HerdNation.com - An open letter to Mark Snyder

October 16, 2009

Jamie Oakes
HerdNation.com Publisher

Normally this slot on the front page of HerdNation.com on Friday morning is reserved for a preview of the game scheduled to follow the next day.

Today, I am taking a different approach. It is the eve of the Friends of Coal Bowl and I have some things on my mind that I need to address.

What a better way to blow off a little steam than to fire off an open letter to Mark Snyder.

As a humble scribe with no real connection to Marshall other than this site, I figure that maybe I could pass along a few words of advice.

Coach Snyder,

You don't know me from Adam but that isn't important in the grand scheme of things. In fact, if you did know me too well, I may have some concerns that your time wasn't better spent doing other things like, I don't know, coaching the team, recruiting, game-planning, etc. But I digress.

Look, Mark, I hope I can call you that because I certainly don't mean any disrespect, I haven't coached a football game outside of parks and recreation, so I am not writing to tell you how to effectively beat West Virginia.

I am writing you to just talk about this game in general terms, although I may throw in a pointer or two along the way.

You never had the opportunity to play against the Mountaineers in your playing career at Marshall and I know how much you must have longed to.

You have, on the other hand, had the opportunity to do what only a handful of others have done and that is coach Marshall against those rifle-toting, coon skin cap-wearing, bearded folks from across the state.

A West Virginia fan may tell you that this game means nothing to them and it was the governor that thrust this series upon them, but I am not writing you on-behalf of those people. Actually, I am not writing you on behalf of Marshall fans either because lord knows, there are plenty of Marshall fans that certainly don't want or need me to.

I am just talking to you as football fan and I hope you are listening.

This game means a great deal to Herd fans.

Now look, no one expects you to win this game in Morgantown tomorrow but the Marshall faithful sure as hell are hopeful of a victory.

It would mean the world to them.

I have no doubt that you already know that but while you spend your day working within your own bubble, I listen to these folks talk all day about Marshall football and let me tell you something, Mark, they are a passionate group.

They might say some things that would irritate you but at the end of the day, they want nothing more than for you to be successful.

A win on Saturday and who knows what praise they lay at your feet. Maybe a few will complain but that comes with territory of being a head coach, I guess.

The mass majority of Marshall fans would laud the victory as the greatest of your tenure.

That is the nature of rivalry games. The Friends of Coal Bowl certainly isn't on the level of the Iron Bowl or Michigan/Ohio State but it is just as intense among the fans.

Well, I have been rambling, so let's just get to the point. I know I said I wouldn't tell you how to do your job as a coach, well I am not but I am going to ask that you call the game to win it.

Everyone outside of a few in green expects West Virginia to have their way with Marshall tomorrow.

You have nothing to lose in many respects, although after that Virginia Tech debacle there were plenty people questioning a single game outcome.

Don't worry about that though.

Throw caution into the wind and for the sake of Marco, please don't enter the game with the "play not to lose" mindset.

Although it may have worked for a few football teams in the past, it usually ends up meaning that when the final whistle blows, the team that walked onto the field with that mindset, left with a notch in the "L" column.

Play and coach with passion.

Show the Marshall faithful that you aren't afraid to let the team play with reckless abandon to win a game that no one expects you to.

"Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it."

Lou Holtz said that.

I could say it too but without his trademark lisp, the words might not have the same impact.

West Virginia may have more ability top to bottom, but coach, that isn't something you can control today.

This game, for you and your charges, is about motivation and attitude. Those are two factors you can control.

Go out there and coach a game that Marshall fans can be proud of. I know you are going to need to run the ball and limit possessions. Lord knows, I am not asking you channel Mouse Davis for this one, just play the game to win.

Who knows, maybe you will return to Huntington with a victory and a groundswell of new support.

Thanks for your time, Mark.

Sincerely,

Jamie Oakes

HerdNation.com Publisher

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