Doug Smock tweet

[Mike Gwinn]

 

[Mike Gwinn]

 

[Herdstruck]

Apparently, Birdsong hurt his shoulder during Purdue, but tried to play through it, ended up not doing so well...
He wore his jersey and street clothes and someone else on the defense had #11 on as well.

 

[JC102]

Why would they leave him in the entire game against OU if he hurt his shoulder against Purdue? He clearly wasn't getting it done week 2.

 

[Herdstruck]

Ugh...

Its because it wasnt known how bad his injury was...there is a big difference between rotating your arm 3 times for a doctor Friday...and then moving it 30 times Saturday throwing a ball downfield.
It was evident his passing and touch was not the same in week 2. Doc gave him the chance to win, he didn't do it, alright, fine, let Litton take over in week 3.

 

[Herdon2]

I don't know the whole story but I don't get letting Birdsong finish out the OU game. If we had just sat him and let Litton come in we would probably be 3-0 right now. I just don't understand how you don't make a change in that game when it's obvious he was struggling with accuracy.

 

[Herdstruck]

I don't know the whole story but I don't get letting Birdsong finish out the OU game. If we had just sat him and let Litton come in we would probably be 3-0 right now. I just don't understand how you don't make a change in that game when it's obvious he was struggling with accuracy.

Because, despite how bad the TEAM looked, we trailed by 7 most of the game...AKA just one touchdown. It wasn't a throttling in the score like Cato's year there.
Because of that, he kept in Birdsong.
If he put in Litton and we lost, you guys would be questioning Doc in burning a redshirt and not allowing Birdsong a chance. There is no hope for anyone at Marshall.

 

[Dorrej]

Because, despite how bad the TEAM looked, we trailed by 7 most of the game...AKA just one touchdown. It wasn't a throttling in the score like Cato's year there.
Because of that, he kept in Birdsong.
If he put in Litton and we lost, you guys would be questioning Doc in burning a redshirt and not allowing Birdsong a chance. There is no hope for anyone at Marshall.

I disagree. Most fans would be happy if Doc put Litton in even if we still lost the game. Midway through the 3rd it was obvious that Birdsong wasn't going to get it done and a change at QB would have given Marshall a chance to win.

 

[herdfan429]

Herdon you should know that there's no telling when birdsong got hurt or if he even mentioned it to an athletic trainer coach etc. you can't blame doc for keeping him in when no one here knows the story

 

[Herdon2]

True but if you look at the throws Bird was making at OU it was mostly short dumps and sideline passes. Either they knew and adjusted to that or he was just protecting his arm and trying to hit the short stuff. Either way, when your QB isn't performing and it could cost you a win when you are stilling hanging in there I think you need to make the change.

 

[Herdmeister]

Apparently, Birdsong hurt his shoulder during Purdue, but tried to play through it, ended up not doing so well...
He wore his jersey and street clothes and someone else on the defense had #11 on as well.

Rodney Allen has been wearing #11 on defense all year.

 

[bbcard1]

i do think the Ohio game is squarely on the coaches. I also think under the circumstances, I would have gone with Gunnar. We didn't need an exceptional quarterback to win that game. Water under the bridge.

 

[Herdstruck]

I disagree. Most fans would be happy if Doc put Litton in even if we still lost the game. Midway through the 3rd it was obvious that Birdsong wasn't going to get it done and a change at QB would have given Marshall a chance to win.

I disagree...and I do because I doubt the opinions would have been the same if Litton never had this game. Meaning, it's easy to say, "Litton was the better QB all along" because he torched a FCS defense after the fact. Birdsong had beaten a Big Ten defense, no matter how bad it was...and he did lead a game winning TD drive.