We Are Marshall 2006

As the autumnal twilight of November 14, 1970, descended upon West Virginia, Southern Airways Flight 932, a chartered McDonnell Douglas DC-9, embarked on its perilous journey to transport the Marshall University Thundering Herd football team back to Huntington following their crushing 17-14 defeat at the hands of the East Carolina University Pirates. However, fate had other plans as the aircraft veered off course, clipping trees mere miles short of the runway at Tri-State Airport in Ceredo, West Virginia, before plummeting into a nearby gully, claiming the lives of all 75 souls on board. The tragedy claimed the lives of 37 players; head coach Rick Tolley (Robert Patrick) and five members of his coaching staff; Charles E. Kautz, Marshall’s athletic director; team athletic trainer Jim Schroer and his assistant, Donald Tackett; sports information director and radio play-by-play announcer Gene Morehouse; 25 boosters; and five crew members.

In the aftermath of this devastating loss, a sense of hopelessness settled over the Marshall community as University President Donald Dedmon considered indefinitely suspending the football program. However, a collective cry for justice from students, led by Nate Ruffin (Anthony Mackie), who had narrowly escaped the flight due to illness, ultimately persuaded Dedmon to reconsider his decision. The university president then turned to Jack Lengyel (Matthew McConaughey), a former coach with a passion for football, and tasked him with rebuilding the team. With the guidance of Red Dawson (Matthew Fox), one of the few surviving members of the previous coaching staff, Lengyel set about recruiting young talent from the surrounding area to fill the void left by the deceased players.

As Lengyel worked tirelessly to whip his new recruits into shape, he also found himself reevaluating the Lombardi creed that winning at all costs was the only true measure of success. He employed every trick in the book, including a clandestine visit to a rival coach’s playbook, to prepare his team for the challenges ahead. Meanwhile, Dedmon traveled to Kansas City, where he successfully petitioned the NCAA to waive their rule prohibiting freshmen from playing varsity football, paving the way for the Thundering Herd to rebuild and reclaim their place on the gridiron.

As the new era of Marshall University football unfolded, a fresh-faced squad emerged, comprising mostly of 18 returning players - three seasoned varsity athletes and 15 spirited sophomores. Additionally, walk-on athletes from other Marshall sports programs joined the ranks, bringing a mix of enthusiasm and inexperience to the team. The “Young Thundering Herd” was born, with Dawson (actor’s name) and Ruffin, two stalwarts of the team, feeling the weight of their first defeat at the hands of Morehead State Eagles, a crushing 29-6 loss that left them reeling.

The devastating loss sparked widespread criticism, with many questioning the wisdom of fielding such an inexperienced squad. The whispers grew louder still when Dawson and Ruffin suffered injuries on the very first play of the game, further fueling doubts about their readiness for competitive football. Amidst the turmoil, Lengyel, a stalwart figure of conviction, refused to let his team’s inexperience define them. He rallied the troops, instilling in them a sense of purpose and unity that would prove pivotal in the days ahead.

The turning point arrived when Marshall hosted its first home game of the season, facing off against Xavier University. In a stunning display of resilience and determination, the Thundering Herd staged an improbable comeback, emerging victorious in a 15-13 nail-biter. This hard-fought win not only silenced the critics but also rekindled the passion of the Marshall community, which had been left heartbroken by the team’s earlier struggles.

Though the season would ultimately conclude with more losses than wins, the seeds of success were sown that day. The bravery and perseverance displayed by Lengyel and his teammates would bear fruit in the years to come, as the program went on to claim an astonishing five championships during the 1980s - a testament to the unwavering dedication and grit that had been forged in the fires of adversity.