Out in Left field

The bandwagon fan.

Wikipedia defines this as "when a supporter of a sports team is only a supporter during times of success."

Another reliable source, Urban Dictionary, suggests it's, "someone who became a fan of the Boston Red Sox after the 2004 World Series."

There was an ever-increasing discussion during the Mark Snyder era of whether the Herd faithful would go from diehard fans to bandwagon fans as the football team's fortunes continued to fluctuate; from people who bleed green and white to people who just happen to own a lot of green and white shirts.

Though a bit of that happens to every team in every sport, the Herd fans stayed strong for the most part and the start of the Doc Holiday era at Marshall makes the question moot for (hopefully)a long time to come.

I'd like to take the opportunity, though, to redefine the bandwagon fan as one who goes beyond their normal team loyalty to actively "jump on the bandwagon" of those players who may not have obtained superstar status but who always give their best effort to their team. If there was ever a football player deserving of a bandwagon, a cheering section, and a pat on the back it has been Marshall quarterback Brian Anderson.

To his doubters' credit, Anderson hasn't exactly been a statistical wonder while leading the Herd's offensive attack. In 2009, when he took over the job from then starter Mark Cann, Anderson was decent but not spectacular, averaging only 50.8 yards per game passing while having a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 3 to1.

Last season, however, B.A. showed dramatic improvements in his first year as the full-time starter. Anderson threw for over 2,600 yards, had more touchdown tosses than interceptions (14-13), and led his time team to a 7-win season capped off by a victory in the Little Caeser's Pizza Bowl.

Not a bad year's work.

With this offseason, though, came a full plethora of new challenges for Anderson. Doc Holiday replaced Mark Snyder and with a new coach came new schemes and a new playbook – new everything.

New competition came, too. Aside from the holdovers like Press Taylor, Mark Cann, and A. J. Graham, Willy Korn transferred in from Clemson and Eddie Sullivan enrolled in Marshall. Sullivan was a star quarterback in Florida and is the lone quarterback recruit from last year for Doc Holiday.

Despite the new challenges, Anderson has thus far stayed the course and done so swimmingly.

Korn has gone before he started, transferring to a Division II school after finding that Holliday planned to move him to the defensive side of the ball.

The other QB hopefuls took a back seat to Anderson's performance during the spring and preseason practices and so, with opening night looming Thursday in Columbus, Anderson yet again seems poised to lead his troops into battle.

The team may have a new coach but, at least for right now, it follows the same quarterback, one who continues to improve and impress.

I, for one, am starting the season on the Brian Anderson bandwagon. Anyone with me? There's plenty of room for more.

Dave Traube can be contacted at traube3@marshall.edu.