The sequel is never quite as good as the original, and Marshall found that out the hard way this year.
In 2022, the Thundering Herd went 9–4 in coach Charles Huff's first season. They also beat Notre Dame, won a bowl game and spent parts of the season within shouting distance of the AP Top 25.
In 2023, Marshall slumped to 6–6 and will back into a Frisco Bowl matchup against UTSA, the loser of six of its last eight games.
On Wednesday, the ennui of Huff's sophomore slump was ratcheted up by one of the bluntest quotes of the 2023 season. Huff was asked by Cassidy Wood of WOWK-TV in Huntington, W.V. about quarterback Cam Fancher entering the transfer portal.
"There isn’t a lot of money for NIL and the fans hate him," Huff said. "The kid has been miserable."
Talked to Coach Huff.
— Cassidy Wood (@CassidyWoodTV) December 6, 2023
He says this one doesn’t come as a surprise - “there isn’t a lot of money for NIL and the fans hate him. The kid has been miserable.” @WOWK13News https://t.co/TRHrGvTywm
Huff, per Wood, expressed that Fancher's entry into the portal came as no surprise.
Fancher struggled in 2023, throwing 11 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Still, he steered the Thundering Herd to several victories, and Huff's comments on both Fancher and Marshall's traditionally devoted fanbase bear monitoring in the future.
