Marshall defensive tackle Brandon Bullock, defensive tackle Delvin Johnson, running back Jo Jo Cox and defensive end Vinny Curry
Yet, their bond is as strong as one shared by identical twins or lifelong friends. They developed it throughout the past year, a period in which their college football dreams initially were dashed and destroyed but ultimately were restored and realized.
Brandon Bullock, Delvin Johnson, Jo Jo Cox and Vinny Curry couldn't play for Marshall last year because their academic achievements fell far short of their athletic accomplishments.
Instead, they had to enroll as academic non-qualifiers -- commonly referred to as "props" because of 1983 NCAA Convention Proposal No. 48.
The rule required incoming student-athletes to have a 2.0 grade point average in 11 core courses and score at least 700 on the SAT or 15 on the ACT. The criteria since has changed.
An academic non-qualifier isn't eligible for a scholarship or competition in his first year. He can attend the school, but he must pay his own way. If he meets the academic requirements established by the NCAA Clearinghouse, he can join the team and receive a scholarship in his second year (and beyond, as long as he maintains satisfactory grades).
Bullock, Cox and Johnson knew their fate before they came to campus: They would have to sit out the 2007 season and strive to become eligible during the 2007-08 school year.
Curry, on the other hand, thought he had a chance. In fact, he joined the team for preseason practice and participated in 12 sessions before NCAA officials declared him ineligible last August.
"Heartbreaking," Curry said of the ruling. "Absolutely heartbreaking."
That day marked the beginning of the quartet's quest for academic eligibility and gridiron glory, a journey they would travel together, feeding off and leaning on each other.
Bullock and Johnson had no choice but to bond: They were roommates. Linked by their academic shortcomings, Cox and Curry soon turned the twosome into a foursome.
"We traveled in a pack," Cox said. "When you saw one of us, you saw all of us. They pushed me and I pushed them. They woke me up in the morning to go to workouts and I woke them up. They made sure I was on time and I made sure they were on time."
The foursome soon learned there is strength in numbers. With help from each other, all of them earned their eligibility -- Curry and Johnson in the spring; Bullock and Cox in the summer.
Each one had moments in which he wanted to quit, but the others wouldn't let him.
"We pulled each other through it," Bullock said. "It was a struggle."
Cox might be the most highly acclaimed member of the foursome, but Bullock, Curry and Johnson likely will make bigger contributions this year because of the positions they play.
Cox is a 5-foot-9, 210-pound running back from Jeffersonville, Ga. However, he plays a position at which the Thundering Herd has an abundance of talent but only one football.
Cox committed to Clemson in 2006, turning down offers from Auburn, Penn State and West Virginia, but he failed to qualify that year.
He attended Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy in 2007, then picked Marshall over Grambling, Houston and Memphis after Clemson denied his second attempt at admission.
Bullock, Curry and Johnson added immediate depth to the defensive line, a unit that looks like it will go from a weakness last season to a strength this season.
Bullock is a 6-3, 345-pound tackle from Egg Harbor City, N.J. Curry is a 6-5, 249-pound end from Neptune, N.J. Johnson is a 6-3, 296-pound tackle from Woodruff, S.C.
As the foursome found out, one of the worst parts about life as a prop is the semi-attachment to the team. Props can attend practices but can't participate. Props also can attend games, but they have to sit in the bleachers rather than stand on the sidelines.
"When we were at the games and the crowd was chanting 'We are ... Marshall,' that was the hardest part," Curry said, "because we wanted to be out there on the field so bad."
Curry remembers one Friday last season in particular. He and the other props were walking to the weight room to work out with the strength and conditioning staff. While they crossed the parking lot in front of the stadium, they noticed the coaches and players boarding a bus bound for the airport the day before a road game.
"That," Curry said, "was hard."
The wait was twice as long for Cox and Curry, both of whom attended prep schools in 2006 in unsuccessful efforts to qualify academically.
Marshall Coach Mark Snyder praised the props for their perseverance.
"I think they learned some valuable lessons about doing things right so they don't get behind the eight ball," Snyder said. "What a life lesson that is.
"They have been where they haven't had anything and now they have it and they don't want to lose it."
That is evident in the way they have practiced in the first 10 days of training camp.
"All of the frustration of last year is gone," Curry said. "Now, we're basically just focusing and making sure we learn all of the calls and plays. We're looking up to the guys in front of us and asking them for help. We're always asking questions in meetings. We're just trying to help this team the best way we can."
The trio of Bullock, Curry and Johnson primarily has worked with the second-string defense during training camp, although Johnson received first-string reps Thursday.
"Good things come to those who wait," Curry said. "We're definitely waiting for our turn. I don't feel like it's that far away."
It isn't. Only 15 days remain until Marshall's season opener, an Aug. 30 home game against Division I-AA Illinois State at Edwards Stadium.
"We just can't wait until Aug. 30," Curry said. "We talk about that every day."
Contact sports writer Jacob Messer at jacobmes...@dailymail.com or 304-348-1712. His blog is at blogs.dailymail.com/marshall.
HUNTINGTON -- See those guys in that picture?
They aren't related, didn't come from the same town and haven't known each other since birth.
Yet, their bond is as strong as one shared by identical twins or lifelong friends. They developed it throughout the past year, a period in which their college football dreams initially were dashed and destroyed but ultimately were restored and realized.
Brandon Bullock, Delvin Johnson, Jo Jo Cox and Vinny Curry couldn't play for Marshall last year because their academic achievements fell far short of their athletic accomplishments.
Instead, they had to enroll as academic non-qualifiers -- commonly referred to as "props" because of 1983 NCAA Convention Proposal No. 48.
The rule required incoming student-athletes to have a 2.0 grade point average in 11 core courses and score at least 700 on the SAT or 15 on the ACT. The criteria since has changed.
An academic non-qualifier isn't eligible for a scholarship or competition in his first year. He can attend the school, but he must pay his own way. If he meets the academic requirements established by the NCAA Clearinghouse, he can join the team and receive a scholarship in his second year (and beyond, as long as he maintains satisfactory grades).
Bullock, Cox and Johnson knew their fate before they came to campus: They would have to sit out the 2007 season and strive to become eligible during the 2007-08 school year.
Curry, on the other hand, thought he had a chance. In fact, he joined the team for preseason practice and participated in 12 sessions before NCAA officials declared him ineligible last August.
"Heartbreaking," Curry said of the ruling. "Absolutely heartbreaking."
That day marked the beginning of the quartet's quest for academic eligibility and gridiron glory, a journey they would travel together, feeding off and leaning on each other.
Bullock and Johnson had no choice but to bond: They were roommates. Linked by their academic shortcomings, Cox and Curry soon turned the twosome into a foursome.
"We traveled in a pack," Cox said. "When you saw one of us, you saw all of us. They pushed me and I pushed them. They woke me up in the morning to go to workouts and I woke them up. They made sure I was on time and I made sure they were on time."
The foursome soon learned there is strength in numbers. With help from each other, all of them earned their eligibility -- Curry and Johnson in the spring; Bullock and Cox in the summer.
Each one had moments in which he wanted to quit, but the others wouldn't let him.
"We pulled each other through it," Bullock said. "It was a struggle."
Cox might be the most highly acclaimed member of the foursome, but Bullock, Curry and Johnson likely will make bigger contributions this year because of the positions they play.
Cox is a 5-foot-9, 210-pound running back from Jeffersonville, Ga. However, he plays a position at which the Thundering Herd has an abundance of talent but only one football.
Cox committed to Clemson in 2006, turning down offers from Auburn, Penn State and West Virginia, but he failed to qualify that year.
He attended Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy in 2007, then picked Marshall over Grambling, Houston and Memphis after Clemson denied his second attempt at admission.
Bullock, Curry and Johnson added immediate depth to the defensive line, a unit that looks like it will go from a weakness last season to a strength this season.
Bullock is a 6-3, 345-pound tackle from Egg Harbor City, N.J. Curry is a 6-5, 249-pound end from Neptune, N.J. Johnson is a 6-3, 296-pound tackle from Woodruff, S.C.
As the foursome found out, one of the worst parts about life as a prop is the semi-attachment to the team. Props can attend practices but can't participate. Props also can attend games, but they have to sit in the bleachers rather than stand on the sidelines.
"When we were at the games and the crowd was chanting 'We are ... Marshall,' that was the hardest part," Curry said, "because we wanted to be out there on the field so bad."
Curry remembers one Friday last season in particular. He and the other props were walking to the weight room to work out with the strength and conditioning staff. While they crossed the parking lot in front of the stadium, they noticed the coaches and players boarding a bus bound for the airport the day before a road game.
"That," Curry said, "was hard."
The wait was twice as long for Cox and Curry, both of whom attended prep schools in 2006 in unsuccessful efforts to qualify academically.
Marshall Coach Mark Snyder praised the props for their perseverance.
"I think they learned some valuable lessons about doing things right so they don't get behind the eight ball," Snyder said. "What a life lesson that is.
"They have been where they haven't had anything and now they have it and they don't want to lose it."
That is evident in the way they have practiced in the first 10 days of training camp.
"All of the frustration of last year is gone," Curry said. "Now, we're basically just focusing and making sure we learn all of the calls and plays. We're looking up to the guys in front of us and asking them for help. We're always asking questions in meetings. We're just trying to help this team the best way we can."
The trio of Bullock, Curry and Johnson primarily has worked with the second-string defense during training camp, although Johnson received first-string reps Thursday.
"Good things come to those who wait," Curry said. "We're definitely waiting for our turn. I don't feel like it's that far away."
It isn't. Only 15 days remain until Marshall's season opener, an Aug. 30 home game against Division I-AA Illinois State at Edwards Stadium.
"We just can't wait until Aug. 30," Curry said. "We talk about that every day."
Contact sports writer Jacob Messer at jacobmes...@dailymail.com or 304-348-1712. His blog is at blogs.dailymail.com/marshall.
