HUNTINGTON - Following the 2016 season, there was undoubtedly many areas where Marshall University's football team needed improvement to get back to its winning ways.

Marshall had a 3-9 season in 2016, following three consecutive seasons with at least 10 victories.

Some of the problems in 2016 involved techniques and nuances of the game, but the biggest need was about team chemistry - something that deteriorated as the 2016 season progressed.

As losses piled up, team cohesion broke down - so much so that at one point Marshall head coach Doc Holliday went on to say the Thundering Herd "wasn't a good team right now." In the winter months and into spring practice much of the focus has been on that area.

"I see us getting back to that camaraderie across the ball, outside of your own little world," said Bill Legg, the Marshall offensive coordinator. "That's a good thing to see, for sure. Quarterbacks spend all their time together. Wide receivers spend all their time together. Offensive linemen spend all their time together. That cohesion is natural, but this year, there's a lot more coming from everybody."

Team cohesion is important because when things start to go bad like they did in 2016 it is easy for one position group of players to begin pointing fingers at another position when the team cohesion isn't present.

Nearly all of Marshall's players involved in the 2016 season had never experienced much adversity associated with losing. When things went bad, nobody - veterans included - really knew how to handle it, and it was a tough situation for all.

"There was a mindset that 'We're just going to do it again because we are Marshall and we have an M on our helmet,'" Legg said. "Reality, all of the sudden was, 'Dude, you've got to go and take it because we've got a target on our back every single time we step on the field because we are Marshall.'

"You don't win games because we are Marshall. You win games because you've got really smart, tough, gritty football players that love each other wearing Marshall helmets that go out to compete for four quarters."

During the offseason and this spring Marshall strength and conditioning coach Luke Day put players in situations that were so demanding and tough they had to learn to lean on each other for support to make it through, which helped build chemistry.

"Coach Day has done not just a phenomenal job getting them bigger and stronger, but also with life lessons," Legg said. "It's sinking in and it is starting to feel - it's not all the way there, yet - but it's starting to feel like it felt two years ago, three years ago, four years ago."

Differences have been visible throughout the spring sessions as players from different positions congratulate effort as the team grows.

Those instances included quarterback Chase Litton coming off the sideline to congratulate defensive lineman Channing Hames for a sack, running back Keion Davis congratulating the linebackers for good tackles and wide receivers acknowledging secondary players when they make plays.

Those gestures can be the difference between success and failure on the field this fall.

"If we can just stay the course individually and collectively, then we give ourselves a chance," Legg said. "We could go from having the biggest drop-off to having the biggest turnaround."

Marshall puts the wraps on spring practice with a 9:15 a.m. Saturday scrimmage.

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