2003 Marshall Thundering Herd football team
Encyclopedia
The 2003 Marshall Thundering Herd football team represented Marshall University
in 2003 season in NCAA Division I-A. Marshall did not make a bowl for the first time since 1997. The Thundering Herd's huge upset against 6th ranked Kansas State
highlighted the 2003 season
Marshall's Butchie Wallace rambles 45 yards in the first quarter.
"Nobody can ever take this away from me -- the No. 6 team in the nation," Gochneaur said after throwing two touchdown passes in a 27-20 upset of Kansas State (No. 6 ESPN/USA Today, No. 6 AP).
But Gochneaur, who threw the winning 3-yard touchdown pass to Jason Rader
and added a 2-point conversion with just over 3 minutes left, had plenty of help from his teammates.
The Thundering Herd, known more for passing than for running or defense, rushed for 210 yards, forced four turnovers and made two goal-line stands in breaking Kansas State's 41-game home nonconference winning streak.
Gochneaur, making his second start in relief of the injured Stan Hill, was 16-for-24 for 106 yards with one interception.
Kansas State's Jeff Schwinn, another backup making his second start, was 14-for-26 for 241 yards, but also fumbled twice and threw an interception.
Hill has a sprained left knee, and Kansas State quarterback Ell Roberson
has an injured left wrist. Roberson could have played, coach Bill Snyder
said, but the Wildcats did not want to risk him in a nonconference game.
Kansas State had one last chance to force overtime, when Schwinn's 33-yard pass to Darren Sproles
gave the Wildcats a first down at the Marshall 3 with 25 seconds left. The Wildcats were unable to get past the 2, though, and Schwinn's throw to Davin Dennis fell incomplete in the end zone as time ran out.
The Thundering Herd got 112 yards rushing from Franklin Wallace and another 83 from Earl Charles.
"I think they underestimated us, but we didn't have any doubt," Wallace said. "You can't just throw the ball and not run it."
And after giving up an average of almost 203 yards rushing in their first three games, the Herd held the Wildcats to 127 yards.
They also held Sproles—who was averaging almost 120 yards on the ground—to 77 yards on 14 carries and stuffed Schwinn on fourth-and-2 from the 3 on Kansas State's first drive of the second half.
Schwinn had 21 carries—far more than he or Snyder had envisioned—for 32 yards.
Sproles scored on a 12-yard run with 8:22 left to put Kansas State up 20-19, after Marshall punter Klint Rose muffed a snap and Kevin Huntley recovered at the Herd 44.
But Chris Royal returned the kickoff 31 yards to the Marshall 40. Ten plays later, Gochneaur threw the winner to Rader and added a 2-point conversion pass to Josh Davis
.
Kansas State's last drive came after Marshall's Nick Kelly missed a 45-yard field-goal attempt with 1:27 to go.
Schwinn ran for a 1-yard touchdown that put Kansas State up 7-0—but undid his early success with fumbles that led to two TDs by the Thundering Herd.
Bobby Jordan intercepted Gochneaur's pass on the first play after Schwinn's TD keeper, and Schwinn's 22-yard pass to Jermaine Moreira gave the Wildcats first-and-goal at the 10.
But on second-and-goal from the 9, Schwinn pitched the ball straight to defensive end Johnathan Goddard
, who returned it 84 yards for a 7-7 tie.
"It's heartbreaking," Kansas State center Nick Leckey
said. "It's just so frustrating, because you're right there -- and then mistakes happen."
After Joe Rheem's 42-yard field goal put Kansas State up 10-7, Schwinn fumbled as he was sacked by Jamus Martin. Reggie Hayes recovered at the Marshall 45, and the Herd converted with Gochneaur's 9-yard TD pass to Darius Watts
for a 13-10 lead.
After Ben Lewis missed the conversion, Martin recovered Meier's fumble at Kansas State 40 and Kelly's field goal put Marshall up 16-10 at the half.
External link: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=232632306
.
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 2003 season in NCAA Division I-A. Marshall did not make a bowl for the first time since 1997. The Thundering Herd's huge upset against 6th ranked Kansas State
2003 Kansas State Wildcats football team
The 2003 Kansas State Wildcats football team represented Kansas State University in the college football season of 2003-2004. The team's head football coach was Bill Snyder. The Wildcats played their home games in KSU Stadium. The team finished the season with a win-loss record of 11 and 4, and a...
highlighted the 2003 season
Schedule
Kansas State
Graham Gochneaur won a matchup of backup quarterbacks to give Marshall its first victory over a ranked BCS opponent.Marshall's Butchie Wallace rambles 45 yards in the first quarter.
"Nobody can ever take this away from me -- the No. 6 team in the nation," Gochneaur said after throwing two touchdown passes in a 27-20 upset of Kansas State (No. 6 ESPN/USA Today, No. 6 AP).
But Gochneaur, who threw the winning 3-yard touchdown pass to Jason Rader
Jason Rader
Jason Rader is an American football tight end who is currently a member of the Atlanta Falcons. He was signed by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2004. He played college football at Marshall....
and added a 2-point conversion with just over 3 minutes left, had plenty of help from his teammates.
The Thundering Herd, known more for passing than for running or defense, rushed for 210 yards, forced four turnovers and made two goal-line stands in breaking Kansas State's 41-game home nonconference winning streak.
Gochneaur, making his second start in relief of the injured Stan Hill, was 16-for-24 for 106 yards with one interception.
Kansas State's Jeff Schwinn, another backup making his second start, was 14-for-26 for 241 yards, but also fumbled twice and threw an interception.
Hill has a sprained left knee, and Kansas State quarterback Ell Roberson
Ell Roberson
Ell Roberson III is a former quarterback for the Kansas State Wildcats from 1999-2003. During his senior year, he was 6'1" tall and weighed 209 pounds...
has an injured left wrist. Roberson could have played, coach Bill Snyder
Bill Snyder
Bill Snyder is the head football coach at Kansas State University. He was rehired to the position on November 24, 2008, making Snyder one of the rare college football head coaches to have non-consecutive tenure at the same school. Snyder previously served as head coach at the school from 1989 to...
said, but the Wildcats did not want to risk him in a nonconference game.
Kansas State had one last chance to force overtime, when Schwinn's 33-yard pass to Darren Sproles
Darren Sproles
Darren Lee Sproles is an American football running back of the NFL who plays for the New Orleans Saints. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
gave the Wildcats a first down at the Marshall 3 with 25 seconds left. The Wildcats were unable to get past the 2, though, and Schwinn's throw to Davin Dennis fell incomplete in the end zone as time ran out.
The Thundering Herd got 112 yards rushing from Franklin Wallace and another 83 from Earl Charles.
"I think they underestimated us, but we didn't have any doubt," Wallace said. "You can't just throw the ball and not run it."
And after giving up an average of almost 203 yards rushing in their first three games, the Herd held the Wildcats to 127 yards.
They also held Sproles—who was averaging almost 120 yards on the ground—to 77 yards on 14 carries and stuffed Schwinn on fourth-and-2 from the 3 on Kansas State's first drive of the second half.
Schwinn had 21 carries—far more than he or Snyder had envisioned—for 32 yards.
Sproles scored on a 12-yard run with 8:22 left to put Kansas State up 20-19, after Marshall punter Klint Rose muffed a snap and Kevin Huntley recovered at the Herd 44.
But Chris Royal returned the kickoff 31 yards to the Marshall 40. Ten plays later, Gochneaur threw the winner to Rader and added a 2-point conversion pass to Josh Davis
Josh Davis (American football)
Josh Davis is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football at Marshall....
.
Kansas State's last drive came after Marshall's Nick Kelly missed a 45-yard field-goal attempt with 1:27 to go.
Schwinn ran for a 1-yard touchdown that put Kansas State up 7-0—but undid his early success with fumbles that led to two TDs by the Thundering Herd.
Bobby Jordan intercepted Gochneaur's pass on the first play after Schwinn's TD keeper, and Schwinn's 22-yard pass to Jermaine Moreira gave the Wildcats first-and-goal at the 10.
But on second-and-goal from the 9, Schwinn pitched the ball straight to 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...
, who returned it 84 yards for a 7-7 tie.
"It's heartbreaking," Kansas State center Nick Leckey
Nick Leckey
Nicholas Nathan Leckey is a free agent American football center in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the sixth round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Kansas State University.Leckey has played for the New Orleans Saints, St...
said. "It's just so frustrating, because you're right there -- and then mistakes happen."
After Joe Rheem's 42-yard field goal put Kansas State up 10-7, Schwinn fumbled as he was sacked by Jamus Martin. Reggie Hayes recovered at the Marshall 45, and the Herd converted with Gochneaur's 9-yard TD pass 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...
for a 13-10 lead.
After Ben Lewis missed the conversion, Martin recovered Meier's fumble at Kansas State 40 and Kelly's field goal put Marshall up 16-10 at the half.
External link: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=232632306
Team Players drafted in the NFL
The following players were selected in the 2004 NFL Draft2004 NFL Draft
The 2004 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24-25, 2004 at the theater at Madison Square Garden...
.
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | Franchise |
| 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... |
Wide Receiver | 2 | 54 | Denver Broncos 2004 Denver Broncos season The 2004 Denver Broncos season was the team's 45th year in professional football and its 35th with the National Football League.-Staff:-Schedule:-Playoffs:-References:* *... |