G5 NEWS QUICK HIT: MARSHALL DESERVES ACCESS BOWL IF THEY GO UNDEFEATED IN 2014

MARSHALL PLAYERS PUMP  UP THIER HOME CROWD

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The debate about which team from the G5 might  be in line to receive the coveted slot  for one of the new so called Access Bowls has already begun. (for more information on the new Access Bowls click here: Access Bowl ) Under the new College Playoff system, the highest ranked team from the Gang of 5 will be chosen to compete against an as yet named  P5 team in one of the  6 new Access Bowls. The Access Bowls, formerly BCS Bowls under the old BCS system in College Football, are essentially consolation prizes for the best teams that do not qualify for the newly created 4 team playoff.

Buzz about a potential undefeated season for Marshall  has been grown steadily over the past several months.  Marshall , under Head Coach Doc Holiday, has assembled an impressive group of recruits and athletes during Holiday's 5 year tenure with the program. In addition to the players Holiday has attracted, the Herd also have a very favorable schedule this year. In fact fbschedules.com ranks the Herd schedule as  one of the weakest  in College Football this season.(Marshall has the 122 ranked SOS schedule this year out of 128 FBS teams   NCAA SOS RANKINGS )   Marshall's talented team combined with a helpful schedule could provide the Herd with  a  powerful one, two, punch this season.

Given the reality of  Marshall's weak schedule coupled with a talented squad  lends credence to the Thundering Herd being one of the early frontrunners to receive an invite to the Access Bowl this year. This seems especially true if  Marshall manages to go undefeated this year and they are the lone G5 team to do so.

If Marshall does in fact earn a perfect season in 2014, they should have their efforts rewarded with the G5  Access Bowl slot.  Here is why:

First, Marshall's scheduling woes are largely due to factors beyond their control. Louisville for example, their best and most important opponent for  2014, asked to have their game with  the Herd moved to  2016.( it is unclear at this time if the Louisville game will ever take place) In addition to not playing Louisville this year, Marshall has to  compete in  a much weakened Conference USA. Gone from the conference are UCF, ECU,  Tulsa and Houston, teams that would have given Marshall a stronger strength of schedule portfolio.  In the place of these schools are a collection former Sun Belt teams like MTSU, North Texas and WKU to name a few. While the new schools in Conference USA are quality programs, they simply do not carry the same weight  as the majority of the teams that have left Çonference USA over the past two years. Marshall, however should not be penalized for a schedule and collection of teams that they in large part have no control over. 

Second, and perhaps most important,  any FBS team  that finishes the season without a loss should be granted  the best possible reward available.  In this case, the reward should  be an invitation to one of the Access Bowls. Going undefeated in the modern College Football era is extremely difficult to do.  Difficult  because of  the many factors that  conspire against a team to win every single game during the season. Factors  like  injuries, bad calls, bad luck and playing on the road are all considerable obstacles to going undefeated.  If Marshall finishes the regular season with a perfect record   they should be given the Access Bowl slot over a one or two loss team from another G5 program.


Finally, there is precedence in College Football, especially among  non BCS, or non P5 programs, to give the undefeated team the best bowl game  available. This certainly was the case in 2004 and 2008 when  Utah went undefeated and in 2009 when Boise State went undefeated. Both Utah and Boise State were picked to play in BCS Bowl games  for each of the years their respective teams were perfect.

If Marshall hopes to go undefeated this season they will need for many pieces of the football pie to fall in place, including some good old fashioned luck.  With a favorable  schedule and some very good football players assembled in  Huntington, don't be surprised if the Thundering Herd make program history and claim a perfect FBS season. An undefeated campaign is enough to warrant big rewards for the program, the players, and the school leadership. A reward that should come in the form of an Access Bowl slot if Marshall manages to be  flawless this year. And if you really want to dream big, how about an undefeated Marshall qualifying for one of the four playoff spots this year. Why not?  Stay tuned