Herd Conquers URI

The Herd’s preparation for the Rhode Island game was similar to the way the team prepared for Miami of Ohio. After the first win of their season, The Thundering Herd tackled the challenge of the unknown head on, and made it clear that preparing for the Rams started on the home front. 

Herd senior defensive lineman Ra'Shawde Meyers said that just like the first game against Miami, they were simply playing a guessing game since the Rhode Island had a new coaching staff as well as players. 

"Just like the last game, we're looking at film of where the coach came from, and looking at personnel from last year," Meyers said. "So, right now we're playing a guessing game." 

Meyers did not fear playing the guessing game, however. He welcomed the challenge as a new opportunity that he considered as part of the learning process of football.

"Last year, we played teams we never met before," Meyers said. "It's exciting because its new experiences, new schemes, and you learn football."

Alex Mirabal, Herd offensive line coach, said that because Rhode Island had not taken a snap before its meeting with the Herd, preparation was more focused on what they thought the Rams would do, as well as preparation for the Miami game and amongst his players.

"There is nothing that they are going to be able to do defensively that we have not seen already, whether it be through camp that our defense does, or through our preparation for Miami of Ohio," Mirabal said. "Because we do not know, there is some guessing."

Mirabal also said that the importance of research through gaining knowledge of the coaching staff; however, in the end, it all would come back to how the Herd prepared for the game internally.

"At the same time, because there is so much unknown, we just focus on us and getting ourselves better within our system, within our techniques," Mirabal said. 

Senior wide receiver Tommy Shuler said to believe the most important preparation had to do the Herd's player and coaches, not on the other side of the ball.

"We've just got to go out and play Marshall football," Shuler said. "If we play Marshall football and execute our plays, I think that will get us another W."

Rhode Island recruited Lyle McCombs, a transfer from UConn, who racked up 2,681 yards in his three seasons as a Husky. Redshirt junior defensive lineman Ricardo Williams knew the Herd had to execute against him.

"Our coach mentioned him to us," Williams said. "We are definitely keeping an eye on him, and we just have to go out there and execute."

After transferring from the University of Miami, Williams had to sit out a year. His excitement was energized by the fact it would be his first time playing in the Joan C. Edwards Stadium.

"This is my first home game because I sat out a year," Williams said. "I am excited to play my first game on Marshall turf."