

South Carolina State

Roster

2012-2013 Stats

Huntington Herald Dispatch

Friday’s opponent to come in off win

Marshall men open season

Charleston Daily Mail

Marshall basketball: Herd’s depth could mean different faces in starting five

Charleston Gazette

New-look Herd tips off tonight vs. South Carolina St.

Marshall Football: Fast Facts, UAB

Eighteen facts your need to know about UAB before they face-off against Marshall at Joan C. Edwards Stadium Saturday afternoon.

1) Last week against Middle Tennessee State, UAB’s first 26 offensive plays were all runs. In total, the Blazers ran the ball 56 times for 299 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Jonathan Perry only attempted nine passes, completing six of them while also throwing one touchdown and interception.

2) Marshall fans should be familiar with Blazers running back Darrin Reaves. Last year he ran for 184 yards on 32 carries and two touchdowns in a 38-31 win over the Thundering Herd. In eight games this season Reaves has carried the ball a team high 137 times for 678 yards and seven touchdowns.

3) True freshman running back Jordan Howard complements Reaves in the backfield. Standing 6-foot-1, 228 lbs., Howard is a bruising runner that has rumbled for 650 yards on 95 attempts and two touchdowns.

4) After being named starting quarterback for last week’s game against MTSU, Perry will get another opportunity to lead the Blazers on Saturday at Marshall. More of a rushing than passing threat, Perry has run for 294 yards this season and two touchdowns. As a passer the Maryland native has completed 35 of 66 throws for 512 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions.

5) On Monday UAB head coach Garrick McGee announced that starting left guard Roscoe Byrd broke his leg against MTSU and is out indefinitely.

6) UAB has only allowed 14 sacks but that might have more to do with their lack of passing attempts than great protection. The Blazers rank third to last in Conference USA with only 238 passes attempted.

7) Speaking about passing, wide receiver Jamarcus Nelson leads UAB with 27 receptions for 492 yards and 6 touchdowns. True freshman Jamari Staples (25 Rec., 365 Yds., 4 TD) and tight end Kennard Backman (23 Rec., 253 Yds., 2 TD) are also popular receiving threats.

8) UAB has committed ten turnovers this season and in the time of possession battle they average just under 30 minutes per game. By contrast, Marshall averages almost 27 minutes of possession per game and has turned over the ball 15 times.

9) Among Conference USA’s 14 schools, UAB ranks fifth in rushing offense (292 Yards/G), eight in passing offense (213.9 Yards/G), and sixth in total offense (391.6 Yards/G).

10) UAB starting defensive ends Chris Rabb (concussion) and Diaheem Watkins (shoulder) left Saturday’s game against MTSU with injures and are not expected to play against Marshall. Watkins has started every game, recording 28 tackles and a team high 3.5 sacks. Rabb is second on the team with two sacks.

11) The Blazers defense is spearheaded by linebacker Jake Ganus. The sophomore leads UAB with 62 tackles and six tackles for loss.

12) UAB is allowing a C-USA high 273.3 passing yards per game. Their four interceptions are a league low.

13) They are not much better at defending the run, the Blazers are giving up 195.88 rushing yards per game.

14) If you can’t stop the pass or the run, you get a defense that is surrendering 469.1 yards per game. Only UTEP (479.8 Yards/G) has been more generous to opposing offenses in C-USA.

15) Ty Long is one of the best kickers Marshall will face this season. He has converted 14 of 18 field goal attempts with a long of 50 yards. UAB has not allowed a blocked kick or punt this season.

16) Punter Hunter Mullins is adequate, he averages 41.8 yards per attempt with a long of 61 yards.

17) If you don’t get off the field before your opponent scores the opportunity to return punts doesn’t exist. UAB falls into that category with only six punt returns this year.

18) UAB running back Greg Franklin is tied for the C-USA lead in kick returns over 30 yards (four) and 40 yards (two). 

Marshall in the NFL: Week Nine

Weekly review of Marshall University alumni playing in the NFL. 

1. Ahmad Bradshaw, Running Back, Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts placed Ahmad Bradshaw on injured reserve October 8^thafter he suffered a neck injury that required season ending surgery. For the season Bradshaw played in three games, rushing for 186 yards on 41 attempts with two touchdowns. He also caught seven passes for 42 yards.

2. Omar Brown, Safety, Baltimore Ravens

Promoted to Baltimore's 53-man roster earlier in the week, Omar Brown played special teams and appeared in two snaps on defense during the Ravens 24-18 loss to the Cleveland Browns.  

3. Chris Crocker, Safety, Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals might have lost on a overtime safety but, defensive back Chris Crocker equated himself well against the Miami Dolphins, recording three tackles.

4. Vinny Curry, Defensive End, Philadelphia Eagles

Vinny Curry recorded three tackles and a sack during the Philadelphia Eagles 49-20 blowout win over the Oakland Raiders. 

5. Aaron Dobson, Wide Receiver, New England Patriots

One of Patriot quarterback Tom Brady's top targets, wide receiver Aaron Dobson caught a team high two touchdown passes and recorded 130 receiving yards on five receptions in New England's 51-33 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

6. Mario Harvey, Linebacker, Indianapolis Colts

Mario Harvey played in the Indianapolis Colts 27-24 win over the Houston Texans but did not record any stats.

7. Albert McClellan, Linebacker, Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens special teams captain, linebacker Albert McClellan did not register a tackle in Sunday's loss to Cleveland.

8. Doug Legursky, Guard/Center, Buffalo Bills

Playing with their third string, undrafted free agent quarterback, the Bills offensive line including Doug Legursky helped Buffalo's offense produce 470 yards of offense. Despite racking up almost 500 yards, Buffalo fell to the Kansas City Chiefs 23-13.

9. Lee Smith, Tight End, Buffalo Bills

Needing help to protect quarterback Jeff Tuel, tight end Lee Smith played 25 offensive snaps during Sunday's loss to Kansas City, primarily acting as a blocker.

10. C.J. Spillman, Safety, San Francisco 49ers

Bye week.

Marshall Soccer: Herd Advances in C-USA Tournament

Its not often that we cover Marshall women's soccer but, extraordinary efforts deserve attention.

Playing against host Rice in the opening round of the Conference USA tournament, the Thundering Herd took down the Owls 3-1. Marshall goal scorers included Morgan Cain, Casey Walsh, and Chelsea Stalter. The win marked the programs first in a conference tournament.

The number five seed, Marshall will meet top seeded UNC Charlotte Wednesday at 8 p.m. in the quarterfinals.

Box Score

HerdZone

Herd Makes History with First-Ever Postseason Win

Marshall Basketball: Jay Johnson Gives Verbal Pledge to Herd

Formerly one of the top prep basketball players in Kentucky, junior college forward Jay Johnson has given a verbal commitment to Marshall University.

During his freshman season at John A. Logan College (llls.), the 6-foot-7 Johnson recorded 10.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.

As a high school junior Johnson averaged 18.9 points and 12.5 rebounds per game at Woodford County. He overcame a torn ACL in the summer before his senior season to be selected for the Kentucky-Indiana All-Star Team. The same Kentucky squad featured current Thundering Herd basketball player Tamron Manning.

In November of 2011 Johnson signed a letter of intent with Tennessee Tech. Despite accepting a scholarship to the Ohio Valley Conference school he never enrolled and decided to attend junior college instead.

Johnson joins fellow forward Shane Hall and center Henry Uwadiae in Marshall’s 2014 recruiting class. All three can sign letters of intent when the early signing period opens November 13^th. Johnson will have two years of eligibility remaining once on campus. 

Commitment of the Week: Cole Garvin

A new feature on the Thundering Blog, we are reviewing the weekly performances of Marshall's verbal commitments and anointing one football recruit our 'Commitment of the Week'.

On their opponents one yard line with the score tied at seven and first half set to expire, Sandy Creek coach Chip Walker turned to his quarterback, Marshall commitment Cole Garvin for the big play. Garvin plowed through the opposing teams defensive line, scoring a touchdown and giving Sandy Creek a 14-7 lead headed into halftime. The Patriots would not look back as they remained on top of Georgia’s AAAA division, defeating number two ranked Carrolton 24-7 Friday night.

Garvin had an efficient outing, completing 14 of 17 pass attempts for 182 yards. A three star prospect according to Rivals.com, Garvin has thrown for 1,579 yards this season with 12 touchdowns and only two interceptions.

For leading his team to victory and scoring the game deciding touchdown, Garvin is our ‘Commitment of the Week’.

Commitment of the Week
Week 1: Hyleck Foster
Week 2: Trayvon Williams
Week 3: Cole Garvin
Week 4: Keion Davis
Week 5: N/A
Week 6: Frankie Hernandez
Week 7: Hyleck Foster
Week 8: Alex Cason

Week 9: Ryan Yurachek

Week 10: Reese Wooten

Week 11: Cole Garvin

Marshall Football: Herd Downs Golden Eagles 61-13

Behind five touchdown passes by quarterback Rakeem Cato, Marshall (5-3, 3-1) defeated Southern Miss (0-8, 0-4) 61-13 Saturday afternoon at Joan C Edwards Stadium. It was a banner day for the Thundering Herd as the team scored more than 60 points for the first time since defeating Buffalo 66-21 in 2002. Besides Cato's passing, the home crowd was also treated to 100 yard rushing days by Kevin Grooms (9 car., 109 yrds., 1 td.) and Essray Taliaferro (8 car., 108 yrds., 1 td.).

The Herd returns to action next Saturday at home against UAB (2-6, 1-3), kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. ET.

Stats

Huntington Herald Dispatch

Herd steamrolls Eagles

Chuck Landon: MU has learned to overlook nobody

Herd got fast start it needed

Current Herd embraces 1998 team

Chuck Landon grades Herd

Grant Traylor awards game balls

Gallery: Marshall vs. Southern Miss, football

Charleston Daily Mail

Marshall football: Herd's fast start leads to pummeling of Southern Miss, 61-13

Charleston Gazette

Herd adds to Southern Miss misery

Grades for Southern Miss

WV Metro News

Cato's 5 TD's leads Herd to 61-13 win

Stampeding out of the gate

Herd notes on win over USM

HerdZone

BOGACZYK: Herd Speeds Away Against Grounded Golden Eagles

Hattiesburg American

Golden Eagles defense setting wrong records

COLUMN: USM will right itself behind Mullens

A new low