We Are Marshall (2006)

When a plane crash claims the lives of members of the Marshall University football team and some of its fans, the team's new coach and his surviving players try to keep the football program alive.

Director:

McG

Writers:

Jamie Linden (screenplay), Cory Helms (story),

Stars:

Matthew McConaughey, Matthew Fox, Anthony Mackie

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Matthew McConaughey	...	Jack Lengyel
Matthew Fox	...	Red Dawson
Anthony Mackie	...	Nate Ruffin
David Strathairn	...	President Dedmon
Ian McShane	...	Paul Griffen
Kate Mara	...	Annie Cantrell
January Jones	...	Carole Dawson
Kimberly Williams-Paisley	...	Sandy Lengyel
Arlen Escarpeta	...	Reggie Oliver
Brian Geraghty	...	Tom Bogdan
Tommy Cresswell	...	Gene Morehouse
Christian Kanupke	...	Young Keith Morehouse
Nina Jones	...	Mrs. Morehouse
Kevin Atkins	...	George Olson
Mark Patton	...	Bill James

Storyline

In November, 1970, virtually the entire football team and coaches of Marshall University (Huntington, W.V.) die in a plane crash. That spring, led by Nate Ruffin, a player who was ill and missed the fatal flight, students rally to convince the board of governors to play the 1971 season. The college president, Don Dedman, must find a coach, who then must find players. They petition the NCAA to allow freshmen to play, and coach Jack Lengyel motivates and leads young players at the same time that he reexamines the Lombardi creed that winning is the only thing. The father and the fiancée of a player who died find strength to move on. Can Marshall win even one game in 1971?

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Plot Keywords:

coach | football | marshall university | university | football team | 

---

Taglines:

He took a position nobody else wanted, for a team nobody else believed in. Together, they pulled off a miracle nobody else could stop talking about.

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Genres:

Drama | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for emotional thematic material, a crash scene, and mild language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Warner Bros. [us]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 December 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

Untitled Marshall University Football Project

Filming Locations:

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$65,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$8,582,508 (USA) (22 December 2006)

Gross:

$43,532,294 (USA) (2 March 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros, Thunder Road Pictures, Legendary Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

131 min

Sound Mix:

DTS SDDS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In a report issued April 14, 1972, the National Transportation Safety Board concluded that the crash was "the result of a descent below Minimum Descent Altitude during a non precision approach under adverse operating conditions, without visual contact with the runway environment. . . .two most likely explanations (for the greater descent) are (a) improper use of cockpit instrumentation data, or (b) an altimetry system error."

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Goofs

When Coach Lengyel and President Dedmon talk about getting the NCAA to let them play football, Dedmon mentions that he will be married 25 years in May. Dedmon was 39 in April 1971, which would mean he got married at 14. Even in West Virginia, that's not likely.

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Quotes

Jack Lengyel: One day, not today, not tomorrow, not this season, probably not next season either but one day, you and I are gonna wake up and suddenly we're gonna be like every other team in every other sport where winning is everything and nothing else matters. And when that day comes, well thats, thats when we'll honor them.

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Crazy Credits

There are no opening credits, not even a title.

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Connections

References The Wild Bunch (1969)

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Soundtracks

"Ventura Highway"
Written by Dewey Bunnell
Performed by America
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records Inc.
By Arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

User Reviews

Born and Bred Herd Fan comments on We Are Marshall

I was taken from the moment it started, crying within the first few minutes. I definitely cried more than I thought I would, but I also laughed and cheered. It is truly an all inclusive movie. I have herd this story on many occasions throughout my life, but I still feel that learned some things by watching the movie. I know that not all of it was historically accurate, but there are always things that Hollywood has to add to make things more interesting. I did notice a few mistakes, but only a couple, and they were things that a movie critic at heart, or someone from Huntington would notice (lucky for me, I am both). I was definitely impressed with the way my hometown was personified. Most films portray West Virginia as nothing but poor redneck hillbillies, but this movie has made a difference. I feel they really showed Huntington for what it is. The most touching moment for me involved our favorite rival...WVU. I do not know if it actually happened, but it took my breath away when I saw it. I won't tell you what it is, but you'll know when you see it. I was completely consumed during this movie. I was incredibly impressed with Matthew McConaughey and Matthew Fox's performances. These men WERE our coach and asst. coach. The only thing that distracted me was the local connections to some of the extras in the film. Other than that, I was completely sucked in. I don't want to give anything away, because I want you to experience it for yourself, but I promise to go see with all of my friends, no matter how many times that takes. Most people I know have told me that I am the biggest Marshall fan they know, and I hope that is true, because this is my passion, my pride. I hope that those of you who aren't as familiar with our history will learn some things and will be touched by the story. It is a wonderful movie. I highly recommend it to everyone. So go see it on Dec 22nd and enjoy! Don't forget to bring tissues, or grab some napkins at the concession stand like we did.

~Kelli~ WE ARE MARSHALL!!! 4 ever!