2002 Marshall Thundering Herd football team
Encyclopedia
The 2002 Marshall Thundering Herd football team represented Marshall University
in 2002 season in NCAA Division I-A. Marshall won its 5th MAC title in 6 years and its 5th consecutive bowl win.
Moments after Hill scored on a 1-yard run with 5 seconds left for a 36-34 victory Tuesday night, Wauford allegedly shoved a Marshall fan and was arrested.
The fan, Robert A. Flaugher of Pickerington, Ohio
, hit his head on the artificial turf and was taken on a stretcher to a hospital with a concussion, according to a report filed by State Police in Huntington.
Flaugher was in stable condition at St. Mary's Medical Center
, said a nursing supervisor who did not want her name released.
Wauford was charged with battery, a misdemeanor. He was transported to Cabell County Magistrate Court and posted bail. The amount wasn't immediately released.
Miami officials refused to comment on the incident, and did not make players or coaches available to media.
Marshall fans stormed the field after Stan Hill's winning score. Playing in place of the injured Byron Leftwich
and making his first career start, Hill also threw four touchdown passes.
"One thing we say around here is that we play for championships, and tonight our kids played their hearts out," said Marshall coach Bob Pruett
.
Ben Roethlisberger
twice brought Miami back from double-digit deficits, and Luke Clemens' 17-yard TD run gave the RedHawks a 34-29 lead with 6:33 left.
Leftwich, who hurt his left shin against Akron, did not dress for the game. And that left it up to sophomore quarterback Stan Hill.
Marshall got the ball back for the final time with 1:39 left at its 43.
Hill completed three straight passes, then ran 7 yards to the Miami 16.
After a dropped pass in the end zone by Darius Watts
- who caught three TD passes from Hill - a pair of interference calls against Miami put the ball at the 1, setting up Hill's run.
"It was either throw it away or get it into the end zone, because coach Bob Pruett told me one thing not to do and that was take a sack," Hill said.
Without Leftwich, Marshall managed 400 total yards. The Thundering Herd began the day leading the nation in total offense with 531 yards.
External link: http://www.muredhawks.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111202aaa.html
, and neither did getting flattened by Toledo's David Gardner.
Leftwich got up from the third-quarter hit to throw two late touchdowns, including a 40-yarder to Darius Watts
with 49 seconds left, as Marshall beat the Rockets 49-45 in the Mid-American Conference championship game.
Marshall atoned for a loss at Toledo in the 2001 championship game, in which the Rockets overcame a 23-0 deficit to win 41-36.
"Last year, after we lost we all had a sick feeling, Leftwich said. "This year, we couldn't let them come in here and make us feel like that again.
Leftwich completed 32 of 42 passes for 404 yards and four TDs to overshadow the four rushing touchdowns by Toledo redshirt freshman Trinity Dawson, who finished with a career-high 130 yards.
Leftwich hurt his left shin on Nov. 2. against Akron, he showed his toughness as Toledo made good on its promise to blitz him often.
Gardner thought his hit, which came after an interception by Brandon Hefflin, was legal. But it came just after the whistle, prompting a personal-foul penalty and setting off a fight. Marshall lineman Steve Peretta went after Gardner, and Toledo lineman Lantz Jeudy retaliated against Peretta.
Several Toledo players rushed onto the field, and players from both teams exchanged shoves before order was restored. Peretta and Jeudy were ejected.
Gardner compared his hit to that of Tampa Bay's Warren Sapp
on Green Bay tackle Chad Clifton a earlier that year. The hit ended Clifton's season.
"Once the ball is intercepted, anybody is fair game, he said. "If he (Hefflin) breaks loose, Byron Leftwich is the last one there to make the tackle.
Leftwich became the conference's all-time leading passer with 11,654, surpassing the 11,299 yards set by Tim Lester from 1996-99.
Just like 2001, Toledo fell far behind, trailing 14-0 in the first quarter and 28-10 late in the second.
Again, Toledo came back.
The lead changed six times in the second half.
Dawson's 19-yard run set up Brian Jones' 1-yard plunge with 3:35 left in the game, but Jason Robbins missed the extra point wide right, and Toledo led 45-42.
Marshall got the ball back at its 27 with 3:24 left. Toledo missed a chance to ice the win when Keon Jackson dropped a possible interception.
A few plays later, Patrick Body
was called for pass interference with 54 seconds left, giving Marshall a first down at the Rockets 40. On the next play, Leftwich hit Watts at the 10 and he scored untouched.
"It was a great pass. On time. A tight spiral, said Toledo coach Tom Amstutz
. "Byron Leftwich is a real special quarterback.
With no timeouts, Toledo drove to the Marshall 39, but Jones' pass was knocked down in the end zone as time ran out.
External link: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=223410276
closed out his college career by throwing for 249 yards
and four touchdowns as 24th-ranked Marshall captured the GMAC
Bowl with a 38-15 victory over Dave Ragone
and Louisville.
The game was billed as a showdown between Leftwich and Ragone,
two of the nation's best passers. Leftwich, still plagued by
shin problems, had the upper hand with his strong right arm,
despite giving way to backup Stan Hill for one series in the
first half.
Marshall took the lead on an eight-play, 76-yard drive
that Leftwich capped with a nine-yard touchdown pass to Denero
Marriott, who had 10 catches for 137 yards and a pair of scores.
A 24-yard field goal made it 10-0 and a fumble by Louisville
running back Lionel Gates
was recovered by defensive back Yancey
Satterwhite at the Cardinals 24-yard line. Leftwich took
advantage with a nine-yard TD toss to Demetrius Doss to make it
17-0 with just under 10 minutes left before halftime.
Ragone struggled for Louisville, completing 20-of-45
passes for 193 yards, a touchdown and an interception. His lone
TD was an 11-yard pass to Tiger Jones with 13 seconds left.
"It was tough," Ragone said. "Give it to Marshall, they gave us
some different looks. I just wasn't completing the ball like I
wanted to when I had the time."
The Thundering Herd won a bowl game for the fifth straight
season. In 2001, Leftwich threw for 576 yards and four TDs as
Marshall rallied from a 30-point halftime deficit for a 64-61
double-overtime victory over East Carolina in the GMAC Bowl.
The Cardinals cut their deficit to 17-7 on a three-yard TD run
by T.J. Patterson with 5:16 left in the first half. Patterson
had just 19 yards rushing as Louisville managed only 56 on the
ground.
Louisville got the kickoff to open the second half, but a pair
of penalties stalled its drive. Marshall took over at its 46,
and Doss had a 13-yard TD catch after a beautiful 24-yard pass
from Leftwich to Marriott.
The Thundering Herd used a 10-play, 80-yard drive to start the
fourth quarter, taking a 31-7 lead on Marriott's 26-yard TD
reception. Leftwich was 5-of-7 for 63 yards on the drive.
A fumble by Ragone was recovered by Marshall defensive end
Johnathan Goddard
on the Louisville 29. After a
penalty moved Marshall closer, Franklin Wallace scored on a
16-yard run for the Herd's final touchdown.
External link: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/scores102/102352/20021218NCAAFLOUISVILLE0.htm/
.
Marshall University
Marshall University is a coeducational public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, United States founded in 1837, and named after John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States....
in 2002 season in NCAA Division I-A. Marshall won its 5th MAC title in 6 years and its 5th consecutive bowl win.
Schedule
Miami (OH)
While Stan Hill and his Marshall teammates were celebrating a dramatic win, Miami (Ohio) defensive coordinator John Wauford was being led off the field in handcuffs by state police.Moments after Hill scored on a 1-yard run with 5 seconds left for a 36-34 victory Tuesday night, Wauford allegedly shoved a Marshall fan and was arrested.
The fan, Robert A. Flaugher of Pickerington, Ohio
Pickerington, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,792 people, 3,468 households, and 2,687 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,317.4 people per square mile . There were 3,573 housing units at an average density of 480.7 per square mile...
, hit his head on the artificial turf and was taken on a stretcher to a hospital with a concussion, according to a report filed by State Police in Huntington.
Flaugher was in stable condition at St. Mary's Medical Center
St. Mary's Medical Center (Huntington)
St. Mary's Medical Center is a hospital in Huntington, West Virginia, USA. It is the largest medical facility in the tri-state region of West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky. The medical center is the largest private employer in Cabell County with over 2000 employees.-Academics:As a teaching...
, said a nursing supervisor who did not want her name released.
Wauford was charged with battery, a misdemeanor. He was transported to Cabell County Magistrate Court and posted bail. The amount wasn't immediately released.
Miami officials refused to comment on the incident, and did not make players or coaches available to media.
Marshall fans stormed the field after Stan Hill's winning score. Playing in place of the injured Byron Leftwich
Byron Leftwich
Byron Antron Leftwich is an American football quarterback in the National Football League who currently plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars seventh overall in the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Marshall University.Leftwich has also played...
and making his first career start, Hill also threw four touchdown passes.
"One thing we say around here is that we play for championships, and tonight our kids played their hearts out," said Marshall coach Bob Pruett
Bob Pruett
Bob Pruett is best known as the former head football coach of the Marshall University Thundering Herd for nine seasons from 1996 to 2004...
.
Ben Roethlisberger
Ben Roethlisberger
Benjamin Todd "Ben" Roethlisberger , nicknamed Big Ben, is an American football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Steelers in the first round in the 2004 NFL Draft...
twice brought Miami back from double-digit deficits, and Luke Clemens' 17-yard TD run gave the RedHawks a 34-29 lead with 6:33 left.
Leftwich, who hurt his left shin against Akron, did not dress for the game. And that left it up to sophomore quarterback Stan Hill.
Marshall got the ball back for the final time with 1:39 left at its 43.
Hill completed three straight passes, then ran 7 yards to the Miami 16.
After a dropped pass in the end zone by Darius Watts
Darius Watts
Darius Orlando Watts is an arena football offensive specialist for the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League. He was originally drafted by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft.In his career, Watts has also played for the New York Giants...
- who caught three TD passes from Hill - a pair of interference calls against Miami put the ball at the 1, setting up Hill's run.
"It was either throw it away or get it into the end zone, because coach Bob Pruett told me one thing not to do and that was take a sack," Hill said.
Without Leftwich, Marshall managed 400 total yards. The Thundering Herd began the day leading the nation in total offense with 531 yards.
External link: http://www.muredhawks.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111202aaa.html
Toledo
A month's worth of limping on a sore shin didn't deter Byron LeftwichByron Leftwich
Byron Antron Leftwich is an American football quarterback in the National Football League who currently plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars seventh overall in the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Marshall University.Leftwich has also played...
, and neither did getting flattened by Toledo's David Gardner.
Leftwich got up from the third-quarter hit to throw two late touchdowns, including a 40-yarder to Darius Watts
Darius Watts
Darius Orlando Watts is an arena football offensive specialist for the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League. He was originally drafted by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft.In his career, Watts has also played for the New York Giants...
with 49 seconds left, as Marshall beat the Rockets 49-45 in the Mid-American Conference championship game.
Marshall atoned for a loss at Toledo in the 2001 championship game, in which the Rockets overcame a 23-0 deficit to win 41-36.
"Last year, after we lost we all had a sick feeling, Leftwich said. "This year, we couldn't let them come in here and make us feel like that again.
Leftwich completed 32 of 42 passes for 404 yards and four TDs to overshadow the four rushing touchdowns by Toledo redshirt freshman Trinity Dawson, who finished with a career-high 130 yards.
Leftwich hurt his left shin on Nov. 2. against Akron, he showed his toughness as Toledo made good on its promise to blitz him often.
Gardner thought his hit, which came after an interception by Brandon Hefflin, was legal. But it came just after the whistle, prompting a personal-foul penalty and setting off a fight. Marshall lineman Steve Peretta went after Gardner, and Toledo lineman Lantz Jeudy retaliated against Peretta.
Several Toledo players rushed onto the field, and players from both teams exchanged shoves before order was restored. Peretta and Jeudy were ejected.
Gardner compared his hit to that of Tampa Bay's Warren Sapp
Warren Sapp
Warren Carlos Sapp is a retired American football player who played defensive tackle in the National Football League. He played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Oakland Raiders during his 13 year professional career, and college football for the University of Miami Hurricanes. He was then...
on Green Bay tackle Chad Clifton a earlier that year. The hit ended Clifton's season.
"Once the ball is intercepted, anybody is fair game, he said. "If he (Hefflin) breaks loose, Byron Leftwich is the last one there to make the tackle.
Leftwich became the conference's all-time leading passer with 11,654, surpassing the 11,299 yards set by Tim Lester from 1996-99.
Just like 2001, Toledo fell far behind, trailing 14-0 in the first quarter and 28-10 late in the second.
Again, Toledo came back.
The lead changed six times in the second half.
Dawson's 19-yard run set up Brian Jones' 1-yard plunge with 3:35 left in the game, but Jason Robbins missed the extra point wide right, and Toledo led 45-42.
Marshall got the ball back at its 27 with 3:24 left. Toledo missed a chance to ice the win when Keon Jackson dropped a possible interception.
A few plays later, Patrick Body
Patrick Body
Patrick Body is a professional American and Canadian football cornerback and safety free agent. He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2005...
was called for pass interference with 54 seconds left, giving Marshall a first down at the Rockets 40. On the next play, Leftwich hit Watts at the 10 and he scored untouched.
"It was a great pass. On time. A tight spiral, said Toledo coach Tom Amstutz
Tom Amstutz
Tom Amstutz was the head football coach at the University of Toledo. He is one of Toledo's most popular figures, known as 'Toledo Tom.' Amstutz was Toledo's head football coach from 2001 to 2008, and posted a 58-41 record, including a 39-24 record in conference play...
. "Byron Leftwich is a real special quarterback.
With no timeouts, Toledo drove to the Marshall 39, but Jones' pass was knocked down in the end zone as time ran out.
External link: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=223410276
Louisville
Byron LeftwichByron Leftwich
Byron Antron Leftwich is an American football quarterback in the National Football League who currently plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars seventh overall in the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Marshall University.Leftwich has also played...
closed out his college career by throwing for 249 yards
and four touchdowns as 24th-ranked Marshall captured the GMAC
Bowl with a 38-15 victory over Dave Ragone
Dave Ragone
David Patrick Ragone is an American football coach and former professional quarterback. He is currently the wide receivers coach for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League.-Early years:...
and Louisville.
The game was billed as a showdown between Leftwich and Ragone,
two of the nation's best passers. Leftwich, still plagued by
shin problems, had the upper hand with his strong right arm,
despite giving way to backup Stan Hill for one series in the
first half.
Marshall took the lead on an eight-play, 76-yard drive
that Leftwich capped with a nine-yard touchdown pass to Denero
Marriott, who had 10 catches for 137 yards and a pair of scores.
A 24-yard field goal made it 10-0 and a fumble by Louisville
running back Lionel Gates
Lionel Gates
Lionel Theron Gates is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
was recovered by defensive back Yancey
Satterwhite at the Cardinals 24-yard line. Leftwich took
advantage with a nine-yard TD toss to Demetrius Doss to make it
17-0 with just under 10 minutes left before halftime.
Ragone struggled for Louisville, completing 20-of-45
passes for 193 yards, a touchdown and an interception. His lone
TD was an 11-yard pass to Tiger Jones with 13 seconds left.
"It was tough," Ragone said. "Give it to Marshall, they gave us
some different looks. I just wasn't completing the ball like I
wanted to when I had the time."
The Thundering Herd won a bowl game for the fifth straight
season. In 2001, Leftwich threw for 576 yards and four TDs as
Marshall rallied from a 30-point halftime deficit for a 64-61
double-overtime victory over East Carolina in the GMAC Bowl.
The Cardinals cut their deficit to 17-7 on a three-yard TD run
by T.J. Patterson with 5:16 left in the first half. Patterson
had just 19 yards rushing as Louisville managed only 56 on the
ground.
Louisville got the kickoff to open the second half, but a pair
of penalties stalled its drive. Marshall took over at its 46,
and Doss had a 13-yard TD catch after a beautiful 24-yard pass
from Leftwich to Marriott.
The Thundering Herd used a 10-play, 80-yard drive to start the
fourth quarter, taking a 31-7 lead on Marriott's 26-yard TD
reception. Leftwich was 5-of-7 for 63 yards on the drive.
A fumble by Ragone was recovered by Marshall defensive end
Johnathan Goddard
Johnathan Goddard
Jonathan Bruce Goddard was an American defensive end in the National Football League and Arena Football League. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions and also spent time with the Indianapolis Colts and Colorado Crush before his death in a June 2008 motorcycle accident.-Early years:Goddard was born...
on the Louisville 29. After a
penalty moved Marshall closer, Franklin Wallace scored on a
16-yard run for the Herd's final touchdown.
External link: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/scores102/102352/20021218NCAAFLOUISVILLE0.htm/
Team Players drafted in the NFL
The following players were selected in the 2003 NFL Draft2003 NFL Draft
The 2003 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft was held April 26–27, 2003 at the Theatre at...
.
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | Franchise |
| Byron Leftwich Byron Leftwich Byron Antron Leftwich is an American football quarterback in the National Football League who currently plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars seventh overall in the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Marshall University.Leftwich has also played... |
Quarterback | 1 | 7 | Jacksonville Jaguars 2003 Jacksonville Jaguars season The 2003 Jacksonville Jaguars season was the ninth season for the team in the National Football League. The Jaguars failed to improve upon their 6–10 regular season record in 2002 and did not make the playoffs.... |
| Chris Crocker | Defensive Back | 3 | 84 | Cleveland Browns 2003 Cleveland Browns season The 2003 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 51st season with the National Football League.-Schedule:-References:... |
| Steve Sciullo Steve Sciullo Steve William Sciullo is a former American football guard of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He also played for the Philadelphia Eagles before retiring as a member of the Carolina Panthers in 2007. He... |
Guard | 4 | 122 | Indianapolis Colts 2003 Indianapolis Colts season The 2003 Indianapolis Colts season was the 51st season for the team in the National Football League and 20th in Indianapolis.-Roster:-Schedule:- Division standings :... |