"That night remains frozen in my mind"

I grew up in Lyndhurst N.J. , home of QB Ted Shoebridge. I was about 14 at the time and that night remains frozen in my mind to this day. My friends and I heard the news while attending a dance that Saturday night. We rushed home only to find that it really was true. We all went to the memorial service for Ted ; it seemed the whole town was there. I knew his 2 brothers . We were all devastated. God bless the 1970 Herd.

-Anonymous

"I hope someday to make this story even more known"

I wasn't around during 1970. I didnt have any family there that i know of. i wasnt even born until about 20 years later. but i have seen the movie and i have done much research since I've seen We Are Marshall. I cant even begin to imagine what the people that were there fathers mothers siblings family and people that lived there went through. i continue to find new facts about the crash all the time. i hope someday to make this story even more known.

-Anonymous

"I feel for those who suffered in this tragedy"

I just watched the movie "We Are Marshall" I could not take my eyes of this movie, my husband and my 4 year old set by my side at times we smiled, other times we were silent on others we were teary up. I believe the actors did a great job on honoring the coaches,players and relatives who suffered this tragady. Thru them I felt the pain, the love for the game,and to remember the amazing Marshall team. I feel for those who suffered in this tragedy, the ones who lost their kids, partners, parents, relatives and friends. My heart goes out, and may God always Bless You.

Susan Chavez

California

"My heart drops"

Family and friends on the Marshall University football team,

I came across this site after watching the movie, "We are Marshall", and was curious about the incidents that happened many years ago. As I learn about the tragic accident, my heart drops in ache as of what your family, friends, school and community had to go through. Everyday you read about high school teams working together as a brotherhood, inseperable in the lives and the spirit a team brings upon fellow students, community and each other. For this to happen, it tears your spirit apart, your hopes and your joys. The strength and power that you all have had to grow was probably the new spirit and the new strength that makes Marshall the school what it is today. Go Marshall! For never giving up and having the drive to grow and become Marshall once again! God Bless.

-Anonymous

"My heart goes out to all."

I fell asleep watching a movie on HBO. When I woke up "We are Marshalls" was just starting. A movie about a football team. I am female, never liked any sports and this was NOT my kind of movie. I started to clean up my room and didn't bother to shut off the tv or change the channel. I looked up though as the coach was saying "we are gonna be landing shortly guys" and he sat in his seat on the plane and then there was a flash and the screen turned black. I sat on the edge of my bed and I couldn't turn away from watching the rest of the movie. My heart was breaking. I am so sorry for everyones loss. As you can see, the movie inspired me to research the tragedy further. Which I did immediately after watching the movie. I hope all is going well for those survived by the victims of this enigma. It is not for us to know or even understand these kinds of things I guess. My heart goes out to all. My cousin died only a few weeks ago in a tragic CRAZY FREAK accident involving a semi truck. He too, was burned and unrecognizable. He had to be positively ID'ed by his dental records. He was only 38 and so so tall and handsome. So I can relate to the reaction we have at this kind of end for the ones we love.

-Spokane WA Resident

"The Marshall story is one of loss, perserverance and hope ..."

I stumbled upon the Marshall Story while researching some Rutgers football info. just before the movie came out in 2006.

Coincidentally, a local NJ paper (The Star Ledger) published a powerful piece about the young Teddy Shoebridge (QB)from Lyndhurst NJ, of the fateful team that perished in the crash and the grief that the Shoebridge family experiences to this day. This story affected me profoundly. The Marshall story is one of loss, perserverance and hope and it truly mirrors our own challenges on a different level. I will never drive through the town of Lyndhurst NJ without thinking of the young Quarterback and all of the 'Sons of Marshall'. May they find peace......

-BigAl

"It was really touching"

I just saw the movie dedicated for the Marshall Football Team entitled "We Are Marshall". I could say that it was really touching and deeply emotional knowing that it happened in the real. Years have passed but the people who died on that crash would always be remembered by everyone.
-Anonymous

"I can't believe what this town has endured."

Incredible. I can't believe what this town has endured. The actors have done a great service and honor to those who remained after the crash. Tragic story/moving emotional movie.

-Diane

'Compelled to journey to Huntington'

This story & movie touched me so that I was compelled to journey to Huntington West Virginia in late August, 2007 on my way to an event in Indiana. It was the first week of classes and as I breathed the air and anonymously walked down some of the halls of the University, visited the fountain, walked through the stadium and by the steel mill, I knew that it would be an experience I would never forget.

Dave N.
Kitchener, Ontario

'God bless you'

God bless you and all of those whose lives this terrible tragedy affected.

I can't even begin to imagine the pain you have endured.I just watched the movie and was brought to tears many times during it. How beautifully the town has pulled together, helping one another get back on their feet.

They did a wonderful job with the movie. When I put it on, I wasn't sure what to expect.

Again, God bless you.

-Sue From MA

"You Are Marshall"

I know the movie has been out for a while now, but me & my husband just had the pleasure of seeing it. We are both big football fans, but being from TX and only born in 83 & 84 had never really heard this tragic story. I have to say I have not cried so much or been so touched by a story in a long time! The movie was very well done & I thought paid very good tribute to all the lives that were lost. We are also from a small town & know how much of a tragedy loosing home town people can be. Loosing one person is bad enough much less 75 young to old. I have looked over the web site & read numerous blogs on how much those people are missed.

I just wanted to say that YOU ARE MARSHALL & you can continue to make it through with all 75 in your hearts! Good luck to the future Thundering Herds!-

Staci RetzlaffLexington TX

Online site about the 1970 Marshall plane crash available again

During the transition to new content management software, we had to temporarily take down our "1970 Marshall Plane Crash: The Real Story" site in order to move it to the new platform.

I am pleased to announce the site has returned.

The site features:

* original game stories and rosters of the 1970 and ’71 teams.
* photo galleries of the teams, Fairfield Stadium and more.
* biographical information about the victims.
* stories about Jack Lengyel, Nate Ruffin and Red Dawson.
* a history of Marshall football.
* coverage of the filming of the movie.

Explore the site by clicking here.

If you should find any technical glitches, please e-mail to me at acopley@herald-dispatch.com.

Thanks,
Andrea Copley-Smith
online editor
The Herald-Dispatch

"God Bless both those who are gone and and those living"

I grew up in Huntington and we had just moved to Welch when the crash happened. I was young, about 12 however I still remember the gut wrenching feeling I had when I heard the news. The reporters talking about the shortage of funeral home space. My sister who still lives near the airport heard the explosion but didn't know what it was at the time, and never dreaming it was a plane until she turned on the news. Marshall has fought a long battle back and God Bless both those who are gone and and those living who played a part.

-Anonymous

"We are all Marshall"

I have heard the phrase "We are Marshall" many times for years and have dismissed it as simple college pride. After seeing the film I will dismiss it no more. "We are all Marshall"
Danny Milner- Buford, Ga.

Young memory of the crash

Young memory of the crash:I was 8 years old and living in a suburb of Charleston when the news of the crash that evening came across the tv set,a plane had crash at tri-state airport. It was'nt until the next morning I awoke to find my mother reading the morning paper and weepingthat I learned it was the Marshall football team. Although we had no connection to Marshall, It was a sad time for us and I could'nt put the connection of our personal greif into perspective at that young age and even to this day the tragedy seems forever etched in my memory. Someone once spoke of the 1970 football team "THEY WILL ALWAYS BE SON'S OF MARSHALL" perhaps that explains the greif I saw in my mother the morning after the crash and yes of course that explains why... "We Are Marshall"

-Anonymous

"My heart goes out to those who lost a loved one"

I just watched We Are Marshall last night, and I will forever remember this movie, and the tragedy. My heart goes out to those who lost a loved one that day.
-Ashley

"Not just about football"

First off I'm a big Texas Longhorn fan. I never heard about the Marshall tragedy until recently mostly due in part because it happened before I was born. After watching the movie, I was just blown away. I've seen so many football movies, Rudy, The Program, Remember the Titans, the list goes on. But, I have to say, this movie tops the list. It had to have been the best football movie that I've ever seen. This movie was not just about football, it was about overcoming tragedy together as a "family", which is what We are Marshall entails, and overcoming that tragedy head on with strength, love, and compassion for all. I know that it had to be devastating to lose an entire football team, but most importantly to lose loved ones. After watching this movie, I was truly moved. This movie will always be one of my favorites of all time. The heart can be a big place if you have one, for me there will always be a place in my heart for Marshall. WE ARE MARSHALL!!!!!GOD BLESS

Jerry

"One of the most emotional movies that we have seen this year"

I was watching the Marshall vs WVU game on opening day of ncaa football when the commentater was talking about the movie. Me and my wife saw the movie last night,it was one of the most emotional movies that we have seen this year,the annoucer was right when he said if this film dosent bring tears to your eyes you better check to see if you have a heart beat..GO MARSHALL.

-Anonymous

'The best football movie'

This was an amazing movie!! Has to be the best football movie I have ever seen. I am from Kentucky when I was a kid I can remember visiting Huntington when I visited family in Ashland. We drove bye the college and my uncle told me of the tragedy that happened there. I can still remember the day we was going out to eat at Jim's I think it was called it served spaghetti I think it was a restaurant in town in Huntington. After seeing the movie I really wanna visit the memorial and pay my respects. Thanks for sharing your story with us younger generations.

Jeff Sexton- Whitesburg, Ky

In memory of Joe Hood

Hi my name is Monica Hood my uncle was #33 Joe Lee Hood he was a great player and a teriffic person and i love and miss him very much.