Just like winter leads to spring, these bad memories now lead us to, I think, a day of celebration, Woelfel said. Ruffin told me he spent a dozen years numbing himself with alcohol and drugs before coming out of that dark period while making a speech at a memorial to his fallen teammates. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. So no, it was nowhere near the truth, the Marshall football program was never in jeopardy. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. This goes deep, Plymale said. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. For example, it appears that the pilot attempted to level off only after he reached minimum descent altitude. These are the. Marshall University President Brad Smith, Marshall Athletic Director Christian Spears and Marshall head football coach Charles Huff visit the crash site Saturday morning. 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Whoever gets to play Marshall in that game, they feel what we feel when theyre apart of that, he said. Marshall University (dark jerseys) beat Morehead State (white jerseys) 17-7 in the season opener Sept. 19, 1970, at Fairfield Stadium. If not, you can open it also by clicking the following link: Top 10 Athletes past the age of 40: Where does Tom Brady rank? Top 21 ACC Basketball Players of All Time: Where does Michael Jordan Rank? Since then, he has gone on to the NFL and played for the New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins. The annual memorial service honoring the 75 victims of the 1970 Marshall plane crash takes place on Monday, Nov. 14, 2011, at the Memorial Student Center Plaza on the campus of Marshall University. Nate Ruffin was a big, friendly guy solid as a rock. Published: Nov. 14, 2022 at 12:54 PM PST. You have permission to edit this article. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. He missed the Nov. 1970 plane crash that killed 75 of his friends, teammates, coaches and members of the Huntington, W.Va., community. All 75 passengers on the Thundering Herd football team plane were killed in the crash, including 37 members of the Marshall University football team, eight football coaches, including head coach Rick Tolley, athletic director Charlie Kautz, 25 boosters and five flight crew members. The rebuilding was the subject of the 2006 movie We are Marshall starring Matthew McConaughey as Lengyel. This historical marker was erected in 2008 by West Virginia Department of Archives and History. Choose wisely! The symbolic victory transcended athletic competition and initiated a tradition where the Marshall football team began to represent something greater than sport. It wasnt said exactly the way it was in the movie but it is probably about 80-90 per cent accurate. Marshall students and community members join former football players, coaches and families in a scene of the "We Are Marshall" movie at Marshall's Memorial Fountain on Tuesday, April 11, 2006. The flight coordinator's duties required him to talk to the pilot, so he was allowed to be in the cockpit. Says Grubbs, I dont see how anyone can watch that movie with dry eyes.. Marshall University hosts its annual spring fountain ceremony on Saturday, April 17, 2021, outside of the Memorial Student Center in Huntington. Create a password that only you will remember. Give Matthew McConaughey credit for trying, but his overly exuberant and slightly flaky character is completely unbelievable as a head coach. It sits about 200 yards from the actual crash site. A memorial service was conducted Sunday, Nov. 14, 2004, honoring the 75 people who died on Nov. 14, 1970, when the plane carrying Marshall football players, coaches, staff, supporters and flight crew crashed into a mountain near the Huntington Tri-State airport. The analysis revealed that both the pilot's and the first officer's instruments may have malfunctioned. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. So I think this is another step along in that healing process., 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. An annual memorial service is held on campus each year on November 14th, when time stands still as the Memorial Fountain is turned off in honor of these Sons and Daughters of Marshall. A press conference is conducted Nov. 18, 1970, at the Holiday Inn. But I do remember that all the sudden none of that mattered very much. This is a link to the Marshall University Special Collections site for the plane crash. Smith spilled into view in Huntington, W.Va., just as James "Jimo . Jack Burnett/The Herald-Dispatch. On Oct. 2 of that year, a plane carrying members of the Wichita State team crashed in Colorado, killing 31 of 37 on board. Marshall University hosts a ceremony to celebrate the turning on of the Memorial Fountain on Saturday, April 28, 2012, at the Marshall University Memorial Student Center Plaza in Huntington. Yes, he was. Marshall basketball player Mark Patton portrays a 1971 Marshall player asked to join the football team following the 1970 plane crash that claimed the lives of 75 community members including the football team. Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Bobby Joe Hill, #41,1970 MU Football team, b&w. Hill died in the 1970 plane crash. Robin Williams could have portrayed Head Coach Jack Lengyel better thanMatthew McConaughey did. We had a winning record. Clear skies. Huntington filming for the movie "We Are Marshall" ended with film crews shooting crowd reaction shots at the Green and White game at the Joan C. Edwards Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2006. The "We Are Marshall" premiere was Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2006, in Huntington. They opened up the canteen at the airport and let us get whatever we wanted to eat and drink, he said. The 1970 team had a 3-6 record under coach Rick Tolley. Clear skies. A few scenes for "We Are Marshall" were filmed at Herndon Stadium at Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Ga. I know these are what Hollywood calls composite characters but I myself was very disappointed to find out these two people never even existed. On Nov. 14, 1970, the chartered jet crashed in fog and rain into a hillside upon approach to an airport near Huntington as the team was returning from a game at East Carolina, killing all 75 on. Due to poor visibility, however, the plane went below the minimum descent altitude in hopes of seeing the approaching runway more clearly. Rescue workers comb through the site of where China Eastern flight MU5375 crashed on March 21, near Wuzhou in southwestern Chinas Guangxi province on. No one survived this horrific disaster. Credit: MU. Marshall University hosts its 49th annual Memorial Fountain Ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, in Huntington. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. All those young people with a whole life in front of them. A look back in the archives of past Marshall University women's soccer photos. Why them? To learn more about our cartoon syndication services. Invalid password or account does not exist. It included 36 members of the Thundering Herd football team. What brought tears to my eyes was the fact that this tragedy really did happen and the tragedy was about real people with real emotions I know people signed off on this movie, but I feel this movie could have been so much more than it turned out to be. Team captain was Dave Griffith. Members of the Young Thundering Herd attend practices in August and September 1971. At right, John Reed, chairman of the National Transportation and Safety Board, explains investigation procedures at a press conference Nov. 15, 1970, at the Holiday Inn. Create a password that only you will remember. HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) - It's a somber day in the city of Huntington, as Marshall University pauses to honor the 75 lives lost in the biggest sports . Marshall and East Carolina will play their opener on Aug. 29 after the NCAA granted a waiver to move the game to "Week Zero" to honor the 50th anniversary of the Marshall plane crash tragedy . News Star World, Jackson Daily News and Clarion Ledger. The victims included 36 Marshall University football players, 9 coaches and administrators, 25 fans and crew of 5. On Nov. 14, 1970, the chartered jet crashed in fog and rain into a hillside upon approach to an airport near Huntington as the team was returning from a game at East Carolina, killing all 75 on board. August 24, 1971: The Young Thundering Herd's first day of practice in pads -- three weeks before its season opener at Morehead State. "I was constantly asked to recall the night of the crash," he said. Winds light and variable.. Clear skies. Rating the greatest college basketball teams ever has been done many times Find the best sportsbook to bet on the NBA Playoffs! Some who were left off the flight and did not make the trip or lost loved ones spent the next five decades with crippling questions that had no answers. The plane was down for around 30 minutes before the media was ever notified. Marshall athletic director reflects on time spent at 1970 plane crash site By MetroNews Staff November 14, 2022 - 12:00 pm Marshall University President Brad Smith, Marshall Athletic. a proud member of the Ruffin died in 2001 at the age of 51 and he is buried with his teammates. Look for the "Republish This Story" button underneath each story. Accessed October 8, 2016. http://www.marshall.edu/special-collections/memorial/default.asp. Delegates pass bill changing insurance finances for public employees, then pass a pay raise too. Spears said its been an honor to hear stories from family members of those who died 52 years ago. The following offseason, Dawson went to a national coaching convention. HUNTINGTON, W.Va. Monday marked the 52nd anniversary of the Marshall University plane crash that claimed the lives of 75 football players, coaches, staff, supporters and flight crew members. Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Employment | Affiliates Intranet A few scenes for "We Are Marshall" were filmed at Herndon Stadium at Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Ga. Twenty-one years after the Marshall tragedy, I was speaking with Nate Ruffin, who was then of the human resources director of The Clarion Ledger, where I worked at the time. The pilot and first officer would have known this from their training. Cast members visited Huntington in September and October for ongoing promotion of "We Are Marshall.". Among those who were not on the Marshall plane were Red Dawson, an assistant coach who was driving on a recruiting trip and was heading home when he learned about the crash. The "We Are Marshall" premiere was Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2006, in Huntington. Cabell County Democratic Sen. Mike Woelfel said he was 17 years old driving in his car in Huntington when news of the crash came on the radio. This was an entertaining movie, I just feel it could have been so much more. General movie premiere tickets went on sale Nov. 27, 2006. Jump directly to the Content Members of the Young Thundering Herd attend practices in August and September 1971. The pilot and first officer did not note any cause for concern other than a minor issue with the autopilot. The auctioning of props from the movie "We Are Marshall" took place at the Huntington Mall Sunday, Dec. 17, 2006, with the proceeds going to WSAZ Children's Charities. Some "We Are Marshall" actors attended the annual memorial service on Nov. 14, 2006. Following the crash, the Marshall University football team was only left nine players and athletic leaders decided to suspend the program indefinitely. Top 13 Cincinnati Reds Starting Pitchers of all time. Coach Lengyel actually took all his Marshall teams to Spring Hill cemetery every year before the first game to explain to them what exactly happened. There is also a memorial atSpring Hill Cemetery and a bronze plaque at the location of the current and former football stadium. Officials say renewables project already attracting other development. A news conference is conducted at the armory on Nov. 20, 1970. Actually, the truth would be that the person who gave up the seat to assistant Deke Brackett was a graduate assistant named Gale Parker. Click here to stay informed and subscribe to Herald-Dispatch. A look back in the archives of past Marshall University men's soccer photos. Jack Lengyel took over as the new coach for the Young Thundering Herd on March 17, 1971. The House of Delegates passed the bill last month. Jack Hardin, who was a veteran newspaper reporter, actually found a wallet that belonged to one of the players and thatshow the passengers on the plane were initially identified. Any amount helps us keep producing quality journalism for Mississippi. He recalled talking at length with some of his counterparts at Wichita State, and how they leaned on each other for support. 1. We had some fans with us and one of them he was a judge I think found the liquor cabinet. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. Southern Airways Flight 932 was a chartered Southern Airways Douglas DC-9 domestic United States commercial jet flight from Stallings Field (ISO) in Kinston, North Carolina, to Huntington Tri-State Airport/Milton J. Ferguson Field (HTS) near Kenova and Ceredo, West Virginia.At 7:36 pm on November 14, 1970, the aircraft crashed into a hill just short of the Tri-State Airport, killing all 75 . The Thundering Herd were traveling home after a 17-14 loss at East Carolina. Marshall brings The Herd together to turn the Memorial Fountain back on during Green and White Day on Saturday, April 28, 2018, in Huntington. Click #isupportlocal for more information on supporting our local journalists. racist or sexually-oriented language. Sammons said that Sally Plymale, mother of council member Tom Plymale, had mentioned there was no memorial at the site of the plane crash. Jack Burnett/The Herald-Dispatch, Capt. The event marked a boundary by which an entire community would forever . Have the latest local news delivered every afternoon so you don't miss out on updates. The FDR data suggests that the pilot tried to do just that before striking the trees. Since then, he has gone on to the NFL and played for the New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins. Add to that McMullen already knew Lengyel and by now you should realize the way Lengyel got the job was not as it was portrayed. "All that were aboard that plane were, and still are, apart of this Marshall. You cant edit our stories, except to reflect relative changes in time, location and editorial style. Transcript of cockpit voice recording from the crash, Marshall Team, Coaches, Fans Die In Plane Crash (Nov. 15, 1970), 'Tragedy of highest degree' (Nov. 15, 1970), 'Sons of Marshall' they will always be (Nov. 15, 1970), Video: Ernie Salvatore on 1970 crash (12/8/2006), Video: Ernie Salvatore on night of crash (12/8/2006), Video: Former Herald-Dispatch reporter Jack Hardin on the crash (Dec. 7, 2006), Video: Former Herald-Dispatch reporter Jack Hardin on the aftermath of the crash (Dec. 7, 2006), Video: Responder Damon Slone remembers Marshall crash (11/20/2006), Video: ECU player talks about the crash (11/13/2006), Gallery: Scenes on Marshall's campus after 1970 plane crash, Gallery: 1970 memorial services for the plane crash victims, Gallery: "We Are Marshall" promotion September-October 2006, Photos: Marshall women's soccer photos from 2012-2013, Gallery: "We Are Marshall" opens nationwide Dec. 22, 2006, Photos: Marshall men's soccer photos from 2011-2012, Gallery: Victims of the 1970 Marshall Plane Crash, Gallery: Filming Mark Patton's "We Are Marshall" scenes, April 4, 2006, Gallery: Marshall vs. Morehead State, Sept. 19, 1970, Photos: Marshall Football Memorial Rededication Ceremony 2020, Gallery: Filming the chant scene, April 10, 2006, Gallery: Filming at the Green and White Game, April 22, 2006, Gallery: Filming the Memorial Fountain scene, April 11, 2006, Gallery: "We Are Marshall" premiere at Marquee Cinemas, Dec. 12, 2006, Gallery: Marshall University scenes from 1969, Gallery: Huntington "We Are Marshall" premiere setup, Dec. 11, 2006, Gallery: Spring 2012 Memorial Fountain Service, Photos: Marshall Spring Fountain Celebration 2016, Gallery: Readers' "We Are Marshall" premiere photos, Dec. 12, 2006, Photos: Spring Memorial Fountain ceremony 2021, Gallery: Fans enjoy "We Are Marshall" premiere arrivals, Dec. 12, 2006, Photos: Marshall hosts 49th annual Memorial Fountain Ceremony 2019, Gallery: "We Are Marshall" Kickoff Party, April 1, 2006, Gallery: Spring 2011 Memorial Fountain Service, Gallery: Readers' celebrity sightings, spring-summer 2006, Gallery: "We Are Marshall" events November 2006, Gallery: Coach Bobby Pruett through the years, Gallery: Filming of the board scene, April 7, 2006, Gallery: Young Thundering Herd practice, Aug. 24, 1971, Gallery: Matthew Fox press conference, April 7, 2006, Gallery: Chad Pennington through the years, Gallery: McConaughey attends spring football practice, April 18, 2006, Gallery: Filming of campus scenes, April 17 and 21, 2006, Photos: Marshall Spring Fountain Ceremony 2018, Gallery: Young Thundering Herd practices, August-September 1971, Gallery: Movie prop auction, Dec. 17, 2006, Gallery: Filming in Atlanta, June 9-10 and 14, 2006, Gallery: Filming of downtown scenes, April 12, 18 and 19, 2006, Gallery: Architecture of Marshalls campus, Photos: Marshall men's soccer photos from 2010, Photos: Marshall men's soccer photos from 2013, Gallery: Marshall vs. Morehead, Sept. 18, 1971, Memorial Fountain designed to represent 'upward growth, immortality, eternality', Marshall Memorial Bronze unveiled to mix of emotions, Marker placed at site of 1970 plane crash, Gallery: Marshall memorial at East Carolina University. During the investigation, the NTSB analyzed the airplane's instruments as well as the crew's behavior. The scene incorporates the "We Are Marshall" chant. Officials conducted extensive tests on the planes' barometric altimeters. We center readers in everything we do, informingand engagingMississippians through reporting, podcasts, events and online communities. We waited and waited and waited; that plane never came, said Jackson dentist Lewis Grubbs, a star sophomore halfback on that 1970 Mississippi State team. We'll send breaking news and news alerts to you as they happen! "The project was supposed to be done in September," he said. A documentary and an acclaimed movie, We Are Marshall, was made, the latter starring Matthew McConaughey.