BREAKING NEWS: Marshall Fires Mark Snyder

Marshall has fired coach Mark Snyder, a person close to the situation told ESPN’s Joe Schad on Sunday. An announcement was expected later in the day, the source said. The Thundering Herd dropped to 6-6 overall, 4-4 in Conference-USA with a 52-21 loss Saturday to UTEP. – ESPN.com

Marshall set to fire Mark Snyder?

No word was available on the status of embattled Herd coach Mark Snyder late Saturday, but it was widely expected he had coached his last game at Marshall. An announcement is expected today. Snyder’s five-year record with the Thundering Herd falls to 22-37 and the program failed to wrap up its first winning season since 2003. – Gazette-Mail

Mark Snyder’s fate likely sealed at Marshall

The losing coach, a terrific person, felt his seat get hotter. There’s one large difference between those Mountain State coaches, though. WVU’s Bill Stewart will probably keep his job another season. Mark Snyder’s tenure as Thundering Herd coach probably went south when, on fourth-and-15 at game’s end, his quarterback, Brian Anderson, was chased, cut loose of a pass and watched Southern Miss safety Justin Wilson intercept the ball. Snyder’s team is 5-5. His overall record is 21-36. He’s almost through his fifth season. And last, it seems, at his alma mater. Call Saturday’s loss what you will in regard to the coach. The last straw. The final nail. It was also, though, an opportunity. It was an opportunity to keep MU afloat in the C-USA East Division. It was an opportunity to redeem after an awful loss to Central Florida. It was an opportunity, perhaps, to save a job. The opportunities, though, along with the game and, more importantly, the fans, are lost. If Snyder keeps his job now, it will be an upset like that of Appalachian State over Michigan in 2007. – Charleston Gazette

Marshall’s Mark Snyder gets a reprieve

When Bowling Green receiver Freddie Barnes made his only drop of the game to preserve Marshall’s 17-10 non-conference win Saturday night, Thundering Herd coach Mark Snyder put his hands on his head along the sideline. It would have made a wonderful portrait entitled “Relief.” The game was over. His tenure as coach continues. Call the victory what you want: an injunction, a bandage or a stay of execution. But the call from the governor came through in the form of Brian Anderson rolling right and hitting Antavious Wilson for a touchdown. It came in the form of Darius Marshall dashing 80 yards down the sideline for a score. It came in the form of a defense that cut Bowling Green’s average offensive output in half. “I’ve not coached that hard in four years,” said an exhausted Snyder as he made his way to his office. “I have no voice.” The man is giving his all. Because he has to. The MU natives are restless. And if the 3-point spot Bowling Green was giving Marshall at Joan C. Edwards Stadium wasn’t an accurate measure of the team’s strength, it was an indicator of how desperate times had become. – Gazette-Mail

Rapid Fire: Focus on Marshall and Clemson

“Rapid Fire” at Football Rumor Mill focuses on multiple coaches around the country who are in serious jeopardy. The latest edition centers on Marshall and Clemson…

Marshall

Saturday, I saw Snyder on a rerun local TV clip talking about the Edwards Stadium “White Out” for Cincinnati’s visit that turned ugly. Now, it’s a “Green Out” against the Cougars? Snyder needs to worry that it isn’t a Wipe Out - because if it is, he may be on the way to a Wash Out. He needs to forget about what goes on in the seats. Win, and you sell tickets. Marshall (3-4, 2-1) has more than given back what it gained with its 2-0 Conference USA divisional start, but what roils the Herdheads who are increasingly hounding Snyder is this: The program just hasn’t improved - or at least shown it - for whatever reason. And the buck stops with the head coach, whether he’s named Stagg, Saban, Schwartzalder or Snyder… If the Herd doesn’t get at least two more to finish 5-7, Snyder might be a former coach at his alma mater. My preseason crystal ball had MU at 6-6, but I always thought that Snyder could hang on at 5-7 because it would be an improvement from last season’s 3-9 finish. Now, the noise is so loud, I’m not sure. The rumors are ugly … Athletic Director Bob Marcum will be booted if he doesn’t can Snyder, 43. High rollers will roll over President Steve Kopp to get a new coach. Jim Donnan is waiting in the wings to return. – Daily Mail

Clemson

By the end of this month, Clemson fans curious about their program’s direction should spout those same words, with a twist: “Are you better off than you were four games ago?” Your answer might decide Dabo Swinney’s future. After a much-hyped debut and a week off, the Tigers’ popular interim coach embarks on a four-game stretch which will largely determine whether he will be packing his bags or getting comfortable in Tommy Bowden’s old office come Dec. 1. – Independent Mail

Rapid Fire: Focus on Fulmer, Snyder & Stewart

“Rapid Fire” at Football Rumor Mill focuses on multiple coaches around the country who are in serious jeopardy. The latest edition centers on no less than four jobs…

Tennessee
Lighten up? During Tennessee week? Why was this man smiling? That’s easy. He gets to face Phillip Fulmer again. That would put a grin on the Grinch. Saban has made a living beating a lot of coaches - and helped cost a few their livelihoods; see Tommy Bowden - but he’s been especially hard on Fulmer. It’s not just that Saban is 3-1 against Fulmer. Or that Saban’s teams have scored 38, 18, 31 and 41 points against Fulmer’s teams. The worst thing Saban ever did to Fulmer was coach LSU, behind a backup quarterback, past Tennessee in the 2001 SEC Championship Game. The Vols were No. 2 in the nation entering that game and up by a point starting the fourth quarter… Could Saban, who started Fulmer’s slow decline, help finish him off Saturday night in Neyland Stadium?… Fulmer, who’s built a nice career obsessing over and taking down Alabama, has bigger issues than Saban. Last week, the Knoxville News-Sentinel wrote, Tennessee AD Mike Hamilton “confirmed that some boosters have discussed Fulmer’s possible replacement, but said those conversations have been limited.” Hamilton also told the paper that Tennessee has a $7 million reserve to cover unexpected expenses, like buying out the football staff, if necessary. – Birmingham News

Marshall
The truth of the matter is Snyder’s buyout is downright economical. According to his contract, if Marshall were to dismiss Snyder he would be paid his base salary of $149,968 multiplied by the number of years remaining on his pact which extends through 2013. Do the math. If Snyder were relieved of his duties after this season with four years remaining on his contract, his buyout would be $599,872. The only aspect that could alter the sum is if it were pro-rated to the end of the fiscal year. However, just because I’m revealing this fact doesn’t mean I’m advocating Snyder’s dismissal. I’m not. It’s much too early to even consider that. I am unequivocally opposed to such mid-season moves. My stance all along has been Marshall needs to win six games and reach post-season. If the Herd falls short and suffers a fourth consecutive losing season, then I believe the direction of the program should be re-evaluated. – Herald-Dispatch

West Virginia
Speaking of buyouts, dissident WVU fans had better get used to first-year head coach Bill Stewart. If the Mountaineers wanted to dismiss Stewart after this season, WVU would have to ante up a $4.4 million buyout. He’s not going anywhere. – Herald-Dispatch

The Firing Line: Focus on Herd Coach Mark Snyder

“The Firing Line” at Football Rumor Mill focuses on coaches around the country who are in serious jeopardy. The latest edition centers on Marshall Coach Mark Snyder…

Even after one of the most disappointing defeats in his four-season tenure, Marshall football Coach Mark Snyder has no reason to concern himself with the possibility of a midseason firing. How can he be so worry-free? His boss says so. Reached on his cell phone Sunday night, MU Athletic Director Bob Marcum said he and President Stephen Kopp are behind Snyder. “I certainly support him,” Marcum said. “And I know the president does, too. We support our coaches and we support our players.” Marcum’s comments came one day after Snyder’s team relinquished a 14-2 lead in a 23-21 loss to Conference USA cellar-dweller UAB, a three-point underdog that entered its homecoming game with a 1-6 overall record, 0-3 league mark and three-game losing streak. The Thundering Herd dropped to 3-4, 2-1. Marshall, however, still is tied with East Carolina atop the East Division standings despite its third consecutive loss, all of which have been rather embarrassing efforts. – Daily Mail

A month ago, the Herd beat Southern Mississippi on the road and looked like a lead-pipe cinch to land a bowl berth. If Snyder and company pull that off now, I’ll mow the coach’s grass during his next summer vacation. It’s more likely this team will finish 3-9, maybe 4-8. Since peaking in Hattiesburg, it has often looked uninspired and inattentive to detail. – Charleston Gazette