Conference USA football coaches must fancy the philosophical prose of Oscar Wilde, the late Irish poet who wrote the following:
"One's past is what one is. It is the only way by which people should be judged."
Such thinking is the only way this college football reporter can explain the C-USA coaches' preseason poll, which was released Wednesday.
Marshall was picked to finish fifth in the six-team East Division, ahead of only cellar dweller Alabama-Birmingham and behind league favorite and defending champion Central Florida, East Carolina, Southern Mississippi and Memphis, in that order.
The coaches had to be looking at the Thundering Herd's past instead of its present and future.
Yes, Marshall is 12-23 overall and 10-14 in the Dallas-based league since leaving the Mid-American Conference three years ago.
But this also is the deepest and most talented team Mark Snyder has had since he took the reins at his alma mater. A recruiting class jam-packed with above-average prospects only will add to that.
If it can avoid the injury bug that devastated its depth last season, the Thundering Herd should finish at least two spots higher than its predicted place this season.
At the very least, the Thundering Herd should post its first winning record in league play since joining C-USA (3-5 in 2005, 4-4 in '06 and 3-5 in '07).
Who knows? This year's Marshall team might even be able to duplicate the accomplishment of last year's UCF squad. The Golden Knights went from 3-5 in '06 to 7-1 in '07.
Conference USA football coaches must fancy the philosophical prose of Oscar Wilde, the late Irish poet who wrote the following:
"One's past is what one is. It is the only way by which people should be judged."
Such thinking is the only way this college football reporter can explain the C-USA coaches' preseason poll, which was released Wednesday.
Marshall was picked to finish fifth in the six-team East Division, ahead of only cellar dweller Alabama-Birmingham and behind league favorite and defending champion Central Florida, East Carolina, Southern Mississippi and Memphis, in that order.
The coaches had to be looking at the Thundering Herd's past instead of its present and future.
Yes, Marshall is 12-23 overall and 10-14 in the Dallas-based league since leaving the Mid-American Conference three years ago.
But this also is the deepest and most talented team Mark Snyder has had since he took the reins at his alma mater. A recruiting class jam-packed with above-average prospects only will add to that.
If it can avoid the injury bug that devastated its depth last season, the Thundering Herd should finish at least two spots higher than its predicted place this season.
At the very least, the Thundering Herd should post its first winning record in league play since joining C-USA (3-5 in 2005, 4-4 in '06 and 3-5 in '07).
Who knows? This year's Marshall team might even be able to duplicate the accomplishment of last year's UCF squad. The Golden Knights went from 3-5 in '06 to 7-1 in '07.
It definitely is doable.
Marshall dropped a trio of heartbreakers to Memphis (24-21), Tulsa (38-31) and Houston (35-28) on the road last year. The Thundering Herd will get the Tigers, Golden Hurricane and Cougars in Huntington this year, which could reverse its fortunes in those matchups.
If not for its stagnant first-quarter offense, which contributed to a 20-0 first-half deficit, Marshall might have defeated Southern Miss at home last season. Instead, the Thundering Herd couldn't complete a comeback against the Golden Eagles, who clinched the 33-24 win on Damion Fletcher's 2-yard run with 1:21 remaining.
And perennial powers Central Florida (Kevin Smith) and East Carolina (Chris Johnson) lost their running backs to the NFL, which can't do anything but help Marshall's chances against them. Not that it mattered for the Pirates, who still fell to the Thundering Herd at Edwards Stadium last season.
On top of everything else, you can bet Snyder will make sure his players receive and read a copy of this poll to let them know what the rest of the league thinks of them. Never underestimate the underdog role and how much motivation it can provide a team.
***
FOUR MARSHALL players were named to the C-USA coaches' preseason team: sophomore kick returner Darius Marshall, junior defensive end Albert McClellan, junior tight end Cody Slate and senior free safety C.J. Spillman.
Southern Miss' Fletcher, a junior running back, and teammate Gerald McRath, a junior linebacker, were tabbed as the preseason Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively.
Central Florida senior cornerback Joe Burnett, a punt return specialist, was picked as the preseason Special Teams Player of the Year.
--Contact sportswriter Jacob Messer at jacobmes...@dailymail.com or 348-1712.
As for the article, it was very well-written and I can only HOPE Messer is right about the Herd in 2008. I'm hoping for a breakthrough season in C-USA.