Herd eyeing for bounce back win vs. Norfolk State

- By Trace Johnson

            After a disappointing loss to the Ohio Bobcats, Marshall is eyeing for a bounce back win Saturday against the Norfolk State Spartans. 

            The Herd’s typically efficient offense struggled against the Bobcats.  Marshall threw for only 106 yards in the game and for the first time since Oct. 15, 2011, failed to have a passing touchdown. 

            Those offensive struggles were addressed in head coach Doc Holliday’s weekly press conference and he said a change will be made on Saturday when the Herd squares off with Norfolk State. 

“As you know, we did not play as well as a team because we weren’t the best team out there last week, so we’ve got to work extremely hard this week on becoming a better football team, becoming better individuals, and we’ve got to become better offensively,” Holliday said.  “So the plan is to play both (Michael) Birdsong and Chase Litton in this game on Saturday.”

Litton, a freshman quarterback out of Wharton High School in Tampa, Florida, will see the field for the first time in his young Marshall career.

“I saw Chase and Birdsong make plays all through camp, but there’s no doubt in my mind Birdsong earned the job throughout spring and all throughout camp, but when you get in that game, you’ve got to make plays,” Holliday said.  “Chase does a lot of things very natural.  He’s very athletic, he makes throws, and he does all those things.” 

Holliday said the plan was to redshirt Litton, but he is concerned with the present state of the team rather than the future.  “I think that was the plan,” he said.  “If you felt Birdsong was your guy, you'd like to separate the two, but at the end of the day, I'm all about winning football games. I'm not concerned about five years down the road.” 

Holliday also said Litton would “probably” be in the game by the team’s third offensive series. 

Norfolk State, a member of the FCS, comes into its showdown with Marshall at 0-2 overall.  The Spartans lost 63-13 at Rutgers in Week 1 and lost 24-10 at Old Dominion in Week 2.    

If history means anything, the Spartans are at a disadvantage already.  Since the Herd’s return to FBS football in 1997, the program is 15-1 against FCS competition. 

Norfolk State is led by former Florida Atlantic quarterback Greg Hankerson, who Holliday says will be a challenge to defend.  “When you turn the film on and watch him, he's a problem,” he said.  “For Rutgers, he was problem. For Old Dominion, he was a problem, so he'll be a problem for us if we don't contain him. He's tremendous.” 

Holliday also said linebacker Deon King is a standout player on the Spartans’ defense and he could play for any team in the country.    

Falling victim to an upset loss is extra motivation for the Herd heading into this game.  “Every Sunday, you pick up the paper and somebody loses that shouldn’t,” Holliday said.  “You’ve just got to work your tail off and make sure it’s not you.” 

The first ever meeting between Marshall and Norfolk State kicks off Saturday at 3:30 p.m. from Joan C. Edwards Stadium and will be televised by the American Sports Network.