Conference fines Marshall over withdrawal from college football bowl game

The Sun Belt fined the Marshall Thundering Herd $100,000 for opting retired of the Independence Bowl successful December.

Louisiana Tech replaced Marshall successful their crippled against Army, and they mislaid 27-6 to Army.

"While the league acknowledges the aesculapian exemplary and champion signifier guidance adhered to by Marshall, arsenic good arsenic their cardinal interest for the wellness and information of the remaining eligible student-athletes to vie successful a harmless and viable manner, the quality and timing of this determination was detrimental to the Sun Belt Conference and its membership, to Army, the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl, the American Athletic Conference and ESPN," the Sun Belt said successful a statement. 

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Despite the fine, Marshall diversion manager Christian Spears said helium stood by the determination to opt retired of the game. 

"In bully conscience, we could not enactment retired 41 student-athletes retired connected to that field. And again, we are ever going to prioritize the wellness and information of our pupil athletes," Spears said. "But that doesn’t instrumentality distant the information that a sincere and ceremonial apology is due."

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Marshall went 10-3 successful the regular season, including winning their past 7 games to triumph the Sun Belt championship. 

Instead of going connected to play Army successful the vessel game, caput manager Charles Huff near Marshall arsenic helium was acold isolated connected a declaration hold with the school.

Huff past near Marshall to instrumentality the caput coaching occupation astatine Southern Miss. More than 25 players jumped into the transportation portal implicit his departure, which caused Marshall to retreat from the game.

Marshall hired NC State’s violative coordinator, Tony Gibson, to beryllium their caller caput coach.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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