Fan Shaming

[TwolfHerdfan]

I see Grant Traylor of the HD got in a few jabs at the fan base in his article on Chek. We all love the players and appreciate what they do. It's the staff and AD we have issues with.

Amazes me, some must live in a fish bowl. Our fan base is no different than any other. To think so is delusional and blind. Look around HD and media. We're soft compared to most.

Hell, the UK AD is all over the students for not attending the Wildcat hoop games like he thinks they should. It;s freaking UK basketball. They must have bad fans too. LOL!

 

[i am herdman]

What these AD's and schools have to realize is people time and money are more valuable now. This is an entertainment industry.

 

[Herd-nificent]

Sorry to disagree, it's a loyalty issue, not just entertainment.

 

[Paherd]

"Fan's" voice their disappointment why? So, maybe the Administration picks up on this feedback and takes action. I have no issue with the Administration, and even players, with doing the same. Their feedback to the fans is just as valid IMO.

 

[TwolfHerdfan]

Sorry to disagree, it's a loyalty issue, not just entertainment.

Our fans are very loyal, just not mind numbed fools. We generate the second most revenue for a school in CUSA. ODU is first. Considering a vast majority of that comes from metro Huntington, that's damn impressive!

 

[Herd Fever]

Sorry to disagree, it's a loyalty issue, not just entertainment.

Loyalty got us Bill Legg for another season last year.

 

[Herd Fever]

Our fans are very loyal, just not mind numbed fools. We generate the second most revenue for a school in CUSA. ODU is first. Considering a vast majority of that comes from metro Huntington, that's damn impressive!

Most of ODU revenue comes from Student Fees

 

[ohio herd]

I would say our fan base is pretty mild compared to many. My problem is this. We should be no worse than 9-2 this season. We have some talented kids on this team. Most of our issues emanate from a couple of sources.I don't expect to win the title every season. Realistically 2-3 Titles per decade is doing well. If we were playing a difficult schedule I would understand our challenges but this schedule is not too difficult. So far in the past 2 seasons we have won 10 games and lost 13. We have lost to several teams like UNCC, ODU ,Akron and now UTSA that we have no business losing to. Worst case we should have split with FIU/ FAU this year. We are not moving forward and I am not so sure we are even maintaining. Next year has the potential to be a really good season. Unless we fix a few things that are obvious to the entire Herd Nation we will be in the same spot we are now in.

 

[johns1124]

Considering a vast majority of that comes from metro Huntington,

You honestly don't believe that right?

 

[Raoul Duke MU]

Lol. Try being part of a fan base that demands nothing less than national titles. Archie Miller could cure cancer and put a man on Mars, but if he doesn't win Indiana a title his ass is grass.

 

[TwolfHerdfan]

Considering a vast majority of that comes from metro Huntington,

You honestly don't believe that right?

What proves this wrong? We get some fans from Charley West, from Mason Co., Southern WV. I am not speaking about donations to the Vision campaign. I am speaking to tix sales, BG donations, MU licensed gear. Most of that comes from fans in the Huntington metro area.

I'd love to see a demographic if MU has it, that would be valuable information on where to market.

 

[All4TheHerd]

I would say our fan base is pretty mild compared to many. My problem is this. We should be no worse than 9-2 this season. We have some talented kids on this team. Most of our issues emanate from a couple of sources.I don't expect to win the title every season. Realistically 2-3 Titles per decade is doing well. If we were playing a difficult schedule I would understand our challenges but this schedule is not too difficult. So far in the past 2 seasons we have won 10 games and lost 13. We have lost to several teams like UNCC, ODU ,Akron and now UTSA that we have no business losing to. Worst case we should have split with FIU/ FAU this year. We are not moving forward and I am not so sure we are even maintaining. Next year has the potential to be a really good season. Unless we fix a few things that are obvious to the entire Herd Nation we will be in the same spot we are now in.

How many people on here legitimately thought we 'should be no worse than 9-2' ??? Absolutely nobody.

 

[ohio herd]

How many people on here legitimately thought we 'should be no worse than 9-2' ??? Absolutely nobody.

I agree if we base that on pre - season. I do feel that way based on the season thus far. Not saying I am right just my opinion on the subject.

 

[THUNDER8718]

How many people on here legitimately thought we 'should be no worse than 9-2' ??? Absolutely nobody.

Well with the schedule we had this year...... I do. we should not have lost to UTSA, or FAU. Both games we were in and could have won. Especially FAU if it weren't for the turnovers. So yea that puts us at 9-2

 

[All4TheHerd]

I agree if we base that on pre - season. I do feel that way based on the season thus far. Not saying I am right just my opinion on the subject.

I should have been more specific in asking about pre-season.
Literally every game was a "I think Marshall gets beaten badly but I hope I am wrong game."
No longer do people hope they are wrong, they can't accept being wrong when they are.

Now, we can look at the team and see how much better they could be.
But first, you have to acknowledge we actually improved.
People haven't even done that.

 

[TwolfHerdfan]

I should have been more specific in asking about pre-season.
Literally every game was a "I think Marshall gets beaten badly but I hope I am wrong game."
No longer do people hope they are wrong, they can't accept being wrong when they are.

Now, we can look at the team and see how much better they could be.
But first, you have to acknowledge we actually improved.
People haven't even done that.

Defense and ST have improved. Offense - NO.

 

[nmhmu1983]

I'm somewhat happy with a winning season and bowl game, but we could be so much better if the Offense could rise to the level of the Defense. It's past time for Bill Legg to go. Sometimes I think he just runs up the middle on first down to make the fan base mad. He can't possibly think it will work. And if he does, he is delusional.

 

[bbneutralfan]

And guess what Fever! Loyalty will get us yet another year of Bill Legg as Doc is so bullheaded not to let him go.

 

[THUNDERGround]

Defense and ST have improved. Offense - NO.

^ THIS!!!!!

 

[AllEers6]

What these AD's and schools have to realize is people time and money are more valuable now. This is an entertainment industry.

This is the problem right here! The coaches are paid to win games not entertain.
I realize this is true with some college football teams but it still does not make it right. At some schools that has fans paying big time ticket fees require donations for attending then I might see the truth into this statement but a school like Marshall where ticket prices are fair then no!

 

[AllEers6]

And guess what Fever! Loyalty will get us yet another year of Bill Legg as Doc is so bullheaded not to let him go.

do you guys realize the wideouts are hurt?

 

[Herd-in-ATL]

I should have been more specific in asking about pre-season.
Literally every game was a "I think Marshall gets beaten badly but I hope I am wrong game."
No longer do people hope they are wrong, they can't accept being wrong when they are.

Now, we can look at the team and see how much better they could be.
But first, you have to acknowledge we actually improved.
People haven't even done that.

Count me in the minority if I am, when I say I totally thought last years record of 3-9 was an anomaly. You don't have back to back 10 game winning seasons and fall apart the way we did, unless the following happened: 1) The head coach leaves and takes his staff with him. 2) You are placed on heavy probation and a lot of key players transfer out. Last year was just odd, something happened internally that we might never know the answer to. This year I did feel we would lose to NC State and Cincinnati, in hindsight if we played all our our games with that kind of intensity and game management we might well be 9-2.

 

[Herd Fever]

I'm sorry but losing 3 of the last 4 after starting out 6-1 is unacceptable in my eyes

 

[AllEers6]

Count me in the minority if I am, when I say I totally thought last years record of 3-9 was an anomaly. You don't have back to back 10 game winning seasons and fall apart the way we did, unless the following happened: 1) The head coach leaves and takes his staff with him. 2) You are placed on heavy probation and a lot of key players transfer out. Last year was just odd, something happened internally that we might never know the answer to. This year I did feel we would lose to NC State and Cincinnati, in hindsight if we played all our our games with that kind of intensity and game management we might well be 9-2.

I agree but the fan base still cant or wont get over it. What happened is our current QB (and several other players for that matter) had a major personal issue that they needed to deal with. The one thing no one wants to discuss is Bill Leggs coaching looks a whole lot better if Doc is not recruiting a team full of thugs from Florida. Now you see Doc has laid off of the Florida kids this year, Litton has got himself together (just look at the healthy weight he has gained), and Doc ran off a bunch of the problem players.
So for everyone wanting to bitch you may just want to look at the two deep depth chart and realize we have this entire team back next year.

One last thing that no one talks about would last years team been better if Doc had not ran off Birdsong?

 

[AllEers6]

I'm sorry but losing 3 of the last 4 after starting out 6-1 is unacceptable in my eyes

All the wideouts are hurt so a QB having problems this just makes it worse.

 

[Herd Fever]

BS, they was only hurt for 1 game

 

[Josh Stowers]

One last thing that no one talks about would last years team been better if Doc had not ran off Birdsong?

I don’t really believe Doc ran him off, but I definitely think 2015, 2016, and possibly this year would’ve have been different had he never been hurt against Purdue.

 

[herd4life5 (HN)]

What proves this wrong? We get some fans from Charley West, from Mason Co., Southern WV. I am not speaking about donations to the Vision campaign. I am speaking to tix sales, BG donations, MU licensed gear. Most of that comes from fans in the Huntington metro area.

I'd love to see a demographic if MU has it, that would be valuable information on where to market.

Marshall attendance and support comes from a 50 mile radius around Huntington, mostly in WV obviously. People are leaving Huntington, people are leaving WV. WV has turned a corner economically speaking and this could turn around, but this drop in attendance and support HAD to be projected by MU and planned for. That’s why I say not showing up is stupid, we already don’t show up. We had less than 20k at our championship game. Everyone just come enjoy the day at your alma mater, cheer on the Herd and go home or sit at home all day and “make a statement” that is already known by those who matter at MU. 7 points spoke for itself Saturday, those who take the non-attendance don’t say anything other than that you act on emotion and don’t act in reality.

 

[AllEers6]

Marshall attendance and support comes from a 50 mile radius around Huntington, mostly in WV obviously. People are leaving Huntington, people are leaving WV. WV has turned a corner economically speaking and this could turn around, but this drop in attendance and support HAD to be projected by MU and planned for. That’s why I say not showing up is stupid, we already don’t show up. We had less than 20k at our championship game. Everyone just come enjoy the day at your alma mater, cheer on the Herd and go home or sit at home all day and “make a statement” that is already known by those who matter at MU. 7 points spoke for itself Saturday, those who take the non-attendance don’t say anything other than that you act on emotion and don’t act in reality.

show up or don't show up but Marshall does not have boosters waiting in the wings to pay docs buyout so its best to support the team and the University and move on. Its not like this is a sub .500 team, so anything more then that its just a bunch of fans being babies. Really, listen to these people. The football team has 7 wins (with a chance for 8) and will go to a bowl game and people are staying away on purpose because its not exciting enough. I think some people have been spoiled.

 

[TwolfHerdfan]

show up or don't show up but Marshall does not have boosters waiting in the wings to pay docs buyout so its best to support the team and the University and move on. Its not like this is a sub .500 team, so anything more then that its just a bunch of fans being babies. Really, listen to these people. The football team has 7 wins (with a chance for 8) and will go to a bowl game and people are staying away on purpose because its not exciting enough. I think some people have been spoiled.

Dude, if you think our fans are babies, you need to look at the other 120 programs or so that have fans just like us - debate the programs issues and revel in the victories. Watch a few games not involving a Top 10 team; you'll see empty seats galore. It is what it is. You show up and don't worry about others. I'll show up and not worry about others.

 

[herdalicious]

The thing about Saturday's game is that its outcome doesn't change either team's season, either way. Win or lose, both teams are bowl eligible and eliminated from conference championship competition. You could say the winner gets bowl preference, but the way the conference bowls are laid out, its unlikely USM and MU would be interested in the same bowl anyway.

What this game lays bare is how disconnected the fanbase is from any sense of context surrounding Marshall football. USM is our longest-running current rivalry (even if the league did effectively end it by moving USM to the West). They have as much historical tradition and success as we do (some would say more), and a win over them feels like an accomplishment, as opposed to just notching another empty win against the hodgepodge of Sun Belt/FCS teams that makes up this garbage conference. So does our fanbase get up for it?

Spoiler: no.

 

[All4TheHerd]

Well with the schedule we had this year...... I do. we should not have lost to UTSA, or FAU. Both games we were in and could have won. Especially FAU if it weren't for the turnovers. So yea that puts us at 9-2

Funny, because you can tell that to the 7 other conference opponents FAU beat. UTSA I will give you, should not have lost that one.
But nobody, including myself, would have thought FAU would have had the season they were having. Even the same with FIU, with their ass whipping from UCF.
Hell, is it unacceptable for us to have thought a loss from UTSA would have been bad after they beat Baylor? Regardless of record?

Again, the pre-season fooled everyone (minus myself and Herd in ATL), who thought a miracle would be 4 games won. Thats fine to have been wrong about that. It was a pleasant surprise.
Its not fine to use the present and make it dictate the past.

Some need to get over that.

 

[CockyHerd]

The thing about Saturday's game is that its outcome doesn't change either team's season, either way. Win or lose, both teams are bowl eligible and eliminated from conference championship competition. You could say the winner gets bowl preference, but the way the conference bowls are laid out, its unlikely USM and MU would be interested in the same bowl anyway.

What this game lays bare is how disconnected the fanbase is from any sense of context surrounding Marshall football. USM is our longest-running current rivalry (even if the league did effectively end it by moving USM to the West). They have as much historical tradition and success as we do (some would say more), and a win over them feels like an accomplishment, as opposed to just notching another empty win against the hodgepodge of Sun Belt/FCS teams that makes up this garbage conference. So does our fanbase get up for it?

Spoiler: no.

Lose this game and there is the potential that we could be shutout from going bowling.

 

[Herd Fever]

No there isnt, 7 wins guarantees a Bowl birth, 6 just gets you bowl eligible.

 

[i am herdman]

How many people on here legitimately thought we 'should be no worse than 9-2' ??? Absolutely nobody.

If you told me Marshall would have only one conference championship in more than a decade I would have said no way. But, that has happened.

 

[oldeherd]

What proves this wrong? We get some fans from Charley West, from Mason Co., Southern WV. I am not speaking about donations to the Vision campaign. I am speaking to tix sales, BG donations, MU licensed gear. Most of that comes from fans in the Huntington metro area.

I'd love to see a demographic if MU has it, that would be valuable information on where to market.

There's the problem, TwolfHerdfan. Marshall continues to market and promote too heavily just in and around Huntington. Apparently, not just for athletics, but in its pursuit of students, given its failure to grow enrollment in the last 15 years or so.

Perhaps, MU's administrators, including the AD, didn't get the memo. FACT: Huntington has lost about HALF of its population since I was there in the early/mid 60s. And the population continues to go south of 50,000 with no change in sight. FACT: Cabell County, long the second most populous in the state is now, not second, not third, but FOURTH!! But yeah, go ahead and continue to promote MU mainly in the Huntington area. Result will be the same: stagnation, little to no growth and overall MEDIOCRITY!!

 

[mlblack16.]

There's the problem, TwolfHerdfan. Marshall continues to market and promote too heavily just in and around Huntington. Apparently, not just for athletics, but in its pursuit of students, given its failure to grow enrollment in the last 15 years or so.

Perhaps, MU's administrators, including the AD, didn't get the memo. FACT: Huntington has lost about HALF of its population since I was there in the early/mid 60s. And the population continues to go south of 50,000 with no change in sight. FACT: Cabell County, long the second most populous in the state is now, not second, not third, but FOURTH!! But yeah, go ahead and continue to promote MU mainly in the Huntington area. Result will be the same: stagnation, little to no growth and overall MEDIOCRITY!!

Those individuals with Marshall simply are unimaginative, and, most of all, LAZY.

But, then again, I would probably do the same thing if those appointed above me didn't pressure or hold me accountable for poor job performance.

 

[RhinoD]

A lot of points being made on this thread, but a few certainly ring true...

The marketing of Marshall as a university outside of the 6-county Tri-State area and Charleston is pretty awful. By comparison, if you drive I-40 through NC every couple miles you see billboards for UNC, NCSU, Duke, ECU, Wake and even Elon and UNC-Greensboro, you hear radio ads for these schools and when you stop at the gas station they are on the front page of the newspaper. It's in your consciousness.

As for the product on the field... I think the big point of contention isn't necessarily that the team hasn't achieved some magic number of wins. Obviously, 7 wins is better than 3 with essentially the same schedule as last year. The issue is that this team has lost two games against teams they should have beaten based solely on the athletes on the field (FAU, UTSA). We weren't as good as NC State and played collectively like garbage against FIU, so I as a fan can live with those defeats, but what we watched last Saturday was awful.

If we get to 8 wins this season, I will still consider the season a success (compared to last year) but I will also still be disappointed that we gave away two games that could have been the difference in winning the division or finishing third.

 

[THUNDER8718]

Funny, because you can tell that to the 7 other conference opponents FAU beat. UTSA I will give you, should not have lost that one.
But nobody, including myself, would have thought FAU would have had the season they were having. Even the same with FIU, with their ass whipping from UCF.
Hell, is it unacceptable for us to have thought a loss from UTSA would have been bad after they beat Baylor? Regardless of record?

Again, the pre-season fooled everyone (minus myself and Herd in ATL), who thought a miracle would be 4 games won. Thats fine to have been wrong about that. It was a pleasant surprise.
Its not fine to use the present and make it dictate the past.

Some need to get over that.

And we were the only team in this conference to come close to beaten FAU. Hell we lost by 5, a loss is a loss to me but I don't think FAU is a world beater. I do however think that the talent and coaching has caught up to us. FAU and FIU are on the rise and we are declining. Any decent coach can out coach doc and his wing man Legg. Sick and tired of mediocracy with Doc and Legg, we SHOULD strive for division championships and conference championships. But most are fine with a trip to Bahamas bowl and these third rated bowl games.

 

[TwolfHerdfan]

There's the problem, TwolfHerdfan. Marshall continues to market and promote too heavily just in and around Huntington. Apparently, not just for athletics, but in its pursuit of students, given its failure to grow enrollment in the last 15 years or so.

Perhaps, MU's administrators, including the AD, didn't get the memo. FACT: Huntington has lost about HALF of its population since I was there in the early/mid 60s. And the population continues to go south of 50,000 with no change in sight. FACT: Cabell County, long the second most populous in the state is now, not second, not third, but FOURTH!! But yeah, go ahead and continue to promote MU mainly in the Huntington area. Result will be the same: stagnation, little to no growth and overall MEDIOCRITY!!

Believe me, I agree 100%. I have said for years, those in Old Main live in a fish bowl because they are way too comfy. Expanding our foot print beyond Metro Huntington would actually require work.It needs to happen, and fast!

I have a daughter who is a HS senior and looking at schools. It blows my mind that she gets very nice marketing and information packets from schools like Marietta, Roanoke College, Georgetown College, WVU, WVU Tech, Iowa St. and dozens of others. Marshall? They sent her a 5x7 post card about Green White day. WOW!
Which do you think makes the best first impression on a kid? Not the GD post card MU sent. Geez.