1971 Marshall Thundering Herd football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1971 Marshall Thundering Herd football Independent 2–8 Jack Lengyel 1st Veer William "Red" Dawson 4th Nate Ruffin Fairfield Stadium The 1971 Marshall Thundering Herd football team (sometimes referred to as the Young Thundering Herd) represented Marshall University as an independent during the 1971 NCAA University Division football season. Led by first-year head coach Jack Lengyel, the Thundering Herd compiled a record of 2–8. Nate Ruffin was the team captain.https://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/marshall_plane_crash/the_young_herd/nate-ruffin-became-victims-voice/article_d42c12a6-8cd9-535d-98fb-7da0dd989666.html Nate Ruffin became victims' voice August 20, 2014 Marshall played home games at Fairfield Stadium in Huntington, West Virginia. Schedule 1971 AP Eastern September 18 l y 1971 Morehead State Eagles Morehead State Jayne Stadium Morehead, KY 6–29 11,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/messenger-inquirer-eagles-corral-marshal/181975413/ Messenger-Inquirer Eagles corral Marshall's inexperienced 'Herd 29–6 September 19, 1971 September 28, 2025 Newspapers.com September 25 1:30 p.m. w Xavier Fairfield Stadium Huntington, WV 15–13 13,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2187538/ Beckley Post-Herald and Register Touchdown on final play gives Marshall 15–13 win September 26, 1971 January 19, 2023 Newspapers.com October 2 l y Miami (OH) Miami Field Oxford, OH 6–66 12,649 https://www.newspapers.com/article/dayton-daily-news-marshall-memorizes-mia/181975535/ Dayton Daily News Marshall memorizes Miami's 66–6 October 3, 1971 September 28, 2025 Newspapers.com October 9 8:30 p.m. l y Northern Illinois Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL 18–33 11,800 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charleston-daily-mail-herd-loses-gam/181975688/ The Charleston Daily Mail Herd loses game, but finds offense October 11, 1971 September 28, 2025 Newspapers.com October 16 1:30 p.m. l Dayton Fairfield Stadium Huntington, WV 0–13 10,750 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-journal-dayton-130/181975764/ The Atlanta Journal & Constitution Dayton 13–0 October 17, 1971 September 28, 2025 Newspapers.com October 23 1:35 p.m. l y Western Michigan Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI 0–37 21,200 https://www.newspapers.com/article/battle-creek-enquirer-wmu-wins-370-as-r/181975897/ Battle Creek Enquirer & News WMU wins 37–0 as records fall October 24, 1971 September 28, 2025 Newspapers.com October 30 1:30 p.m. w y Bowling Green Fairfield Stadium Huntington, WV 12–10 14,110 https://www.newspapers.com/article/beckley-post-herald-the-raleigh-register/181976009/ The Beckley Post-Herald & Register Marshall emerges victor October 31, 1971 September 28, 2025 Newspapers.com November 6 1:30 p.m. l y Kent State Memorial Stadium Kent, OH 0–21 6,844–6,884 Kent State Defeats Herd 21–0: First Shutout In Four Years The Akron Beacon Journal Scott Bosley November 7, 1971 B1, B7 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92172006/kent-state-defeats-herd-21-0-first/ Newspapers.com November 13 1:35 p.m. l 14 Toledo Fairfield Stadium Huntington, WV 0–43 14,750 https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-toledo-keeps-streak-alive/181976111/ Minneapolis Tribune Toledo keeps streak alive November 14, 1971 September 28, 2025 Newspapers.com November 20 1:30 p.m. l Ohio Fairfield Stadium Huntington, WV rivalry 0–30 10,100 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-recorder-ohio-u-tops-marshall/181976224/ The Times Recorder Ohio U. tops Marshall 30–0 November 21, 1971 September 28, 2025 Newspapers.com Schedule/Results (1971 Marshall) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/130795 National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Statistics April 25, 2025 Before the season Previous season On November 14, 1970, Southern Airways Flight 932, which was chartered by the school to fly the 1970 Marshall Thundering Herd football team and fans to Greenville, North Carolina for a game against the East Carolina Pirates and back to Huntington, West Virginia, crashed on approach to Tri-State Airport after clipping trees just west of the runway and impacting nose-first into a hollow. All 75 people on board died. It was the worst single air tragedy in NCAA sports history. Sahadi Lou Marshall football: From tragedy to triumph ESPN Classic http://espn.go.com/classic/s/Classic_Marshall.html/ https://web.archive.org/web/20030212151712/http://espn.go.com/classic/s/Classic_Marshall.html dead February 12, 2003 The 1970 Marshall University football team was coached by Rick Tolley and finished with a record of 3–6. New coaching staff Marshall lost much of their coaching staff and their athletic director in the crash. Joe McMullen was hired to be the new AD. Georgia Tech assistant coach Dick Bestwick was hired to be the head coach. However, after two days he returned to Georgia Tech. William "Red" Dawson was named acting head coach, and later signed 21 prospects from five states.Owen Ray https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1893&dat=19710225&id=gmkfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0dQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1755,5553938 (Off-season) football watch Southeast Missourian February 25, 1971 March 31, 2014 Wooster coach Jack Lengyel was eventually hired to fill the position.Q&A: 'We Are Marshall' movie fact vs. fiction The Herald Dispatch http://www.herald-dispatch.com/mucrash/wearemarshall/x1991471341/Q-A-We-Are-Marshall-fact-vs-fiction Dawson, an assistant coach, had gone on a recruiting trip instead of flying back with the team after the ECU game in 1970, and Lengyel convinced him to stay around for the 1971 season, providing some continuity. Dawson would retire from coaching following the season. Freshmen eligibility waiver Prior to and during the 1971 season the NCAA did not allow freshmen to compete in varsity football. Marshall requested and was granted a waiver to allow freshmen to compete so that they could field a complete team. Due to the age of the players on the team coach Lengyel nicknamed them the Young Thundering Herd. ESPN Classic - Marshall football: From tragedy to triumph https://www.espn.com/classic/s/Classic_Marshall.html ESPN 2015-05-13 Beginning with the 1972 season the NCAA allowed freshmen to compete for all varsity football teams. NCAA's decision to allow freshman eligibility changed football landscape http://newsok.com/ncaas-decision-to-allow-freshman-eligibility-changed-football-landscape/article/3704386 2015-05-13 Construction of the roster In addition to the true freshmen who were allowed to play the roster featured three players from the previous year's varsity team. Defensive backs Felix Jordan and Nate Ruffin had both missed the ECU game due to injuries, and defensive lineman Eddie Carter had missed the ECU game due to personal matters. As freshmen had not been allowed to play on the varsity team in 1970, the 1971 roster also had many sophomores that had been recruited to Marshall. Aside from nine players who did not board the flight,http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/plane-crash-devastates-marshall-university Plane crash devastates Marshall University History November 17, 1970 March 31, 2014 the 1971 team consisted of walk-ons, former servicemen and three basketball players who had used their fifth year of eligibility to play for the football team. 50 players tried out for the team, with 35 being accepted as walk-ons. Lengyel dubbed his team the "Young Thundering Herd," and to motivate the team, President Richard Nixon wrote, "Friends across the land will be rooting for you, but whatever the season brings, you have already won your greatest victory by putting the 1971 varsity on the field."Sahadi Lou https://www.espn.com/classic/s/Classic_Marshall.html Marshall football: From tragedy to triumph ESPN Classic November 19, 2003 March 31, 2014 The letter was later read by Lengyel to the team at the first day of practice.Weir Tom http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2006-04-30-marshall-sidebar_x.htm Former coach remembers his own Marshall plan USA Today May 1, 2006 March 31, 2014 The team did not have a placekicker and held tryouts. Blake Smith, who had never attended a football game, would ultimately win the job.Woodrum Woody http://www.scout.com/college/marshall/story/572633-september-25-1971-marshall-15-xavier-13 September 25, 1971: Marshall-15 Xavier-13 Scout.com September 25, 2006 June 30, 2015 Coaching staff Jack Lengyel, Head coach William "Red" Dawson, defensive coordinator Jim McNally, Offensive line Mickey Jackson, Receivers Bill Urbanik, Defensive line The season For the season opener, the team visited the Morehead State Eagles for the I-64 Rivalry. Despite losing 29–6, the Herd managed to score late in the game with Reggie Oliver's touchdown pass to Tom Smyth, prompting a standing ovation from the crowd. We Are Marshall The event and its aftermath were dramatized in the 2006 Warner Brothers motion picture, We Are Marshall, starring Matthew McConaughey as Jack Lengyel and Matthew Fox as Red Dawson. References Marshall Category:Marshall Thundering Herd football seasons Marshall Thundering Herd football