Marshall football notebook: UConn"s Cummings has history with Herd

2014 Ultimate Marshall Thundering Herd Football Highlights

CLEARWATER, Fla. Mike Cummings has gotten back in the trenches with Marshall this week, as his Connecticut offensive line figures out how to block the Thundering Herds cat-quick defense.

Cummings serves as offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator. He coordinated the offense in 2014, before 31-year coaching veteran Frank Verducci was brought on to run the unit.

Cummings was hired at Marshall by coach Bob Pruett, who abruptly resigned shortly thereafter. Mark Snyder retained Cummings, who worked as an offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator, throughout his 2005-09 tenure.

Diaco and Cummings were on the same Eastern Michigan staff in 2000-01, and Cummings ran the Central Michigan offense for four seasons before heading to UConn.

Hes a valuable staff member, Verducci said. Great communicator, great motivator, the Xs and Os speak for themselves.

Saturdays St. Petersburg Bowl will be Cummings fourth bowl game, including MUs 2009 appearance in Detroit.

Big man in booth

Anthony Becht wasnt hard to miss at Marshalls practice Wednesday at Clearwater. Hes still roughly 6-foot-6, but the former West Virginia great tight end appears lighter than his NFL-listed 270 pounds.

Becht is the color analyst on ESPNs broadcast Saturday, working with play-by-play man Tom Hart. Tiffany Greene will patrol the sidelines.

Not surprisingly, Becht renewed acquaintances with Herd coach Doc Holliday. Of course, Holliday was at WVU during Bechts time in Morgantown.

He came in there came in about a 200-pound tight end, believe it or not, or a wide receiver, Holliday recalled. He grew into being a tight end, and what a great career he had.z

Some inside knowledge

Athletic directors are paid to know about coaches, so Herd tight end Ryan Yurachek knew one brain to pick about Diaco father Hunter Yurachek, athletic director of UConn league rival Houston.

Hunter painfully knows of Diacos work, as the Huskies handed the Cougars their only loss this season.

Its funny. Hes not the greatest guy as far as football knowledge, in the world, Hunter Yurachek said of his dad. He started talking on the phone after we learned we were playing [UConn], and he doesnt know what hes talking about. Actually, after watching some film, some of what he was talking about is true.

If youre wondering, Ryan has a seat in the Peach Bowl to watch the Cougars play Florida State.

Home advantage, Huskies

During its extended stay in Pinellas County, UConn is enjoying finer practice digs at Calvary Christian High School. Marshall will have the second of its two practices today at Clearwater Central Catholic, about five miles to the south.

Calvarys nice stadium has a respectable weight room adjacent to its stadium, and the Huskies are using it. After their practice Wednesday, most players made a beeline to the room.

Marshall, which has the shorter stay of five days, is not lifting this week.

From a strength and conditioning piece, we try to keep the in-season development going, Diaco said. We dont believe in just a maintenance. We try to get stronger, faster and always get better there.

And if we can eat right and sleep and then keep that up, you like to think that down the stretch, into November and December, youll have a chance to be more physical in a game.

By at least one account, the Huskies have drawn the better team hotel in the Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Hotel and Golf Club. MU is about nine blocks away at the Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront.

MU stayed at the Vinoy in 2011, and one of the two current players who made that trip remember it fondly. One of Marshalls first functions Tuesday was held there.

Just when we went to the [Vinoy] last time, I said, Yeah, this is the nice hotel, D.J. Hunter said. I wish we were in this hotel, still.

Coming attractions

As the teams wrap up their pre-bowl workouts today, they will enjoy their last big fun event of the week this afternoon, the Beach Bash in Madeira Beach. The travel parties went to Busch Gardens on Wednesday.

Both squads have a walk-through practice Friday at Tropicana Field, site of Saturdays 11 a.m. game.

Source: http://www.wvgazettemail.com/sports/20151223/marshall-football-notebook-uconns-cummings-has-history-with-herd