The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Sports

November 18, 2008

Snyder: Cann needs to relax

By Gary Fauber

Just relax and play.

That’s the advice Marshall coach Mark Snyder has for quarterback Mark Cann, who continued to show signs of freshman struggles in last Saturday’s loss to Central Florida.

The redshirt from Landrum, S.C., was 4-of-17 for 32 yards and two interceptions against the Knights, who have Conference USA’s top-ranked defense in pass efficiency. The week before, against East Carolina, Cann was 2-of-7 for 11 yards and two picks in the first half.

“We just shot ourselves in the foot tonight on the offensive side of the ball,” Cann said after the UCF game.

Snyder concedes that Cann is pressing, but a lot of it also has to do with the defenses he has been playing against.

“He has to quit being afraid to make a mistake and go play football,” Snyder said Tuesday at his weekly press conference.

Conversely, Marshall (4-6, 3-4) will be facing one of the league’s top quarterbacks in Chase Clement when it visits Rice (7-3, 5-1) at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

Clement is third in the league at 311.6 yards per game and is the conference’s all-time leader in career touchdown passes with 87 and is tied for the career mark in total touchdowns with 109. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound senior went over the 10,000-yard mark for career total offense in a win over Army Nov. 8.

“He’s just like (other West Division quarterbacks). When they’re hitting, they’re hitting, when they’re on, they’re on,” Snyder said.

“The thing that impresses me about him, the ball is coming out of his hands before the receivers come out of their cuts. That’s pretty impressive to me. And he’s got some escapability.”

It’s that “escapability” that makes Clement hard for defenses to deal with. Clement has 510 yards rushing with nine touchdowns.

“He’s not as tall in stature as some of the other guys are,” Snyder said. “He’s a small guy, but makes a lot of plays, finds ways to get the ball into windows. He’s a pretty good athlete.”

Text Only
Sports
  • Big12logo.jpg Getting to know the Big 12 Conference

    As West Virginia University moves into the Big 12 Conference, here's one place to come to find out about all of the Mountaineers new league opponents.

    April 18, 2012 1 Photo

  • WVU releases 2012 football schedule

    West Virginia University has released its football schedule for 2012.

    WVU announced Tuesday it has settled a lawsuit with the Big East for an unspecified amount, clearing the way for the conference power Mountaineers to join the Big 12 in July in time for the fall football season.
     

    February 14, 2012

  • WVU settles Big East lawsuit

    West Virginia University announced Tuesday it has settled a lawsuit with the Big East for an unspecified amount, clearing the way for the Mountaineers to join the Big 12 in July.
    Athletic Director Oliver Luck said the terms of the deal were confidential and WVU wouldn’t release details. But Luck said no state, taxpayer, tuition or other academic dollars will be used in the settlement.

    February 14, 2012

  • Shannon leads Woodrow win; Weiford 3 keys Spartans

    February 14, 2012

  • Woodrow holds off Huntington

     It took Woodrow Wilson’s boys basketball team nearly three quarters to figure out that the backside lob was open in Huntington High’s zone.

    January 10, 2012

  • MSU hosts Rio Grande

    For the first time since 1995, Mountain State stands a little past the half-way point at the season with five losses.

    January 10, 2012

  • OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE - WVU to join Big 12 Conference

    The Big 12 Conference Board of Directors have voted unanimously to accept West Virginia University as a full conference member effective July 1, 2012.  The Mountaineers will begin competing in the Big 12 beginning with the 2012-13 athletic season.

    October 28, 2011

  • Friday update: Big East notified WVU leaving for Big 12

    The Big East says it has been notified that West Virginia is leaving the conference and joining the Big 12.

    October 28, 2011

  • Cardinals force Game 7 in World Series

    After one of the greatest games in baseball history, a 10-9, 11-inning victory over Texas in Game 6 in which the Cardinals were twice within one strike of elimination.

    October 28, 2011

  • Schiano sings WVU’s praises

    It hasn’t been the year that Rutgers coach Greg Schiano envisioned.
    Not close.

    December 1, 2010