— By Bill Cornwell
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Marshall football coach Charles Huff says he, his staff and Herd players are fully focused on preparing for UTSA and the upcoming Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl following a week in which Huff was criticized for comments regarding former Herd starting quarterback Cam Fancher.
After Fancher entered the transfer portal last week, Huff offered comment to a Huntington TV station, saying he wasn’t surprised by the decision because “there isn’t a lot of money for (name, image and likeness) and the fans hate him. The kid has been miserable.”
The comments immediately drew criticism from Fancher’s mother and many Marshall fans.
“First, in all sincerity, I want to apologize for my remarks being misinterpreted last week,” Huff said. “I was asked a question by a reporter and I inserted my opinion over facts about a situation, which ultimately created a little bit of a sandstorm. It was truly based on my opinion of a small minority of fans and I actually generalized the entire fan base. That was wrong. I take full responsibility for that. It was not my intent.”
Huff, Marshall’s third-year head coach, went on to say that he’s grateful for the fan base, even though some take their criticisms of the football program a bit far.
“I was not speaking of the overwhelming majority of fans who do support, who do donate, who do cheer, who do get frustrated when we don’t win, but encourage our players also and continue to support in a positive manner,” Huff said. “I was speaking more out of frustration towards a small minority of fans. I love those fans, too, but it’s difficult for me to see them attack our players.”
Huff also apologized to Fancher.
“I never intended, never stated, that Cam Fancher said any of those things,” Huff said. “That’s not what I was trying to say. Cam Fancher did not say he hates the fans. Cam Fancher did not say he left because of the fans. It was my personal opinion over what I was seeing, hearing, reading for an entire year. That’s all it was. Cam Fancher has done nothing but show up every day, bust his tail, play injured, play hurt, battle his way through, play well, improve.”
Fancher’s departure means redshirt freshman Cole Pennington will start at quarterback for Marshall Tuesday night against UTSA in Frisco, Texas.
Pennington started two games during the regular season due to injuries to Fancher.
As for pre-bowl preparations, Huff says his team has been all business.
“The players came back really excited and energized,” Huff said. “We’ve told the guys that we need to win the game in Huntington and that means film study and good practice reps, because when we get to the bowl, practices and meetings are shorter, so we’re treating this week’s practice as if we are playing on Saturday.”
Marshall (6-6, 3-5) avoids a losing season if it can knock off the Roadrunners, while UTSA (8-4, 7-1) is looking for its first bowl victory in school history as it is winless in four previous appearances.
The Herd departs from Tri-State Airport on Friday to continue bowl preparations.
End of the road for Ali
Marshall junior running back Rasheen Ali has accepted an invitation to play in the upcoming East-West Shrine Bowl, meaning next week’s Frisco Bowl will be his final game at Marshall.
The East-West Shrine Bowl will be played February 1 at 8 p.m. at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. The Ford Center is the practice home of the Dallas Cowboys.
Ali finished with 1,043 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns this season, adding 28 receptions for 213 yards and a touchdown.
In 33 career games at Marshall, Ali has rushed for 2,739 yards and 38 touchdowns while adding 75 receptions for 557 yards and three touchdowns.
Ali was a second-team All-Sun Belt Conference pick this year.