Marshall University Marshall Digital Scholar The Parthenon University Archives Fall 12-18-1996 The Parthenon, December 18, 1996 Marshall University Follow this and additional works at: https://mds.marshall.edu/parthenon Recommended Citation Marshall University, "The Parthenon, December 18, 1996" (1996). The Parthenon. 3478. https://mds.marshall.edu/parthenon/3478 This Newspaper is brought to you for free and open access by the University Archives at Marshall Digital Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Parthenon by an authorized administrator of Marshall Digital Scholar. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. SPECIAL ISSUE DEC. 18-20, 1996 Marshall University The official preview issue for the NCAA Division I-AA national championship football game Marshall, Montana to meet by CHRIS JOHNSON sports editor Two familiar faces will be in town once again to battle for supremacy in NCAA Division I-AA football. For the second consecutive year, the Marshall Thundering Herd (14-0) and the Montana Grizzlies (14-0) will play in the I-AA national championship at 2 p.m. Saturday at Marshall Stadium. Marshall has been the No. 1 ranked team in the Sports Network I-AA poll the entire season. Montana is the defending national champion and the top seed in the playoffs. Both teams have cruised through the playoffs with big wins: The Herd defeated play­ off opposition by an average score of 48-9; the Grizzlies won playoff games by an aver­ age score of 54-8. The teams have plenty else 8'en HaN in common. Both head coach­ Marshall tailback Erik Thomas and the Thundering Herd race into their second straight championship game appearance. es, Marshall's Bobby Pruett and Montana's Mick Den­ Herd and 16 Grizzly seniors Despite everything the two as champion before heading to painted a better picture than nehy, are first-year coaches at could be strapping on the pads schools have in common, only the Mid-American Conference have Marshall and Montana their respective alma maters. for the last time. Both teams one team can win Saturday. and Division I-A in 1997. meet in the last game. We are Both teams have at least 10 won outright conference cham­ The Grizzlies are looking to Herd senior cornerback both 14-0. We are the two starters back from last year's pionships: Marshall the Sou­ repeat as champions. The Melvin Cunningham said, "If teams a lot of people picked to game. Both teams have strong thern and Montana the Big Herd is looking to leave the I­ an artist would have painted make it. Unlike the I-A ranks, leadership, as 18 Thundering Sky. AA world in the dust, going out a picture, they couldn't have see REMATCH, page 5 .. .. iiDiiieiiiiic=.:!!!1!!!! 8 !1111-2•01!1, .1.99_ 6_1111111!_ ~- '!- ·- ·~ ._ -~ .'::--~ - ._ ._ ._ -~ .-::..-::::.-~ ·; -~ -~-~ .-:._.:- ~, .';"::• -~=~=-~r-=:-=--a__• _...:::.. Bl Page edited by Car~ie Hoffman Herd vows not et~Own-tffls-ti-me--:----,----._ by DAN LONDEREE he said. staff writer Duncan said the Herd will not have the let down it did Marshall is getting a second last year, and said the Herd is chance. preparing for this game as I ~Dr.,,. ,11 J And this time, the Herd is official business. ~-~vo· not taking Montana lightly. ''We can't stop and celebrate Last year, Marshall's semi­ until the game is over Dec. final game consisted of a road 21," he said. "This time Game facts trip to Lake Charles, La., to there's a business-like atmos­ face top-ranked McNeese St. phere in the locker room." No. 1 Montana (14-0) Senior Defensive lineman Duncan said the defensive at John Duncan said that game plan is to try to keep constant No. 2 Marshall (14-0) gave the Herd false confi­ pressure on Brian Ah Yat, dence. Montana's star quarterback. Time: 2 p.m. Saturday, ' "A lot of people didn't expect "We're not going to blitz Marshall Stadium us to win that game," be said. unless we have to," he said. Last time: Montana 22 "After the McNeese game, ''We're going to put fresh legs ~- ..J _ _.L. ----L •·• Marshall 20 UU\n most oi :,; ;-.! .. - h ,.,1 H--~ .,.,_ "4A-.-.Y. 6 W .) &..,.:,v UL,1, U.:> '-'U championship. We might keep us fresh throughout the Montana Ieaos Trle :St:11 ;ti::, have had a let down." game." (1-0) Coach Bob Pruett said he Duncan said Montana is Broadcast: ESPN thought Montana was one of mainly a passing offenst, and WDGG 93.7 FM the strongest teams last year they run many screen passes WRVC 930AM and deserved more credit for and other patterns. WMUL 88.1 FM last year's win. He said he wants to make "A lot of people didn't give sure to put their quarterback them respect last year," Pru­ on the ground. and they also throw the ball ett said. "They return 19 Pruett said the potent downfield." McCloud said starters from last year's team offense attacks of both teams Montana's quarterback will and they have added some will give defenses trouble. be tough to defend. ot~er excellent players. This "Both defenses have a real­ "He's pretty solid, and they is truly the two best teams ly tough job," Pruett said. say he's broken a lot of the meeting here this weekend." "The more pressure we put on records last year's quarter­ Freshman running back them the better." back set," he said. "He has a Doug Chapman said there is Pruett said last week's quick release. We're going to one simple goal this weekend. passing performance was be­ have to play really well this "The goal is obviously to low par, but senior quarter­ week." win the game," Chapman back Eric Kresser played well Pruett said Ah Yat does said. in other aspects of the game. have decent rushing stats, Bren Hau Tailback Erik Thomas "Eric (Kresser) made two and said the sophomore quar­ Part of the Herd's balanced offensive attack is Rand fresh­ played in last year's champi­ bad decisions last week," terback will leave the protec­ man wide receiver, Randy Moss. onship game, and he is one of Pruett said. "But he ran the tion of his linemen. those seniors this year. He running game well. He had "He does scramble a lot," said he thinks this year's two passes that were off tar­ Pruett said. "He'll come out of offense will be harder to stop. get and had people in his face the pocket, and he has an "Last year the offense was all day." adequate arm." made for the run, and they Pruett said defenses that Montana and Marshall both could key on Chris Parker," play only the Herd's passing have their share of offensive HERD- Thomas said. "This year is game pay a price of allowing weapons, and both have more of a passing game." the running game to take strong defenses. Actually, the stats show over. Marshall has Eric Kresser, With This Coupon Marshall has a balanced at­ Junior linebacker_ Larry Randy Moss, Erik Thomas, tack, with rushing and pas­ McCloud said Montana's run­ Doug Chapman and Tim Mar­ $3. 00 Off Two Adult Dinner Entrees sing yardage close to being ning game is a small part of tin. The defense has Billy equal. its offense and the major task Lyon, John Duncan, B.J. Co­ -1-- n ~ Quarterback Eric Kresser will be defending the passing hen, Jermaine Swafford, Mel­ said the Herd's passing game game.· vin Cunningham, Larry Mc­ Not Valid w1th anv other offer '.'. il will have to return to pre­ "Their running game is Cloud and Scott Smythe. Valid at I luntington Chi Chi's only Northern Iowa form. pretty much like it was last Both teams are undefeated. Expires 1-J 1-97 "We just have to play like year," ~&Cloud said. "They And both are getting ready we've been playing all year," like the short passing game, for the rematch. CONGRATULATIONS Volume 98 • Number 51 The Parthenon, Marshall University's student newspaper, ------ - - is published by students Tuesday through Friday. The editor solely is responsible for news and editorial content. Brian Hofmann ............ ..... .......editor Kerri Barnhart .. ... .. .. .. .managing editor 1[H U_N DER IN' Christy Kniceley . .... ...............news editor Bill Lucas· . .. ..... : . .. ....assistant news editor Chris Johnson . ....... .. .... .......sports editor Carrie Hoffman ...... ................ .life! editor Jon Rogers .. ................. ..photo editor John Floyd .. .. ......... ..........on-line editor ~HE~ Marilyn McClure . .................. .. ....adviser D Pete Ruest .......... ..student advertising manager -- ··· . - Carrie Beckner ..........student advertising manager Doug Jones ..................advertising manager ON A THUNDEROUS SEASON! 311 Smith Hall Huntington, W.Va., 25755 PHOt-.: (newsroom): (304) 696-6696 RETURN ANHEUSER-BUSCH KEGS FOR REFUND. PHONE (advertising): (304) 696-2273 $10 FAX: (304) 696-2519 INTERNET: [email protected] BROUGHT TO YOU BY EAGLE OtSTRIBUTlNG COMPANY http://www.marshall.edu/parthenon/ 140 W. 3RD AVENUE, HUNTINGTON. WV 25701 (304) 522-7371 .... ., YOUR LOCAL KROGER EMPLOYEES ·AND THEIR FAMILIES · ·- coNGRATULATE ' . ONA GREAT . SEASON AND WISH THEM · THE 8.d~/.l- .. IN THE 1-AA . CHAMPIONSHIP GAME ., ,. ., . 4 Dec. 18-20, 1996 EPlft'BBDI Page edited by Dan Londeree Passing game is Grizz~ies' biggest weapon Montana coaches and players say knowing the Herd can be beat at home gives them an edge by CHRIS JOHNSON ing Marshall's imposing de­ through 14 games. sports editor fensive line in check. The Grizzlies are led on "They have some talent up defense by junior linebacker The Montana Grizzlies are front," Pease said. "Billy Lyon Jeff Crebo. Crebo was select­ no strangers to Huntington is one of the best players at ed as the defensive Most and what the fans are like.