The funny thing is, I contributed to the preseason magazine that gives Marshall the least respect.
I plead innocent. I declared that Marshall had the talent to go 6-2 or 7-1 in Conference USA play. I meant it.
But on the top right-hand corner of that page is what Lindy's truly thinks of the Thundering Herd - "Ranking 90."
NINETY?
The magazine picks Marshall third in the East Division of C-USA, a popular placing that league media followed. Argue as you will, but Middle Tennessee should be uber-potent offensively and Western Kentucky has weapons back after a special season.
Remember, Marshall finished third last year if you factor in a tiebreaker loss to MTSU. It's all good motivation material for an MU program that grew to like playing the first weekend of December in the league championship game.
But Lindy's threw a real whopper in its 1-through-128 ranking. Some of you have seen this on my blog - the Herd was rated behind three C-USA teams, eight from the American Athletic Conference, five from the Mid-American, seven from the Mountain West and three from the Sun Belt.
That's 26 teams among the "Group of 5" conferences.
That's disrespect on a grand scale.
On the other hand, Phil Steele and USA Today pick the Herd to win the division, with the latter ranking the Herd 33rd overall. That's respect.
When the Herd begins its preseason camp Monday, it's time to set the mags aside and start watching for real. But there's one message you should take away from the annual summer exercise.
With 33 days from the opening whistle until the season starts, it's tough to pin this Herd team down. The long, difficult process of doing so begins Monday morning at 9:45, with the first of four days of split-squad practices. The afternoon shift begins at 3:45.
One shift is heavy on newcomers and the other loaded with veterans, but there's nothing set in stone. As far as the newcomers are concerned, there are several issues to settle, such as:
n Is 240-pound running back Anthony Anderson all that?
The Herd plans to re-emphasize the running game, perhaps bumping the run-pass ratio (counting sacks as pass calls) more toward the 52-48 of the 2014 season and away from the 49-51 of 2015.
With Michael Selby and Clint Van Horn on the right side, this Herd team is going to run well. A thunder/lightning combo of Anderson and Hyleck Foster (and others) would thrive.
n Which newcomer can immediately jump into the wide receiver derby?
We know 2015 nonqualifier Leron Carn is in the fold, and he has the "measurables" to make a serious run on the outside. The question with these guys is always: immediate impact, mid-season riser or wait 'til next year?
Let's see who turns up Monday as eligible. I just want to see Willie Johnson and his 4.31 speed run.
n Is Channing Hames all that at defensive tackle?
The move of Malik Thompson to the offensive line might be a hint.
n Who are all those cornerbacks?
We know Chris Jackson, who finished high school a semester early and had a tremendous spring. Now, it's time to get acquainted with Tramell Carey, Sir Patrick Scott and Jaylon Sapp (if eligible), plus returnees T.J. Griffin, Michael Johnson, Deiondre Coleman, Chocolate Wilson and anybody else I may have left out.
And don't forget Terry Richardson, the statless X-factor of a graduate transfer from Michigan.
n How do you get enough QB reps for Chase Litton and three true freshmen?
Xavier Gaines, Garret Morrell and Jackson White need all they can get, but they'll reap the benefits of MU's split-squad format. These four days - two in helmets and shorts, two in shoulder pads - are pretty important for these guys.
And finally ...
n Grayson Pontius, meet collegiate goalposts. Can you split them?
A short list of questions about the veterans:
n On the line, how healthy is left guard Jordan Dowrey and guard-turned-center Nate Devers, and how well will Devers operate the line and mesh with Litton?
A positive answer will go a long way in determining how potent this Herd offensive can be.
n Ryan Yurachek and Emanuel Byrd could be the best tight end duo since ...
If they can combine for, say, 15 or more touchdown receptions, I'll revisit that one. In any event, it will be fun to see how they're used.
n Marshall has a solid stable of linebackers, again. Who plays on what unit, and where?
That was not a concern in the spring, as Adam Fuller's unit went every which way. Shawn Petty, Frankie Hernandez, Davon Durant, Chase Hancock and Devontre'a Tyler are your top candidates, with freshman Jaquan Yulee possibly crashing the party. Raheem Huskey has been booted from the program.
If you think you know now how this shapes up for the Sept. 10 opener against Morgan State, you'll be wrong.
n How much more control of the offense will coordinator Bill Legg give Litton in his second season?
If Rakeem Cato's career provides a parallel, quite a bit.
Answers to these and many other questions will start to be revealed Monday. All I know: This will not be a dull season.