HUNTINGTON - It didn't take long to gauge the mood of the Marshall faithful.
On homecoming at Joan C. Edwards Stadium, boos cascaded down to the field when the visiting Florida Atlantic team ripped off a touchdown just four plays into the game.
Seventy-five yards, it was, just like that.
Then the first half likewise ended in boos when MU coach Doc Holliday ordered a knee with the Thundering Herd down 21-16.
Holliday, though, was able to finally exhale in relief when his team held on a FAU fourth-and-3 situation to secure a 27-21 Conference USA victory.
"It was great to see the guys smile in the locker room afterward," Holliday said. "It's been a long time."
There wasn't much reason to smile beforehand. The Thundering Herd had to win on Saturday just to reach 2-4.
And when you looked at the MU stats, you had to scratch the noggin. Holliday had this Marshall program humming. But then it gave up 65 points to Akron? The same Zips team that lost 41-0 to Western Michigan on Saturday?
And lordy, did you see the defensive numbers heading into the game? MU was No. 97 nationally in third-down-conversion defense. It was No. 80 in first-down defense. In scoring defense it was No. 124. There are only 128 FBS teams, folks.
On and on one could go. In pass-efficiency defense it was No. 123. In passing yards allowed, it was No. 116. And in total defense, it was No. 119, allowing an average of 485.2 yards.
No one around the program could question defensive coordinator Chuck Heater. He's been lauded by the likes of Ohio State coach Urban Meyer. Also, Marshall's scoring defenses of late have been terrific. Over the last few years it went from being ranked No. 31 to 18 to 10 in 2015.
Surely, no one was chirping on Holliday either, considering the job he's done.
But, yes, the venting toward this edition of the Herd is understandable. Finally, the MU defense held down Florida Atlantic in the second half on Saturday. Yet, still, it allowed 456 yards.
Let's face it, all is not completely right in the Land of Doc. What happened Saturday was not inspiring. The Herd still looks shaky.
At least, however, the team won. At least it improved to 1-1 in conference play. With another half of ball remaining, there's at least the proverbial glimmer of hope.
Understand, folks, Marshall was on the edge of losing even more butts in the seats. There were only 22,839 there on Saturday and I'm sure more were ready to bail with another loss.
But the youthful Herd did enough on this night.
"I'm proud of the kids, the way they continued to fight," Holliday said. "The important thing is they found a way to win."
Now the task is to build off that win. Saturday's game was certainly no masterpiece. It won't be something anyone will lock up in their memory bank.
Yet there were no Florida Atlantic scores in the second half. Quarterback Chase Litton did rally the Thundering Herd to the game-winning score.
"Some guys made some plays when they had to," Holliday said.
The deal, though, is they'll have to make more from here on if Marshall's recent impressive success is to continue.
Note, by the way, Holliday isn't using the "we're young" excuse, even though there's much youth on the MU team. That's admirable. He feels Marshall is to the point where it is reloading, not rebuilding in Huntington.
If that's the case, however, it's time for this team to grow up. Redshirt sophomore back Keion Davis can't score the go-ahead touchdown and then pull off his helmet and taunt, leading to what could have been a death knell. Litton can't throw a bad interception. DB Chris Jackson can't look confused on a third-and-10 situation.
It's time for the Herd to improve, to grow. Now.
If, that is, it wishes to get even a taste of the program's recent success.
Contact Mitch Vingle at 304-348-4827 or mitchvingle@wvgazettemail.com. Follow him on Twitter @MitchVingle.