Doug Smock: Herd sinking in a river of yellow

Marshall coach Doc Holliday shouts instructions to his players during Saturday’s loss to Charlotte.HUNTINGTON — First off, I’d like to apologize to the folks at Lindy’s preseason magazine.

It seems like a year ago when I cracked it open and saw the publication ranked Marshall 90th of the 128 teams in the FBS. I then counted out 26 teams ranked ahead of the Thundering Herd in the “Group of 5.” I called it “disrespect on a grand scale.”

But I was wrong. As it turns out, Lindy’s was optimistic about this team.

After the Herd’s boot-shooting 27-24 loss Saturday to Charlotte at Edwards Stadium, respect should be hard to come by. ESPN’s Football Power Index ranks the Herd 101st, and that’s arguably…