Is We are Marshall based on a true story?
Yes, ‘We Are Marshall’ is based on a true story. The heartbreaking narrative of the film hits you all the more since it has its roots in actuality. Joseph McGinty Nichol, popularly known as McG, directed the movie from a screenplay written by Jamie Linden, adapting from a story by Linden and Cory Helms.
Is the movie we are Marshall a good movie?
The movie "We Are Marshall" was recently released on DVD, with Matthew McConaughey playing the part of coach Jack Lengyel, Matthew Fox as coach Red Dawson, Anthony Mackie as football player Nate Ruffin, and David Straitham as Marshall President Donald Dedmon. "We Are Marshall" in an excellent movie.
How accurate was the portrayal of Marshall win over Xavier?
How accurate was the portrayal of Marshall’s win over Xavier? The only real difference between the movie and reality is the fact that reality was a 13-yard screen pass won the game for Marshall, not a hail mary. Was the Red Dawson character true?
Did the Marshall fans really chant “We Are…Marshall?
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. Did the crowd really chant “We Are…Marshall?” No, not at all. From most of the information that I found it started in the early 80’s.
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Is the movie We Are Marshall true?
"We Are Marshall" is a true story about the tragic plane crash containing almost the entire school's football team back in 1970 and the aftermath that followed (as aftermaths do).
Were there any survivors from the Marshall plane crash?
On Nov. 14, 1970, 75 people died in the worst sports-related air tragedy in U.S. history, when a Southern Airways DC-9 crashed into a hillside nearby. The victims included 36 Marshall University football players, 9 coaches and administrators, 25 fans and air crew of 5. No one survived this horrific disaster.
What caused the Marshall plane crash?
“The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause was the descent below Minimum Descent Altitude during a non precision approach under adverse weather conditions, without visual contact with the runway environment.
How many bodies were recovered from the Marshall plane crash?
Police reported a few hours after the crash that "15 bodies had been recovered," but the fire was so intense that they were unable to get into the plane to examine further, The News wrote that year. Because of the intensity of the crash, officials were unable to identify six of the players remains.
What happened to the plane that killed the Marshall football team?
On November 14, 1970, Southern Airways Flight 932, a chartered jet flight from Kinston, North Carolina, to Kenova, West Virginia, clipped into some trees and crashed into a hill just short of its arrival at Huntington Tri-State Airport.
Did Nate Ruffin play in the NFL?
Randy Snyder/The Herald-Dispatch Sharon Ruffin, widow of former Marshall football player Nate Ruffin, laughs on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2006, as she recounts the life of her husband and his portrayal in the upcoming movie profiling the Young Thundering Herd. Nate missed the 1971 game against East Carolina due to an injury.
How many football players died in the Marshall plane crash?
Members of the Marshall community gather at the Marshall Memorial Fountain Monday, Nov. 14, 2005, during a ceremony honoring the 35th anniversary of the deaths of 75 Marshall football players, coaches, staff, supporters and crew who died in a plane crash near the Huntington Tri-State airport.
Where are the Marshall football players buried?
Spring Hill CemeteryIn perhaps the saddest ceremony of all, six players whose remains couldn't be identified were buried together in Spring Hill Cemetery, on a hill overlooking their university. Marshall got a new football coach–Jack Lengyel, from the College of Wooster in Ohio–and set about rebuilding the team.
How long did Jack Lengyel coach Marshall?
“I'm rooting for a tie.” Lengyel coached Marshall's Young Thundering Herd from 1971 through 1974, leading the program after the Nov. 14, 1970, plane crash near Tri-State Airport killed all 75 people aboard, including most of the MU football team.
Who missed the Marshall plane crash?
Carter, the brother of former Man head coach Tootie Carter, played for Marshall until early November 1970. As fate would have it, Carter quit the team a week before Marshall's ill-fated plane crash on Nov. 14, 1970 which claimed the lives of all 75 members on board on a return trip from East Carolina.
Was anything recovered from the Marshall plane crash?
Friday, November 14th, will mark the 44th Anniversary of the plane crash that killed most of the Marshall football team, members of the coaching staff, a number of university administrators, fans and the entire crew of Southern Airways Flight 932. There were no survivors.
Where was the Marshall University football team returning from the night of their fateful flight back to Huntington?
On November 14th, 1970, the Marshall Thundering Herd football team was returning home from East Carolina University when their plane crashed into a hillside about one mile from the Tri-state Airport runway in Kenova, West Virginia.
Where is Jack Lengyel now?
Lengyel also served many years on the board of trustees for the Foundation of the United States Naval Academy. He is currently the vice president of business development for XOS Digital, a sports media and technology company.
Who didnt get on Marshall plane?
Carter, the brother of former Man head coach Tootie Carter, played for Marshall until early November 1970. As fate would have it, Carter quit the team a week before Marshall's ill-fated plane crash on Nov. 14, 1970 which claimed the lives of all 75 members on board on a return trip from East Carolina.
How many died in Marshall plane crash?
75 MarshallMembers of the Marshall community gather at the Marshall Memorial Fountain Monday, Nov. 14, 2005, during a ceremony honoring the 35th anniversary of the deaths of 75 Marshall football players, coaches, staff, supporters and crew who died in a plane crash near the Huntington Tri-State airport.
Why did Jack Lengyel leave Marshall?
Lengyel had run a flip-flop offense at Wooster, but knew that wouldn't work at Marshall because of the need for experienced linemen. “We needed an offense that would work for the players we had and give us a chance to win,” Lengyel said.
Why didn't Felix Jordan appear in the movie?
Warner Bros. claimed that Jordan failed to honor filming contractual agreement . As a result, Jordan wasn’t given an opportunity to sign has rights away to the filmmaker in order to have his likeness appear in the movie. Ironically, Felix wouldn’t have signed his rights away anyway because he had reservations about recounting the excruciating details for the Hollywood writer according to Craig T. Greenlee, author of November Ever After factual account. However, Jordan’s No.21 jersey appeared on a player during a movie scene during the re-enactment of the 1971 Marshall vs. Cincinnati Xavier game. Jordan felt slighted because he called the defensive backfield coverages during that game and throughout the season. Warner Bros. errantly portrayed The Late Great Nate Ruffin as the leader of the defensive secondary. However, Felix Jordan was the leader of the defensive secondary.
Did Art Harris have a girlfriend?
failed to include a real budding romance between Art Harris Jr., one of the team’s star running back and his girlfriend, Janice Cooley. Two weeks before the plane crash, Harris developed an obsession about death. As a result, he became religious and started attending church services. A few days before the crash, Harris introduced Ms. Cooley to his mother in New Jersey via telephone. On November Friday the 13th, , right before he boarded the team bus to Huntington’s Tri-State Airport, Harris tells Cooley, “If I don’t make it back, give my clothes away and you can keep my car.” This actual event should have been used instead of the fictitious love scene between that star running back and the cheerleader in the diner.
What is the movie version of the story of the tragic Marshall plane crash?
The film version of the story of the tragic Marshall Plane crash explores issues in only the most elementary manner, with overwrought dialogue that rarely seems believable. People don’t talk to each other in “We Are Marshall,” they make inspirational speeches. People don’t walk, they stride forcefully.
What was true and what was made up?
Give Matthew McConaughey credit for trying, but his overly exuberant and slightly flaky character is completely unbelievable as a head coach . Jack Lengyel wasn’t at all like he was portrayed. He was a low-key man in his approach to everything. Jack had a deep voice that he very seldom raised, but when he did, you knew to listen. He was the perfect guy for the job because he had had a knack for connecting with people immediately. The characterization of Lengyel is so off-base it really doesn’t belong in this movie. I understand that movies go over the top on dramatizations but this one was so far from the truth that it shouldn’t be allowed.
Did coach Lengyel actually say the line, “The funerals end today”?
It wasn’t said exactly the way it was in the movie but it is probably about 80-90 percent accurate. 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.
Was Marshall’s team really without the help of an athletic director?
No. Before Jack Lengyel was hired to be the head coach, Joe McMullen was appointed as the new AD in February of 1971. 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. Actually, a Georgia Tech assistant coach Dick Bestwick was hired before Lengyel, but he left after just a couple of days and Lengyel became the new coach.
Did all of the Characters really exist?
No, two of the people were completely made up. The first was “Paul Griffen,” played by Ian McShane, who worked in the steel mill and had a son on the 1970 football team who died in the crash. The other was “Annie Cantrell,” played by Kate Mara, who was a cheerleader and engaged to Griffen’s son. I know these are what Hollywood calls composite characters but I myself was very disappointed to find out these two people never even existed.
How long was the plane down in the movie?
Not the way the movie showed you. The plane was down for around 30 minutes before the media was ever notified. Jack Hardin, who was a veteran newspaper reporter, actually found a wallet that belonged to one of the players and that’s how the passengers on the plane were initially identified.
Was Red Dawson a tragic figure?
Yes, Dawson was a tragic figure because he looked at the young men he coached as sons, and the loss of these players took a huge personal toll which led him to no longer coach football. One of my biggest problems with this movie while researching it was the fact that Red Dawson did not give up his seat on the plane.
What was the final score of Marshall University vs Xavier?
A: The Marshall University football team beat Xavier University on Sept. 25, 1971, at Fairfield Stadium. The final score was 15-13.
What is the movie about the Marshall University football team?
The Warner Bros. Pictures film tells the story of the Marshall University football team after a 1970 plane crash that killed all 75 people aboard, including most of the team members, staff and many fans. Here is a fact vs. fiction Q&A.
What was the final play in the movie?
The final play in the movie was a crossing route , where the Young Thundering Herd actually called a screen pass for a 13 yard touchdown to take the win. "I was at the game in 1971 when Marshall beat Xavier," said Dave Wellman, director of communications at Marshall.
What does "don't threaten" mean?
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Why did they use composite characters in the movie?
While most of the characters in the film were real, several composite characters were used to tell the stories of many community members touched by the crash without overwhelming the audience. "We did two (main) composite characters and the reason we did that is because there were so many people," said screenwriter Jamie Linden.
Where is Ruffin buried?
He died in October 2001 at age 51 and is buried at Spring Hill Cemetery next to six players who died in the crash whose bodies could not be identified and former Marshall assistant athletic director Ed Starling.
Where is Matthew McConaughey's grave?
Matthew McConaughey has an inspirational scene in the Spring Hill Cemetery at the graves of six players who could not be identified after the crash. Lengyel said he took his team to that site before every season to help the newer players understand the team's history. "The new players didn't know the story.
What is the average rating of We Are Marshall?
Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 48% out of 126 professional critics gave the film a positive review, with an average rating of 5.8/10 and the site's consensus stating: "Matthew McConaughey almost runs We Are Marshall to the end zone, but can't stop it from taking the easy, feel-good route in memorializing this historic event in American sports."
When was We Are Marshall released?
We Are Marshall was released on DVD, HD DVD, and Blu-ray in the United States on September 18, 2007.
How many people died in the Marshall plane crash?
We Are Marshall is a 2006 American historical drama biopic film directed by McG. It depicts the aftermath of the 1970 plane crash that killed 75 people: 37 players of the Marshall University Thundering Herd football team, five coaches, two athletic trainers, the athletic director, 25 boosters, and the airplane crew of five.
Where was We Are Marshall filmed?
Filming of We Are Marshall commenced on April 3, 2006, in Huntington, West Virginia, and was completed in Atlanta, Georgia . The premiere for the film was held at the Keith-Albee Theatre on December 12, 2006, in Huntington; other special screenings were held at Pullman Square. The movie was released nationwide on December 22, 2006.
Who produced Marshall University?
Deborah Novak and John Witek, who produced the 2000 documentary Marshall University: Ashes to Glory, filed a $100 million lawsuit in federal court in California accusing Warner Bros. and others associated with the We Are Marshall film of fraud, copyright infringement, and breach of contract. Novak, who directed Marshall University: Ashes to Glory, is a Huntington native and Marshall alumnus. In October 2008, a federal judge dismissed the lawsuit in a summary judgment in favor of Warner Bros.
Who is the coach in We Are Marshall?
Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue - Cameo as an East Carolina football coach (uncredited) (Most of We Are Marshall was filmed in Georgia).
Who wrote the movie "The Healing of the Community"?
It was scored by Christophe Beck and written by Jamie Linden. The film addressed rebuilding the program and the healing that the community undergoes. Dr. Keith Spears was the Marshall University consultant.
How many people died in the Marshall plane crash?
The book tells the story of Marshall football, including the 1970 plane crash that killed 75 people, including the football team, coaching staff and several prominent boosters. The movie "We Are Marshall" was recently released on DVD, with Matthew McConaughey playing the part of coach Jack Lengyel, Matthew Fox as coach Red Dawson, ...
Why did Red Dawson leave the football team?
He left after one season because he honestly just couldn't be around the game any more. Just on the team, he'd lost young men who were like sons and colleagues who were like brothers, not to mention his connection to the team doctors and other local community leaders. When you look at it that way, nobody lost more than Red. We tried to talk with him for our first book, but he just couldn't do it. That book came out in the late fall of 1988 after Marshall had played Northeast Louisiana for the I-AA championship in 1987, but he still was hurting. He was glad we were doing the book, but he just couldn't talk about it. When they finally won the title in 1992, he was able to talk about it for the book that came out in ’93. It was the first time he'd talked at length about the crash and the following 20-some years. His grieving process seemed to end with that championship. The movie, I think, completed his healing.
Why didn't Blake Smith come to Marshall?
The kicker, Blake Smith, however, didn't come from the soccer team because Marshall didn't have soccer until the mid-1980s.
Where was the Marshall game filmed?
They not only encouraged participation in scenes in Huntington and Atlanta, where the bulk of the filming took place, but begged for it. My wife Claudia and I were in the stadium crowd in Atlanta with other Marshall fans the day they shot about a half-dozen scenes including the final touchdown, following celebration and the one in which McConaughey gives the game ball to Strathairn, who played Marshall president Donald Dedmon.
Where was the movie Marshall filmed?
They not only encouraged participation in scenes in Huntington and Atlanta, where the bulk of the filming took place, but begged for it.
Did Marshall and WVU play the same players?
At that time, Marshall and WVU seldom, if ever, vied for the same players. The best players in the state — and there weren't that many — went to WVU if the Mountaineers could keep them in the state.
Who was Marshall's coach?
Lengyel actually was Marshall's third choice for coach, after assistant coaches at Penn State and Georgia Tech. And he was hired by McMullen, not through President Dedmon sitting at his desk checking off a list of names after phone calls. Marshall had no trouble getting its petition for freshman eligibility granted.
