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herd legend

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Mar 24, 2021
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How many of you really are true Marshall fans? For over 57 Years after my first Marshall football game, which the team lost, I knew I was going to be a true Marshall fan. I have seen the good and the bad over the last 57 years. I have seen the poor athletic directors. The poor hired coaches and the lack of true support for many years that the teams received. Most of this was controlled by a select group and now many of these have passed on. I have said for years when many of these are gone the support would disappear and now it is showing.
A lot of this is do to poor leadership in the athletic department. This was due to poor decisions, hiring, marketing, the good old poor system.
We have a great hire in coach Huff, but he is only good as the staff he has under him. So I hope he will review his staff and make some changes and one is Legg and possible our OC. When everyone has seen the calls these coaches have called for years it is time to look for new callers. Even young kids can tell you what we are going to run. Let all of us back coach Huff and the ones that criticize him keep it to your self. In other words use your negative thoughts to help him become a better coach and show the team we back our head coach and his staff.
I have made a suggestion here. Now it is time for others to look and make suggestions on how we can get the fans back to the games and increase the support the athletic department needs to make us better.
This message is not only to a select group but to everyone.

Merry Christmas to all and I hope everyone will get involved.
 
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My first exposure to Marshall was when I was 10 back in 1992. My dad had just bought a new truck. We were taking it to show my mom at her work and we were driving down route 60 somone had spelled out in huge green letters "Go Herd" on the river bank. I asked what that was and dad told that Marshall had made their championship game.

Also my grandfather had always worn Marshall sweatshirts.

My first game was a home game vs Buffalo in 2000. Watching Byron light them up was awesome and I couldn't wait to start at Marshall the following year.

Randy is what really got me watching Marshall on my own though. Everyone talked so much crap about him and I always found myself rooting hard for him because everyone wanted to see him fail. I tend to gravitate towards polarizing players. I wasn't a huge college sports fan when I was younger. It was mostly the NBA and NFL. Following Randy got me watching college football. I didn't even know what a bowl game was until the 1997 MCB.
 
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Lot of truth in that statement about coach being as good as his staff. Hanging on to the wrong coordinator too long as been the demise of many a coaches. I like Huff, still think he’s the right man but dang it my two cents is he’s playing with fire if he has a soft spot for Cramsey.
 
Here's my early recommendations on getting fans back
1. Immediately quit talking about the league we are in negatively; build up your own home, treat it with love. We are no better than our family, and in sports, your league is your family.
2. Out promote WVU in the southern part of WV. The lack of media on a daily basis has really hurt the awareness of MU. Find a way to get the message of the players and program back in front of the 300,000 people in the area on a daily basis. An article every other day isn't going to get it done. (I think the promotion of Chuck McGill and the addition of a marketing leader will assist this soon.)
3. Start supporting coaches until they're gone, leave the judging of their credibility and performance up to the pros the university hires to do that work. I get a kick out of always wanting to get rid of Bill Legg, for example. This guy is one of the best offensive minds in college football, he has been recognized for it at Purdue, and even worked as a specialist on the Mississippi State. He is an analyst here, we're tapping to his expertise and people want to run him off.
4. Understand the competition's success or lack of success. We lost to the #23 rated team in the country in our bowl, they have now won 13 straight games. We lost to a team that beat the #13 team in the country in their bowl. We lost to a team that our bowl opponent had beaten twice in the year, once worse than they beat us. Every team we lost to made a bowl game. MTSU beat NIU in their bowl, the first of the year. ECU plays Boston College tomorrow, let's see how they do. They ended up 7 - 5. And with another year of experience, we would have beat both of these teams this year.
5. Understand that when change comes, it takes time for the new regime to get their policies, practices and process in place. Everyone seems to like Huff until they don't. His coaching staff comes from various styles and types/levels of college football. Stay the course, brag up the good and downplay the bad for his first couple years. Sell for and with him.

In a nut shell, start loving the conference family, get better media coverage, understand our opponents success or lack thereof so we can understand our own.
 
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The simple answer is yet more simple and easy than winning championships. Just be competitive.

It was CLEAR after mid September that this team had zero shot at beating a team with any pulse at all. So we destroyed cupcakes, which watching that is only fun if you are seven; and were manhandled by every team that was not dysfunctional.

It is hard to sell nothing, and nothing is what this grossly underperforming team gave.
 
I agree with WHF2 that Bill Legg has a lot to offer to Huff and the other younger coaches. He is a solid OL and TE coach, and did a decent job as OC. He is not the problem with our offense. Huff will be smart to lean on Legg to learn about MU and about his responsibilities as head coach.
 
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The Real SamC said:
The simple answer is yet more simple and easy than winning championships. Just be competitive.

It was CLEAR after mid September that this team had zero shot at beating a team with any pulse at all. So we destroyed cupcakes, which watching that is only fun if you are seven; and were manhandled by every team that was not dysfunctional.

It is hard to sell nothing, and nothing is what this grossly underperforming team gave.
Click to expand...
Dude shut up seriously your act is old.

We get it you loved Doc Holiday he’s the reason you liked Marshall football. You don’t like that his contract wasn’t renewed. You feel that his extremely mediocre career to you was an unprecedented success because you feel that Huntington is a sht city in a sht state and any success that we ever have is by luck. We are so poor and have no money and the fans are all cheap aholes who expect us to go undefeated and beat Alabama. Lastly WVU gets everything and everybody is out to get Marshall from the Governor to the BOG to whoever. Does that about cover it I don’t think I’ve missed anything.

We were blown out in exactly one game this year. Even in that game we were winning at halftime. With a different bounce of the ball we could have won literally every game we played this year including WKU. I know woulda coulda shoulda. But it’s definitely a far cry from we knew we didn’t have a chance to beat anybody with a pulse. How you could watch any of the other games we lost and say you knew we wouldn’t beat anybody with a pulse is the biggest load of horsesht I’ve ever heard. Literally the ONLY reason you are saying this is because of Doc and you are still mad.

So why don’t take your own advice Marshall football isn’t for you. Move on!
 
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whf2 said:
Here's my early recommendations on getting fans back
1. Immediately quit talking about the league we are in negatively; build up your own home, treat it with love. We are no better than our family, and in sports, your league is your family.
Click to expand...
2. Out promote WVU in the southern part of WV. The lack of media on a daily basis has really hurt the awareness of MU. Find a way to get the message of the players and program back in front of the 300,000 people in the area on a daily basis. An article every other day isn't going to get it done. (I think the promotion of Chuck McGill and the addition of a marketing leader will assist this soon.)

3. Start supporting coaches until they're gone, leave the judging of their credibility and performance up to the pros the university hires to do that work. I get a kick out of always wanting to get rid of Bill Legg, for example. This guy is one of the best offensive minds in college football, he has been recognized for it at Purdue, and even worked as a specialist on the Mississippi State. He is an analyst here, we're tapping to his expertise and people want to run him off.

4. Understand the competition's success or lack of success. We lost to the #23 rated team in the country in our bowl, they have now won 13 straight games. We lost to a team that beat the #13 team in the country in their bowl. We lost to a team that our bowl opponent had beaten twice in the year, once worse than they beat us. Every team we lost to made a bowl game. MTSU beat NIU in their bowl, the first of the year. ECU plays Boston College tomorrow, let's see how they do. They ended up 7 - 5. And with another year of experience, we would have beat both of these teams this year.

5. Understand that when change comes, it takes time for the new regime to get their policies, practices and process in place. Everyone seems to like Huff until they don't. His coaching staff comes from various styles and types/levels of college football. Stay the course, brag up the good and downplay the bad for his first couple years. Sell for and with him.

In a nut shell, start loving the conference family, get better media coverage, understand our opponents success or lack thereof so we can understand our own.

These are excellent points for everyone to consider.

I look at Clemson having a really bad year in the eyes of their fans, but the Clemson fans still support their team with all of their heart and soul. People like "The Real Sam" need to either support our Marshall team or find another team to support.

Yes, we all want Marshall to excel and win every game but sometimes the other team just has better talented players, or the coach has a better game plan. If that happens, we just need to learn from it and hope the team keeps trying to win until the final whistle blows.

I myself will always support the team and have faith that it will work out in the end that Marshall will be the victor.
 
caliherd said:
Dude shut up seriously your act is old.
Click to expand...
No, this underperforming team is old.
caliherd said:
We get it you loved Doc Holiday
Click to expand...
I did. He is gone. You need to stop worrying about him, and discuss the current program.

Underperforming. Losing. Manhandled.
caliherd said:
We were blown out in exactly one game this year. Even in that game we were winning at halftime. With a different bounce of the ball we could have won literally every game we played this year including WKU. I know woulda coulda shoulda.
Click to expand...
Woulda Coulda Shoulda

Lost to every team with a pulse.

There are no moral victories
caliherd said:
But it’s definitely a far cry from we knew we didn’t have a chance to beat anybody with a pulse.
Click to expand...
We beat zero teams with a pulse. I, and most of the local populace, KNEW that would be the result in September.

It is hard to sell dysfunction. And dysfunction is what 21 was all about.
 
The Real SamC said:
No, this underperforming team is old.

I did. He is gone. You need to stop worrying about him, and discuss the current program.

Underperforming. Losing. Manhandled.

Woulda Coulda Shoulda

Lost to every team with a pulse.

There are no moral victories

We beat zero teams with a pulse. I, and most of the local populace, KNEW that would be the result in September.

It is hard to sell dysfunction. And dysfunction is what 21 was all about.
Click to expand...
NM St awaits your support. Move on.
 
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I know we need the $$$ but too many commercials on the big board take away the college game experience for me. Other schools have bands playing, cheerleaders cheering (not hidden on the sideline) and a fun experience. Just look at the fans during the commercials, most are checking their phones, or just looking bored.
 
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herd legend said:
How many of you really are true Marshall fans? For over 57 Years after my first Marshall football game, which the team lost, I knew I was going to be a true Marshall fan. I have seen the good and the bad over the last 57 years. I have seen the poor athletic directors. The poor hired coaches and the lack of true support for many years that the teams received. Most of this was controlled by a select group and now many of these have passed on. I have said for years when many of these are gone the support would disappear and now it is showing.
A lot of this is do to poor leadership in the athletic department. This was due to poor decisions, hiring, marketing, the good old poor system.
We have a great hire in coach Huff, but he is only good as the staff he has under him. So I hope he will review his staff and make some changes and one is Legg and possible our OC. When everyone has seen the calls these coaches have called for years it is time to look for new callers. Even young kids can tell you what we are going to run. Let all of us back coach Huff and the ones that criticize him keep it to your self. In other words use your negative thoughts to help him become a better coach and show the team we back our head coach and his staff.
I have made a suggestion here. Now it is time for others to look and make suggestions on how we can get the fans back to the games and increase the support the athletic department needs to make us better.
This message is not only to a select group but to everyone.

Merry Christmas to all and I hope everyone will get involved.
Click to expand...

I think what matters first is defining what "fan" actually means. This board certainly doesn't seem to have a universallly accepted definition of the word.

To me, being a fan isn't putting myself ahead of the program because it clashes with my ideology or perception of how to get things done.
I think that when MU does something some fans don't agree with, they tend to find as much as they can to satisfy their beliefs and give them legitimacy because they can't accept they can be wrong...or at least commit to consistency.

Is MU forever an underdog with a poor financial fanbase and will forever be the little engine that could?
Or...
Is MU really a sleeping giant and someone who can take the G l5 by storm and re-invent the genre or G5 to its own label?

Pick one...but stick with the one you pick and embrace what you enjoy, and endure what you disagree with, but be consistent in it.
 
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whf2 said:
Here's my early recommendations on getting fans back
1. Immediately quit talking about the league we are in negatively; build up your own home, treat it with love. We are no better than our family, and in sports, your league is your family.
2. Out promote WVU in the southern part of WV. The lack of media on a daily basis has really hurt the awareness of MU. Find a way to get the message of the players and program back in front of the 300,000 people in the area on a daily basis. An article every other day isn't going to get it done. (I think the promotion of Chuck McGill and the addition of a marketing leader will assist this soon.)
3. Start supporting coaches until they're gone, leave the judging of their credibility and performance up to the pros the university hires to do that work. I get a kick out of always wanting to get rid of Bill Legg, for example. This guy is one of the best offensive minds in college football, he has been recognized for it at Purdue, and even worked as a specialist on the Mississippi State. He is an analyst here, we're tapping to his expertise and people want to run him off.
4. Understand the competition's success or lack of success. We lost to the #23 rated team in the country in our bowl, they have now won 13 straight games. We lost to a team that beat the #13 team in the country in their bowl. We lost to a team that our bowl opponent had beaten twice in the year, once worse than they beat us. Every team we lost to made a bowl game. MTSU beat NIU in their bowl, the first of the year. ECU plays Boston College tomorrow, let's see how they do. They ended up 7 - 5. And with another year of experience, we would have beat both of these teams this year.
5. Understand that when change comes, it takes time for the new regime to get their policies, practices and process in place. Everyone seems to like Huff until they don't. His coaching staff comes from various styles and types/levels of college football. Stay the course, brag up the good and downplay the bad for his first couple years. Sell for and with him.

In a nut shell, start loving the conference family, get better media coverage, understand our opponents success or lack thereof so we can understand our own.
Click to expand...
Bill legg sucked as a OC and it was voiced loudly by most all fans at one point. The guy is and was horrible, keep his short listed offensive mastermind away from any offensive play calling.
 
goherdorgohome2 said:
Bill legg sucked as a OC and it was voiced loudly by most all fans at one point. The guy is and was horrible, keep his short listed offensive mastermind away from any offensive play calling.
Click to expand...
Hence why you're here and Huff is there.
Huff having been around lots of offensive minds and having not only coached but recruited offensive players, saw something in both Legg and Cramsey enough to hire one and retain the other.
To say Legg was bad, is asinine. How many records were broken under his offense with far less talent?
Before you say, "Well, the competition was better back then, it's weak now" nope, that doesn't apply because if Legg were as terrible as you claim, MU would never have put up the numbers it did.
 
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GoHerdMarshallYes said:
Hence why you're here and Huff is there.
Huff having been around lots of offensive minds and having not only coached but recruited offensive players, saw something in both Legg and Cramsey enough to hire one and retain the other.
To say Legg was bad, is asinine. How many records were broken under his offense with far less talent?
Before you say, "Well, the competition was better back then, it's weak now" nope, that doesn't apply because if Legg were as terrible as you claim, MU would never have put up the numbers it did.
Click to expand...
It takes a very good QB to put up numbers. Cato was, That’s about it for the last dozen years or so.
 
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GoHerdMarshallYes said:
Hence why you're here and Huff is there.
Huff having been around lots of offensive minds and having not only coached but recruited offensive players, saw something in both Legg and Cramsey enough to hire one and retain the other.
To say Legg was bad, is asinine. How many records were broken under his offense with far less talent?
Before you say, "Well, the competition was better back then, it's weak now" nope, that doesn't apply because if Legg were as terrible as you claim, MU would never have put up the numbers it did.
Click to expand...
Cato was coached by Tony Pertersen, his “numbers” were a result of learning from a very good QB coach and raw talent to create a play out of Bill Leggs crap playbook. Bill Legg was atrocious and Doc had to fire him.
 
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GoHerdMarshallYes said:
Cato was a good QB, but he needs a good coordinator to make him what he is.
Click to expand...
He needed a good Coach and Tony Pertersen was it, after Tony left Cato started doin his own thing with what he was taught, Cato made Legg look amazing.
But Bill Legg was a joke and got canned!

now we’re stuck with BillLegg2.0
 
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TwolfHerdfan said:
Not sure about that. Peterson was a huge help. Not sure about Legg.
Cato had a drive from within to get better and had a knack for making plays when nothing was there. Jmho
Click to expand...
lol because that drive and ability to basically be on his own translated so well into his career, right?
Cato warned MU fans about a big mistake they'd made when they got their wish and ran him off the first time as OC.

Just admit it, Legg was a boost for MU's offense, and certainly knew how to work with good players when compared to the current guy.
You have to make Cato out to be Tom Brady (he wouldn't mind that) just to not give Legg any credit...that is the problem with the fanbase.
 
GoHerdMarshallYes said:
lol because that drive and ability to basically be on his own translated so well into his career, right?
Cato warned MU fans about a big mistake they'd made when they got their wish and ran him off the first time as OC.

Just admit it, Legg was a boost for MU's offense, and certainly knew how to work with good players when compared to the current guy.
You have to make Cato out to be Tom Brady (he wouldn't mind that) just to not give Legg any credit...that is the problem with the fanbase.
Click to expand...
Without Cato and maybe a kicker you could forget the 2014 championship, there for Bill Legg sucked and wouldn’t be any better today, find new brains to coach the offense...!

Moving on....
 
goherdorgohome2 said:
Without Cato and maybe a kicker you could forget the 2014 championship, there for Bill Legg sucked and wouldn’t be any better today, find new brains to coach the offense...!

Moving on....
Click to expand...

Wow, without a starting QB and kicker, MU loses a game...as would anyone else.
Some vice like grip ya have on the obvious there.
 
GoHerdMarshallYes said:
Wow, without a starting QB and kicker, MU loses a game...as would anyone else.
Some vice like grip ya have on the obvious there.
Click to expand...
I didn’t a starting QB, I said Cato... he’s been the only one to accomplish the task so far. Why because he was absolutely amazing at turning Bill leggs crap playbook into positive yardage.

I’m starting to think your either Bill Legg himself or his Boyfriend, so which is it?
 
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goherdorgohome2 said:
Without Cato and maybe a kicker you could forget the 2014 championship, there for Bill Legg sucked and wouldn’t be any better today, find new brains to coach the offense...!

Moving on....
Click to expand...
Interesting…I’m more of the opinion Fro doesn’t throw away the WKU game in 14. Those were talented teams in 13-14 and still in typical Doc fashion underachieved.
 
goherdorgohome2 said:
I didn’t a starting QB, I said Cato... he’s been the only one to accomplish the task so far. Why because he was absolutely amazing at turning Bill leggs crap playbook into positive yardage.

I’m starting to think your either Bill Legg himself or his Boyfriend, so which is it?
Click to expand...
Cato would be the first tel tell you how full of sh*t your post is.
He's admitted Legg was a huge part of why he was good. I'm not saying Cato didn't make good decisions on his own, but Cato was the first one to defend Legg on social media when he was fired...and what he has said about him was telling about how important he was.
Go look up Cato's comments when Legg was fired, they're likely still there.
Stop trying to continue to be a simpleton in terms of not accepting some people thought Legg was a good OC...including Cato.
 
GoHerdMarshallYes said:
Cato would be the first tel tell you how full of sh*t your post is.
He's admitted Legg was a huge part of why he was good. I'm not saying Cato didn't make good decisions on his own, but Cato was the first one to defend Legg on social media when he was fired...and what he has said about him was telling about how important he was.
Go look up Cato's comments when Legg was fired, they're likely still there.
Stop trying to continue to be a simpleton in terms of not accepting some people thought Legg was a good OC...including Cato.
Click to expand...
Ok you are for sure either Mr. Legg or the boyfriend...

“While Legg’s offense had struggled for much of his tenure being ranked 75th or worse in four of his eight seasons as offensive coordinator there were bright spots. With quarterback Rakeem Cato at the helm the Marshall offense was one of the best in the country scoring more than 40 points per game for three straight seasons 2011-2014.”


“When Cato graduated, Legg’s offensive production dropped from third to 50th in 2015 before dropping yet again in 2016. The small movement up from 81st to 79th during the season that just ended proved not to be enough to change the perception of fans that it was time for Legg and Marshall athletics to part ways. Ultimately, Legg chose to go out on his own terms and resign.”

Do these articles not say it all... quit defending the crap show he was, Cato made him look golden...


(Source)
downtownhuntington.net

Marshall Football's Bill Legg Steps Down | Downtown Huntington

Written by Justin Prince. Embattled offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Bill Legg has resigned from his position on the Thundering Herd football team’s coaching staff Marshall University confirmed Thursday afternoon. Legg had been in charge of the Thundering Herd’s offense for the...
downtownhuntington.net downtownhuntington.net
 
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Cato is gone. Wells is here. So are Cramsey and Legg. Time will tell us what - if anything, Huff does with staff changes. The QB situation will be vastly competitive in the spring.
 
goherdorgohome2 said:
Ok you are for sure either Mr. Legg or the boyfriend...

“While Legg’s offense had struggled for much of his tenure being ranked 75th or worse in four of his eight seasons as offensive coordinator there were bright spots. With quarterback Rakeem Cato at the helm the Marshall offense was one of the best in the country scoring more than 40 points per game for three straight seasons 2011-2014.”


“When Cato graduated, Legg’s offensive production dropped from third to 50th in 2015 before dropping yet again in 2016. The small movement up from 81st to 79th during the season that just ended proved not to be enough to change the perception of fans that it was time for Legg and Marshall athletics to part ways. Ultimately, Legg chose to go out on his own terms and resign.”

Do these articles not say it all... quit defending the crap show he was, Cato made him look golden...


(Source)
downtownhuntington.net

Marshall Football's Bill Legg Steps Down | Downtown Huntington

Written by Justin Prince. Embattled offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Bill Legg has resigned from his position on the Thundering Herd football team’s coaching staff Marshall University confirmed Thursday afternoon. Legg had been in charge of the Thundering Herd’s offense for the...
downtownhuntington.net downtownhuntington.net
Click to expand...
Ask Cato, he's active on FB.
Legg got the job done better than anyone currently.
I know Justin Prince, he's smart but very opinionated and he wasn't a fan of Doc.
I'm not saying Cato didn't do well or have moments, but he has always been supportive of Legg and had told fans like you in the past, it was because of Legg. He has no reason to lie. He has no reason to not speak his mind at everything (and does). He could've at best been silent, at worst said what you said, but he didn't do either.
I'd rather listen to the player directly playing for him than anyone else.
 
GoHerdMarshallYes said:
Ask Cato, he's active on FB.
Legg got the job done better than anyone currently.
I know Justin Prince, he's smart but very opinionated and he wasn't a fan of Doc.
I'm not saying Cato didn't do well or have moments, but he has always been supportive of Legg and had told fans like you in the past, it was because of Legg. He has no reason to lie. He has no reason to not speak his mind at everything (and does). He could've at best been silent, at worst said what you said, but he didn't do either.
I'd rather listen to the player directly playing for him than anyone else.
Click to expand...


Maybe Cato isnt smart enough to realize he was better at making plays work then Bill was at calling play... besides the article didn’t lie, while Cato was here Bill Legg shined... that’s it, nothing more you can add to it..

Bill Legg sucked as a Offensive Coordinator, and I wish to never have him in that position again at Marshall University.
 
goherdorgohome2 said:
Maybe Cato isnt smart enough to realize he was better at making plays work then Bill was at calling play... besides the article didn’t lie, while Cato was here Bill Legg shined... that’s it, nothing more you can add to it..

Bill Legg sucked as a Offensive Coordinator, and I wish to never have him in that position again at Marshall University.
Click to expand...
lol well you can tell Cato what he does and doesn't know about being WB for MU under Legg.
He's still at MU, brought back by a HC who knows more about football than anyone on this board...hahaha that must suck for you.
 
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