Marshall opponents: Game 1, Miami (Fla.)
More Marshall
# Documentary creators sue over ‘We Are Marshall’
# Herd lands on ESPN.com list twice
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second in a series of previews on Marshall and West Virginia football opponents.
# Date with Marshall: Saturday, Sept. 1, noon (ESPNU)
# Site: Orange Bowl (72,319, Prescription Athletic Turf), Miami
# Coach: Randy Shannon (First year)
Checking them out
Shannon is a rookie, but only in the head-coaching sense. When the administration sought to replace Larry Coker, they picked a coach who had been around 13 of the past 16 seasons, interrupted only by a stint crosstown with the Dolphins.
That means Shannon understands the tradition at the “U,” and why Coker was fired despite a 60-15 record. Problem was, a third of those losses came in one season against ACC opponents, and that will never fly at Miami.
What really needs to fly is the overhauled Hurricanes’ offense, under new coordinator Patrick Nix. TB Javarris James (802 yards, 4 TDs), cousin of ‘90s UM standout Edgerrin James, is the most notable weapon back — but he will have to fend off midyear recruit Graig Cooper for his job.
Elsewhere on the offense, question marks abound. The quarterback job could be shrouded in mystery until Marshall game week, when Shannon may finally choose between Kyle Wright (1,655 yards, 8 TDs, 7 int) and the athletic Kirby Freeman, who overcame three interceptions against Boston College to salvage the Hurricanes’ bowl eligibility.
But neither will fare well if the offensive line, which has four starters back, doesn’t improve. It also will help if senior receivers Lance Leggett (38-584, 4 TDs) and Darnell Jenkins fulfill their lofty billing.
There is no such underachievement from 6-8, 282-pound DE Calais Campbell, who passed up being a first-round pick for his senior season. He led the ACC with 201/2 tackles for loss, 101/2 of those sacks.
Campbell and DT Jason Fox lead a unit that, under coordinator Shannon, was fourth in rushing defense and 13th in scoring defense. FS Kenny Phillips leads a veteran secondary that wants to improve on its 24th-place standing in pass efficiency defense. Linebacking is a concern, as is the lack of takeaways (21 in 13 games).
The Hurricanes are looking for a kicker and punter for the first time in four years, after Jon Peattie and Brian Monroe departed. Redshirt freshman Matt Bosher features the strongest leg, and he may make a run at sweeping the kicking duties.
All-conference candidates
# Offense: RB Javarris Jones, WR Lance Leggett
# Defense: DE Calais Campbell, FS Kenny Phillips
Notes
The Hurricanes have gone 8-8 since the 2005 game against Georgia Tech, a 14-10 loss that knocked them out of national title contention. Nix was the Yellow Jackets’ offensive coordinator then. ... Miami was held to its lowest point total (255) since 1979. ... Another sign of Miami’s struggles: Ten true freshmen played last year, DOUBLE the number from 2002. Five of them started a combined 31 games. ... Miami’s five ACC defeats came by a total of 28 points, perhaps signaling a quick resurgence.
2007 schedule
Date Opponent 2006
Sept. 1 Marshall DNP
Sept. 8 at Oklahoma DNP
Sept. 15 Fla. International W 35-0
Sept. 20 Texas A&M (Thur.) DNP
ept. 29 Duke W 20-15
Oct. 6 at North Carolina W 27-7
Oct. 13 Georgia Tech L 23-30
Oct. 20 at Florida State L 10-13
Nov. 3 N.C. State DNP
Nov. 10 Virginia L 7-17
Nov. 17 at Virginia Tech L 10-17
Nov. 24 at Boston College W 17-14
* Atlantic Coast Conference games
# 2006 record: 7-6 overall, 3-5 ACC (won MPC Computers Bowl in Boise 21-20 vs. Nevada)
# Dropped: Florida A&M (W 51-10), Louisville (L 7-31), Houston (W 14-13), Maryland (L 13-14)
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