Life after OSU: Catching up with “Snydes”
They walk as a group, in full suits and ties, through the crowd and into the stadium. When they come onto the field for warm-ups, they do the “hive.” When the defense is on the field for a big 3rd down, the stadium PA plays the chimes from “Hell’s Bells.” Does this sound familar?
It should. Because it’s exactly what you see every gameday at Ohio State. It works for Jim Tressel. Mark Snyder’s trying to make it his own at his, and my, alma mater of Marshall University, just a short drive away in Huntington, WV. Call us “Ohio State South.”
Snyder spent most of his career as an assistant working for Tressel, at both Youngstown State and OSU. Snydes once turned down an offer to become LSU’s defensive coordinator to stay at OSU, and in 2005 he landed the job he’d always wanted: to coach his alma mater. Snyder grew up just across the Ohio River in Ironton, OH and was a standout at safety for the Herd in 1987. That year, Marshall played in its first ever 1-AA National Championship Game.
In the decade of the 90’s, no Division I football program won more games than Marshall. Troy Brown, Pennington, Moss, Leftwich---Marshall was a football factory. That continued until 2005, when a lack of competitive facilities, a small budget and other frustrations led then-coach Bob Pruett to abruptly retire.
Snyder jumped at the job, and came on board at the end of Spring Practice in ‘05. Since then, Snyder’s felt the pressure of maintaing the winning tradition he helped start, while dealing with the financial and competitive issues that plague the school. Marshall’s had some late-game gaffes the past couple years and finished ‘05 and ‘06 with near .500 records. This season has been the toughest by far. Going into this past Saturday, Marshall had won just twice in eleven games.
I talked to Mark before the game. I asked about his wife and family--his wife, Beth, is a breast cancer survivor---and he said “Beth’s great, kids are great… only one doing bad is me.” He said it with a smile, because deep down he believes in the principles he’s teaching. The same principles he learned from more than a decade working under Tressel.
Despite their team’s poor on-field record, Marshall fans have continued to show their support. An average of 30,000 fans game out to cheer on a team riddled with young talent making young mistakes. Because of his late arrival prior to ‘05, Snyder’s only had two full recruiting classes of his choice. At Ohio State, Snyder was known as a dynamite recruiter, especially in talent-rich Florida. He’s started to land players comparable to the crops Marshall lured in the late 90’s.
Marshall now competes in Conference USA, an offense-heavy conference where 40 points is almost a prerequisite for victory. With youth and a struggling, sometimes a step slow, defense, Snyder’s teaching at a maddening pace.
Before Saturday’s game Snyder told me Tressel text messaged him a few days before (as he does frequently), checking up on his protege. Marshall took the field Saturday night against fellow 2-9 UAB. As expected, both offenses drove the field. It was highly entertaining football, complete with a kickoff and punt return for touchdowns. The Herd offense has clearly adjusted to C-USA play, scoring the go-ahead touchdown with barely a minute to play. In the final seconds, UAB drove inside the Marshall 30, but could not find the end zone as time expired.
After the game, Snyder let loose with a few fist pumps. His players gave high-fives to the thousands of fans who stuck with them through a down year. Outside his office, Snydes looked more relieved than excited. Because the next morning, Snyder and his assistants headed out of town to visit recruits, from North Carolina to California. They could tell those players about their victory the day before. About the promise for the program… about playing time as a freshman.
Thus the difference between BCS-level college football and mid-major college football. At Ohio State, a 3-9 season would surely lead to firings and hirings, fan unrest and national criticism. At Marshall, all a 3-9 season means is another long, tough offseason. But next fall they’ll be back. The Herd will line up with a more skilled, more Division I-ready group of players. Snyder will continue to teach the basics upon which he’s built his program. And someday (hopefully soon), they’ll have the success that their mentor program enjoys on a yearly basis.
And coming to Columbus in 2010, the Herd. Certain to be no pushover.
Below are some of my pictures from the game… including Marco, the school mascot, attempting to beat me up for not coming home for a game in two years… Enjoy!
