The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Sports

July 4, 2009

Falcons to bring familiarity

By Gary Fauber

A measurable dose of Marshall football history will spill into Huntington in mid-September.

Bowling Green, an old foe of the Thundering Herd’s, will visit Joan C. Edwards Stadium Sept. 19. A kickoff time has not been announced.

The teams have not met since 2004, Marshall’s last as a member of the Mid-American Conference. The Falcons have won seven of the previous 27 meetings, including a 56-35 massacre five years ago that assured Marshall would not be playing in the MAC championship game.

On the Bowling Green sideline will be Shannon Morrison, a Marshall alumnus who was a Herd defensive assistant the last four seasons. The Oak Hill native is now co-defensive coordinator at Bowling Green.

Morrison isn’t the only new coach at BG. Head coach Dave Clawson will make his debut there this fall after spending the 2008 season as the offensive coordinator at Tennessee.

Former coach Gregg Brandon’s pass-happy offense will be replaced by Clawson’s more balanced approach. Brandon is now the offensive coordinator at the University of Virginia.

Senior Tyler Sheehan, a three-year starter, threw for 2,610 yards on 267-of-400 passing last season. He tossed 20 touchdown passes and nine interceptions.

Senior running back Chris Bullock is back after running for 384 yards and a pair of touchdowns last season. He will see competition in August from Willie Geter, a junior who had 301 yards and a score in eight games in 2008.

The top returning receiver is senior Freddie Barnes, who had 40 receptions for 355 yards. Tight end Jimmy Scheidler had seven TD catches last year and 150 yards overall.

The Falcons (6-6 in ’08) took a hit on defense, with only three players with starting experience back. One of them is senior strong safety P.J. Mahone, who led the team with 95 tackles. He also had three interceptions.

Also back are senior linebacker Jerett Sanderson (68 tackles, two picks) and senior free safety Jahmal Brown (83 tackles).

— E-mail: gfauber@

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