2016 sure to have major impact on Marshall football
Football season is over for the Marshall Thundering Herd, but that doesn't mean that the fallout of the 2016 season ended when the clock hit zero in a 60-6 loss to Western Kentucky in the team's season finale.
In fact, Herd fans should expect to feel reverberations from this year's 3-9 season well into the spring camp. The dust has far from settled and while Doc Holliday is almost a sure thing to return to lead the Marshall football program in 2017 there could be many other coaches and players who aren't in Huntington come next season.
Chief among those rumored to be on their way out of Huntington are offensive coordinator Bill Legg and starting quarterback Chase Litton. Legg, a former player under Don Nehlan at West Virginia University is in his second stint with the Thundering Herd serving under former coach Bob Pruett as the team's tight end coach from 2001-2002 before being hired to lead the offense in 2010 as part of Holliday's staff.
In between his time at Marshall, Legg made stops at Purdue and at Florida International, where he served as an offensive line coach and offensive coordinator. 2016 marked Legg's 30th year as a colligate coach and according to sources close to the situation, it will be the Poca, West Virginia native's last. Those with knowledge of the program say that Legg will retire sometime in the coming days.
As for Litton, the rumor mill has been in full swing after the sophomore signal caller was missing from the sidelines of Marshall's senior night contest with the Hilltoppers. Officially, Litton was ruled out of the contest with an undisclosed injury but for the second time this season the Tampa, Florida native was not present at the game to support his teammates. Litton also didn't attend the Herd's 59-28 loss to nationally ranked Louisville that he missed due to concussion-like symptoms from a hit sustained during Marshall's bout with former MAC rival Akron.
It's been a tumultuous year for everyone associated with the football program but none, more so than Litton. The 6-6, 211-pound quarterback statistically outperformed his freshman campaign throwing for 2,612 yards, 24 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. But, questions about his leadership and behavior off the field as well as the level of respect he receives inside the Herd locker room have been rampant. Because of this, many close to the program believe Litton could choose to transfer to a school closer to his native Florida. Those same sources also believe other players could choose to depart the program as well leaving several unexpected holes for coach Holliday to fill for 2017.
Unfortunately, none of this is all that surprising. Marshall's 3-9 record was the worst since 2007 when then coach Mark Snyder's team finished with the exact same record. The Thundering Herd also endured its first losing record at home since 1982 when Sonny Randle manned the Marshall sidelines and it was the first ever losing record in the history of Joan C. Edwards stadium. Any time a season ends this poorly, major turnover is to be expected. From coaches being fired to disgruntled and frustrated players choosing to transfer, such disappointing years always lead to change, so the impact of this season could stretch far into the program's future.
