Can Marshall be a Top 25 Team in 2014?

A 31-20 victory over the University of Maryland in the Military Bowl has many around the Marshall Football program excited about next season.

With much of the team returning for the 2014 season after finishing 10-3, expectations are high for Thundering Herd Football. Many have predicted top 25 rankings for the squad. Others have predicted they’ll win the conference. Marshall Head Coach Doc Holliday said high expectations are good for his team.

“Bottom line is someone telling you you’re going to be a top 25 team is not what gets you there, it’s the work and everything that goes along with it, but we can’t become complacent,” Holliday said.

The 10 win season was the first time since 2002 that a Marshall team finished with double-digit victories. It also marked the first Conference USA East Division crown for the school and trip to the Conference USA championship game, where they would lose to Rice. In the final USA Today Coaches Poll the Herd finished 29^th. Holliday said three things will determine how successful the team can be next year.

1. Staying away from complacency.
2. Not becoming selfish.
3. Being accountable for their actions.

The 5 win improvement from 2012 to 2013 has many wondering what could happen in 2014 with a schedule that looks favorable for an experienced team like the Herd to make a serious run. With non-conference matchups with Ohio University, Miami Ohio and Kent State University, fans are looking forward to the season. Holliday said when he looks at his team this offseason he sees a vastly different group than last offseason.
“I just thought to myself we’re so much further ahead than this time last year, I looked out there a year ago and I didn’t see what I see right now which is a good thing and it’s going to be important,” Holliday said..

Holliday hopes that the success of this past season mixed with high expectations have an impact as he and his coaches hit the road to finish up recruiting for next year before the national signing period begins February 5^th. That’s when athletes can sign on the dotted line committing themselves to a college football program.

“One of the things about Marshall University Football is it has great tradition, you can walk into almost every home out there they can tell you about the number of wins they had in the 90’s and the 2000’s and the Randy Moss’ and Chad’s and Byron’s and on and on and we’re getting back to that,” Holliday said.

The Military Bowl was Marshall’s second bowl win in three seasons. The Herd beat F FIU in the 2011 Beef O’Brady’s Bowl.