They are... Marshall!
September 11th 2010 14:16
It will be 40 years this November, since the worst air tragedy in NCAA history occured, where 75 people, all players, coaches, or friends and family of the Marshall Thundering Herd fooball team, lost their lives. The next season was a deeply emotional one for Marshall and the town of around 80,000 (enough to fit a large football stadium). It was a depressing time for the small town of Lexington, West Virginia, but they played on. The team has since had times of conference titles and the years of Byron Leftwich at quarterback, but their fans haven't had much to cheer about since their team won their last MAC title back in 2002. Last night, even more heartbreak occured.
Doc Holliday, once the kid that grew up roughly 20 miles from campus, the man who played linebacker for the Thundering Herd in the mid-70's as Marshall was building back up their program, the guy who broke down when he got the job at Marshall, to coach his alma matter, led his team onto their home turf. They protected it well. Things couldn't go wrong for them early. They had the momentum most of the night until late 4th quarter, but couldn't quite pull it off in the end. their defensive line constantly swarming, their special teams pinning West Virginia deep in their own territory and blocking a punt. West Virginia had won the first nine games between the two teams. But there was more of a struggle this time. Holliday and his boys were ready. They came to compete. Came prepared for the battle. And they wanted it, and they came just inches away from a field goal that would have continued the game. It really, truely is, a game of inches. Noel Devine and the Mounteneers came on late, showing how much talent the 23rd ranked team should have. But nothing could trump Marshall's heart. They felt the energy of their crowd, wanting the W more than any other one they had ever wanted, but they were denied it.
You could say West Virginia mistakes set them back early, and that's true to a degree, but you have to give Marshall props for taking on a top 25 team and pushing them on their heels most of the night. When the Mounteneers finally woke up, they made a great comeback to force OT and eventually pulled out the W. Just before the end of the game on a timeout, Eminem's "Not Afraid" came on the speakers. Something seemed in the air. "WE ARE... MARSHALL!" The Herd weren't afraid. And even though they lost, they were the farthest thing from it. They were competitive. They were tough. They were... Marshall.
Doc Holliday, once the kid that grew up roughly 20 miles from campus, the man who played linebacker for the Thundering Herd in the mid-70's as Marshall was building back up their program, the guy who broke down when he got the job at Marshall, to coach his alma matter, led his team onto their home turf. They protected it well. Things couldn't go wrong for them early. They had the momentum most of the night until late 4th quarter, but couldn't quite pull it off in the end. their defensive line constantly swarming, their special teams pinning West Virginia deep in their own territory and blocking a punt. West Virginia had won the first nine games between the two teams. But there was more of a struggle this time. Holliday and his boys were ready. They came to compete. Came prepared for the battle. And they wanted it, and they came just inches away from a field goal that would have continued the game. It really, truely is, a game of inches. Noel Devine and the Mounteneers came on late, showing how much talent the 23rd ranked team should have. But nothing could trump Marshall's heart. They felt the energy of their crowd, wanting the W more than any other one they had ever wanted, but they were denied it.
You could say West Virginia mistakes set them back early, and that's true to a degree, but you have to give Marshall props for taking on a top 25 team and pushing them on their heels most of the night. When the Mounteneers finally woke up, they made a great comeback to force OT and eventually pulled out the W. Just before the end of the game on a timeout, Eminem's "Not Afraid" came on the speakers. Something seemed in the air. "WE ARE... MARSHALL!" The Herd weren't afraid. And even though they lost, they were the farthest thing from it. They were competitive. They were tough. They were... Marshall.
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