When we walked in, everyone in the restaurant stood and sang the Marshall fight song., Lengyel paused. I was home with my family, Lengyel recalled, watching a television show, and a crawl came across Marshall University football team perished in a crash.. It was so exciting that when the team went into the locker room they threw everyone into the showers, uniforms and all, including the priest who was travelling with them. In 1988, he became the athletic director at the United States Naval Academy, where he served for 14 years before retiring in 2001. Sandy was out so I had to clean him up. The current Thundering Herd, undefeated and nationally ranked, kick-off against Middle Tennessee Saturday at noon. This was 1971, the season after a plane crash that killed nearly the entire team, plus the coaches, boosters and others connected with the program. The other was Annie Cantrell, played by Kate Mara, who was a cheerleader and engaged to Griffens son. Sally Jenkins: Notre Dames president lacked self-control. Barry Svrluga: Kirby Smart finally vanquished Nick Saban, and now college football feels different. Red Dawson was one of three Marshall football coaches who were not aboard the DC-9 chartered plane that crashed on its return flight from the East Carolina University game on Nov. 14, 1970, killing all 75 aboard including players, fans, coaches and Marshall officials. People were crying and hugging each other because everybody knew a teammate, classmate, a friend, or neighbor on the ill-fated flight. 1 year. Lengyel took over the Marshall football program 50 years ago this year after the tragic Southern Airlines crash on Nov. 14, 1970 that killed all 75 people on board following Marshall's football . Quarterback Reggie Oliver, the holder, finally told him where to stand. Daily news from the Mineral News & Tribune delivered to your email! It was the first win since the Nov. 14, 1970, plane crash that killed 75 Marshall University football players, coaches and fans upon returning to Huntington from East Carolina University, where the team had just suffered a 17-14 loss. For the first time in my life, maybe for the first time in the history of sports, suddenly, its just not true anymore. How long did Jack Lengyel coach at Marshall? Before Jack Lengyel was hired to be the head coach, Joe McMullen was appointed as the new AD in February of 1971. Lengyel told Hicks, "Other schools may want you, but we need you." Hicks joined an eclectic group of athletes recruited from other sports, along with freshmen players and a host of walk-ons. Jack Robert Lengyel (born March 4, 1935) is a software executive and former American football coach, lacrosse coach, and college athletics administrator. Remember, there were 75 people on the plane, 37 of them players. When his friend, then-Georgia Tech assistant coach Dick Bestwick, accepted the Marshall job and then changed his mind two days later, Lengyel wondered whether perhaps he could help. Though Jack Lengyel is now most associated with his tenure as the coach who kept alive the football program at Marshall following the death of 75 players, coaches, staff, and boosters in a. Warning: Creating default object from empty value in /homepages/17/d4294970467/htdocs/morpheus/wp-content/themes/virtue/themeoptions/inc/class.redux_filesystem.php on . Jack Lengyel (left), who coached Marshalls football team for three years as it tried to recover from the devastating plane crash of 1970, will be inducted into the schools Hall of Fame. WATCH: https://t.co/wkudfIRZCB pic.twitter.com/sZznUUucjO, MetroNews (@WVMetroNews) November 12, 2020. News, Sports and Events from around Grafton and Taylor County! Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. ", Three injured, including 2 firefighters, in Barbour County house fire. By Wayne Drehs. Others in this years class (alphabetical order by last names): Stefanie Cook-Lewis, Softball/Womens Soccer (1995-98), Sarah Crandall-Fletcher, Womens Cross Country/Track and Field (1990-94), Jody Lambert, Womens Basketball/Volleyball (1970-73), Kim Nutter, Mens Cross Country/Track and Field (1978-82), Dave Tabor, Mens Cross Country/Track and Field (1983-86), Travis Young, Mens Basketball (1997-2001). HUNTINGTON, W.Va. Jack Lengyel believed the best way to honor the victims of the 1970 Marshall plane crash was to continue the football program. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. Be Nice. There was almost no one on that team who had ever played college football.. Lengyel went 9-33 in his four seasons at Marshall. Though the facts are in place, Lengyel has a hard time seeing himself in the movie. Intervals of clouds and sunshine. Lengyel is a historic figure in the history of Marshall football, the first head coach following the tragic plane crash that wiped out the program in 1970. Senate Bill 268makes a range of changes to PEIA, out of concern that the agency faces growing financial stress. Lengyel went about rebuilding a non-existent program with a Freshman team that was not eligible to compete intercollegiatly. He served as the head football coach at the College of Wooster from 1966 to 1970 and at Marshall University from 1971 until 1974, compiling a career college football . There were those who thought we shouldnt play that season, that it was disrespectful to those who died. It really wasnt about winning, he said, looking back at that challenging season, 46 years distant. Keep it Clean. The strength training facility is named in Coach Lengyels honor. The Best News for Buckhannon and Upshur County! He is also ninth in program history in assists. Pizza acrobatics is an actual sport. One of the best things you get to do as a Director of Athletics is call those who are set to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, said Christian Spears, Marshalls first-year AD. In 2012, Herrion coached the Thundering Herd to the National Invitational Tournament for the first time since 1988. Who are the Marshall football players on the plane? The dinner also marked the 38th anniversary of the Young Thundering Herd's first victory since Marshall . Jack was very reluctant before trying out for the football team yet Mr. Logan, who secretly attended the tryout, encouraged Jack to do it. She also set an 800-meter school record of 2:16.10 as a senior and set the 1,000-meter school record of 2:59.10 in 1993. Stefanie Cook-Lewis, Softball/Womens Soccer, 1995-98. His home is filled with photos and mementoes documenting his two legacies, professional and personal. Emotions of tragedy drew Lengyel to Marshall HUNTINGTON -- Coach Jack Lengyel had returned home from a successful day at the office. Alabama coach Nick Saban, a West Virginia native, has long told a story about Bowden calling and offering to make room on his staff at WVU after Saban's father passed away so he'd have a chance to . glen park elementary school tour. Until then he had been coaching at various colleges and universities when fate intervened and he was ready for the challenge. Marshall University is not a Historical Black College (HBCU). Sign up for local job offers sent to your inbox. Tickets to the game also are available through the MU ticket office at the numbers or website listed above for banquet tickets. Saturday marks the 50th-anniversary date. It was also there that the movies introduced me to Mathew McConaughey. In order to get to our field of combat, we would pry a wooden slat off of a fence behind the projects where we lived. Jack Lengyel, who served as the head coach at Marshall University from 1971-1974, was played in the film We Are Marshall by Matthew McConaughey. They enjoy visits with their three children, sons David and Peter, daughter Julie Logan, grandchildren and now great-grandchildren. If I wasnt at school, or hadnt walked the six, or seven miles to either Fenway Park, or Braves field, I could be found on a nearby sandlot playing in a pickup game of baseball. You have permission to edit this article. Marshall coach Rick . Lengyel had been a coach at the College of Wooster, 230 miles north of Marshall University, when he learned of the tragic plane crash. the german corner food truck menu; role of nurse in health care delivery system. The Young Thundering Herd of Marshall University (dark jerseys) beat Xavier University (white jerseys) 15-13 on Sept. 25, 1971, at Fairfield Stadium. When we got there, it was packed. Mathew McConaughey portrayed Coach Lengyel. Check out Jack Lengyel's College Coaching Records, Awards and Leaderboards and more about College Football at Sports-Reference.com Although he had been a football coach since he was graduated from Akron University and became the freshman football coach and then became the Assistant Varsity Football Coach, his story really began in 1971 at the age of 36. Hinkle went a perfect 16-for-16 in stolen bases as a freshman and was successful in 19 of 21 attempts as a sophomore. But he won the first home game played after the 1970 tragedy, a 15-13 victory over Xavier, winning on the last play of the game - 5-13. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. Lengyel was head coach of the Young Thundering Herd, the programs first teams following the 1970 plane crash. Marshall lost, 17-14. In football season, we rag-a-muffins would walk all the way to Harvard Square and look for a pickup game on the hard dirt infield of Cambridge Commons. It was about getting a team together to begin the process of rebuilding. "To have to deal with the situation, and to have to deal with us, and all the things that 18-year-old . Lengyel met with athletic director Joe McMullen and accepted the job March 11, 1971. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The final scenes of the movie are voiced-over by Mara, who explains that Marshall won fewer games than any Division I team in the country in the 1970s as it slowly rebuilt. He was an assistant coach at Heidelberg College (19611962) and Cornell University (19631965) [1] before becoming head football coach at the College of Wooster in 1966. He is quite familiar with the roar of military planes, as he was athletic director at the United States Naval Academy from 1988 to 2001. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. I said "I know, the kid's four, he shouldn't be doing that anymore", She said "No, not that, I can't believe. Special offers from businesses around your area. High 57F. 6 When did Nate Ruffin of the young herd die? Get the Jackson Star & Herald Delivered to your email everyday! We won't share it with anyone else. You want to impose your will, showing your opponent a speedy route to the cold, hard turf. People say to me, He doesnt have your mannerisms, at all, Lengyel said, with a chuckle. The team's long, . Invalid password or account does not exist. In Basketball season we would sneak into the MIT Gym where little Bobby ONeal was our lookout. The New Brunswick government announced soon after the crash that it was suspending the use of the vans. Its student body is merely following his example. Who did Coach Lengyel ask to be his assistant coach? In 2019, Lengyel was named to the National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame's 150th Anniversary Team of Excellence.[7]. On December 17, 2009, Marshall officially named Doc Holliday, an assistant coach at WVU under Bill Stewart, as the next head coach for the Thundering Herd football team. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. In 2006, Lengyels story was brought to the silver screen by Warner Bros. Pictures in We Are Marshall, where he was portrayed by Matthew McConaughey. Get latest breaking news from around the state when it happens. His home is filled with photos and mementoes documenting his two legacies, professional and personal. Jody Lambert, Volleyball/Womens Basketball, 1970-73. Was Annie Cantrell a real person? "The Young Herd" that carried on in 1971 had a new coach, Jack Lengyel. It was at the Cinema, (the Movies), where I was first introduced to sports movies, that was to become the genre I loved most of all. He is still the school record holder for the indoor 5000 meters (14:18.94). That overwhelming loss left families shattered, a football program in ruins and the small town of Huntington, W.V., reeling. . Jack Lengyel (left), who coached Marshall's football team for three years as it tried to recover from the devastating plane crash of 1970, will be inducted into the school's Hall of Fame. Nate died in Arlington after a long illness in 2001. Dawson then gave up coaching. Rating: PG. I choked up then; Im choking up now.. Now, dear reader please understand I have never met the Coach. Ive worked a lot of places. Daily updates from Blue Gold News for WVU sports. Don't Miss it! When she got home, I told her what happened, she couldn't believe it. Its not even about how we play the game. After leaving Marshall, Lengyel went into the private sector before returning to sports as associate director of athletics at Louisville (19781980) and Missouri (19801983). On January 12, 2008, seven members of a high school basketball team from Bathurst, New Brunswick, Canada and their coach's wife were killed in a highway crash when the 15-seat van they were traveling in collided with a tractor-trailer while returning from a game in Moncton in snowy conditions. Daily News, Sports and Events from The ET. Over the years, hes been asked many times why he took the toughest job imaginable. He served as the head football coach at the College of Wooster from 1966 to 1970 and at Marshall University from 1971 until 1974, compiling a career college football record of 33-54. Lengyel pieced together a team of freshmen, a handful of sophomores, walk-ons and three veteran players who had been injured and hadnt made the fateful trip to East Carolina. Former Marshall University head coach Jack Lengyel, who helped rebuild the Marshall football program in the 1970s, visited CU Sept. 25 to help kickoff the $1.2 million campaign. who did Coach Lengyel give the game ball to? Notify me of follow-up comments by email. He stayed four years, all losing seasons, then he resigned. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. He served as the head football coach at the College of Wooster from 1966 to 1970 and at Marshall University from 1971 until 1974, compiling a career college football record of 3354. With 1:18 left in the game, Marshall took over at its 48, trailing 13-9. On November 14th, 1970, the Marshall University football team, football coaches, athletic staff, key alumni, and friends were flying home to Huntington, West Virginia after an away game against East Carolina. He was married to Sandy back then too. Is Marshall a black college? Oh, yes, football is all about winning at all costs. He became the athletic director at Fresno State ('83-'86), Missouri ('86-'88). Lengyel, his rebuilding job completed, after four years, went on expand his illustrious career. The true story was so uplifting, that in 2006, Warner Brothers released the Biopic We are Marshall. Following his time in Huntington, Lengyel joined the administrative ranks, being named Director of Athletics at Fresno State, Missouri and Navy. Married Sharon K. Ruffin, Weekly Fairmont news emailed every Thursday evening! Lengyel told stories on Talkline about the years after the crash and what brought him to Marshall to coach the Young Thundering Herd. He said he felt like he could help and the Big Green booster club backed him. How did the Marshall plane crash happen? As a junior, she helped lead the program to its first winning record (39-23). On Nov. 14, 1970, all 75 people on board of Southern Airways Flight 932 were killed when the plane crashed near the Tri-State Airport on the way back from a football game at East Carolina. So you want to contribute to the Sport Digest? Why didn't Tom Bogdan go to the ECU game? Delegates embrace broad tax cut and also pass their version of the budget. He served as the head football coach at the College of Wooster from 1966 to 1970 and at Marshall University from 1971 until 1974, compiling a career college football record of 33-54. The amazing support we had from the town. Choose wisely! A miracle happened in his second game. We made sure we were nice to Morrill except when his mom called him for supper and he would not leave the ball. Nate Ruffin was the co-captain of the 1970 Marshall Football team. The bodies of six football players that could not be identified were buried together at Spring Hill Cemetery, which overlooks the Marshall campus. Jack Lengyel became the football coach at Marshall University four months after the Nov. 14, 1970, plane crash that killed all 75 members of the football team's traveling party. Lengyel became the man in charge after no one wanted the job. Bennett1 Emily Bennett Sport Psy. No matter what the sport was, the studios always put this amiable, jovial rotund fellow into them. No. He is one of just 21 Thundering Herd players to be named all-league in the MAC and was third all-time at Marshall in steals. Jack Lengyel, a name sports fans everywhere should know. 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. . Smith had never been in a football game and didnt know where to line up. Nutter passed away on November 15, 2004. [dropcap]T[/dropcap]he idea of a football game and just about any honest coach will confide this is to dominate the opponent. When did Nate Ruffin of Marshall football die? But he was up to the challenge of trying to rebuild the football program, an overwhelming task that seemingly nobody else wanted. The annual Hall of Fame dinner is scheduled Sept. 2 at 5 p.m., in the Don Morris Room of the Marshall University Memorial Student Center. Seventy-five people died. But he quickly realized the job he had taken went beyond rebuilding a football program. West Virginia coach Bobby Bowden reaches for a congratulatory handshake as he rides the shoulders of his players after the Mountaineers defeated North Carolina State 13 . Marshall football, 50 years after plane crash, carries on and remembers, Kyle Kuzma, Wizards start fast and dont look back in win over Raptors, Nationals relievers see benefit in tinkering with new pitches, Roger Goodell, Muriel Bowser discussed future of RFK site in December call, Southern California and UCLA announced they are leaving the Pac-12 for the Big Ten, most Americans are still enjoying college sports, Kirby Smart finally vanquished Nick Saban. Nate Ruffin was the co-captain of the 1970 Marshall Football team. On December 17, 2009, Marshall officially named Doc Holliday, an assistant coach at WVU under Bill Stewart, as the next head coach for the Thundering Herd football team. Footballs a game that enhances so many of the characteristics you need to be successful in life, Lengyel said with the patience of a coach explaining a play to a freshman quarterback. Lengyel was hired by athletic director Joe McMullen after head coach Rick Tolley was killed along with 37 players and 37 coaches and administrators of Marshall in a plane crash on November 14, 1970. He will be inducted into the schools Hall of Fame this year. Learn how your comment data is processed. He was also the leagues individual champion as a senior, helping the program to win its second SoCon Championship, after earning team runners up in 1984 and 1985. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. There were 17 children who lost a parent, eight who lost both. The Neptune, N.J. native was tabbed the C-USA Defensive Player of the Year for 2011 and was first team All-C-USA as both a junior and senior after making the honorable mention list in 2009. Lengyel is 85 years old, but his memory is still sharp, especially when it comes to the events of that first season and what it still means to the community in Huntington, W.Va. On Saturday, the 50th anniversary of the plane crash, 16th-ranked Marshall (6-0), will host Middle Tennessee State. 3 How long did Jack Lengyel coach Marshall? News from around the State and World. I got to thinking, Maybe I can help. I called down there, and they invited me down.. Hinkle holds the mark for the toughest to strikeout in team history at just 44 times in 743 at-bats. And then they get to join a group of others who have earned the same honor. "We began our journey to rebuild Marshall's football team, 'The Young Thundering Herd," said Lengyel. Lengyel was the athletic director at California State University, Fresno from 1983 to 1986, at the University of Missouri from 1986 to 1988, and at the United States Naval Academy from 1988 to 2001. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Nate Ruffin was the co-captain of the 1970 Marshall Football team. However, if we didnt let him play in the game there would be no game. How many more games did Marshall win in 1971? Tabor finished in the top 12 in all four SoCon cross country championships and was all-league in indoor and outdoor track and field four times apiece. And then I came here. You can make the case that the win over Xavier might have been the greatest upset ever in college football. The 1971 team got the nickname Young Thundering Herd for playing mostly freshmen after the NCAA granted a waiver to the program to allow freshmen to compete. He served as the head football coach at the College of Wooster from 1966 to 1970 and at Marshall University from 1971 until 1974 . Theme: Envo Blog. We were trying to get Reggie to snap the ball. Following his stellar Marshall career, Curry has spent more than a decade playing in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Jets. He said he felt like he could help and the Big Green booster club backed him. Fortunately, for Marshall they had the foresight to hire him. We Are Marshall opened Christmas week, 2006. Error! Retired as a coach/administrator, the 82-year-old Jack Lengyel serves on several football boards, chairing the Divisional Hall of Fame Board at the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. Marshall. You learn lessons, even from losing. On November 14, 1970, Lengyel, who was in his 5th year as coach of the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio, was watching TV with his family.