I have to include We Are Marshall on my list of inspirational sports movies. Despite being a WVU graduate and a Mountaineer, I have an affinity for the Thundering Herd. The tragedy that befell the 1970 Marshall football team and the community in Huntington, West Virginia and the literal phoenix-like return of football to Marshall is an inspiring story.
Of course, I love the scene where then Mountaineer coach, Bobby Bowden sees that Marshall coach Jack Lengyel noticed the green crosses on the backs of the WVU football helmets and says, “Colors clash a bit, don’t they?” Coach Lengyel responds, “That’s first class, Coach. First class.” One would have to know the in-state rivalry between the two West Virginia schools to fully grasp the significance, but it was a first-class action. It demonstrates the character of one who lays personal feelings aside to help a neighbor in need.
Lengyel was charged with making a football team out of almost nothing. He had little time to recruit and NCAA rules had to be challenged to make a team. Moreover, he had to inspire the community, as well as the players—and he did just that.
His speech at the memorial for the victims of the plane crash says it all:
“For those of you who may not know, this is the final resting place for six members of the 1970 Thundering Herd. The plane crash that took their lives was so severe, so absolute, that their bodies were unable to be identified. So, they were buried here. Together. Six players. Six teammates. Six Sons of Marshall. This is our past, gentlemen. This is where we have been. This is how we got here. This is who we are. Today, I want to talk about our opponent this afternoon. They’re bigger, faster, stronger, more experienced and, on paper, they’re just better. And they know it, too. But I want to tell you something that they don’t know. They don’t know your heart. I do. I’ve seen it. You have shown it to me. You have shown this coaching staff, your teammates. You have shown yourselves just exactly who you are in here. [Thumps his chest]
When you take that field today, you’ve got to lay that heart on the line, men. From the souls of your feet, with every ounce of blood you’ve got in your body, lay it on the line until the final whistle blows. And if you do that, if you do that, we cannot lose. We may be behind on the scoreboard at the end of the game, but, if you play like that, we cannot be defeated. Now we came here, today, to remember six young men and sixty-nine others who will not be on the field with you today, but they will be watching. You can bet your ass that they’ll be gritting their teeth with every snap of that football. You understand me? How you play today, from this moment on is how you will be remembered. This is your opportunity to rise from these ashes and grab glory. We are…
Marshall!”
Carpe momento!
Image source: http://www.marshall.edu/special-collections/memorial/images/teamphoto2_800.jpg