November Ever After

My take-aways on Camellia Bowl 2020

noreply@blogger.com (November Ever After) — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 05:10:00 +0000

Herd quarterback Grant Wells moved his team downfield
in the waning seconds. But Buffalo's defense responded
with two sacks to preserve the victory.
(Photo by Jake Crandall/Montgomery Advertiser)

A few days have passed since Marshall's football season ended with a third straight setback. Understandably, it was not a joyous scene. But that's hardly sufficient reason for fans of the Big Green to embrace the notion that the future is bleak.

Here's my take on what I saw on Christmas Day when the Thundering Herd came up empty in a 17-10 loss to Buffalo in the Camellia Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. The final outcome was a bit different from what I anticipated.

The outlook was not very favorable for the Herd. Aside from having three of its premier players opt out of the game (to get ready for the NFL), the team was on a downward spiral. Prior to the bowl game, MU suffered head-scratching back-to-back losses.

On Christmas Day, Marshall's Thundering Herd was its own worst enemy. Yet, they still had a legitimate shot to force overtime or win the game with a touchdown and two-point conversion. It was a minor miracle that Marshall managed to stay in contention.

Consider these stumbling blocks that MU managed to deal with for the bowl game.

Six starters did not play.
Three consecutive bone-headed plays on special teams -- disastrous and downright bizarre.
Lack of offensive diversity. The Herd needed to get more production from its air game (114 passing yards was not nearly enough).
Soft pass coverage combined with a non-existent pass rush spelled doom. Over four quarters, Buffalo quarterback Kyle Vantrease rarely faced any semblance of defensive pressure.

Even so, defense proved to be the Herd's saving grace. Buffalo (47.8 points and 309 rushing yards per game) was held far below its eye-popping season averages.

Now, allow me to put the spotlight on Grant Wells, the Marshall quarterback who has received boat loads of blame for the Herd's recent offensive slide. In my humble opinion, I say it's time for all detractors to exercise some radio silence and acknowledge what transpired in the game's closing moments.

Wells, a redshirt freshman, is not a finished product by a long shot. No.8 is still subject to growing pains, indecisiveness and bad judgement just like any other up and coming QB. The maturation continues.

Marshall DB Steven Gilmore
breaks up pass intended
for Buffalo WR Trevor Wilson.
(Photo by
Jake Crandall/
Montgomery Advertiser)

Given all that Marshall did to shoot itself in the hoof, Wells -- with no timeouts and 1:09 left to play -- scrambled for a first down and completed three passes to put his team in the red zone. With 30 seconds to go in regulation, the Herd had a first-and-10 at Buffalo's 20-yard line.

But the Herd would get no closer. On third and fourth down plays, Wells was sacked to end the game. What happened in those waning seconds has more to do with game experience as opposed to lack of skill or game smarts.

As Wells logs more crunch-time game experience, he'll develop a keener sense for pressure. He'll learn to bolt from the pocket earlier so he can buy enough time to extend plays. Acquiring that skill set, however, cannot be done in scrimmages. Getting tested under actual game conditions is the only way.

With Wells, there's so much upside. No need to fret about his first bowl game. The kid will continue to grow. He'll be fine.

MVP trophy went to the wrong player

I do understand the logic in picking Buffalo RB Kevin Marks as the Camellia Bowl MVP. Marks, subbing for the nation's leading rusher Jaret Patterson (injured knee), scored the game-winning touchdown on a 2-yard run with a little over a minute remaining in the fourth quarter. Marks finished with a game-high 138 rushing yards.

Coming down the stretch, Kyle Vantrease was the
prime factor for the Buffalo Bulls.
(Photo by Jake Crandall/Montgomery Advertiser)

But ... when I consider the context of the game, Marks can't be that guy. Yes, he scored the game-winner. But keep in mind that Marshall let him score so that its offense would have enough time to put together a final drive. The Herd made it interesting, but just couldn't add the finishing touches at the end.

Marks did all of his damage in the first half with 110 rushing yards. Over the final 30 minutes, however, the Herd clamped down and Marks was a non-factor.

The MVP should have been Vantrease (completed 16 of 27 passes for 140 yards). Yeah, his passing stats are hardly spectacular. Still, there's no denying that when his team needed it most, he delivered.

On Buffalo's game-winning drive, Vantrease connected twice with wide receiver Antonio Nunn. The first hook-up was a 26-yard pass play that put the Bulls in the red zone. Two plays later, Vantrease threw a 12-yard pass to Nunn on a post route which set the stage for Mark's short-yardage TD run.

-Craig T. Greenlee

Herd faces huge challenge in bowl showdown

noreply@blogger.com (November Ever After) — Thu, 24 Dec 2020 02:40:00 +0000

Marshall will need QB Grant Wells to play
at an all-star level to best Buffalo.
(Associated Press photo/Emilee Chinn)

On paper, the prospects don't look very promising for Marshall when it faces Buffalo in the Camellia Bowl on Friday afternoon.

In other words, the Thundering Herd could be in for a blue Christmas.

Christmas Day/December 25th
Montgomery, Alabama
2:30 p.m. (Eastern time) on ESPN

For starters, MU (7-2) will not have three of its best players available because of opt-outs. RB Brenden Knox (2019 Conference USA MVP), OT Josh Ball and LB Tavante Beckett were 1st team all-league picks. All three decided to skip the bowl game to begin their preparation for the 2021 NFL Draft. All three are projected to be chosen in the mid- to late-rounds.

On the plus side, though, there is ample talent remaining, which includes 13 other Marshall players who were either first- or second-team All-CUSA. But whether that's enough to push the Herd over the hump remains to be seen.

Areas of concern

Loss of key personnel isn't the only issue. The Herd's performance level has been problematic over the last two games, which resulted in surprising home losses to Rice (20-0) and Alabama-Birmingham (22-13 in the CUSA title game).

As for Friday, it's crucial that Marshall's offense finds a way to get back on track. Execution has been woefully inadequate (averaging a meager 7.5 points in two previous outings).

The Herd's inability to sustain drives and move the chains has put a strain on the defense, which hasn't played badly. But it hasn't been good enough. At the same time, they're not as dominant as they were in the first seven games when MU was undefeated.

Lately, the defense is on the field a lot longer than usual. In the late stages of games, the weariness begins to show and it results in MU not being able to deliver much-needed stops.

Time of possession a major factor

Examples: Rice controlled tempo with its ground attack and kept the ball for 36 minutes, 26 seconds. UAB was even more effective in imposing its will. The Blazers generated 468 total yards and dominated time of possession (41:26)

Buffalo (5-1) is a much different animal than UAB. Not only do the Bulls average 47.8 points and 309.5 rushing yards per game, but they have the nation's leading rusher in Jaret Patterson (178.7 yards per game).Patterson's health, however, is a question mark.

Buffalo running back Jaret Patterson has rushed
for 19 touchdowns this season (tied for second in the nation).
Photo/thecapitalsportsreport.com

In Buffalo's 38-28 loss to Ball State in the MAC championship game, he injured a knee in the third quarter and came back in the fourth quarter, but ran just one time. Media reports indicate that Patterson is expected to play on Friday.

There's a possibility that Patterson might be reduced to spot duty if he's not completely recovered. If that's the case, Buffalo will call on Kevin Marks, who ran for 97 yards and averaged 10.7 yards a carry in the MAC title game.

Long odds

Given Marshall's situation entering the Christmas Day contest, there's no denying that the Herd faces long odds to win. QB Grant Wells must rediscover his throwing touch. And he will need help from a productive running game that will help the Herd build confidence and momentum as the game plays out.

In one game, anything can happen. So, the Herd cannot be counted out. But the loss of three marquee players combined with this recent losing skid could be too much for Marshall to overcome.

My prediction: Buffalo 29, Marshall 20.

I would love to be wrong about this. After all, games are not played on paper. That's why they play in the first place. Stay tuned.

-Craig T. Greenlee

Amid the Marshall football tragedy, chance meant everything

noreply@blogger.com (November Ever After) — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 05:41:00 +0000

The resilient spirit of the 1970 Thundering Herd lives on
in the hearts and minds of the Marshall faithful.
(Photo courtesy of Marshall University)

By Matthew Gutierrez

Craig Greenlee remembers thinking that could have been me, and the memories come rushing back.

Greenlee, a former Marshall University football player, survived the deadliest plane crash in American sports history because he had quit the team. But he lost 37 of his former teammates. The relatively minor decision to leave the team ultimately spared his life.

“Knowing that I could have been on that plane, the fact that I made a decision and it panned out this way, that still amazes me to this day,” Greenlee, of Winston-Salem, N.C., said this week. “It will always be with me. Those things don’t ever fade.”

On Nov. 14, 1970, a chartered Southern Airlines plane transporting the players, coaches, spouses, boosters and officials from a game at East Carolina crashed and burned into a wet, foggy hillside two miles from the runway of the Tri-State Airport. An official cause wasn’t determined. All 75 passengers aboard the DC-9 plane were killed instantly upon impact. Greenlee lost dozens of friends, coaches and acquaintances. There were no survivors.

Unmistakable reminder

Greenlee’s survival is a powerful reminder of the sheer randomness of how the day unfolded, who lived, who died, which families were touched, and whose were impacted forever. Every day, people make seemingly insignificant decisions — to join an organization, to run to the grocery store, to grab a coffee — without realizing the possibilities that our choices lead to. Call it “luck” or “fate.”

What is clear is the role chance plays in peoples’ lives, every day, and how consequential the small decisions we make can be. No matter how hard we work, how much money we have or who we are, we are all subject to the vagaries of chance.

“The possibilities of any day are limitless,” Greenlee says. “It taught me there are so many things that can happen at any given time.”

Greenlee played two seasons for the Thundering Herd.

Marshall is amid one of its best seasons in its FBS history, ranked 15th in the country at 7-0 (as of Nov. 16). The Thundering Herd hammered Middle Tennessee 42-14 last Saturday, which was Nov. 14. It marked 50 years to the day since the tragedy.

On that particular game day, a 9 a.m. ceremony was held to commemorate those who died. And 75 banners — each one showing a photograph of one of the 75 victims — were placed around the Huntington, W.Va., campus.

So many ironies

The 1970 team cheerleaders survived the crash because there wasn’t enough room on the plane for all to attend the game, and the group had adopted a policy that “all go or none go.” Two local journalists survived because one of their colleagues called in sick that week, and they decided to fill his role at the office by not traveling to the game.

One player didn’t make the trip because he overslept on Friday morning, the team’s travel day. Other players, such as defensive backs Tony Barile and Felix Jordan, survived because they had been injured and didn’t travel with the team.

Ed Carter survived the crash because he had to endure a death shortly prior. The offensive lineman was grieving the death of his father. He flew home to Texas to be with his family and attend the funeral. His mother encouraged him not to return back to Marshall, so he didn’t travel with the team that weekend.

Lineman reads his own obituary

His mom’s relatively small decision proved to keep him alive. The next day, when it was assumed he died in the crash, he read his own obituary in the local newspaper.

Then there was the trio of Marshall players (Bob Harris, Jack Repasy and Mark Andrews) who came from the same Cincinnati high school. Their parents had attended the game, and when it was time to head home Saturday evening, they asked their kids to drive back with them.

Players turn down parents' offer to ride back to MU

But the players, coming off a loss to East Carolina, didn’t want to upset their coach or teammates for not returning with the group. Although the parents pleaded, the players said they preferred just to fly back, and they’d reunite back on campus.

“The way that happened, with those three gone because of that seemingly small decision, it’s remarkable,” Greenlee says.

Greenlee left home in Jacksonville, Fla., to attend Marshall, hoping to earn a scholarship if he made the team. He was one of a growing number of Black players on a team that had only recently begun integrating players of color. He won a spot and played two seasons, 1968 and 1969, but he lost his passion for football toward the end of his sophomore season, and he quit the program when the year ended.

Life-changing decision

He didn’t know at the time how consequential his choice would become. He didn’t know it would essentially determine whether he survived beyond the age of 20.

Fifty years later, he says the tragedy doesn’t consume him, and he rarely talks about it. He doesn’t usually consider the event, those involved and the consequences until the calendar hits November.

Then, amid the second half of the college football season, as the days grow shorter, the reminders become more real. He says he hasn’t necessarily felt classic symptoms of survivor’s guilt. He doesn’t regret his decision to quit the team. Given the circumstances, it was best for him.

Still, he deeply grieved the loss of friends, some close, others acquaintances. He felt for Scottie Reese, his best friend on the team, who had agreed to be Greenlee’s best man at his wedding, but died in the crash.

Overwhelming sorrow

In an instant, Greenlee was among a population that had lost friends, parents, children, and husbands. The pain was immeasurable. “What makes it heartbreaking is you’re talking about kids who are 20 years old,” Greenlee says. “They are near graduation, before marriage, having families, living life, and then everything is gone.”

Then Greenlee recalled how, on the evening of the crash, he was preparing to attend an off-campus party. He heard rumors in his dormitory that a plane had crashed, and there were murmurs that it could have been the football team. Soon, there were reports on the radio confirming what the students feared: The plane was indeed the one transporting the team.

“I made up my mind right there, I’m not going out there to the crash sight,” he says. “I wasn’t sure what I might see. I never wanted to have that memory because I know once you see it, you can’t get rid of it.”

Everlasting snapshot

For Greenlee, one of the lasting images of the tragedy is of Reese, a linebacker and defensive end from Waco, Texas. Greenlee remembers seeing him for the last time, on campus, with his facial structure, his lean but solid stature at 5-11, 185 pounds, and his smile. He also remembers the way Scottie sounded, the facial expressions he made, and the legacy he left behind.

“You remember snapshots,” Greenlee says. “You come to grips in some shape or form with your own mortality, and you realize how each day is a gift, a canvas to be worked on, and anything can happen to us at any point.”

Matthew Gutierrez is a staff writer for The Athletic, covering Syracuse basketball and football, as well as golf. He has written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post, among others. Previously, he covered Syracuse basketball and football for The Daily Orange, the student newspaper. A native of Princeton, New Jersey, he is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.

Former MU cheerleader works behind the scenes to bolster legacy of '70 Herd

noreply@blogger.com (November Ever After) — Sun, 15 Nov 2020 06:23:00 +0000

Debbra (Bailey) Bowen (far right) was the first
black cheerleader at Marshall University.

When the movie "We Are Marshall" came out in 2006, the story of the November 14, 1970 plane crash that killed most of Marshall's football team became well known. But now, there's an added twist.

Thanks to Debbra Bowen, a cheerleader at MU during the late '60s/early '70s, the legacy of that team, coaches and supporters is being immortalized in a different venue -- the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame.

Bowen, whose maiden name is Bailey, worked closely with Hall of Fame officials to ensure that the story of the plane crash will never be forgotten. The Hall of Fame now has put together a display that informs and inspires all who visit.

Check out this link to see posts on Facebook regarding Bowen's work. Kudos to Debbra.

http:facebook.com/novembereverafter

50 years later ....

noreply@blogger.com (November Ever After) — Sat, 14 Nov 2020 05:48:00 +0000

Marshall's Joe Hood
started attracting attention from NFL
scouts in 1970 as a multi-talented running back
in his first varsity season as a sophomore.
(Herald-Dispatch photo archives)

Wow, here we are. Fifty years -- to the day -- after the fact.

A half-a-century has passed since November 14, 1970. It was a gut-wrenching night when Marshall University lost most of its football team in a fiery plane crash.

Time did not stand still in the wake of the tragedy. Yet, there are still those occasions when I'm frozen in time as I think about my life as a 20-year old ex-college jock at MU.

Talented freshman class

Two years before the tragedy, I was part of a new wave of football at Marshall. I was on that 1968 freshman team that went undefeated and had all of Huntington, West Virginia in constant buzz mode.

There was excitement galore about what Thundering Herd football would be like in the immediate future.

The high hopes of the team's followers, however, took a big hit in the summer of 1969. Marshall was axed from the Mid-American Conference for recruiting violations. The NCAA came down hard with sanctions which severely limited the program's ability to woo enough top-flight athletes who could make a difference right away.

The Herd, though, still had ample talent on board for 1970. As things turned out, roster depth became an issue when injuries sidelined key personnel.

Even so, Marshall proved to be a pesky opponent. Even in defeat, there was a calm confidence that better days were coming soon.

Unforgettable night

But then came the crash. There were no survivors among the 75 passengers. All but a handful of players on the 1970 varsity team died when Marshall's charter jet slammed into the side of a hill as it attempted to make a landing at Tri-State Airport.

In spite of the substantial losses, Marshall made the decision to keep football alive. But the process to achieve stardom was woefully slow and often painful. It would take more than a decade after the crash before the Herd produced a winning season.

Once the breakthrough came, the Herd went on a roll. Winning conference titles, two (Division I-AA) national championships, along with several post-season bowl games, Marshall gained some national notoriety.

Quite a journey

Personally, it's been a thrilling experience. I played two years as a safety for the Herd. When I stepped away from the game, I became an intrigued observer. As a result, I've been an eye-witness to arguably the most inspired comeback story in the annals of sports at any level.

That gives me plenty of reasons to never forget

It's appropriate to acknowledge and pay homage to those who perished on that chilly, rainy and foggy night from so long ago. And for me, it will never get old.

The memories from my time at Marshall are as vivid as ever. And I'm so glad about it. Here's my tip of the hat to the 75.

-Craig T. Greenlee

Video: Huntington names city block in honor of Thundering Herd football legend

noreply@blogger.com (November Ever After) — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 21:55:00 +0000

Marshall legendary quarterback Reggie Oliver

passed away two years ago, but his memory lives on.

As part of Marshall's 2020 Homecoming

celebration, the city of Huntington, West Virginia named

one of its streets after Oliver in a ceremony

on Oct.23. (You Tube video)

Reggie Oliver's legacy rises to new heights

noreply@blogger.com (November Ever After) — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 05:09:00 +0000

Oliver's life was celebrated by fans and members of
the Young Thundering Herd when Marshall hosted North Carolina State
at Edwards Stadium in an early-season game in 2018.
(Photo courtesy of speaktherights.com)

Reggie Oliver forged a wonderful legacy as the legendary quarterback who led Marshall University's Thundering Herd in the years following the 1970 plane crash that killed most of the school's varsity football team.

Oliver finished his college career in 1973 with a hefty share of the school's passing records. In 1984, he was inducted into the Marshall Sports Hall of Fame.

But now, that legacy has reached new heights.

Oliver, the school’s first black quarterback, was honored during Marshall's Homecoming celebration during the weekend of October 23. In ceremonies held on Friday of homecoming, the MU icon had a street named after him. The city-block-length street that used to be known as Huntington Avenue, has a new name now -- Reggie Oliver Square.

The street runs right next to what used to be Fairfield Stadium, the home field for Marshall football for 63 years. Fairfield was demolished in 2004. Since 1991, MU has played its home games at Edwards Stadium, which is located adjacent to campus.

Oliver looks downfield for a receiver
in a 1971 game against Bowling Green
which the Herd won in a 12-10 upset.

The site of the old stadium is now used by the school’s Forensic Science Center and the Edwards School of Medicine.

Oliver, who served as an assistant coach at Marshall, Bowling Green and Central State (Ohio), passed away two years ago in Huntsville, Alabama. He died from complications of a head injury suffered in a fall.

It did not take long for Oliver to become part of MU’s football folklore. In the team’s first home game after the crash, Oliver, a sophomore, orchestrated a game-winning drive for the ages. He connected with Terry Gardner on a 13-yard screen pass on the final play of the game as the Herd beat Xavier (Ohio) 15-13 in a heart-stopping upset on Sept. 25, 1971.

“Our primary focus is to preserve Reggie’s legacy,” said Paul Jackson, president of the Reggie Oliver Endowment Scholarship Foundation, which has been operational since July. “There’s no question about his contributions to Marshall’s football program and his work (as a consultant) with the movie (“We Are Marshall”).”

Oliver got a standing ovation for his
keynote speech at the Spring Fountain
ceremony at MU in 2018.

“On a personal level, I just want to make sure that Reggie gets full acknowledgement of his achievements. In the past, there have been so many black athletes who have come through Marshall who have not gotten the recognition they deserve.”

At the time of the Marshall tragedy, Oliver was a freshman. As a result, he was not on the plane because NCAA rules prevented freshmen from playing varsity football and basketball.

The street unveiling ceremony provided some blissful memories for Oliver's mother Mattie Lou Underwood, who was in attendance along with several representatives of the family. Due to the city's restrictions on public gatherings because of COVID-19, only 25 people were allowed to attend.

Speakers for the ceremony included Steve Williams, Huntington mayor; Mike Hamrick, Marshall athletics director; Rev. James Hughes (Oliver’s uncle); and Mickey Jackson, a foundation representative who was a Herd assistant coach during Oliver’s playing days at MU.

The street sign unveiling is just one aspect of the foundation's plans to further enhance Oliver's legacy. A $25,000 scholarship in Oliver’s name will be awarded for the 2020-21 school year to a Marshall football player who is not on a full-ride scholarship.

One of the short-term goals for the organization is to grow the scholarship fund to $100,000.

To learn more about the foundation, contact Paul Jackson at jackson_paul55@yahoo.com or call (614) 264-2222.

-Craig T. Greenlee

Note: Yours truly has a lot of familiarity with Fairfield Stadium from back in the day. During my senior year at Marshall, I lived in an upstairs apartment on Charleston Ave., which was located right across the street from the stadium. I could watch the Herd play from my bedroom window.

My choice: Remembering the good times

noreply@blogger.com (November Ever After) — Thu, 14 Nov 2019 06:33:00 +0000

Back in the day ... Memoir author

played free safety for the Thundering Herd.

Author's Note
Today marks the 49th anniversary of the Marshall air tragedy.

It’s hard to fathom that 49 years have passed since the 1970 Marshall plane crash. Even after all this time, the memories from that unforgettable night are very much intact.

No doubt, it was a time of agonizing grief, a time of dismay and bewilderment. But on this day – the anniversary of the tragedy – I’m choosing to focus on the good times.

Freshman Class of 1968

Those who know a few things about the history of Marshall University football, understand that you can’t talk about the crash and not include the 1968 freshman team.

How come?

This is really where Marshall’s long trek to gridiron stardom had its beginnings. Before ’68, Thundering Herd football was way below sea level during the early and mid-60s. But all that changed when Perry Moss became the head coach.

Moss didn’t waste time putting together a complete revamping of the program. Although Marshall had a meager recruiting budget for football, Moss and his staff initiated an effective mail campaign to attract a sizable number of viable college prospects.

Classic group of newcomers

As things turned out, the MU freshman football class of 1968 proved to be a classic. After the final cuts were made, the Little Thundering Herd had 60 players. A little over 50 percent of the team was comprised of black athletes, most of whom attended all-black high schools in the Deep South.

That year, Marshall’s football freshmen became the talk of the town. That’s because the varsity had some monumental struggles and managed to win just two games during the ’68 season.

In the meantime, the freshmen had it going on in major-league fashion. There was no such thing as moving up to the varsity. At that time, NCAA rules did not allow freshmen to play varsity football or varsity basketball.

Beat Kentucky to open the season

The Little Herd made headlines with a shocking road victory over the University of Kentucky in the season opener. This squad, which finished the season undefeated, was loaded with size, speed and swagger. Yours truly started at free safety and ended up leading the team in interceptions (4 picks in 4 games).

This group was definitely a “melting pot” of different U.S. cultures. There were several players from the northern states (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Ohio). The vast majority of black players had their roots in states located below the Mason-Dixon line (Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida and South Carolina).

Unforgettable experience

Away from the field, players from these different cultures didn’t spend any time socializing with each other. But when the time came to make good things happen on game day, it was an experience that none of us who played will ever forget.

For me, there are two things that stand out the most when I think about the 1968 football season. The local newspaper (Herald-Dispatch) assigned one of its staff writers to cover our road game against Ohio University, who at that time, was the kingpin of the Mid-American Conference.

That’s significant because media coverage for freshmen football was not typical. But given the success the team had, it made sense for them to provide game coverage.

The Little Herd had just one home game that season. And it was so memorable because it attracted a much larger crowd than anyone anticipated. Not only that, but the game was played in the afternoon on a weekday. I’m thinking maybe 2,500 to 3,000 people showed up, but don’t quote me on that.

Gave away my game jersey

After that game, a win over West Virginia Tech, quite a few spectators came on the playing field. And after a lot of conversations with some young fans, I gave my jersey away to one of them as a keepsake.

With the talent that Coach Moss had assembled for the ’68 Little Herd, you can only guess what the talent level would’ve been if Moss hadn’t been fired because of recruiting irregularities that resulted in the school being kicked out of the Mid-American Conference. To make matters worse, the NCAA put the football program on probation.

Who's to say?

Had it not been for the crash and the removal of Moss, I believe it’s safe to say that Thundering Herd football would have achieved national prominence a lot sooner than it did. Sure, it’s speculation. But then again, you just never know.

Those were some of the thoughts that crossed my mind as I read the newspaper the day after the crash. As I gazed at the head-and-shoulder pictures of the players – especially the ones I came to Marshall with 1968 – it was so hard to come to grips with their sudden and untimely deaths.

In spite of the difficulty, I still have those memories from a very special season where I played with a very special group of guys.

Yes indeed, time continues to march on. Yet, the memories never fade to black.

Those recollections are always with me. And that will never change.

-Craig T. Greenlee

Memoir ... it's a story that resonates

noreply@blogger.com (November Ever After) — Thu, 03 Jan 2019 07:25:00 +0000

Author's Note: Received this email from a reader a few days back (Dec. 29). This is further confirmation that this story is worth telling. It's a story that resonates with folks from all walks of life.

Craig,

First thanks for writing the book, November Ever After. I just finished it this morning. And though I've watched the movie, We Are Marshall, several times, it was great to read an insider's perspective as it provides insights that go beyond Hollywood.

I don't know why I purchased the book, but I'm happy I did.

Thanks for taking the time to write this story. I live in the Boston area, but certainly feel a worthwhile trip to Marshall is in the cards.

And lastly, congratulations on your bowl win this year against a formidable USF [University of South Florida] team!

Regards,

Ed DiRocco

48 Years Later: Hope from unthinkable tragedy

noreply@blogger.com (November Ever After) — Wed, 14 Nov 2018 07:34:00 +0000

A week before the plane crash, Marshall defeated Kent State 20-17
in its final home game of the 1970 season. Thundering Herd
defenders (from left) Larry Sanders, Scottie Reese and Bobby Hill
gang-tackle Kent State running back Phil Witherspoon.

Author's Note: Today marks the 48th anniversary of the Marshall University plane crash that killed most of the school's football team over four decades ago. Normally, I write a blog entry every November about some aspect of this horrific event. This year, I'm taking a different route, thanks to a new-found colleague who has a deep passion for helping people heal from traumatic experiences. In today's blog entry, Jen Marr, a crisis response professional, reflects on the MU tragedy and what we can learn from it.

By Jen Marr

November 14th, 1970.

Thirty-six members of the Marshall University football team, nine coaches, 25 prominent community leaders/spouses and five flight crew members died in a flash as their plane crashed into a hillside seconds before it was to touch ground in Huntington, West Virginia. Seventy-five passengers on board. Gone.

You may remember the movie “We are Marshall." It documented this tragedy and the story of rebuilding the football program. From the moment this movie was released in 2006, it captured my attention. Matthew McConaughey, football and a triumph from tragedy story? I’m in. But it was 10 years after the movie was released that I started watching it again. And again. And again.

Jen Marr is today's
guest blogger.

I really began to ponder the story line and wondered about the angle that was not so visible in the film. The real story. The story of those left behind: At least 100 parents, 13 widows and 70 children. Eighteen children lost both parents and 52 others lost one.

Widespread impact

There were countless people who were deeply impacted: team members who didn’t go on the trip, girlfriends of the players, grandparents, cheerleaders, friends, fellow students, neighbors, faculty, and the list goes on and on and on.

How did life go on? How have they made it through? The reason this movie caught my attention again a decade later was because I had experienced two large-scale tragedies myself. The mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School (2012) and the Boston Marathon bombing (2013).

In the case of Sandy Hook, I helped bring comfort in the recovery efforts taking place at the school each week. As for the Boston Marathon bombing ... I was there as a race participant, but never finished. At the time the bombs detonated, I was stopped after running 25.8 miles. I wandered around town shivering and lost for another three miles before finding my family and hotel.

In the ensuing years, I’ve watched as deeply-hurting people in these communities feel unnecessary pressure to “move on." The passage of time should be adequate time to be “over it." Right? And I am witnessing how far away from reality this thinking is.

My eyes were opened.

Researching the tragedy

And so, I felt compelled to research the Marshall University tragedy to help us learn from 48 years of recovery from an unthinkable tragedy. Did they ever get past it? I’ll give you the quick answer. They aren’t over it. They will never “get over it”.

Every November 14th brings them all back to that moment. And the same pain comes again. Every Year. It is always with them. But there is also hope. Read on.

My quest led me to Craig T. Greenlee. who authored the book “November Ever After," a memoir about the plane crash and its aftermath. Craig waited 40 years to tell his story. He knew most of those who were on the plane that night. He was on the team the previous two seasons, left the team for personal reasons, and came back for spring practice in 1971 to help rebuild the football program.

The Memorial Fountain on the
Marshall University campus
serves as a lasting tribute to the
75 people who died in the
plane crash more than
four decades ago.

Remembering those who lost their lives

Craig has a southern drawl and deep commitment to preserve the memories of his beloved teammates and all those affected by this tragedy. Most of the reflections I discussed with him centered around the struggle of living in a world where no one could possibly understand what they were going through.

How could anyone possibly understand?

Those who were left behind wanted to be strong, but there was no road map. And so, they learned as they went.

Forty-eight years later, here are some wise takeaways from Craig:

Be patient with those experiencing trauma and crisis. “When you are so deep in pain there simply are no words. Don’t expect people to open up and talk about it. Be patient. We consoled each other in silence. The pain was so profound."
We need each other more than we want to admit. “You help yourself helping yourself. Don’t underestimate your emotion. Don’t think “I’ll get over it”. Seek help. Find people you trust and open up.
Helping others helped us. “Joe Bundy was a freshman student who was assigned to assist the father of one of the players who died (Freddie Wilson). In the book, Bundy recalled “Rather than thinking about how bad I felt about losing a homeboy (Dennis Blevins), my focus changed. I began to think about what it must be like for the parent in the situation. It allowed me to be strong."
Everyone will respond differently. “A loss of any kind is a matter of the heart. It’s something we all have to understand because we will all deal with it at some point in our lives. And how people respond to crisis, trauma and loss are as different as our fingerprints.”

You can have no expectation of how people are dealing with their trauma other than they have not forgotten it.

Things will be said that would otherwise never be said. Hurtful things. Shocking things. Angry things. Clueless things. With so much pain around you, it’s unavoidable. Craig recalls vividly things said that were anything but helpful:

“It’s about time that you move on from that plane crash.”

“People die, and they’re buried, and you just move on.”

Memories of the event don’t fade to black. When we think about the fact that we still have vivid memories from our childhood, how could we expect that those suffering from trauma don’t have flashbacks of what they experienced with exceptional clarity and detail? Craig recalls his memories as if he’s watching them on film. They are that clear to him.

Craig closes his book with these observations:

What we can say is that we endured. And during that process, we wept, and we agonized. And we continued to celebrate the lives of those who perished. The Marshall students from the early ‘70s are senior citizens now. We’ve established ourselves in our careers, raised our children and are having a ball as grandparents.

Along the way, we’ve lost loved ones, which includes parents, siblings, other relatives and in some cases lifelong buddies. Even with all of that, we cannot erase the memories from over 40 years ago, memories that are forever etched in our psyches. True enough, it was so long ago, but it’s still just like it happened yesterday.

It’s always with you.”

There is hope.

With so many large-scale tragedies happening around us and countless small-scale tragedies that have a similar impact on lives, we owe it to ourselves to learn from those who’ve been there before us. If we learn that people don’t “get over” traumatic events, then maybe we can think twice before assuming they are "back to normal."

Learning how to comfort those in need

And maybe then we can be open to reaching out and being there to care for them better. The examples are all around us every day.

That veteran having a hard time keeping a job? He’s not “over it”. The co-worker who recently had a miscarriage? She’s won’t just “have another baby” and get past it. The high school classmate who lost a son to a drug overdose? She will never “get back to normal”. The student whose friend committed suicide? It will always be with him.

The “We are Marshall” movie ended with a great football win the year following the tragedy. And then the credits rolled as we saw Matthew McConaughey flash his smile one last time.

But that’s not where the story ends in real life. The real-life story gives us hope. Even though traumatic events stay with us, we can learn that life will blend together the past, present and future so that the cherished memories stay cherished. When we remove “getting over it" ... “moving on” and “getting back to normal” from our thought process and replace our thinking with “it’s always with you”, we change everything.

Hope for genuine healing

“Getting over it” puts up a big dark wall, denying most reflection and conversation on the topic; “always with you” breaks that wall down and opens a beautiful door for preserving memories, accepting and providing comfort and building relationships based on the memories and pain.

“Moving on” discourages looking back, marching blindly forward; “always with you” takes the past and seamlessly weaves it into the present and future. Using each day, the bad days with the good days, to bring together the full story.

“Getting back to normal” is sometimes mistaken for finding a way to go on; “always with you” allows for true resiliency by identifying and accepting a “new normal” and living life as it is now.

Life is hard and messy. And in the crazy busy world we live in today, we sometimes find ourselves at a loss when it comes to knowing how to help those who are hurting.

We can do better.

We will do better.

We are all Marshall now.

Jen Marr is the Founder and CEO of Inspiring Comfort LLC, a company that provides programs that teach people how to do a better job of comforting others. Learn more by visiting this web site: http://www.inspiringcomfort.com

Recommended further reading/viewing

Video -- Surviving teammate Dennis Foley opens up for the first time in 47 years on this video. Let that sink in for a minute… He didn’t share his story for 47 years. If you remember one thing about this video, remember the clarity in which he recalls his story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qSuwqmRynY

Article -- Chicago Tribune Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Julie Keller, grew up in Huntington West Virginia and wrote an amazing piece “It’s Always With You” - http://www.marshall.edu/ucomm/files/2012/10/ItsAlwaysWithYou.pdf

Video -- Nate Ruffin, the Thundering Herd defensive back who missed the flight due to injury pays tribute to his teammates who perished: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ivf6q_CHgQ

My tribute to a Thundering Herd legend

noreply@blogger.com (November Ever After) — Thu, 16 Aug 2018 06:42:00 +0000

Before leaving Marshall after the 1973 season,
Reggie Oliver owned all of Marshall's
passing records.
(Photo/Chief Justice yearbook)

The passing away of Marshall University legend Reggie Oliver two days ago provides a sobering reminder. In this earthly life, death is inevitable.

Reggie, who was 66, put his personal and permanent stamp on Thundering Herd football decades ago. He was an instrumental figure who helped resurrect the program in the years following the 1970 plane crash that killed most of the school's varsity team.

Trailblazer in pads

In paying homage to Reggie, my schoolmate at MU, it's important to note that he was a true pioneer. During his era -- the early '70s -- black quarterbacks playing at predominantly white colleges was not a common occurrence like it is now. In my memoir November Ever After, I wrote that back in the day, black QBs at white schools were "as rare as polar bears in Panama."

There's no question in my mind that Reggie Oliver was the right guy to handle the pressures and expectations that came with being Marshall's first black quarterback.

Nothing shy about Oliver

Anyone who knew Reggie learned quickly that shyness was not one of his personality traits. Not only did he have the skill, swagger and work ethic to succeed, but he was among the best at talking smack. I believe that's why folks called him "Wolf."

It was always clear to me that Reggie had a thick skin, which served him well. That was critical because I'm sure there were people who wanted him to fail as a quarterback.

Persevering on daily basis, Reggie helped to destroy the then-commonly-held notion that blacks didn't have the moxie, gamesmanship and passing arm to be a standout at a mainstream school. As things turned out, it didn't take long for Reggie to do his part in shattering the myth about black QBs.

Clutch performance

In MU's first home game of the '71 season against Xavier of Ohio, Reggie, a sophomore, engineered what is arguably the most memorable game-winning play in college football history. On the final play of the game, "Wolf" capped the drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Terry Gardner on a screen play.

It was a fitting ending for a team and a town that suffered tremendous losses 10 months earlier when Marshall's plane crashed. There were no survivors among the 75 passengers on board.

Oliver was a guest speaker at Marshall
earlier this year.
(Photo/Herald-Dispatch)

Fans pour out of the stands

The highly-charged crowd at Fairfield Stadium flooded the field right after the game. The cheers were thunderous. With Reggie calling the shots under intense pressure, Marshall pulled off a shocking 15-13 upset victory.

There's no denying that Reggie carried a truck-load of personal pain because of the tragedy. He lost four dear friends (Larry Sanders, Joe Hood, Robert VanHorn and Freddie Wilson) on the night that Marshall's plane went down.

They were more than teammates

Their connection went beyond being teammates. They were Reggie's home boys who played football for the same high school (Druid) in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Reggie came to Marshall with his childhood friends with one goal in mind: turn Marshall into a football powerhouse.

When I interviewed Reggie for my book, I asked him how he managed to deal with his grief. Here's his response as it appears in the memoir.

Upbeat outlook

"Having gone through that whole experience, you learn that it's not something you can practice," he said. "There's nothing anyone can do to prepare for that kind of situation. You just respond as best you can. It was a sad time, a bad time. But I don't dwell on that. The memories I have of the '70 team are good ones."

Although Reggie is no longer with us, I believe those words apply to us today. We are sad about his passing away. Yet, there are tons of great memories of "Wolf" that will never fade away.

Reggie Oliver was one of a kind.

He will be missed, but never forgotten.

From time to time, after nearly half a century, I still think about all of the 'what ifs'

noreply@blogger.com (November Ever After) — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 17:13:00 +0000

Thundering Herd running back Art Harris weaves his way downfield
during a 1970 home game against the University of Louisville.
(Photo courtesy of the Herald-Dispatch archives)

Forty-seven years after the fact, the images from an unforgettable college semester remain crystal clear in my mind.

It was a foggy, rainy and frigid night— a night when a college lost most of its football team in a horrible plane crash. Even with the passage of so many years, the memories of the deep hurt felt by students at Marshall University and the citizens of Huntington, West Virginia can never be erased.

Personal history, mixed emotions

For me, November 14, 1970 is a part of my personal history that will always produce mixed emotions whenever I think about it.

Yes, there’s sadness and despair in remembering the sorrow caused by the tragedy. But there’s also joy in being an eye-witness. I watched and rejoiced as a decimated football program regrouped and moved forward in spite of suffering devastating losses.

From time to time, I’ve wondered about what Marshall football would be like if the rainy night in November turned out differently than it did.

What if there had not been a plane crash?
What if there had been no football recruiting scandal in 1969 that drastically reduced the Thundering Herd’s talent level?
Why didn’t my former teammates get the same opportunity as I did to pursue my goals and dreams after graduating from college?
On a very personal note ... Why am I still here?

These are questions that I’ve pondered from time to time. But as far as I can determine, no answers are forthcoming. And besides, it’s all speculation as to what could have been, what might have been, what should have been.

This is what I do know.

'1970 team left its mark

There is heart-warming consolation in knowing that the ’70 version of Marshall’s Thundering Herd left an indelible mark on the school and the community. Against overwhelming odds, the program continued to persevere. There’s no doubt that dedication and passion for the game laid the foundation for the football victories that were to come in later years.

That's the great news about this greatest story that's never been told.

Remembering Scottie ... my best friend ... my best man

noreply@blogger.com (November Ever After) — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 05:14:00 +0000

Author's Note: Today marks the 47th anniversary of the Marshall football plane crash. On this occasion, I decided to write about a very good friend of mine who died on the night of November 14, 1970. While it's true that the people on that flight are long gone, rest assured that they will never be forgotten.

A week after the plane crash, I traveled to Waco, Texas to say my final goodbyes to one of the football players who were among the 75 passengers who died. It was the Saturday before Thanksgiving . At that point in time, though, going home after a long semester to celebrate a holiday was the farthest thing from my bewildered mind.

Scottie Reese, a former teammate, was my best friend. Not only that, but he was going to be the best man at my wedding in December. At best, my recollections of any details about the funeral itself are fuzzy. Don't know why, but it's been that way for quite some time.

Scottie Reese

(Player profile from the Thundering Herd's 1970 media guide)

"Reese has served as both linebacker and defensive end for Marshall, positions that usually call for more than 185 pounds of football player. He makes up for his lack of size and strength with quickness and intelligence and turned in a very good sophomore season last year. He'll be a contender for a spot somewhere on the defensive unit this time around."

What I remember most is arriving at Toliver Chapel Baptist Church about 45 minutes or so before the start of the service. I took a seat in one of the pews near the front of the sanctuary. All I could do was stare aimlessly at Scottie's casket. It's as if I was in a trance of some kind. Time stood still. Seven days had passed by since the crash when reality finally set in for me. And when it did, I was crushed to my very core.

Coming to full acceptance was extremely difficult

On top of the casket was Scottie's No. 83 jersey and his portrait. Even then, I was still trying to mentally process all that happened during the week leading up to the funeral. In my mind, like so many others, I was fully aware of what had transpired. But it's quite another matter to come to full acceptance.

Feeling overwhelmed by a heaviness of sorrow, I realized that No. 83 was gone and he was never going to come back. Ever.

As I looked around the church and then back to Scottie's casket, I had a flashback to eight days earlier. It was the last time that I would ever see Scottie alive. As he was leaving the lobby area of the Twin Towers dorm to get on the team bus headed to the airport, I told him that I would see him when he got back (from the road trip to East Carolina). But right after he walked past the dorm's front entrance, he turned around and looked at me for a second or two.

Everlasting memories

For the most part, this memory has stayed fixed in my mind. But for the life of me, I can't remember what color tie Scottie had on. But I do recall that he wore a black coat with a dress shirt that was Dallas Cowboys-blue. And he wore some pearly-white trousers that he had purchased from a well-known mail-order company from back in the day that offered the latest in fashion for black men.

Every time I think about that last interaction with Scottie, the song "Fire and Rain" by James Taylor always comes to mind. And it's so hard -- if not impossible -- to not get emotional because the lyrics truly do hit home -- especially the last words from the chorus part of the song.

'But I always thought that I'd see you again.'

We both arrived as freshmen in '68

Scottie and I both played defense. He split time between defensive end and outside linebacker and I played safety. Both of us came to Marshall in 1968 and played key roles on what was arguably the best freshman football team in the school's history. In my one year on the varsity, we were roommates on road trips.

As a person, Scottie's strongest attributes were his honesty and trustworthiness. That's what I appreciated the most about him.

It's been 47 years since Scottie died and a lot has happened over that span of time. Even so, I have some great memories of him.

Scottie Reese will always be my best man.

Rest assured, the 1970 Thundering Herd will never be forgotten.

Reader doesn't understand author's point of view about movie 'We Are Marshall'

noreply@blogger.com (November Ever After) — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 05:55:00 +0000

When my memoir "November Ever After" had its initial launch, the daily newspaper where I live (Winston-Salem Journal in North Carolina), published a column about it. The commentary, entitled "Setting the Marshall Story Straight" got its share of reader comments, which I always welcome and appreciate.

There was one comment in particular that I felt I needed to address. This one reader could not understand why I feel the movie "We Are Marshall" doesn't do justice to the real story. No doubt, the movie gave the MU story a national stage. But just because a story attracts coast-to-coast interest doesn't set a precedent for distorting what really happened.

Kerrie Barnhart, who just happens to be a Marshall University graduate, was the reader who had a difficult time following my rationale about the movie. Since I'm the book's author, I certainly had a ready response (see "Author's Counterpoint'). We both attended the same college, but don't know one another and have never met.

Barnhart's point of view

“We Are Marshall has a run time of two hours, 11 minutes. The horror of the night of November 14, 1970 took longer than that. There were so many sad, interesting and (eventually) wonderful stories that began that evening, but there's simply no way they could have all been included in a two-hour movie.

With all due respect to Mr. Greenlee, nearly five years after the release of "WAM," I just don't understand the animosity about decisions that had to be made for a movie's running time.”

Author's counterpoint

I agree that there’s only such much content that can be squeezed into a movie that lasts a little over two hours. The real issue is not the movie's run time. It’s about making sure that – within the time frame of the film – that the truth be fully acknowledged.

That’s really not too much to ask, especially when you recall this one sentence … “This is a true story.” Those words appear prominently on the screen at the very beginning of the movie.

A college and community dealt with heavy grief

The whole focus of "We Are Marshall" is to show how a college and a city managed to recover from such a horrific experience. Yet, it’s so strange that the movie never gave much information about the seventy-five passengers who died in that plane crash.

If there’s no tragedy, there is no comeback, and hence, no story line.

No film or documentary can truly be all-inclusive. Not many people will sit through a movie that’s longer than two-and-half hours. Books are no different. How many people will read 500, 800 or even 1,000 pages of somebody’s prose? Few, if any.

Here’s the bottom line. The movie pays homage to those who lost their lives on a November night a long time ago. If we’re really serious about that, what better way to honor them than to tell it like it really was?

Tell story thoroughly and tell it well

And even if you can’t include every aspect of the story, no biggie. Just take the content you have and tell it thoroughly, tell it well, and don’t abandon accuracy for the sake of artistic license.

Are the people from back in the day way off base because they prefer the truth over a conjured up version of what really transpired? I don't think so. Let’s just say that it’s so sad that filmmakers are convinced they can improve the truth by improvising.

The real story is truly marvelous. There's no need for alterations of any kind.

Plane crash story loaded with ironies

noreply@blogger.com (November Ever After) — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 04:20:00 +0000

The three players from Cincinnati, Ohio who perished in the Marshall
plane crash on November 14 1970. From left to right: Jack Repasy,
Bob Harris and Mark Andrews.
(Graphic -- Always Remembered by Susan A.)

There are a countless number of ironic circumstances associated with the Marshall football plane crash. In this week's blog entry, I'm focusing solely on one of those situations.

The 1970 Thundering Herd had three players – Bob Harris, Jack Repasy and Mark Andrews – who were teammates at Moeller High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. When Marshall went on a road trip to play East Carolina, the parents of these three players drove south from Ohio to Greenville, North Carolina to watch their sons play.

After the game, Bob Harris Sr. and his wife wanted the three players to ride back with them to the school in Huntington, West Virginia. According to the senior Harris, the three players were reluctant to approach Marshall head coach Ricky Tolley about it.

The Cincinnati threesome played reasonably well in an agonizing 17-14 loss. Andrews was a key factor on the Thundering Herd's defensive line. Harris split time between playing quarterback and wide receiver. Repasy, a proven commodity at receiver, rarely dropped any ball thrown in his direction.

As things turned out, it would be the last time these parents would see their sons. Harris, Repasy and Andrews were among the 75 passengers on the DC-9 jet that crashed into the side of a mountain and burst into flames. There were no survivors.

“They were afraid because the coach was enraged because they had lost the game,” said Harris Sr. during an interview on the ESPN Classic documentary Remembering Marshall (2000). “They just didn’t want to ask him. And that haunts me to this day that I didn’t persist in getting them to ride back with us instead of going on the plane.”

After finishing his comments, tears start to well up in the eyes of the elder Harris. It was a clear sign that his recollections from that horrific November night continued to weigh heavily on his mind.

'At one point, you felt terribly sad, but then you felt a closeness ... a love for each other ...'

noreply@blogger.com (November Ever After) — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 04:15:00 +0000

Author's Note: Five days after the plane crash, a group of about 50-55 people representing Black United Students of Marshall University rode a chartered bus on a five-day trip that covered more than 1,500 miles. They attended a wake and three funerals at Bluefield, West Virginia; Atlanta, Georgia; Tuscaloosa, Alabama; and Greenwood, South Carolina. This trip enabled these college students to say their good-byes to seven of the ten black football players who died. In my memoir, there's an entire chapter that goes into detail about that memorable journey.

Getting fifty seats on the chartered bus filled was not a problem. There was a strong sense of obligation to go on this trip. Folks had a burning desire to pay their final respects. Nobody ever said it, but all of us knew it was the appropriate thing to do. Whites were not barred from the caravan. It just turned out that no white folks signed up to go. The school made sure that Marshall would be represented at every player’s funeral by assigning various faculty and staff members to attend designated services.

Book excerpt:
'Homegoing Caravan'

Several campus organizations held memorial services for all the crash victims. But among the blacks at Marshall, there was a unique affinity because of skin color and culture. Call it a sign of the times. It was a time in which blacks were the small minority on white college campuses, but were very vocal in helping to pave the way for blacks’ inclusion into every facet of student life.

Marshall was no different. Back then, the black pride movement was at its peak. The soul hit “Say It Loud: I’m Black and I’m Proud” by James Brown became an anthem for blackness back in the day.

Widespread devastation

“Marshall was a very small community,” said Angela Dodson. “There were only a few us (black students). To lose ten at one time was a big dent. In the midst of all the confusion and shock, we needed to do something active or proactive to try to process all that had happened and be part of it.”

The most unique aspect of this trip was the kaleidoscope of emotions experienced by the passengers as they traveled from one funeral site to another. There were upbeat moments accompanied by laughter and horseplay—and always lots of spontaneous singing. By the end of the journey, it’s safe to say that there were few on board who didn’t know at least one stanza of the black church hymn “We’ve Come This Far by Faith.”

Emotional roller coaster

All during the trip, caravan passengers sang spirit-lifting songs that reinforced a message of hope that some way, somehow, everything was going to be all

right. Audience participation on the bus trip didn’t end with song. As a means of coping, the passengers—one by one—got out of their seats and shared their fondest memories of the players who died. These testimonial-style presentations helped everyone on the bus to learn more about the human side of these deceased athletes.

Melancholy moments were to be expected. Every time the bus would get within forty to forty-five minutes of arriving at the next funeral stop, the mood would change dramatically. Bus riders went from being jovial to being in mourning. At those times, silence gripped the atmosphere. With the exception of some quiet chatter here and there, the only sound was the barely audible hum of the engine as the bus motored down the highway.

Long stretches of silence during the bus ride

This aura of quietness remained when passengers boarded the bus after attending a homegoing. The silence would last for as long as an hour or two. At times, the stillness was so obvious that you could hear a mosquito breathe.

These extremes in shifting emotions played out time after time over the course of this trip. “At one point, you felt terribly sad,” said Bundy. “But then you felt a closeness, a togetherness, a love for each other; and you felt how everybody was holding up everybody else.”

Reader reaction to Marshall football memoir: 'incredibly enlightening and thought provoking'

noreply@blogger.com (November Ever After) — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 06:05:00 +0000

Hey Craig,

“… Finished reading your book … I have to say that it’s incredibly enlightening and thought provoking! Needless to say that I'm still in the overall “processing” stage. However, I no longer feel like I walked into a movie that was halfway over. I now have insight as to what happened before I arrived on campus (1971), and I can put together the pieces a whole lot better.

I can better appreciate what you, Janice (Cooley), Ed (Carter), et al were dealing with amid all of the hope and hype concerning The Young Thundering Herd! I regret that you and I never sat and talked when we attended school together. I’m sure that I would have been a more “aware” young man – both socially and spiritually – than I was.”

Chuck Jackson

Houston, Texas

Chuck Jackson’s comment to one of my blog entries confirmed what I already knew about the value of the memoir November Ever After. It's a story that needed to be written. It's a story that’s worthy to be shared with the masses.

For people such as Chuck, who came to Marshall after the tragedy, the book provides a proper frame of reference for what campus life was like before the crash. For those, like me, who were there at the time of the disaster, the book opens the door for some level of closure on an event that none of us will ever forget.

1971 was a mixed bag for those who were left behind

Keep in mind that for those of us who were around on the night that Marshall’s plane went down, the football season of 1971 represented a truly a mixed bag. I can’t speak for everyone who suffered from the pain of losing their schoolmates. But I do feel safe in saying that most of us engaged in an emotional tug-of-war when it was time for the start of a new season with essentially a brand-new team – the “Young Thundering Herd”

We will always remember the ’70 Marshall team that would never return. On the other hand, however, there was cause to rejoice and cause to cling to renewed hope. In spite of the heavy losses, Marshall opted to continue playing football.

A lasting tribute to those who perished

In my mind, the fact that the school refused to dump its football program says a whole lot about the university's decision makers at that point in time. Keeping Thundering Herd football going served as a most fitting tribute to the seventy-five people who died in a fiery plane crash on November 14, 1970.

From the blog archives: Thundering Herd fans from New Jersey send thank-you letter

noreply@blogger.com (November Ever After) — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 14:05:00 +0000

Note: I remember being so overjoyed when I received an email message from a couple of Marshall football fans several years ago (see below). It's so good to know that the memoir I wrote resonates so deeply with folks from all walks of life. And yes, I am oh so thankful that the opportunity presented itself for me to tell the greatest story that's never been told.

Hello Mr. Greenlee ...

I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your book. I am about to read it again. My wife Debbie and I met you and your Mrs. at the Marshall University Bookstore signing during Homecoming weekend.

We're from New Jersey. And we became Marshall fans after seeing the movie We Are Marshall. We've been making an annual visit to West Virginia to see a game ever since 2006 (the year the movie came out).

I was 16 years old when the crash happened. I remember riding in the family car with my dad when the news came over the radio.

The movie rekindled that memory for me, and things snowballed from there. I started researching the history of the football program, sent away for some fan gear, and then our yearly trips began in earnest.

"We Are Marshall" really hit an emotional chord with us. But from the start, I kind of figured that the filmmakers “Hollywoodized” it. With few exceptions, that’s often the case with fact-based stories that make it to the big screen.

The movie will always hold a special place in our hearts. But just as important to us are the true, behind-the-scenes stories of what took place during that tragic time. That's what you gave to readers with your book November Ever After. Thanks very much for writing it, Mr. Greenlee, and for enlightening us all.

Take care.

All the best,

John & Debbie Bacha

What were the author's reasons for writing a book about the Marshall plane crash?

noreply@blogger.com (November Ever After) — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 04:31:00 +0000

"Since you quit playing football the year before the crash, what was your motivation for writing the book? Was it based on guilt for not being on the team? Or, was it more about dealing with personal pain and loss?"

Thundering Herd safety Craig T. Greenlee during Media Day 1969.
(Photo courtesy of the Herald-Dispatch)

Author’s Note: It was six years ago that my memoir about the crash was launched. Not long after that, I was approached by a reader who asked some intriguing questions. Gotta admit that when I read over the questions, it actually caused me to pause for a few minutes. I knew right then that I didn't have a definitive answer. But after giving this some serious thought, I arrived at a few conclusions. So, here's my take on the questions.

It was my choice to walk away from the game at the end of the 1969 season -- the 100th year of college football in America. As a result, I was not a member of the Marshall team in 1970. And I never went through any form of withdrawal.

Truth be told, I thoroughly enjoyed my life as a “regular” student. Even though I had played football since the time of my single-digit birthdays, there was never a time when I wondered if I made the right decision.

Never felt the need to feel guilty

As strange as it may sound, I never had any guilt feelings about not being on the Marshall plane that crashed on the night of November 14, 1970. I made a clean break from football when I left the team at the end of my sophomore year.

Once I walked away, there was no second-guessing, no regrets about me no longer being a college jock. I never thought about putting the pads on again.

When you play a team sport like football, there’s a unique relationship that exists among the players. Through all the team meetings, wind sprints, tackling drills, scrimmages, games, team meals and study halls, you become part of something that's bigger than you as an individual.

Special bond among football players

This unique bond is strong because your teammates are the people you spend almost all of your time with – on and off the field. As a former teammate, there was still a deep connection. But I was no longer a part of the gridiron brotherhood, and that was OK by me.

In some ways, November Ever After was written from a perspective of personal pain. But that's not all. For me, writing helped me to start the process of sorting through some inner feelings that I had never really dealt with.

But as for getting closure, that remains to be seen. It may or may not ever happen, and I do understand that.

Self-reflections on what it was like back in the day

As I continue to write about the crash and its aftermath, I find myself reflecting a lot more on my college past than I ever have.

Do I ever wonder why I wasn’t on that plane nearly 47 years ago? The honest answer? Rarely, if ever.

There's still so much that I'm not sure about when it comes to making sense of a horrific tragedy that happened so long ago. But what I do know is this.

Saved by God's grace

It’s only by God’s grace that I’m still here. In my mind, there's no question about it.

And who’s to say? Maybe, just maybe one of the reasons my life was spared was to write the memoir November Ever After.

If you knew more about the story behind my book, there's a good chance that you might agree with that. But that’s another discussion for another time and place.

My apology for any confusion

noreply@blogger.com (November Ever After) — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 17:46:00 +0000

Author Craig T. Greenlee truly appreciates the love.

As a journalist, I've learned that there's always the possibility that what you write can be perceived in a way that was never intended. I believe that's what happened with my blog entry from yesterday -- "Book signing memorable for right reasons."

I was absolutely thrilled with the response on Facebook. But on the other hand, I was very puzzled. In reading over the comments, it occurred to me that most folks got the impression that my first book signing was a recent event. It was not. So, obviously, as the writer, I didn't do a good enough job of making that clear.

Please accept my humble apology for any confusion I may have caused.

Why is this such a big deal?

It's a big deal because I try not to convey anything through my writing that might be misleading. Call it a pet peeve or whatever.

Think about it. Usually, when you congratulate someone, it's regarding something that has happened in the now or very recently. In regards to my first book signing, that was hardly the case. That event took place at a Marshall University homecoming celebration six years ago.

My reason for writing about an event from yesteryear is simply because it's a cherished memory that I will never forget. The fact that the book was so well received by a large cross-section of people, was the proverbial "icing on the cake."

It's the right thing to do

Just want to clear that up because I believe it's the right thing to do.

Even though I didn't do a good enough job of communicating, there was still a ton of good stuff that resulted. Actually, the outpouring of kudos and congrats on Facebook reminded me so much of what happened at that first book signing in 2011.

I'll go as far as describing it as deja vu ... and that's a good thing.

Let me take this opportunity to offer my sincere and heartfelt thanks to everyone who clicked "like" or took the time to comment. Your encouragement and support mean more to me than you'll ever know.

Thoroughly enjoyed feedback from a bunch of folks

The blog entry got likes and comments from folks I grew up with in Jacksonville, Florida, along with former college classmates at Marshall, friends in Huntington, West Virginia, folks I know in Winston-Salem, North Carolina (where I live), and people I worked with during the time I lived in Atlanta in the mid-to-late 1980s. You guys really made my day.

In closing, allow me to share this thought with you. ... Be blessed on this day and always, for there is nothing that can separate you from the love of God.

-Craig T.

Book signing memorable for right reasons

noreply@blogger.com (November Ever After) — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 16:47:00 +0000

The first-ever book signing for author Craig T. Greenlee
turned out to be a very special day. (Photo by Cynthia Greenlee)

A few years have passed since I wrote my first book. But even now, I can recall the excitement and sheer gratitude I felt on the day that I had my first-ever book signing event.

I had no idea what to expect. Looking back in retrospect, the timing and location couldn’t have been better – Homecoming Day 2011 at my alma mater, Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia.

Never a doubt

I never doubted that people would come out and show their support. What caught me by total surprise was the ongoing overflow of former schoolmates and well-wishers who showed up at the on-campus bookstore to get an autographed copy of November Ever After.

The book is a collaborative account of the 1970 plane crash that killed most of the school’s football team. These collective recollections are told from the perspective of those who were left behind, which includes yours truly.

Pictures, daps and hugs -- just like a reunion

I spent about two hours signing books, taking pictures and exchanging hugs and dap handshakes. And then, all of a sudden, there were no more books -- sold out. By the time the last available book was purchased, the scheduled four-hour event still had 90 minutes remaining.

Even so, there were folks who hung around to talk about our college days and ask questions about the book’s future availability and where it could be purchased online. And while there were no more books that I could autograph, I did take care of quite a few requests to put my signature on the back of some promotional business cards that I brought with me.

No question about memoir's ability to engage readers

What I’ll always remember is the clear confirmation about the appeal that November Ever After has. Yes, it’s a story that revolves mostly around the black students who were in school at the time of the 1970 air tragedy. But there’s a whole lot more to the story than that.

This memoir touches hearts. If that wasn’t the case, there wouldn’t have been such a wide cross-section of people who took the time to attend the event. In talking to those who came out, I learned that their interest in the book had nothing to do with age, gender, culture, or race.

The bottom line is that people like to read a good story. No doubt, November Ever After fits that category. That's what I've been told by those who have read the book. This is not about wishful thinking on the author's part. Go on the Amazon.com website, read the reviews and see for yourself what readers are saying. It's an undeniable testament that this memoir is a story whose time has come.

Video ... A Story Whose Time Has Come

noreply@blogger.com (November Ever After) — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 04:29:00 +0000

'You could tell that the plane crash had a tremendous impact on him'

noreply@blogger.com (November Ever After) — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 14:44:00 +0000

A bust of Nate Ruffin is housed in the Erickson
Alumni Center on the Marshall University campus.

Award-winning sculptot Carter Taylor Seaton had no reason to mull over this one particular offer. Marshall University’s Alumni Association wanted Seaton to create a bust of Nate Ruffin, a former Thundering Herd defensive back. She was overjoyed about the assignment.

Ruffin, a former teammate of mine, was among the handful of players who missed the horrific plane flight that killed most of Marshall’s football team on November 14, 1970. There were no survivors on the flight that had 75 people on board. Due to a season-ending arm injury, Ruffin did not make the road trip to East Carolina.

Ruffin provided emotional uplift for youthful squad

On the night the crash, Ruffin was part of the school's staff of phone callers who notified the parents and loved ones of the passengers on Marshall's chartered jet. The next day, he helped identify bodies from the crash. As the Thundering Herd began the process of rebuilding its football program from scratch, Nate provided much-needed emotional uplift for a team composed primarily of untested freshmen and sophomores.

After graduating from Marshall, Nate served as a human resources and community relations executive for several organizations. Throughout his professional career, Ruffin's passion for Marshall football never faded. He was an avid supporter and was deeply involved as a member of several boards and search committees at Marshall.

Ruffin passed away in October 2001 of leukemia.

In 2010, a sports lounge housed in the school’s Erickson Alumni Center was named in honor of Ruffin. The bust of Ruffin was unveiled during dedication ceremonies as part of a reception that was jointly sponsored by Marshall's alumni organization and the Black Alumni of MU.

Carter Taylor Seaton

'Thrilled to get the opportunity'

Seaton, a Marshall graduate, is very familiar with the tragedy from nearly 47 years ago. "I was just thrilled to get the opportunity," she said. "I was grateful to accept the job."

Before completing this project, Seaton faced some challenges. Pictures of Nate were not easy to come by. A photo from the school’s yearbook and the sports information office were helpful. But what Seaton needed most was a profile shot, which would help her to accurately re-create Nate as a three-dimensional figure.

Eventually, she discovered a profile at Marshall’s Hall of Fame Café. “Having a profile makes a huge difference in the way you portray the facial features,” she said. “Without it, you can’t really get those features in the right perspective.”

Profile picture proved to be very helpful

As it turned out, the profile shot was even more helpful because of what it revealed to the probing eye of the sculptor. The profile shot was taken in 1971, a year after the crash. It was the season in which Ruffin took charge as the undisputed leader of Marshall's new football team, which was aptly named “Young Thundering Herd.”

“The look in Nate’s face (as a senior in 1971) is so different from the look he had as a freshman,” Seaton said. “It was really heart-breaking. You could see the tragedy etched in his face, around his eyes in particular. It (profile shot) just didn’t look like the same guy. You could tell that the plane crash had a tremendous impact on him.”

Carter Taylor Seaton is a sculptor and author who lives in Huntington, West Virginia. For more information, visit http://www.carterseaton.com/

'Highly recommended by Amazon readers'

noreply@blogger.com (November Ever After) — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 04:55:00 +0000

Does the story about the Marshall plane crash still matter? Yes it does

noreply@blogger.com (November Ever After) — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 05:34:00 +0000

The Marshall football plane crash happened such a long time ago. So, what’s all the commotion about trumpeting another version of an old story that most people know about?

Does it really matter?

Those are excellent questions. Glad that you asked.

In the minds of a lot of people, November 14, 1970 seems like eons ago – going on 47 years to be exact. Even so, the time element really doesn't matter. This story will never lose its significance.

Learn the whole story

That's all because the whole story needs to be told. Since this all comes down to paying tribute to those who perished, why should any portion of the story be left out?

The media accounts that most folks are familiar with – several documentaries; a history book on Marshall football; and the movie We Are Marshall – are certainly inspiring and thought-provoking. No doubt, these media portrayals help readers and viewers get a better understanding of what took place at Marshall on the night of the crash and the weeks, months and years that followed.

Other sources are just the tip of the iceberg

Most people are amazed by what they discover when they read The Marshall Story and they frequently reflect on what they learned from the movie and the documentaries. But as I conducted interviews and did the research for my memoir about Thundering Herd football from back in the day, I came to realize that there is yet another revelation about this story.

As amazed as folks are, they have no idea that what they’ve gleaned from other sources is really just the tip of the iceberg. The complete story – November Ever After -- is even more amazing than what they already know. So much of it sounds like a Hollywood scripts, but that's hardly the case.

Memoir gets high marks on reader reviews posted on Amazon website

But hey, you don't have to take my word for it. Go to the Amazon website and see for yourself. Check out the reader reviews and you'll find that there's a recurring sentiment. There's so much new information in November Ever After that people didn't even know about. It's an intriguing story that continues to captivate readers of all ages and backgrounds.