The Young Herd

A comforting voice: The Rev. Robert Scott helped Marshall heal

Published Nov. 14, 2007 HUNTINGTON -- When The Rev. Robert Scott celebrates Mass today at St. Austin Catholic Parish in Austin, Texas, he'll offer up a special prayer to people touched in any way by the Marshall University plane crash on Nov. 14, 1970.

Emotions of tragedy drew Lengyel to Marshall

Published Nov. 13, 2005 HUNTINGTON -- Coach Jack Lengyel had returned home from a successful day at the office. Lengyel, head football coach at the College of Wooster in 1970, directed the Fighting Scots to a 9-6 win at Oberlin College on the afternoon of Nov. 14. At home that evening with his wife, Sandy, they saw a bulletin on TV about the plane bringing the Marshall football team back from its game at East Carolina crashing.

Nate Ruffin became victims' voice

Nate Ruffin was a last-minute scratch from the Marshall football team chartered jet to the Nov. 14, 1970, game at East Carolina. Ruffin was an injured defensive back, but still anticipated making the trip. At the last minute, he and a few other injured players were told that school boosters would take their seats on the jet, The Associated Press reported. On the flight back from Greenville, N.C., the jet crashed short of Tri-State Airport and all 75 people aboard died -- including most of the football team.

Red Dawson helped mold 1971 team

Red Dawson was somewhere around Greensboro, N.C., when he heard the news. The Marshall football team he had helped coach only hours earlier had been involved in a plane crash. Later, he learned that all 75 people aboard the DC-9 jet carrying the team, staff and some supporters back from Greenville, N.C., to Huntington died in the crash near Tri-State Airport.

Nate Ruffin's spirit lives on with MU story

Published Feb. 23, 2006. HUNTINGTON -- Sharon Ruffin can hear her late husband's voice as if he's right next to her, expressing his feelings about the Marshall University movie. "I can hear him saying up in heaven, 'They finally did it.'" she said.

Oliver joins Herd fans at 'We Are Marshall' filming in Atlanta

Published June 10, 2006. ATLANTA -- Neither scorching heat nor a rash of recent surgeries would keep Reggie Oliver away from a reunion with Marshall University football teammates and alumni. Oliver, the Marshall quarterback who threw the game-winning pass in the Thundering Herd's emotional 1971 home victory over Xavier University, joined more than 350 people for a Saturday tailgate party and final filming stages of "We Are Marshall" in Atlanta.

Dawson, Lengyel approve of portrayals

Published April 4, 2006. HUNTINGTON -- Actor Matthew McConaughey approaches a 6-foot-9 basketball center, sizes him up and asks the giant if would like to play football for Marshall. At a distance, Jack Lengyel, the man McConaughey is playing in the movie "We Are Marshall," nods his head to show his approval.

Joe Gillette's Herd passion puts him on silver screen

Published June 7, 2006. ATLANTA -- Joe Gillette's association with Marshall University first began in 1969. A first-team All-Ohio defensive end at Johnstown High School near Columbus where he also played wide receiver, he started his college football career with the Thundering Herd as a wide out.

Teacher's exam saved Bankston

Published June 20, 2006 ATLANTA -- Mike Bankston had an academic conflict that prevented him from being one of the victims of the Nov. 14, 1970, Marshall University plane crash. Bankston was a student assistant coach for the 1970 Marshall football team working with the freshman squad. On Nov. 13, 1970, the Thundering Herd flew to Greenville, N.C., where it would meet East Carolina the next day. Bankston didn't make the trip because he had to take the National Teacher's Exam. There were no other possible dates.

David Walsh: Former Herd coach Gail Parker made the most of his extended stay

Published May 11, 2009 Gail Parker's reprieve lasted 38 years, 6 months. You see, Parker began his brief association with Marshall University in 1970 when he landed a job as graduate assistant coach where he'd direct the freshman football team. His boss was varsity coach Rick Tolley. Parker, 27 at the time, had just completed a two-year stint, his first in coaching, at John Yeates High School in Suffolk, Va. It was time to move up to the next level, along with me, his quarterback at John Yeates, since I'd signed with Marshall. In addition, Parker would earn a master's degree.

View from the other side: Young Herd's first win a feel-good story for everyone but Xavier players

Published Dec. 27, 2007 HUNTINGTON -- Be it real life or a movie, what Paul Smith experienced hurt. Smith was the Xavier University starting quarterback in 1971. On Sept. 25, 1971, Smith stood helplessly on the sideline as Marshall's Young Thundering Herd scored a touchdown on the final play of the game to stun the Musketeers, 15-13, and set off a wild celebration for the 13,000 fans in attendance that sunny day at Fairfield Stadium in Huntington.

'Young Herd' notoriety still growing with time

Published Dec. 25, 2007 HUNTINGTON -- The hoopla surrounding "We Are Marshall" has disappeared. The notoriety Young Thundering Herd coaches and players gained from the Warner Bros. movie has not. Actually, it continues to build.

ANTHONY HANSHEW: Young Herd finds a level of comfort

Published April 22, 2007 Call it closure. Call it running out of tears. Regardless, the Young Thundering Herd officially is in a good place. Utmost respect will always remain for their predecessors who perished in the 1970 Marshall University football plane crash, but this weekend's reunion featured much more celebration than sorrow. Unlike previous get-togethers, members of the 1971 Young Thundering Herd simply enjoyed a light, upbeat gathering.