– By Bill Cornwell
HUNTINGTON, W.Virginia — A visit to Huntington by Virginia Tech and road trips to the states of North Carolina and East Carolina underscore the non-conference portion of Marshall’s 2023 football plan, released on the clear Friday by the Sun Belt Conference for all of its members.
“We’re excited as we prepare for the opportunity to play all of our opponents next season, and we’ll need everyone with us on this journey,” said Marshall head coach Charles Huff. “This is the toughest schedule Marshall has had in a long time so Herd Nation we’re going to need you. Everyone will have to play their part in order for us to achieve our goals.”
Marshall opens the 2023 season on September 2 at home against FCS opponent Albany. The Herd was originally scheduled to play Central Connecticut in the opener, but that game was bought out by Central Connecticut, who replaced the marshal with one at Kent State.
Half of the Herd’s home game schedule is played in September, highlighted by a September 23 visit from the Hokies.
Next week Marshall will host Old Dominion in the Herd’s Sun Belt Opener. Marshall’s lone road game in opening month will be held in East Carolina on September 9th during week 2. What follows is the herd’s only bye week of the season.
Marshall will be spending a lot of time playing games at North Carolina State, Georgia State and Coastal Carolina in October. The herd’s only home game of October comes against James Madison on Thursday, October 19, a game likely to be nationally televised.
The November schedule is balanced with two home games and two away games. Away games are taking place in Appalachian State and South Alabama, while Georgia Southern and Arkansas State are visiting Joan C. Edwards Stadium this month.
The Georgia Southern game, scheduled for November 11, will be the contest to commemorate the 75 victims of the 1970 Marshall Football plane crash.
“How we manage this schedule will greatly affect the outcome of all our games,” Huff said. “Together with our administration, we need to look at the best roadmap for this schedule to see the expected success.”
Marshall athletic director Christian Spears is urging Herd fans to get involved with their team both at home and on the go.
“We’re excited to host six home games, including a legendary Power Five opponent at Joan C. Edwards Stadium,” Spears said. “We will absolutely need every single Marshall fan to find our way to the Joan.
“One of the biggest factors in this championship equation is our massive fan base. We need our fans there for that.”
Marshall came off a 9-4 season in which the Thundering Herd won five games to end the 2022 season, including a win at the Myrtle Beach Bowl over Connecticut.
Huff’s team opens spring practice on March 27 and will conclude spring practice with a green-and-white practice on April 22 at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
MARSHALL 2023 SOCCER SCHEDULE
9/2 – Albania
9/9 – in East Carolina
September 23 — Virginia Tech
September 30 – Old Reign*
10/7 – in NC state
14.10. — in the state of Georgia*
10/19 — James Madison*
28.10. — on the Carolina coast*
4.11. — in app status*
11/11 — South Georgia*
18.11. – in South Alabama*
25.11 — State of Arkansas*
*denotes Sun Belt Conference game