RedHawk talk already starting

DAILY MAIL SPORTSWRITER

HUNTINGTON - Gentlemen, start your Marshall-Miami rhetoric.

In what promises to be the most discussed, most controversial,most trash-talking game of the Mid-American Conference season, MUrunning back Butchie Wallace grabbed the early lead.

When Wallace was asked if Marshall's 374 yards rushing inSaturday's 42-24 win here over Akron would give the RedHawkssomething else to look at during preparation for the Nov. 12 matchupat 8 p.m. in Oxford, Ohio, the senior didn't mince words.

"I don't think it matters how they look at the game," saidWallace. "We're going to go down there and focus. We're going to godown there with a business attitude and take care of business.

"So, it doesn't matter how they view the game. They can view whatthey want to view. They can say, 'Oh, Marshall is a running team. Oh,they're going to pass the ball.' It doesn't matter.

"If we do what we're supposed to do, Miami is going to get beat.I'm sure they don't think that. But it's not their fault they don'tknow. But we'll prove it to them.

"We'll prove it to everybody."

Wallace 1, RedHawks 0.

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MARSHALL COACH Bobby Pruett had a special glow on his face.

"I am pleased with every phase of the game," he said Saturday.

That's because Marshall's much-maligned special teams finally puttogether a special effort. The punt team, for example, held Akronstar returner Matt Cherry to only three yards in three returns. Thatgave MU a 38.4-yard net punting average which was an amazing 11 yardshigher than the NCAA-worst average of 27.4 yards it had coming intothe game.

Punter Klint Rose also showed improvement, averaging 40.0 yards.That, too, was better than MU's last in the MAC average of 35.4yards.

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SPEAKING OF rhetoric, MU rover Gladstone Coke said it played arole in the Marshall defensive front's superb performance.

"They (Akron) kind of called the front out before the game," saidCoke, "saying we've got no front and the linebackers can't blitz andthe D-line can't put any pressure.

"Some of the guys said they called us out on the front line. So,the front guys kind of came in motivated to make plays. And they didtheir jobs. They put on a lot of pressure and gave us an opportunityto make plays in the backfield."

As a result, MU's defensive front shut down the Akron ground game,holding it to only 141 yards in 29 carries, and harassed Zipquarterback Charlie Frye consistently.

"The D-line was motivated after they called them out," said Coke."They thrived on that."

Coke also believes MU's front played a large role in his twointerceptions.

"The pressure played a big part in getting the picks tonight,"said Coke, who leads the team with three interceptions. "The pressurefrom the front and linebackers made Frye unstable. You have to gethim out of his comfort zone. If he gets comfortable, he can pick youapart.

"He's a great quarterback. I have to give him that."