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  • Marshall coach Doc Holliday talks with receiver Jermaine Kelson during the first half of the Herd’s 17-13 win over Louisville Oct. 1 in Louisville, Ky. Marshall (2-4) hosts Rice (2-3) Saturday. AP photo

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October 14, 2011

Rice has had a rough road

Thundering Herd to host Owls Saturday

By Gary Fauber Assistant Sports Editor

As brutal as Marshall’s schedule was the first half of the season, Rice’s was even tougher.

The Owls are the only Football Bowl Subdivision team to play four nonconference opponents from BCS conferences. They opened with a loss at Texas, upset Purdue at home and were hammered by Robert Griffin III and Baylor.

Rice still has a date with Northwestern, Nov. 12, in Evanston, Ill.

“They’ve played a heck of a schedule,” Marshall coach Doc Holliday said. “I think they’ve played the sixth-toughest schedule in America at this point. That’s not an easy thing to do. They are a lot better than what people give them credit for because of who they’ve played.”

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Holliday has a friend in Longhorns defensive coordinator Manny Diaz. The two were assistant coaches at N.C. State.

Holliday was able to get the scoop on Rice from Diaz, whose defense held the Owls to 224 yards in a 34-9 win Sept. 3.

“Manny said, ‘Doc, they are going to play hard and are going to come after you,’” Holliday said. “Texas has better athletes than Rice.

“Baylor is an excellent football team. It’s hard to gauge how good Rice is because of who they’ve played.”

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As for Marshall’s 2-4 start, Holliday isn’t using the schedule as an excuse. Having, statistically, the worst offense in Conference USA is more telling.

“I’m not happy at all with where our offense is,” Holliday said. “I’m not. We have to get better. Four of the six teams we’ve played are in the top 18 in the country. Not in the conference — in the country. (But) it’s not an excuse. We simply have to get better.

“We have to make plays and, yes, we’ve lined up against some good teams, just like Rice has. Unfortunately, we’re both where we are, and we both have to win football games.”

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Holliday was happy with the way the defense performed in last Saturday’s 16-6 loss at Central Florida. Defensive back Rashad Jackson returned a fumble for Marshall’s only touchdown.

“That entire defense, if you take out a couple of the early drives, played extremely well,” Holliday said. “They’ve played well all year for the most part, and they’re getting better. But we have to be able to win with defense around here, and they have to keep playing like they’re playing to give us a chance.”

— E-mail: gfauber@register-herald.com

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