HUNTINGTON - Finally, Marshall rested.
The Thundering Herd is off this week after 11 consecutive games without a breather. Marshall (9-2, 6-1) plays at Conference USA East-leading Western Kentucky (8-2, 6-0) on Friday, Nov. 27 in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The game is at noon and will be televised by Fox Sports 1, and the winner will earn a berth into the C-USA championship game.
"Eleven straight weeks is a grind," Marshall coach Doc Holliday said Tuesday.
The moment of respite provides a unique opportunity for the Herd, which is coming off a 52-0 win against Florida International last Saturday. Now, FIU hosts Western Kentucky this Saturday, and the Herd can watch its most recent opponent play its next opponent.
Holliday gave his players off Monday and Tuesday, and they'll return with a light practice Wednesday. Some coaches have started preparations for WKU, while others hit the road recruiting.
Running backs coach Chris Barclay, defensive ends coach Sean Cronin, defensive tackles coach J.C. Price and tight ends/recruiting coordinator Todd Goebbel have been recruiting since Sunday.
If Marshall defeats WKU, it will be the second consecutive season in the C-USA title game.
"Everybody understands what this game is all about," Holliday said. "You're right where you want to be. You're playing for the East championship with the opportunity to play for the conference championship. That's the exactly the position you want to put yourself in ... it's where you're supposed to be. For the third year in a row we are doing it."\
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Part of that program success, Holliday said, is because his team has shown resolve in the wake of losses.
Two weeks ago, Middle Tennessee beat Marshall 27-24 in three overtimes. The Herd responded last Saturday with a 52-0 win against FIU to position the program for a shot at the division title.
"The key is you've got good kids, you've got great kids and you've got leadership," Holliday said. "You've got to put it behind you. You can't let one team beat you twice because it can and it happens to a lot of people around the country."
Marshall is 30-5 since losing in three overtimes at Virginia tech on Sept. 21. The Herd bounced back with a win against UTSA in the next game, and has won six consecutive games after a loss.
This season, the Herd's players realized a conference championship was still there for the taking.
"You have so much still to play for, and if you're worrying about what happened last week you're going to get beat the following week," Holliday said. "And coaches have to do that too. We're as bad as anybody else. You can't walk around poutin' around the offices and all that. They've got to see that you've put it behind and that you're looking forward.
"When coaches do that, they players will follow."
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Western Kentucky is among the nation's leaders in turnover margin, ranking seventh among Football Bowl Subdivision teams. The Hilltoppers are plus-11 on the season, with 20 takeaways and only nine turnovers.
Marshall ranks second in Conference USA and 26th nationally with six more takeaways than turnovers. The Herd has forced more turnovers with 25 (11 fumble recoveries and 14 interceptions), but has coughed it up more (19 giveaways).
"That's probably why we are where we are right now," Holliday said. "We're both playing for that East championship and that's because both teams have done a good job taking care of the ball and creating turnovers."
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Marshall expects four running backs - Hyleck Foster, Remi Watson, Tony Pittman and Keion Davis - to play against Western Kentucky.
Foster is the leading rusher among that group. All of his 399 yards have come in the past five games. Watson has 369 yards and is tied with injured running back Devon Johnson for the team lead in rushing touchdowns with five. Pittman has played in six games and has 327 yards and three scores, while Davis has chipped in with 273 yards and two touchdowns.
"This will be the first time in a long time we've had four healthy running backs," Holliday said.