Marshall University Thundering Herd

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1 Marshall University Thundering Herd 2015 Football Game Notes Marshall Thundering Herd (0-0) vs. Purdue Boilermakers (0-0) Sunday, Sept. 6, p.m. ET - Joan C. Edwards Stadium (38,227) - Huntington, W.Va. TV: FS1 (Justin Kutcher-Play-by-play, Petros Papadakis-Analyst, Steve Hutchinson-Analyst) Marshall Media Relations Contact Information Jason Corriher (Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations) Work: Cell: corriher@marshall.edu Website: HerdZone.com Online Resources HerdZone.com Herdzone.com is Marshall Athletics official website. Roster, biographical information, Marshall s football record book, complete statistics and historical information regarding Thundering Herd football can be found here. Each week game notes, statistics and other media resources can be found here. CollegePressBox.Com Collegepressbox.com is the official media website for Conference USA football. Access and download weekly game notes, quotes, statistics, media guides and more for the conference and each of its 13 member schools throughout the season. Login information will be distributed to accredited media or you can apply for a password by sending an to password@collegepressbox.com. ConferenceUSA.com Weekly conference statistics and an interactive online conference media guide are available at com Game-by-Game Captains Purdue- Marshall University Information Location Huntington, W.Va. Founded 1837 (as Marshall Academy) Enrollment 14,000 Nickname Thundering Herd Colors Green (PMS 356C) and White Stadium Joan C. Edwards Stadium Capacity 38,227 Year Opened 1991 (as Marshall University Stadium) Surface FieldTurf Conference Conference USA (East Division) Interim President Gary White Director of Athletics Mike Hamrick (Marshall, 1980) Head Coach Doc Holliday (West Virginia, 1979) Record at Marshall Career Record same Marshall s 2014 Record C-USA Record/Finish 7-1 (1st, East) Offense Multiple Defense Multiple Offensive Starters Returning/Lost 6/5 Defensive Starters Returning/Lost 7/4 Letterwinners Returning/Lost 67/15 Marshall Football Staff Head Coach Doc Holliday (West Virginia, 1979) Offensive Coord./QBs Bill Legg (West Virginia, 1985) Defensive Coord./Secondary Chuck Heater (Michigan, 1975) Running Backs Chris Barclay (Wake Forest, 2009) Defensive Ends Sean Cronin (Georgetown, Ky., 2003) Linebackers Adam Fuller (Sacred Heart, 1998) Wide Receivers Mike Furrey (Northern Iowa, 2000) Tight Ends/Recruiting Coord. Todd Goebbel (Northern Iowa, 1998) Offensive Line Alex Mirabal (FIU, 1993) Defensive Tackles J.C. Price (Virginia Tech, 1998) Assistant AD for Football Ops Mark Gale (Oklahoma State, 1981) Stat Comparison (2014 NCAA Ranks) MU Purdue Scoring Offense 45.6 (3rd) 23.8 (98th) Scoring Defense 21.0 (18th) 31.7 (99th) Total Offense (2nd) (111th) Total Defense (37th) (82nd) Rushing Offense (8th) (73rd) Rushing Defense (55th) (93rd) Passing Offense (18th) (103rd) Passing Defense (24th) (56th) 2015 Marshall Football Schedule Date Opponent (TV) Time (ET)/Result Sept. 6 PURDUE (FS1) 3 p.m. Sept. 12 at Ohio (ESPN3) 7 p.m. Sept. 19 NORFOLK STATE (ASN) 3:30 p.m. Sept. 26 at Kent State TBA Oct. 3 OLD DOMINION (ASN) 3:30 p.m. Oct. 9 SOUTHERN MISS (CBSSN) 7 p.m. Oct. 17 at Florida Atlantic (FOX College Sports) 12 p.m. Oct. 24 NORTH TEXAS (FOX Sports TBA) 3:30 p.m. Oct. 31 at Charlotte (FOX Sports TBA) TBA (12-day window) Nov. 7 at Middle Tennessee (FOX Sports TBA) TBA (12-day window) Nov. 14 FIU (FOX Sports TBA) TBA (12-day window) Nov. 27 at Western Kentucky (FS1) 12 p.m. Bold - Indicates a C-USA game Home games in CAPS All times are Eastern Time Zone and subject to change.

2 They re baaaaaack! The Herd roster still includes 14 players now seniors -- who performed in the first game of the home-and-home series with Purdue. Marshall offensive and defensive starters in the loss to the host Boilermakers on Sept. 29, 2012 still in Coach Doc Holliday s program are running back Remi Watson, strongside linebacker D.J. Hunter and cornerback Keith Baxter. A pair of four-year Herd specialists who were freshman regulars in that game also still play for Marshall punter Tyler Williams and long snapper Matt Cincotta. Other Herd seniors who played in the 2012 game at Purdue are running back Devon Johnson, kick returner-receiver Deandre Reaves, wide receiver Davonte Allen, right tackle Clint Van Horn, tight end Joe Woodrum, defensive tackles Jarquez Samuel and Steve Dillon and defensive end Armonze Daniel. What s up? Doc Marshall Coach Doc Holliday enters his sixth season on the Herd sideline, and the only current Conference USA head coach who was in the Texas-based league when Holliday arrived is Rice s David Bailiff. Holliday, named at Marshall in December 2009, was part of a 23-man FBS coaching-hire class prior to the 2010 season. Of those 23 coaches, only six remain on the job at the schools hiring them in 2010 Holliday, Florida State s Jimbo Fisher, Notre Dame s Brian Kelly, Ruffin McNeill at East Carolina, Virginia s Mike London and Todd Berry of Louisiana- Monroe. Holliday is (.615) in five seasons. The only coaches in his hiring class with better records are Fisher (58-11,.841) and Kelly (45-20,.692). Holliday received a six-year contract extension this past spring, through June 2021, bumping his base and supplemental salary to $755,500. We play for championships An oft-heard remark by Marshall Coach Doc Holliday has once again rung true, as Marshall won its first Conference USA football title last December -- a win over Louisiana Tech after falling in the title game at Rice a year earlier. The Herd s C-USA title was its 14th conference championship in five leagues. Marshall won the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles in 1925, 28 and 31, then took the Buckeye Conference crown in Marshall won Southern Conference championships in 1988, 92, 94 and 96, then added five Mid-American Conference titles from and Well-grounded The Herd will have a new starting quarterback in 2015, but the guts of a potent ground game return in running back Devon Johnson and three of five 2014 starters on the offensive line. Running backs coach Chris Barclay is back, too. From 2012 to 2014, the Herd had the best improvement in rushing yards per carry in major college football, going from a 4.23-yard average in 2012 to 5.05 in 2013 and soaring to 6.81 last season, when Johnson gained 1,767 yards in his first season in the backfield. Offensive coordinator Bill Legg s crew showed a 2.58-yard improvement over that span. The only other FBS programs with a hike of more than 2 yards per rush were Tulane (2.47) and North Carolina State (2.16). The Herd also is one of only four teams to improve its ground game four years in a row, with Oklahoma, New Mexico and Rutgers. Frosh catchers With a year under its belt, a promising Herd pass-catching unit dominated by sophomores should add to its 2014 accolades. In Marshall s Conference USA title season, freshman wide receivers combined for 82 receptions, 1,317 yards and 17 touchdowns. The 17 scores tied College Football Playoff finalist Oregon for the most nationally by freshmen, and the total yardage ranked No. 5 (Oregon was tops at 1,881). Marshall s freshman yards-per-catch average was Among FBS teams with at least 50 freshman catches, only Baylor (79 catches, ypc) and Oregon State (58 catches, ypc) topped the Herd s Making points Veteran Marshall offensive coordinator Bill Legg s attack goes into 2015 defending a title as the nation s most efficient scoring offense. In 2014, the nationally ranked Herd ran 1,032 plays in 14 games (13-1) and scored 638 points. The Marshall plays-per-point average of 1.62 edged Georgia (1.63), Ohio State (1.63) and Oregon (1.64) for the top spot. In total: Among the nation s premier offenses in 2014, the Herd had the most balance 4,022 pass yards and 3,807 by the rush. Marshall ranked second in total offense per game (559.2 yards) and first in yards per play (7.6). The Herd alone among 128 FBS teams -- had more than 3,800 yards pass and run. Marshall ranked No. 8 in rushing and No. 18 in passing. Only CFP runner-up Oregon joined Marshall as a top 25 team in both categories. The Ducks were No. 10 in passing and No. 22 on the ground. A Legg up Whether it s production, efficiency or success, the Marshall offense has had it in recent seasons. According to calculations by CoachingSearch. com, Herd offensive coordinator Bill Legg has been the top third down play-caller in major college football over the past three seasons. From , the Herd converted 316-of-601 third-down opportunities. That s a 52.5 percent success rate. The only other FBS program (and play-calling coach) over 50 percent in the past three seasons is Coach Paul Johnson at Georgia Tech (278-of-541, 51.3 percent). Hot Heater Marshall s 20.2-point improvement in scoring defense (from 2012 to 2013) topped the nation after Coach Doc Holliday hired veteran coordinator Chuck Heater in February That number continued to drop in 2014, too. Despite allowing 67 points in its only loss, to Western Kentucky, Heater s bunch improved the scoring defense from 22.9 to 21.0 points per game. The two-year improvement of 22.1 points (from 43.1 ppg in 2012) led major college football by a wide margin, with Houston No. 2 at a 15.4-point, two-year improvement. Duke was next at Only 10 programs improved their scoring defenses by at least 10 points per game over the span. Near the top With back-to-back season of double-digit victories 10-4 and 13-1 Marshall enters 2015 owning one of the best FBS records in that twoseason span. Only five FBS teams have a better combined record than Marshall s Florida State (27-1), Ohio State (26-3), Michigan State (24-3), Oregon (24-4) and Alabama (23-4) are the top five. Marshall s 23-5 shares the next spot with Missouri and Northern Illinois, which the Herd downed last December in the inaugural Boca Raton Bowl. Bowling for wins With a 9-3 all-time record in bowls, Marshall ranks at the top of major college teams in postseason percentage success (.750), among schools that have played in at least 10 bowl games. Utah is next at 14-5 (.737), followed by Miami (Ohio) at 7-3 (.700). Marshall has won nine of its last 10 bowl appearances, including four in a row, three of those under Coach Doc Holliday. The Herd s current fourgame postseason win streak also shares the FBS lead with Michigan State, South Carolina, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Louisiana-Lafayette. Tyler, too Herd senior Tyler Williams impressed quickly upon his 2012 arrival in the program, winning the punting job as a true freshman walk-on and then setting the school single-season record with a yard average. Now, he has a shot at the career average record. The Fort Wayne, Ind., resident enters the 2015 season with a 43.7-yard average over his three seasons. The school record of 43.4 belongs to Pat Velarde ( ). And only 51 of Williams 141 career punts have been returned, an average of 1.28 per game. In three seasons, Williams has had 38 punts of 50 or more yards, including nine of 60-plus. He has placed 41 inside the 20, with only 14 touchbacks. His stellar performance in the 2013 Military Bowl was a key to the Herd s victory over Maryland, as Williams pinned the Terps at their own 1, 5, 1 and 8 among his seven kicks. His career-long boot was a 66-yarder at Rice in Williams is the fifth four-year starting punter in Marshall annals, following Bob Esbaugh ( ), Chris Hanson ( ), Curtis Head ( ) and Kase Whitehead ( ). Happy returns Herd kick return man Deandre Reaves has set the school record for single-season return yards in each of the last two years 924 in 2013 and 931 last season. The redshirt senior from Sterling, Va., enters 2015 with a chance early to claim the Marshall career record, too. Reaves has 1,855 career kick return yards. The school mark has lasted nearly four decades. Ray Crisp posted 1,966 yards from Reaves needs 112 yards to break that and he s averaged 25.0 and 29.1 yards per return in the last two seasons.

3 Reaves has gotten his kick runback yardage in the last two seasons. He didn t have a kick return as a freshman in Extra points After three seasons with Justin Haig as the Herd s principal place-kicker, the battle goes on between Nick Smith and Amoreto Curraj to follow the graduated MVP of last season s Conference USA title game. Whoever wins the job has a PAT streak to continue. Haig made his final 102 extra points last missing Nov. 2, 2013 in a win over Southern Miss (third quarter), and Smith kicked one in last season s victory at FIU. So, the Herd streak is 103 when Purdue visits Edwards Stadium for the season opener on Sunday of Labor Day weekend. Marshall had a streak of 156 straight when Haig missed in So, the Herd has converted its last 259-of-60. The graduates Marshall will play the 2015 season with 13 players already owning their MU undergraduate degrees a record for a Herd football team. MU had five 2015 seniors (athletic eligibility) graduate last December wide receiver Davonte Allen, linebacker D.J. Hunter, safety Taj Letman and tight end Joe Woodrum in management, and offensive guard Sebastian Johansson in sports management/marketing. The roster gained four more graduates in May cornerback Keith Baxter (health science), defensive end Joe Massaquoi (criminal justice), offensive tackle Clint Van Horn (political science) and punter Tyler Williams (marketing). Then, four summer graduates were added in August defensive end Armonze Daniel (management), defensive tackle Steve Dillon (Regents bachelor of arts), kick returner Deandre Reaves (marketing) and linebacker Evan McKelvey (marketing and management). In addition, former offensive lineman Cam Dees gained his finance degree. Dees had to give up football because of multiple knee injuries. For starters The Herd returns 19 players who have made at least one career start on offense or defense, for a total of 253 starts (100 offense, 153 defense). It s a list that s led by senior strong side linebacker D.J. Hunter, who enters the 2015 season with 28 career starts. Next is boundary safety Taj Letman, another senior, with 27 starts. Left guard Sebastian Swede Johansson leads the offense career starts list with 25. On special teams, punter Tyler Williams and long snapper Matt Cincotta have been the regulars since their first game as true freshmen in 2011, and have 40 starts apiece. Here s a look at Marshall s career starts entering the 2015 season: Offense Running back Devon Johnson (12), Remi Watson (5). Line G Sebastian Johansson (25), T Clint Van Horn (22), C Michael Selby, 14, all at right guard). Receiver Davonte Allen 14 Defense Line NG Jarquez Samuel (18), T Steve Dillon (2), E Armonze Daniel (2), E Gary Thompson (1). Linebacker D.J. Hunter (28), Evan McKelvey (12), Stefan Houston (2). Backs S Taj Letman (27), CB Corey Tindal (26), CB Keith Baxter (13), S A.J. Leggett (11), S tiquan Lang (11). Specialists -- P Tyler Williams (40), LS Matt Cincotta (40), H Tyler Williams (14). Hang on! It s easy to see why Herd Coach Doc Holliday talks about ball security so often. His five previous Marshall teams have provided a strong indicator of why turnover margin is so important. Holliday s five Herd teams have a combined record. When Marshall has an edge in turnover margin, it is When the turnover number is equal, Marshall is But when the opponent is more surehanded, the Herd is Of Marshall s 65 games under Holliday, the Herd has played 33 while producing zero or one turnover. Watch out The 2015 Herd has three players on six of the preseason watch lists for major national awards, led by running back Devon Johnson. A look at the Herd on those watch lists: Walter Camp Award RB Devon Johnson Maxwell Award RB Devon Johnson Doak Walker Award RB Devon Johnson Rimington Trophy C Michael Selby Outland Trophy OT Clint Van Horn Rotary Lombardi Award LB D.J. Hunter, OT Clint Van Horn Tops again Marshall placed a league-best six players on the 2015 All-Conference USA Preseason Football Team announced July 14. The 34-player team was selected by the league s 13 football coaches. The six selections for Coach Doc Holliday s team included running back Devon Johnson and right tackle Clint Van Horn on offense, nose tackle Jarquez Samuel and strongside linebacker D.J. Hunter on defense, and punter Tyler Williams and long snapper Matt Cincotta on special teams. All six are 2015 seniors. Johnson, Van Horn, Williams and Cincotta were among the Herd s league-record 10 All-C-USA first team selections for the 2014 season last December. Following the Herd s six selections were five for FIU and four each for Western Kentucky and Louisiana Tech. Men of Steele Marshall produced a Conference USA-record 10 all-conference first team selection in 2014, and if magazine publisher Phil Steele s 2015 preseason forecast is any barometer, the Herd could be stacking up more honors after this season. Steele named Herd senior Deandre Reaves to his All-America third team at kick returner. Joining Reaves on Steele s All-C-USA first team are running back Devon Johnson, offensive tackle Clint Van Horn, linebacker D.J. Hunter, safety Taj Letman and punter Tyler Williams. Second team picks by Steele were offensive guard Sebastian Johansson and cornerback Corey Tindal, with center Michael Selby, wide receiver Deon-Tay McManus, defensive end Gary Thompson and linebacker Evan McKelvey on the third team. Safety A.J. Leggett was named to the fourth team. The 14 overall selections and six first team picks led all C-USA schools. More titles The Sporting News 2015 preseason magazine anointed the Herd in several special categories among Conference USA teams, including Doc Holliday as the best recruiting coach and Joan C. Edwards Stadium as the best C-USA football game venue. Herd players singled out were senior Davonte Allen as the fastest wide receiver, running back Devon Johnson as having the best instincts and wide receiver Raylen Elzy as a top impact freshman. Lindy s preseason guide named Van Horn as one of the league s top 10 players and the best pass blocker in C-USA. Johnson was picked as the C-USA Offensive Player of the Year. Boilers Purdue s visit to Edwards Stadium, on Sept. 6 (3 p.m., FS1), will be the first Marshall home game in history against a Big Ten Conference team. It s the return date in a home-and-home contract following the Boilermakers win at Ross-Ade Stadium in 2012 The Herd has played five games against Big Ten member teams, going 0-5 on the road, all since a 2000 date at Michigan State. Marshall lost at Ohio State in 2004 and 2010 (Coach Doc Holliday s head coaching debut) and at Wisconsin in Other current Big Ten members who were not in that conference when facing the Herd are Maryland and Penn State. Maryland fell in the 2013 Military Bowl to Marshall -- the Terps last game as an ACC member before joining the Big Ten and PSU won at home over the Herd in 1929 and 30. The Nittany Lions didn t join the Big Ten until six decades later. Major moments Purdue s visit to The Joan will be the seventh for a power conference team to Huntington since the Herd returned to major college football in 1997 from Division I-AA championship success. The Boilers visit will be in the first in the College Football Playoff era. The first six were by top-six conference teams from the ACC, Big East and Big 12 in the BCS years ( ). Marshall is 1-5 in those games, winning the first over Temple (Big East) 34-0, in Since then, the Herd fell to Kansas State (Big 12) in 2005; West Virginia (Big East) in 2007 and 2010; Cincinnati (Big East) in 2008 and Virginia Tech (ACC) in On future schedules, the Herd has Power 5 visits to Edwards Stadium by three ACC foes Louisville in 2016, North Carolina State in 18 and Pitt in Marshall also has future non-conference home-and-home series with Navy and East Carolina of the AAC and Appalachian State of the Sun Belt. Sunday, Sunday The 2015 season opener is the Herd s first Sunday football game since a storm-shortened loss at West Virginia, on Sept. 4, Marshall s last Sunday home game was four seasons earlier Oct. 21, 2007, a Conference USA loss to Southern Miss in an ESPN telecast game. As for a home season opener on a Sunday the visit by Purdue is a first

4 in Herd history. The Next Level When All-Conference USA first team cornerback Darryl Roberts was selected in the seventh round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots, it gave Marshall an NFL Draft pick for a fifth consecutive season the second longest streak in Herd history to a six-year run from Roberts impressed in minicamp and OTA sessions and with training camp beginning, is listed No. 2 at corner on the Patriots depth chart. Four other 2014 Herd seniors signed NFL free agent deals and are in camps linebacker Neville Hewitt (Miami), center Chris Jasperse (Cincinnati), tight end Eric Frohnapfel (San Diego) and defensive lineman James Rouse (Houston). Rouse suffered a torn Achilles (for a second time in his football career) on the first day in the Texans minicamp and was released. Quarterback Rakeem Cato was a late signee in the Canadian Football League with Montreal, and after early season injuries to three Alouettes QBs, Cato rose to a starting role by Week 2. After leading Montreal to a win over defending Grey Cup champ Calgary, the ex-herd star was named the CFL s Top Performer of the Week. Big additions Marshall s program its entire athletic program, in fact had two big additions this summer, when the final two facilities funded by the Vision Campaign for Athletics opened as part of the Chris Cline Athletic Complex. In early June, the Buck Harless Student-Athletic Academic Center opened, giving Herd athletes a welcome place to do their studies outside the classroom and the campus libraries. The Harless Center s 14,150 square feet include 98 computer work stations, private tutoring room, a 34-seat classroom and 75-seat auditorium, among other amenities. In mid-july, the Marshall University Sports Medicine Institute opened its doors for Herd athletes as well as the general public. It s a cooperative effort among MU Athletics, Cabell Huntington Hospital s SMART Center (Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Therapies), Marshall Orthopaedics and a hospital-run franchise of Stack Velocity Sports Performance. The 20,000-square-foot sports Medicine Institute and Harless Center are adjacent to the MU athletics Hall of Fame room and the Herd s indoor practice facility that houses the 300-meter Jeff Small Track. Perfect vs. Texas at Home Interestingly enough, Marshall has never lost to a school from Texas at home. The Thundering Herd is a perfect 11-0 against Texas schools in games played in Huntington. Marshall owns a win over North Texas (1988), two wins over Houston (2008, 2012), three wins over Rice (2007, 2011, 2014), two wins over SMU (2005, 2009), two wins over UTEP (2006, 2010) and one victory over UTSA (2013). Leaves Fall, Herd Wins The Herd is 21-6 after Oct. 28 in Doc Holliday s four-plus years as head coach, including a 12-1 mark at home. Big Plays Running back Devon Johnson s 75-yard run in the win at UAB was the Herd s 13th play of 50 or more yards last season. In 2013, the Herd had 11 plays of 50 or more in 14 games. The Rock Running back Devon Johnson had seven runs of at least 50 yards last season. He also had yard games, setting the Marshall major college record for 100-yard games in a season and tying Chris Parker s Division I-AA mark, which he set three times (1993, 94, 95). Johnson broke the single-game rushing record at Marshall with 272 yards (24 carries) in the win over Florida Atlantic. The previous record was 262 by Ron Darby (47 carries) at Western Carolina, Johnson s 19 touchdowns last season were the most for a Herd player since running back Ahmad Bradshaw had 21 in Points? No Problem! Marshall was second nationally with a 24.6-point scoring margin last season. 50+ Marshall s win over NIU was the 14th time that the Thundering Herd has reached the 50+-point plateau under coach Doc Holliday. Jim Donnan ( ) holds the all-time school mark in that department with 15, while Bob Pruett ( ) also reached that mark 14 times and Cam Henderson ( , ) did it on 13 occasions. Leading The League Marshall led Conference USA in scoring offense (45.6 points/game), scoring defense (21.0 points/game), total offense (559.2 yards/game), total defense (357.1 yards/game), rushing offense (271.9 yards/game), pass defense efficiency (113.5), PAT kicking (1.000), first downs (366), third down conversions (51.4%), third down defense (31.1%) and fourth down defense (24.0%). Devon Johnson also led the league in rushing (135.9). Herd Finishes Under Holliday Since Doc Holliday became head coach in 2010, the Herd has an excellent record of finishing off its opponents once it takes the lead. Marshall is 30-6 when it scores first, 28-3 when leading after the first quarter, 32-2 when leading at halftime and 31-3 when leading after three quarters. Breakdown In 14 games last season, Marshall outscored opponents in the first quarter and in the first half. Balanced Attack Marshall was the ONLY team in the FBS averaging at least 248 rushing (271.9) AND passing (287.3) yards per game. 10+ The Herd is at it again with its output of double-digit-yard plays. Marshall had 278 last season. Since the start of the 2012 season (40 games), MU boasts 788 such plays, an average of 19.7 per contest. As you might imagine, those numbers have yielded the following: In that same period, offensive coordinator Bill Legg s attack has 26 games of 500 or more yards total offense and 25 games with 40 or more points. Feel The Rush Marshall has outrushed 23 of its last 30 opponents overall and 15 of its last 20 Conference USA opponents, dating back to the 2012 season. In 2012, 56 percent of Marshall s plays were passes. Last season, 54 percent were rushing plays. And the Herd got more from its ground game, too. Marshall had 118 runs of 10 or more yards. In 2013, there were 94 rushes for double-digit yards. The school record for total ground yards was (prior to last season) was 3,395 in 1996 the final season of Division I-AA play for an average of In 2014, Marshall smashed that mark, registering 3,807 yards and per game. The C-USA record for season rushing average is 293.8, set back in 1998 by Army s option attack. Last season, MU has had yard rushing performances. In 2013, there were 10. Protecting the Home Turf Marshall is nationally known for being one of, if not the, toughest places to play in college football. The program has won 84.5 percent (142-26) of its home games in Joan C. Edwards Stadium, the second-highest mark in the country for schools who have hosted more than six games (Baylor). Turnovers Tell The Story Under Holliday, Marshall is 32-8 when it has as many or fewer turnovers than the opposition. Third Down Masters Marshall converted 51.6% of its third downs on offense (#4 in the nation), and holding the opponents to 30.9% (also #7 in the nation), the only school to register in the top 12 of both categories. BOGACZYK: Hamrick, Holliday Sign Long-Term Extensions: Marshall University strengthened its stability and continuity in athletics on Wednesday, as the Thundering Herd signed Athletic Director Mike Hamrick and football Coach Doc Holliday to long-term contract extensions. Hamrick, who returned to his alma mater as AD in July 2009, hired Holliday in December of that year. Together, the two West Virginia natives -- Hamrick from Clendenin and Holliday from Hurricane -- have lifted Herd fortunes through new and enhanced facilities and recordbreaking success on the football field. The contracts of both men extend until June 30, Hamrick s six-year extension is for $300,000 annually, a $30,000 raise. Holliday s six-year deal is for a total package of $755, up from $600, with additional dollars available through incentives tied to conference championships, bowls and season ticket sales. The university had announced on Dec. 30 that there were agreements in principle for six-year extensions and enhanced compensation for Hamrick and Holliday. The formal contracts were revealed today. The renewal of the contracts of Mike Hamrick and Coach Holiday is a clear indication of their commitment to Marshall s success and growth in Division I athletics, MU Interim President Gary White said. We are delighted we were able to successfully negotiate continuations that will keep Marshall moving forward. Mike and Doc have stepped up and done their part, and we re looking to our great fans and supporters of Marshall athletics to help us continue our momentum and success.

5 Holliday s previous contract, signed in July 2014, paid the coach $600,000. Last season, he guided the Herd to its first Conference USA championship, with a 13-1 record and Boca Raton Bowl rout over Mid- American Conference champ Northern Illinois. Marshall finished Nos. 22/23 in the national polls. That performance came on the heels of a 10-4 record, C-USA East Division title and Military Bowl win over Maryland in Doc has made Marshall football relevant again for the first time in a long time, with the success he has had in the last two seasons, Hamrick said. The recent past , two big bowl wins -- has been great and the promise of the future is great. He runs an excellent program, with a commitment to doing things right on and off the field. We have the premier program in Conference USA and one of the best in the nation, as the final rankings showed. That s a credit to Coach Holliday and his staff, and I m looking forward to us having big success for a long, long time. Holliday, who turns 58 on April 21, brings a coaching record into 2015, his sixth season guiding the Herd. His teams are 3-0 in bowls and have won 14 of the last 15 games at Edwards Stadium. The extension puts Holliday among the top three in football coaching salaries in Conference USA. I m as happy as I ve ever been coaching football in my career, right here now at Marshall University, Holliday said. I just appreciate the commitment, starting with (late MU President) Dr. (Stephen) Kopp, who s sadly no longer with us. He gave me the opportunity, along with Mike Hamrick, and they made the commitment to winning championships here. With the great facilities we have now and the opportunity to have and keep the staff I have now, it s just a great, great situation to work in. Gary White, our interim president, has been very supportive, and I m just really proud to be the coach here at Marshall. Mike and I have made a long-term commitment to Marshall and our community in the Tri-State area. I d hope we can continue to build as we have, with an increase in support from our community. I hope we can build our fan base. We play an exciting brand of football, and I hope we ll see more fans in the seats in coming seasons at Edwards Stadium. Holliday s new contract includes a base salary from the university of $175,000. He also is guaranteed $330,500 annually for appearances on his weekly radio and TV shows and $200,000 (beginning this July) for annual appearances at Big Green Scholarship Foundation fundraising functions. The contract has a maximum of $100,000 tied to success in C-USA and bowls, plus an incentive tied to MU football season ticket sales. Holliday s buyout is $725, up from $600, unless he moves to the head coaching position at state rival West Virginia, his alma mater. In that case, the buyout increases to $3 million. If Marshall terminates the contract, the MU buyout is $755,500 for each remaining year of the deal. Hamrick came to Marshall after AD stints at Arkansas-Little Rock, East Carolina and UNLV. He will be entering his seventh year as the Herd athletic chief this summer, and with his leadership Marshall has made more than $42 million in athletic facility construction and enhancement. The former Herd linebacker has spearheaded the ongoing Vision Campaign, which has raised in excess of $28 million in private funding for the centerpiece of the campaign, the Chris Cline Athletic Complex. The 101,000-square foot Cline Complex includes an indoor facility that houses a full-length football field and the 300-meter Jeff Small Track; the Buck Harless Student-Academic Program home (scheduled to open this summer); the Marshall University Sports Medicine Institute; and the first Marshall Athletics Hall of Fame. The Vision Campaign also allowed the Herd to build Hoops Family Field at Veterans Memorial Soccer Complex, a 1,006-seat facility that is one of the finest in the nation and is used not only by Marshall but other community organizations. Hamrick also has enhanced Herd football schedules, scheduling homeand-home series with Purdue, Louisville, NC State, Pitt, East Carolina and Navy. He also has renewed rivalries with former MAC foes Ohio and Miami (Ohio). Hamrick s years at Marshall also have included a commitment to NCAA compliance and academic success, which is displayed through the NCAA s Academic Progress Rate (APR), graduation rates and C-USA academic awards for student-athletes. I m very humbled and appreciative that my alma mater, Marshall University, would give me the opportunity to continue in a job that I love, said Hamrick, 57. I appreciate the support I ve received over the years from Dr. Kopp, who was a great president for us, and now from Gary White and our Board of Governors. Our intent is to continue to move forward and continue to build on our recent success. The university has made a long-term commitment to Coach Holliday and to me with these contracts, and we are committed to Marshall. Our fan base and our community want a successful athletic program, which is what we want. We re going to be here, and we need more of you to be here, too. Goebbel Named Marshall Tight Ends Coach/Recruiting Coordinator Marshall football coach Doc Holliday announced Wednesday that Todd Goebbel will return to the Thundering Herd staff as the team s tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator. Goebbel returns to the program after five seasons as the assistant head coach/offensive coordinator at Ohio Dominican University. We are happy to welcome Todd back to Marshall, Holliday said. He has tremendous experience on the offensive side of the ball and in recruiting. He certainly knows what it means to be a part of this program and the Huntington community. Goebbel spent five seasons ( ) as the Thundering Herd s receivers coach. During that time, Marshall saw steady improvement among its receiving corps and in special teams, which Goebbel coached for his first three years. Under his tutelage, Darius Passmore was named second-team All-Conference USA in 2009, Emmanuel Spann earned All- CUSA honors as a kick returner in 2006 and Chubb Small ranked among the C-USA leaders in the department in In 2014, Goebbel led Dominican to an 11-2 mark, an NCAA Regional Final appearance and a No. 4 finish in both the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and D2Football.com poll. He also directed quarterback Mark Miller, who finished seventh in the Harlon Hill Trophy voting, an award that is presented annually to the best player in NCAA Division II. Goebbel s offense averaged 35.6 points and yards per game, led the country in completion percentage (67.9) and was second nationally in red zone offense (90.9%). In 2013, ODU finished 10-1 and was Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) champions. Goebbel led an offense that was also top 10 nationally and part of a team that made a second-round appearance in the Division II playoffs. Goebbel directed a high-octane Panther offense in 2012, as ODU finished amongst the nation s best in scoring offense. The Panthers averaged 40.8 points per game, good for 12th in the country, and ranked 13th nationally in rushing yards (244.9 per game). Ohio Dominican also ranked 27th in total offense, racking up yards per game, and the Panthers had the eighth-ranked offense in passing efficiency (161.0) while allowing just six sacks all season, the fifth-best mark in the country. Under Goebbel s tutelage, ODU has enjoyed its most prolific rushing attack in school history. Running back Mike Noffsinger set the school single-season and career rushing records and was honored as a Hill Trophy candidate in Jeremy Fudge emerged as one of the top dualthreat quarterbacks in the conference, leading all GLIAC quarterbacks in rushing while also completing over 60 percent of his passes. The Panthers finished 2011 as the third-best offense in the GLIAC, averaging 31.9 points per game, and were also the third-best rushing offense in the conference and 27th in the nation at yards per game. In his three seasons directing the offense, Goebbel has had 10 players earn All-GLIAC accolades. Prior to joining the Marshall football coaching staff, Goebbel served as Ohio State s defensive quality control coach for one season. In that role, he coached the specialists and assisted with special teams, assisted with film breakdown of the opponents, scouting and self-evaluation of the Buckeye defense. Goebbel helped take the Buckeyes to an 8-4 record that included a win over Oklahoma State in the Alamo Bowl. Goebbel, a native of Delaware, Ohio, attended Kent State University and was a three-year starting quarterback for the Golden Flashes, winning MVP honors as a sophomore in 1996 while being selected as captain as a junior in Following the 1997 season, Goebbel transferred to Northern Iowa, where he was the starting quarterback in 1998 and earned Gateway Conference Newcomer of the Year honors. He graduated from Northern Iowa in 1998 and briefly played for the Buffalo Destroyers of the Arena Football League. He holds a bachelor s degree in Physical Education from Northern Iowa and a master s degree in Educational Leadership from Quincy University.

6 In 1999, Goebbel coached tight ends at the College of Wooster and the following season was named the quarterback and wide receiver coach at Tiffin University. He coached at Tiffin for two years before moving on to Quincy University, where he served as offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator for the 2002 and 2003 seasons. During those two seasons as offensive coordinator, Quincy was ranked 13th and 10th nationally in total offense. Goebbel and his wife Sara have two sons, Tyler and Drew. Former Herd Star Michael Payton to Enter College Football Hall of Fame: Former Marshall football quarterback Michael Payton was one of 17 players named as part of the 2015 College Football Hall of Fame class by the National Football Foundation Friday morning. The 1992 recipient of the Walter Payton Award as the best player in NCAA Division I-AA, Payton led Marshall to its first national championship. Payton becomes Marshall s sixth College Football Hall of Fame inductee, joining halfback Harry Cy Young (inducted in 1958), halfback Jackie Hunt (2004), wide receiver Mike Barber (2005), Coach Jim Donnan (2009) and wide receiver Troy Brown (2010). Young is recognized as playing football for Marshall and Washington & Lee. A consensus first team All-American as a senior, Payton led the Herd to a 12-3 record and the 1992 Division I-AA national championship after defeating Youngstown State, which was coached by fellow 2015 College Football Hall of Fame inductee Jim Tressel. In 1991, Payton was the Walter Payton Award runner-up after leading the nation in passing efficiency (181.3) and taking Marshall to the national championship game. Payton was twice named Southern Conference Player of the Year and Male Athlete of the Year, and he led the Herd to the 1992 conference title. For more than 20 years, Payton held the Division I-AA record for most passing yards in a half, and he currently ranks in the top four in almost every statistical passing category in Marshall history. A two-time first team all-conference selection and a team captain in 1992, he finished his career with 689 completions for 9,411 yards and 69 touchdowns. Inducted into the Marshall University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1999, Payton played for coaches George Chaump and Donnan and was teammates with Brown during his career in Huntington, W.Va. He was named West Virginia Athlete of the Year and Man of the Year in 1991 and I m still on the ballot, said Payton in an October 2012 interview with HerdZone.com s Jack Bogaczyk. Just getting that far, to me is a great thing, and people have told me to be patient. Troy is in there, Coach Donnan is in there. People say I have the stats. We won a championship. I won the Walter Payton Award, which was great. I think it s all there. You just have to be patient. When you re a father (son, Donovan, is 11), you have to be patient, Payton said, laughing, That, and when you re coaching youth football. After spending part of 1993 with the Dallas Cowboys, Payton played two seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League before finishing his career with the Florida Bobcats of the Arena Football League in The Harrisburg, Pa., native is active in DARE and the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Payton is currently a senior staff counselor at Alternative Rehabilitation Communities in Pennsylvania, and he serves as a personal trainer and life coach. CAREER STARTS OFFENSE TIGHT ENDS QUARTERBACKS RUNNING BACKS OFFENSIVE LINE WIDE RECEIVERS #8 Remi Watson (5) #71 Sebastian Johansson (25) #6 Davonte Allen (14) #47 Devon Johnson (12) #78 Clint Van Horn (22) #54 Michael Selby (14) DEFENSE DEFENSIVE LINE DEFENSIVE BACKS SAFETIES LINEBACKERS #94 Jarquez Samuel (18) #10 Corey Tindal (26) #17 Taj Letman (27) #22 D.J. Hunter (28) #93 Steve Dillon (2) #5 Keith Baxter (13) #21 Tiquan Lang (11) #31 Evan McKelvey (12) #59 Gary Thompson (1) #1 A.J. Leggett (11) #13 Armonze Daniel (2) THUNDERING HERD SPECIALISTS LONG SNAPPER #88 Matt Cincotta (40) KICKER PUNTER #38 Tyler Williams (40) HOLDER Tyler Williams (14)

7

8 Marshall vs. Ranked Opponents Since moving to Division I-A (FBS) in 1997, the Herd has enjoyed a pair of landmark victories against nationally-ranked opponents. The following is the Marshall Thundering Herd s game-by-game results against NCAA FBS opponents ranked in the Associated Press (since 1936), UPI ( ), CNN ( ), ESPN/USA Today ( ) or USA Today (since 2005) Top 25 polls since Date Opponent Result 9/11/76 Miami (Ohio) W, #20 (Associated Press) 8/31/95 NC State L, #25 (CNN) 12/27/99 BYU (Motor City Bowl) W, 21-3 #25 (ESPN) 9/9/00 Michigan State L, #24/23 (Associated Press/ESPN) 9/1/01 Florida L, #1 (Associated Press/ESPN) 9/12/02 Virginia Tech L, #7 (Associated Press/ESPN) 9/6/03 Tennessee L, #11 (Associated Press/#12 (ESPN) 9/20/03 Kansas State W, #6 (Associated Press/ESPN) 9/11/04 Ohio State L, #9 (Associated Press/ESPN) 9/18/04 Georgia L, 3-13 #3 (Associated Press/ESPN) 10/7/05 Virginia Tech L, #3 (Associated Press/ESPN) 9/2/06 West Virginia L, #5 (Associated Press/ESPN) 9/23/06 Tennessee L, 7-33 #15 (Associated Press/ESPN) 9/8/07 West Virginia L, #3 (Associated Press/ESPN) 9/6/08 Wisconsin L, #11 (Associated Press) 9/12/09 Virginia Tech L, #14/#15 (Associated Press/ESPN) 9/2/10 Ohio State L, 7-45 #2 (Associated Press/ESPN) 9/10/10 West Virginia L, OT #22/#23 (Associated Press/ESPN) 9/4/11 West Virginia L, #24 (Associated Press/USA Today) 9/24/11 Virginia Tech L, #13/#11 (Associated Press/USA Today) 10/22/11 Houston L, #21/20 (Associated Press/USA Today) 9/1/12 West Virginia L, #11/11 (Associated Press/USA Today) Marshall Football on National TV Marshall football games began appearing on local television as far back as the 1950s, however the Thundering Herd made its national television debut in the 1987 NCAA Division I-AA National Championship game against Northeast Louisiana. Marshall has appeared on national television (ESPN, ESPN2, ES- PNU, ESPNews, ESPN3, CSTV, Fox, CBS, ABC, American Sports Network) 103 times posting a record of The following is a list of Herd national television appearances with results: 12/19/87...NE Louisiana (ESPN)...L, /21/91...YSU (CBS)...L, /19/92...YSU (CBS)...W, /18/93...YSU (ESPN)...L, /16/95...Montana (ESPN)...L, /21/96...Montana (ESPN)...W, /5/97...Toledo (ESPN2)...W, /26/97...Ole Miss (ESPN2)...L, /4/98...Toledo (ESPN2)...W, /23/98...Louisville (ESPN2)...W, /14/99...Toledo (ESPN)...W, /26/99...Ohio (Fox)...W, /3/99...Western Michigan (ESPN2)...W, /27/99...BYU (ESPN2)...W, /9/00...Michigan St. (ESPN)...L, /5/00...Western Michigan (ESPN)...L, /2/00...Western Michigan(ABC)...W, /27/00...Cincinnati (ESPN2)...W, /1/01...Florida (ESPN2)...L, /30/01...Toledo (ESPN)...L, /19/01...East Carolina (ESPN2)...W, /12/02...Virginia Tech (ESPN)...L, /20/02...UCF (ESPN2)...W, /12/02...Miami (ESPN)...W, /30/02...Ball State (ESPN2)...W, /7/02...Toledo (ESPN2)...W, /18/02...Louisville (ESPN2)...W, /6/03...Tennessee (ESPN2)...L, /12/03...Toledo (ESPN)...L, /13/03...Kansas State (Fox Sports Net)...W, /12/03...Miami (ESPN2)...L, /19/03...UCF (ESPN2)...W, /11/04...Ohio State (ABC)...L, /29/04...Miami (ESPN2)...W, /5/04...Akron (ESPN2)...L, /23/04...Cincinnati (ESPN)...L, /10/05...Kansas State (ESPN2)...L, /1/05...SMU (CSTV)...W, (OT) 10/8/05...Virginia Tech (ESPN2)...L, /15/05...UAB (CSTV on i)...w, /22/05...UTEP (CSTV on i)...l, /29/05...Tulane (CSTV)...W, /8/05...Southern Miss (ESPN2)... L, (OT) 11/26/05...Memphis (CSTV)...L, /16/06...Kansas State (FSN)...L, /4/06...UCF (ESPN2)...L, /4/06...Tulane (CSTV)...W, /25/06...Southern Miss (CSTV)...L, /1/07...Miami (Fla.) (ESPNU)...L, /8/07...West Virginia (ESPN2)...L, /2/07...Memphis (ESPN2)...L, /21/07...Southern Miss (ESPN)...L, /27/07...Rice (CSTV)...W, /3/08...Cincinnati (ESPN)...L, /28/08...Houston (ESPN2)...W, /8/ East Carolina (CBSSN)... L, (OT) 11/22/ Rice (CBSSN)...L, /24/ East Carolina (CBSSN)...L, /1/ UCF (ESPN)...L, /26/ Ohio (ESPN)...W, /2/ Ohio State (Big Ten)...L, /10/ West Virginia (ESPN)... L, (OT) 10/2/ Southern Miss (CBSSN)...L, /13/ UCF (ESPN)...L, /27/ Tulane (CBSSN)...W, /4/ West Virginia (ESPN)...L, /10/ Southern Miss (CSS)...W, /17/ Ohio (ESPN3)...L, /24/ Virginia Tech (CBSSN)...L, /12/ Tulsa (Fox Sports Net)...L, /17/ Memphis (Fox Sports Net)...W, /26/ East Carolina (CBSSN)...W, (OT) 12/20/ FIU (ESPN)...W, /1/ West Virginia (FX)...L, /8/ Western Carolina (FCS)...W, /29/ Purdue (Big Ten)...L, /6/ Tulsa (CBSSN)...L, /20/ Southern Miss (CBSSN)...W, /27/ UCF (CBSSN)...L, /23/ East Carolina (CBSSN)...L, (2OT) 8/31/ Miami (Ohio) (CBSSN)...W, /14/ Ohio (ESPNews)...L, /21/ Virginia Tech (ESPNU)...L, (3OT) 10/12/ Florida Atlantic (FCS)...W, /24/ Middle Tennessee (FS1)...L, /2/ Southern Miss (CBSSN)...W, /14/ Tulsa (FS1)...W, /23/ Florida International (FCS)...W, /29/ East Carolina (CBSSN)...W, /7/ Rice (ESPN2)...L, /27/ Maryland (ESPN)...W, /31/ Miami (Ohio) (ESPN3)...W, /6/ Rhode Island (American Sports Network)...W, /13/ Ohio (CBSSN)...W, /20/ Akron (ESPN3)...W, /4/ Old Dominion (Fox Sports Net)...W, /11/ Middle Tennessee (Fox Sports Net)...W, /18/ FIU (American Sports Network)...W, /25/ Florida Atlantic (FS1)...W, /8/ Southern Miss (American Sports Network)...W, /15/ Rice (FOX Sports Net)...W, /22/ UAB (American Sports Network)...W, /28/ WKU (FS1)... L, (OT) 12/6/ Louisiana Tech (FS1)...W, /23/ Northern Illinois (ESPN)...W, 52-23

9 2014 Season Superlatives Overall Record Current Streak... W-2 C-USA Record Division Record Non-Conference Record Home Record Current Home Streak... W-1 Road Record Current Road Streak... W-6 Day Games Night Games Natural Grass Artificial Turf MU wins Coin Toss MU loses Coin Toss MU leads after 1st Quarter MU trails after 1st Quarter MU leads at Halftime MU trails at Halftime MU leads after 3rd Quarter MU trails after 3rd Quarter In August In September In October In November In December vs. Top 25 teams vs. unranked teams With 100-yard rusher vs. 100-yard rusher With 300-yard passer vs. 300-yard passer When MU scores first When Opp. scores first On Big Ten Network On ESPN On ESPN On ESPN On ESPNU On ESPNews On CBS Sports Network On CSS On Fox Sports Net On FX On Fox College Sports On Fox Sports On American Sports Network Conference USA Standings Conf. Overall EAST DIVISION W L W L Marshall Middle Tennessee UAB WKU Old Dominion FIU Florida Atlantic WEST DIVISION W L W L Louisiana Tech Rice UTEP UTSA North Texas Southern Miss UPCOMING CONFERENCE USA SCHEDULE (all times ET) Thursday, Sept. 3 FIU at UCF, 6 p.m. (CBSSN) WKU at Vanderbilt, 8 p.m. (SEC Network) UTSA at Arizona, 10 p.m. (Pac-12 Networks) Friday, Sept. 4 Charlotte at Georgia State, 3:30 p.m. (ESPNU) Saturday, Sept. 5 Old Dominion at Eastern Michigan, 3 p.m. (ESPN3) Florida Atlantic at Tulsa, 3:30 p.m. (CBSSN) UTEP at Arkansas, 3:30 p.m. (ESPNU) Wagner at Rice, 3:30 p.m. (ASN) Jackson State at Middle Tennessee, 7 p.m. Southern at Louisiana Tech, 7 p.m. (ASN) Mississippi State at Southern Miss, 10 p.m. (FS1) Sunday, Sept. 6 Purdue at Marshall, 3 p.m. (FS1) THE LAST MEETING... Herd Comeback Falls Short at Purdue, /29/2012 WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Sophomore Rakeem Cato, the nation s top passer, threw for a career-high 439 yards and five touchdowns, but had three interceptions as Marshall dropped its final non-conference game of the season to Purdue Saturday at Ross-Ade Stadium. The Thundering Herd (2-3), which trailed at halftime, held Purdue (3-1) to just nine points in the second half, but the deficit was too much to overcome despite another productive day by an offense that entered the game ranked seventh in the NCAA in total yards. If you take care of the football it s a different game, head coach Doc Holliday said. They re a good football team and are picked by a lot of people to win their division. I m just proud of the way our kids played in the second half. We are a better team because of it. Not since Byron Leftwich (447) in 2002 had a Herd quarterback thrown for as many yards as Cato did on Saturday. He completed 45-of-68 attempts, the most completions ever by a Purdue opponent. Three of Cato s five touchdowns were to junior tight end Gator Hoskins, the most by a single player since Josh Davis (3) in Sophomore Tommy Shulerbroke the Marshall record for receptions in a game with 19. He had 200 yards receiving, the first Herd player to reach 200 yards since Davis had 264 in Freshman Kevin Grooms led the rushing effort with eight carries for 53 yards. Steward Butleralso had eight carries and had 26 yards. The Herd finished with 534 yards of offense, just under its season average of 561. Purdue had 443 yards of offense which Marshall matched early on as the two teams traded blows to a tie following a 12-yard pass from Cato to Hoskins with 14:13 remaining in the first half. Purdue then scored 28 unanswered points thanks to three Cato interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns. The Boilermakers took a lead into halftime. After holding Purdue three-and-out on its opening drive of the second half, the Herd scored on its first possession, a 28-yard pass from Cato to Hoskins to make the score Marshall s defense forced Purdue to punt on its second possession. On the ensuing punt, Jermain Kelson blocked the attempt and the ball was picked up and returned for a touchdown by Derek Mitchellas the Herd trailed with 6:09 remaining in the third quarter. After a Purdue field goal, Marshall put together a 9-play, 77-yard scoring drive that ended with a one-yard touchdown pass from Cato to Hoskins to cut the deficit to with 12:35 to play. The Boilermakers increased their lead to after a long drive that took just over six minutes and 13 plays. The Herd responded on the following drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Cato to sophomore wide receiver Craig Wilkins, his first career score to bring Marshall within 10 points, after a two-point conversion attempt was no good. Purdue quarterback Caleb TerBush completed 27-of-37 attempts for 294 yards and four touchdowns. Wide receiver Gary Bush had three of those touchdowns and 83 yards receiving. Akeem Shavers carried the ball 25 times for 73 yards and one touchdown.

10 Doc Holliday Head Coach - Fifth Season (40-25 overall, C-USA) In five seasons, Marshall Coach John Doc Holliday has brought Thundering Herd football back into the national picture. His 2014 Herd (13-1) won the school s first Conference USA Championship with a thrilling comeback, title-game win over Louisiana Tech. MU headed to the Boca Raton Bowl, where it routed Mid-American Conference champion Northern Illinois, The Herd finished the season in the major polls No. 22 in the USA Today Coaches poll and No. 23 in the Associated Press media poll. The Herd coach was named the 2014 Conference USA Coach of the Year in voting by his peers. Holliday received a six-year contract extension (through July 2021) for $755,500 annually on April 8. He takes a record into the 2015 season, and the Herd has won 19 of its last 21 games overall and 14 of the last 15 at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. The 2014 title season followed a successful 2013, as Marshall went 10-4, won the C-USA East Division crown and downed ACC member Maryland in the Military Bowl -- the Terps last game before heading to the Big Ten. In December 2014, Holliday was named the 15th annual Gazett Sportsman of the Year by Charleston Newspapers. In April 2015, the Herd coach was honored as the 2014 Lowell Cade Sportsperson of the Year by The Herald-Dispatch (Huntington). Holliday, named as Herd coach on Dec. 17, 2009 in his first collegiate head coaching job, is widely regarded as one of the top recruiters in the nation. He has more than 30 years of collegiate coaching experience, including previous stops at Florida, North Carolina State and West Virginia, his alma mater. Marshall displayed balance on offense and a strong defense throughout the 2014 season and boasted 10 all-conference first team selections as voted by C-USA coaches, as star players like quarterback Rakeem Cato, center Chris Jasperse, defensive tackle James Rouse and cornerback Darryl Roberts were team leaders. In 2013, Holliday took the Herd where it hadn t been in its previous eight years in Conference USA nine regular-season victories, seven league wins and a berth in the C-USA title game, mostly on the strength of an unblemished 6-0 mark at home for the first time since The Herd s win over Maryland was one of only two bowl victories by teams from non-aq BCS conference teams over BCS league schools in the 2013 postseason. Marshall also boasted the best (scoring) defensive turnaround in the nation (19.9 fewer points allowed per game). In five seasons, Holliday s program has had 33 All-Conference USA selections (first and second team, and honorable mention), including 17 this season. During his time in Huntington, Holliday s teams have consistently improved as the season stretches into the winter months. The Herd is 21-6 under Holliday after Oct. 29, including an eye-popping 12-1 mark in the friendly confines of Joan C. Edwards Stadium. In 2011, the Herd went 7-6 against the 16th-toughest schedule in the nation, a slate that was ranked second among non-bcs schools. Two of those victories came against eventual C-USA champion Southern Miss and Big East co-champ Louisville, the latter coming on the road for the program s first non-conference road win since the early 2000s. Marshall also won five Conference USA games, the most for the program since it had joined the league in During his coaching career, Holliday has coached in 23 bowl games, three national championship games and coached 12 players that have gone on to the National Football League. He has also coached five All- Americans. A native of Hurricane, W.Va., Holliday was a three-year letter-winner at linebacker at West Virginia ( ) and has earned bachelor s (1979) and master s (1981) degrees from WVU. He won a state high school wrestling title at 175 pounds (all divisions) in 1975 at Hurricane. Holliday and his wife, Diana, have four children -- Meghan, Cade, Chase and Cody.