The 1970s began in tragedy for the Marshall Thundering Herd, as a plane crash claimed 75 lives, including players, coaches, and boosters. More than five decades later, Tony Gibson and his team will pay tribute to those lost. That heartbreaking day remains one of the darkest in college football history, a tragedy that forever reshaped the Marshall program and its legacy.

On November 14, Marshall Football posted a video on X. The caption read, “55 years later, we honor them. 🖤 November 14, 1970 We Are… Marshall 💚 #ForThe75.”Among the 75 lives lost were Captain Frank Abbott, Jim Adams, Mark Andrews, and many others, including young players like Kevin Gilmore and Art Harris. As the Thundering Herd prepares to face the Georgia State Panthers, the program will pause to honor those lost 55 years ago.

“So when you go tomorrow, this week, let’s get a little pause. Give thanks. And please understand this. It is your job. It is your privilege. It is your honor. It is your role to do your very best to honor them and everybody else that’s been through this program,” said the voice in the video. 

Marshall’s Memorial Student Center hosts the Memorial Fountain, honoring the 75 victims of the 1970 plane crash. Designed by Harry Bertoia, the 13-foot, 6,500-pound sculpture celebrates life and immortality, with 75 rods pointing heavenward in tribute. Each year, a memorial service is held on the anniversary of the tragedy. In Wayne County, West Virginia, a rain-drenched slope witnessed the loss of 75 souls in the deadliest air tragedy in college sports history. 

The team was killed on its return from a game with East Carolina on November 14. It claimed the lives of Marshall players, coaches, crew members, and fans alike. Talking about the effect that the tragedy left on the ones left behind? Marshall’s former assistant coach, Red Dawson, was not on the flight since he went recruiting after the ECU game. He shared in an interview two years back, “I think I went to 27 funerals. You can’t imagine that kind of pain, seeing all those families who lost the people they love the most.” 

A defining chapter in Thundering Herd football history came after the November 1970 crash, when Marshall rebuilt its team for the next season. The media dubbed the resilient squad the “Young Thundering Herd.” On March 17, 1971, Jack Lengyel stepped in as Marshall’s new coach. He assembled a team from players who had avoided the crash and athletes from other sports.

The school also requested permission from the NCAA to allow freshmen to play, which the NCAA granted. Marshall was reborn as the “Young Thundering Herd” until normal class cycles returned. The battle they fought helped shape college football into what it is today.

Marshall Thundering Herd battles for bowl eligibility

Postseason college football is approaching, and Marshall is battling for bowl eligibility. Standing with a 4-5 record, the Thundering Herd has three games left. It starts with two tough road tests at Georgia State and App State, before closing at home against Georgia Southern. Gibson’s squad will need at least one road victory to keep its bowl hopes alive, though none of its remaining opponents have winning records.

In their last outing, the Thundering Herd fell 35-23 to the James Madison Dukes. Before that, Marshall got crushed by Coastal Carolina 44-27. Against the Dukes, Carlos Del Rio-Wilson threw for 154 yards on 16-of-35 passes with a touchdown and added 73 yards on 23 carries. Antwan Roberts rushed 20 times for 121 yards and a touchdown. He got Marshall on the scoreboard with a 15-yard touchdown rush with 13:55 left to play in the second quarter. But bad luck.

Tony Gibson’s team still trailed 7-6 after a missed extra point. Wide receiver DeAndre Tamarez paced the receiving corps with three catches for 37 yards. But the game ultimately slipped away. After a trio of punts, Marshall turned the ball over on downs following four unsuccessful rush attempts, allowing JMU to seal the win with a 49-yard Barnett-to-Knight touchdown, making it 35-23 with 2:28 left. With Georgia State next, the Herd will have no room for mistakes as they honor the 75 lives lost 55 years ago.