I Ain't Watching this Shhh

[herdalicious]

I'm not watching the bowl game. Marshall might beat Buffalo, which to me would mean jack shhh. Or they might lose to Buffalo, which to me would mean a precisely equivalent amount of shhh.

Maybe the team comes together and overcomes its struggles, maybe they continue and even boil over onto the field. I really don't care.

Maybe we had a Top 25 team until an internal fracture lead to a massive brawl that caused the abject collapse of the entire team. Maybe The Great Gazoo snuck into the lockerroom and sprinkled magic "You Suck" dust all over their shoulderpads. Maybe Josh Ball has "a thing," or Grant Wells has "a deal." Maybe half our team - the bottom half of each player only - has COVID. I absolutely could not care less.

Ten years ago, I hopped from newspaper to newspaper reading about the Herd. I used to read reports about recruiting. I used to peruse this site and others like it for information about Marshall, because I was interested in Marshall, and I enjoyed elevating my awareness of it. As the years went on, however, local media collapsed and information began to slow to a trickle. Major events like player injuries, suspensions and departures were referenced only in opaque terms, and if you got on a message board and started asking questions about why, you'd get hammered by people, themselves claiming to know what really happened (but can't say), who would tell you that not only did you not have a right to know, it was extremely improper of you to even ask.

Landon's article this morning had one thing right - the only thing we know for sure is that we don't know anything at all. Knowing how much is hidden, we are only seeing the wart on the foreskin on the nipple of the tip of the iceberg, and maybe we don't want to know what's lurking below.

By lying to us about the why, he leaves us only to ponder the what. You can hide what goes into the sausage if you like, but it'll still come out the other end, and we'll still be able to taste it. After 11 years, I don't really need to get in there for a good lick anymore, I already know what it's gonna taste like.

Shit.

 

[GreenDuke]

Interesting perspective.

 

[mlblack16.]

I'm not watching the bowl game. Marshall might beat Buffalo, which to me would mean jack shhh. Or they might lose to Buffalo, which to me would mean a precisely equivalent amount of shhh.

Maybe the team comes together and overcomes its struggles, maybe they continue and even boil over onto the field. I really don't care.

Maybe we had a Top 25 team until an internal fracture lead to a massive brawl that caused the abject collapse of the entire team. Maybe The Great Gazoo snuck into the lockerroom and sprinkled magic "You Suck" dust all over their shoulderpads. Maybe Josh Ball has "a thing," or Grant Wells has "a deal." Maybe half our team - the bottom half of each player only - has COVID. I absolutely could not care less.

Ten years ago, I hopped from newspaper to newspaper reading about the Herd. I used to read reports about recruiting. I used to peruse this site and others like it for information about Marshall, because I was interested in Marshall, and I enjoyed elevating my awareness of it. As the years went on, however, local media collapsed and information began to slow to a trickle. Major events like player injuries, suspensions and departures were referenced only in opaque terms, and if you got on a message board and started asking questions about why, you'd get hammered by people, themselves claiming to know what really happened (but can't say), who would tell you that not only did you not have a right to know, it was extremely improper of you to even ask.

Landon's article this morning had one thing right - the only thing we know for sure is that we don't know anything at all. Knowing how much is hidden, we are only seeing the wart on the foreskin on the nipple of the tip of the iceberg, and maybe we don't want to know what's lurking below.

By lying to us about the why, he leaves us only to ponder the what. You can hide what goes into the sausage if you like, but it'll still come out the other end, and we'll still be able to taste it. After 11 years, I don't really need to get in there for a good lick anymore, I already know what it's gonna taste like.

Shit.

I was the same way. Went to tons of Marshall games, always read the Parthenon to see Jacob Messer's write ups, the Herald Dispatch, bought the preseason magazines, etc. It was always fun to get on HN and chat it up back in the day. I could spend hours on the old site, but so many have vanished, and I'm talking folks who were same age or older, so it's not just dead because the younger generation doesn't take to message boards.

If people aren't going to give a shit if we lose, then what's the point of even playing? The top athletes never shrug off a loss. It stings, and it infuriates to the point it consumes them until they can reclaim the victory. I don't understand the mentality of Supafans, at all and how content they are with mediocrity.

 

[The Real SamC]

I'm not watching the bowl game. Marshall might beat Buffalo, which to me would mean jack shhh. Or they might lose to Buffalo, which to me would mean a precisely equivalent amount of shhh.
I really don't care.
I absolutely could not care less.

Yes. You are coming around to it.

Marshall sports are just NOT FOR YOU. No shame in it. It is time to move on. If you want to stay with college sports, pick one, Alabama or Clemson. Or maybe you need to look elsewhere entirely, maybe take up golf, or knitting, or donate some time to a charity.

Because Marshall sports is about G5 football. About trying to get a good record and get a mention on ESPN or whatnot with the big boys. About a early bowl game against either another G5 or a loser P5 team that really does not deserve to be there. Marshall is not going to win the I-A national championship. Ever. Marshall is not going to be invited into whatever the P5 evolves into next. Or the next, or the next. Marshall sports is about being proud that a small (by I-A standards) school in a poor state that wastes 90% of its educational $$ on New Jersites, still achieves. MU sports is about the ashes. And the glory. The glory of the rise from not only the plane crash, but the obscurity of being just another score in the agate type, to one of only 135 elite programs. And, yes, someday, it will be about the access bowl. I hope to be here for that. You will not.

Because you have superfandom turned inward and rotten. Marshall is supposed to win every game. Because it is. The childish view of a 12 year old. And even when Marshall wins, it does not matter, because the conference is "DOA" or other such nonsense. You want to play in the Sugar Bowl and the Orange Bowl, and play P5 schools all the time. In sum, NOTHING that ever happens will suit you.

Because Marshall sports are just not for you. Move on.

 

[Aaron Perkins]

Uhm....

nevermind

GO HERD!!!

 

[herdalicious]

So many blahs

You might want to read the OP, because I'm not sure who or what you were responding to here.

I'll distill the post for you, and even simplify it a little in case I was being too clever - my issue isn't with Marshall's status or the product on the field, but with the way that the secrecy surrounding Marshall football affects my ability to connect with it. Combined with these recurring, cyclical collapses that seem to come out of nowhere, it can become a quite distasteful experience.

I was more or less just preaching to the choir of those who feel the same as me as a means of cathartic release. Anymore it seems like every medium regarding Marshall is just an extension of the AD's PR department, from the local media to the podcasters and bloggers who carry the AD's water in exchange for the little nuggets of info they toss their way.

Oh hi Aaron, I didn't see you there.

 

[MichiganHerd]

Oh hi Aaron, I didn't see you there.

This post stands tall on its own merit.

 

[ilmherdfan]

The Moonshine Throwdown podcast tells it like it is.

 

[The Real SamC]

with the way that the secrecy surrounding Marshall football affects my ability to connect with it.

This whole, fairly recent conspiracy theory about the "secrecy" around the athletic department is just an extension of the rotten superfandom. Of the major outlets covering Marshall, including the 100% anti-Marshall WOWK and Metro News, all say the same things, because, and this will be a shock to you, they are true. There is no secret agenda, there is no inside scoop, there was no huge fight in the middle of a city of 50000 in public that was "covered up". You see the same level of coverage about MU sports as you see of any other program similarly situated. Exactly the same.

There is just the best AD we have ever had and a fine coach who is over-achieving. No plot, no propaganda, no secrets.

Marshall sports are just not for you. Move on.

 

[herdalicious]

conspiracy theory

It's not a conspiracy theory, I just have "undisclosed reasons" for this feeling I'm getting. You could say I have "a thing," or perhaps maybe "a deal."

There is just the best AD we have ever had and a fine coach who is over-achieving. No plot, no propaganda, no secrets.

You, sir, have just won this thread.

 

[HerdFan73]

This whole, fairly recent conspiracy theory about the "secrecy" around the athletic department is just an extension of the rotten superfandom. Of the major outlets covering Marshall, including the 100% anti-Marshall WOWK and Metro News, all say the same things, because, and this will be a shock to you, they are true. There is no secret agenda, there is no inside scoop, there was no huge fight in the middle of a city of 50000 in public that was "covered up". You see the same level of coverage about MU sports as you see of any other program similarly situated. Exactly the same.

There is just the best AD we have ever had and a fine coach who is over-achieving. No plot, no propaganda, no secrets.

Marshall sports are just not for you. Move on.

There absolutely , 100%, was a major fight.

 

[BleedsGreen33]

I'll say this about secrecy, access to the program, and homer coverage we get. It's like that at every school. I wonder if people that follow Marshall really pay attention outside of Huntington.

Beat writers do nothing more than carry water for the program unless they are forced to report on something because it made it's way to the public arena. Why? Because a majority of them are fans of the programs and won't risk asking the hard hitting questions for fear they will lose access. Much like Landon has done over the years that has caused him to ushered out of other places he's covered. I remember hearing a story about him when he covered the Wheelers back in the day that he started having to buy his own tickets because his press pass was revoked. I don't know why anyone pays him much mind since we have caught him lifting posts off this board for his material and sources.

Do I want to know the behind the scenes stuff? Sure. However I know that I am not entitled to it. I, a fan, am not entitled to know the injuries of players, their health, or why and how they were disciplined. They're college kids and it's their business.

Your "access" to Marshall athletics shouldn't have any affect on if you like and follow the team. If that is a major criteria then you probably should stop following collegiate sports.

The only things fans are entitled to is the administration doing all it possibly can to field a competitive and winning team. Depending on what transpires over the next couple weeks to months will determine if Marshall's athletic department is holding up to their end of the agreement to our donations of money, time, and season ticket purchases.

 

[Aaron Coleman]

The Moonshine Throwdown podcast tells it like it is.

As the producer and host of the Runnin with the Herd Podcast, I'll tell you I have respect for those guys. Ours is just a better product. We open it up during the livestream and if you want to voice your opinion, feel free to do so.

 

[The Real SamC]

It's not a conspiracy theory, I just have "undisclosed reasons" for this feeling I'm getting. You could say I have "a thing," or perhaps maybe "a deal."

Umm, that is a perfect description. Of a conspiracy theory. The rotten superfan turned inward minority has now moved into this crazy idea that there is this vast cover up of some terrible secrets.
Rather than accept that this program, which is really only covered by 6 media outlets, two of which are 100% against Marshall's very existence (academic and athletic) with the main columnist for another being an embittered dark hearted old man with deep hatred for both the AD and the football coach, gets the same coverage as any similar program, and has the same openness and same access as any other.

There is nothing here to see. Marshall sports are just not for you. Move on.

 

[Herdfan2019]

Umm, that is a perfect description. Of a conspiracy theory. The rotten superfan turned inward minority has now moved into this crazy idea that there is this vast cover up of some terrible secrets.
Rather than accept that this program, which is really only covered by 6 media outlets, two of which are 100% against Marshall's very existence (academic and athletic) with the main columnist for another being an embittered dark hearted old man with deep hatred for both the AD and the football coach, gets the same coverage as any similar program, and has the same openness and same access as any other.

There is nothing here to see. Marshall sports are just not for you. Move on.

I think you’re missing the point here. The average fan doesn’t think they’re entitled to every little detail of what’s going on inside of Shewey. But when the AD and athletic department have to make a statement to the media and they choose to lie and cover things up - it’s a slap in the face to a lifelong supporter of the program like myself. If you are ok with it, then you are part of the problem.

This is not some random conspiracy. I’m friends a lot of former and current players. My information comes directly from them. THEY WERE THERE! I have been 100% accurate with all the information I’ve shared so far. So if you want to continue to believe the spin-job you get from Shewey to protect their interests that fine. I just hope you get help for your green kool-aid addiction.

 

[marshallisqbu]

This whole, fairly recent conspiracy theory about the "secrecy" around the athletic department is just an extension of the rotten superfandom. Of the major outlets covering Marshall, including the 100% anti-Marshall WOWK and Metro News, all say the same things, because, and this will be a shock to you, they are true. There is no secret agenda, there is no inside scoop, there was no huge fight in the middle of a city of 50000 in public that was "covered up". You see the same level of coverage about MU sports as you see of any other program similarly situated. Exactly the same.

There is just the best AD we have ever had and a fine coach who is over-achieving. No plot, no propaganda, no secrets.

Marshall sports are just not for you. Move on.

Lolz. Guardian of the fandom.

 

[i am herdman]

I am going to the bowl game. Coastal Carolina vs Liberty(Dirty Myrtle vs Fornicating Fallwells). Two schools that are hungry, like the Herd used to be. I won't even listen to the Marshall game. What's the point? Win or lose, nobody in Old Main or the Shewey cares. When someone there cares about being more than mundane and they get vibrant again, then I will care.

 

[i am herdman]

Umm, that is a perfect description. Of a conspiracy theory. The rotten superfan turned inward minority has now moved into this crazy idea that there is this vast cover up of some terrible secrets.
Rather than accept that this program, which is really only covered by 6 media outlets, two of which are 100% against Marshall's very existence (academic and athletic) with the main columnist for another being an embittered dark hearted old man with deep hatred for both the AD and the football coach, gets the same coverage as any similar program, and has the same openness and same access as any other.

There is nothing here to see. Marshall sports are just not for you. Move on.

There is not secret. Doc is a mediocre coach, at best and the AD is satisficed with that. We have turned into a mediocre program that wins about 60 percent of the time and goes to a bowl game like half of FBS teams do. Not a major accomplishment but the two friends in the department are happy with it. I don't think there is a over up at all. Marshall seems to geed good to decent talent. Chokes away a game or two a year and it is the brides made more than not it probably the worst FBS conference in the country.

This season they had a chance to have a really good team and had a total meltdown for some reason.

Here are his records

2010	Marshall	5–7	4–4	4th (East)
2011	Marshall	7–6	5–3	2nd (East)	W Beef 'O' Brady's
2012	Marshall	5–7	4–4	3rd (East)
2013	Marshall	10–4	7–1	1st (East)	W Military
2014	Marshall	13–1	7–1	1st (East)	W Boca Raton	22	23
2015	Marshall	10–3	6–2	T–2nd (East)	W St. Petersburg
2016	Marshall	3–9	2–6	T–6th (East)
2017	Marshall	8–5	4–4	T–3rd (East)	W New Mexico
2018	Marshall	9–4	6–2	T–2nd (East)	W Gasparilla
2019	Marshall	8–5	6–2	T–2nd (East)	L Gasparilla
2020	Marshall	7–2	4–1	1st (East)	Camellia

 

[GreenDuke]

I think you’re missing the point here. The average fan doesn’t think they’re entitled to every little detail of what’s going on inside of Shewey. But when the AD and athletic department have to make a statement to the media and they choose to lie and cover things up - it’s a slap in the face to a lifelong supporter of the program like myself. If you are ok with it, then you are part of the problem.

This is not some random conspiracy. I’m friends a lot of former and current players. My information comes directly from them. THEY WERE THERE! I have been 100% accurate with all the information I’ve shared so far. So if you want to continue to believe the spin-job you get from Shewey to protect their interests that fine. I just hope you get help for your green kool-aid addiction.

Agree. Marshall University as a whole, from Old Main down, has a looonnnggg history of problems with trust, facts, and honesty.

 

[SuperAnjario]

Umm, that is a perfect description. Of a conspiracy theory. The rotten superfan turned inward minority has now moved into this crazy idea that there is this vast cover up of some terrible secrets.
Rather than accept that this program, which is really only covered by 6 media outlets, two of which are 100% against Marshall's very existence (academic and athletic) with the main columnist for another being an embittered dark hearted old man with deep hatred for both the AD and the football coach, gets the same coverage as any similar program, and has the same openness and same access as any other.

There is nothing here to see. Marshall sports are just not for you. Move on.

Objectively untrue.

 

[The Real SamC]

Objectively untrue.

So, of course you have the information. Other that what some keyboard warriors claim they heard from somebody's cousin's girlfriend's beautician. Link please.

Or, put another way, you can share the type of information which you claim MU covers up from some similarly situation program which is not controlled by the evil conspiricy . Maybe Appy State, or Ball State, or Boise or whoever. Link please.

 

[SuperAnjario]

So, of course you have the information. Other that what some keyboard warriors claim they heard from somebody's cousin's girlfriend's beautician. Link please.

Or, put another way, you can share the type of information which you claim MU covers up from some similarly situation program which is not controlled by the evil conspiricy . Maybe Appy State, or Ball State, or Boise or whoever. Link please.

One easy-to-look-up, clear cut example:

Injury info. We hide everything. Some schools do the same. Others release info. The HIPAA excuse is plainly bull.

Another example:

Closed practices. That’s a choice that’s made. I would argue it’s hurt the program’s outreach. A lot of others do it. Some don’t. We used to never do it.

Third:

Watch one of Doc’s press conferences. He says the same things over and over again. Some might say it’s just his lack of personality or ability, and they’d be right. Point remains that he gives zero information at least somewhat intentionally.

Fourth:

Kind of more of an observation, but I disagree with the notion that all local news people treat the local school with kid gloves. Ask Auburn fans. Hell, WKU fired a coach after 2 years. We literally blackballed Chuck Landon. Our media strategy is dumb, but that’s just my opinion.

There’s no evil conspiracy, but we control the info with a Russian KGB type flavor. It’s silly. They hate criticism.

Merry Christmas.

 

[i am herdman]

One easy-to-look-up, clear cut example:

Injury info. We hide everything. Some schools do the same. Others release info. The HIPAA excuse is plainly bull.

Another example:

Closed practices. That’s a choice that’s made. I would argue it’s hurt the program’s outreach. A lot of others do it. Some don’t. We used to never do it.

Third:

Watch one of Doc’s press conferences. He says the same things over and over again. Some might say it’s just his lack of personality or ability, and they’d be right. Point remains that he gives zero information at least somewhat intentionally.

Fourth:

Kind of more of an observation, but I disagree with the notion that all local news people treat the local school with kid gloves. Ask Auburn fans. Hell, WKU fired a coach after 2 years. We literally blackballed Chuck Landon. Our media strategy is dumb, but that’s just my opinion.

There’s no evil conspiracy, but we control the info with a Russian KGB type flavor. It’s silly. They hate criticism.

Merry Christmas.

Given the resources and situation at hand Doc is one of the worst coaches in Marshall football history.

 

[herdalicious]

There’s no evil conspiracy, but we control the info with a Russian KGB type flavor. It’s silly.

That's a pretty concise summation of exactly how I feel. It's all unnecessary. Remember when Mark Snyder got a fifth season, when we knew he was the wrong guy by year three? Or how bad the Tom Herrion stuff had to get before he was out? This isn't the sort of program that is trigger-happy about firing people, in any sport. It's not someplace where the locals start bitching on message boards and coaches get fired prematurely. They don't have to be so dodgy, its counter-productive.

Merry Christmas!

 

[Aaron Perkins]

I am going to the bowl game. Coastal Carolina vs Liberty(Dirty Myrtle vs Fornicating Fallwells). Two schools that are hungry, like the Herd used to be. I won't even listen to the Marshall game. What's the point? Win or lose, nobody in Old Main or the Shewey cares. When someone there cares about being more than mundane and they get vibrant again, then I will care.

Just when I think you cant get any more dumb, you go and drop a bomb like this. Not really sure what point you serve as a Marshall "fan". Merry Christmas, grab a uspam shirt, and start following Neal Brown on twitter. Go trust his climb, Marshall doesnt need you

 

[i am herdman]

Just when I think you cant get any more dumb, you go and drop a bomb like this. Not really sure what point you serve as a Marshall "fan". Merry Christmas, grab a uspam shirt, and start following Neal Brown on twitter. Go trust his climb, Marshall doesnt need you

Uspam? I don't even live in WV and so nobody , including myself, cares about Uspam. Get out of your small bubble.

Marshall does need me and many others as well. They need fans.

Go on supporting mediocrity and not living up to potential. You think that is being a good fan. All you do is make yourself feel important. And, it enables what is going on at Marshall.

 

[extragreen]

Just when I think you cant get any more dumb, you go and drop a bomb like this. Not really sure what point you serve as a Marshall "fan". Merry Christmas, grab a uspam shirt, and start following Neal Brown on twitter. Go trust his climb, Marshall doesnt need you

When did you divorce Snyder?

 

[i am herdman]

We want a winner and championships.

 

[ThunderDrunk304]

I am going to the bowl game. Coastal Carolina vs Liberty(Dirty Myrtle vs Fornicating Fallwells). Two schools that are hungry, like the Herd used to be. I won't even listen to the Marshall game. What's the point? Win or lose, nobody in Old Main or the Shewey cares. When someone there cares about being more than mundane and they get vibrant again, then I will care.

Why not change your name to i am chantman or I am flameman?

 

[JamesSlade]

Yes. You are coming around to it.

Marshall sports are just NOT FOR YOU. No shame in it. It is time to move on. If you want to stay with college sports, pick one, Alabama or Clemson. Or maybe you need to look elsewhere entirely, maybe take up golf, or knitting, or donate some time to a charity.

Because Marshall sports is about G5 football. About trying to get a good record and get a mention on ESPN or whatnot with the big boys. About a early bowl game against either another G5 or a loser P5 team that really does not deserve to be there. Marshall is not going to win the I-A national championship. Ever. Marshall is not going to be invited into whatever the P5 evolves into next. Or the next, or the next. Marshall sports is about being proud that a small (by I-A standards) school in a poor state that wastes 90% of its educational $$ on New Jersites, still achieves. MU sports is about the ashes. And the glory. The glory of the rise from not only the plane crash, but the obscurity of being just another score in the agate type, to one of only 135 elite programs. And, yes, someday, it will be about the access bowl. I hope to be here for that. You will not.

Because you have superfandom turned inward and rotten. Marshall is supposed to win every game. Because it is. The childish view of a 12 year old. And even when Marshall wins, it does not matter, because the conference is "DOA" or other such nonsense. You want to play in the Sugar Bowl and the Orange Bowl, and play P5 schools all the time. In sum, NOTHING that ever happens will suit you.

Because Marshall sports are just not for you. Move on.

I'm interested to know why G5 programs like TCU, Boise State, BYU, UCF, Cincinnati and to a lesser degree Memphis, Houston can rise to being considered P5 programs in G5 conferences but poor little old Marshall cannot.

I guess Boise State is located in a recruiting hotbed and has the allure of Idaho that brings kids in. Nevermind answered my own question.

Merry Christmas!

 

[JamesSlade]

Just when I think you cant get any more dumb, you go and drop a bomb like this. Not really sure what point you serve as a Marshall "fan". Merry Christmas, grab a uspam shirt, and start following Neal Brown on twitter. Go trust his climb, Marshall doesnt need you

Lol, wow obviously Neal lives in that empty space above your shoulders rent free.

Imagine being so internally hurt by the true State of the program that you have to take shots at another program that could completely care less about what we're doing.

 

[i am herdman]

Why not change your name to i am chantman or I am flameman?

I have trademarked both