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:

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

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Taglines:

From the ashes we rose

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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

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 USA:

$6,114,264, 24 December 2006

Gross USA:

$43,545,364

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$43,545,364

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Thunder Road Pictures, Legendary Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

131 min

Sound Mix:

DTS SDDS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Southern Airways Flight 932 was a chartered DC-9, from Kinston, NC (ISO) to Huntington-Tri-State/Milton Airport (HTS) in Ceredo, West Virginia. The plane was carrying 37 team members, eight members of the coaching staff, 25 boosters, four flight crew, and one charter company employee. On November 14, 1970, at 7:35 PM, the plane crashed into a hill just short of Tri-State Airport, killing all 75 on board. Because it was the team's only chartered flight of the season, many prominent citizens were on board, including a city councilman, a state legislator, and four of the city's six physicians. Seventy children lost one parent in the crash; an additional 18 were orphaned.

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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

Red Dawson: We got a huge problem on the O line, Coach.
Jack Lengyel: Mm-hmm. I don't think it's because the defensive line is... so spectacular.
Red Dawson: No. No.

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Crazy Credits

There are no opening credits, not even a title.

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Connections

Referenced in Family Guy: Tea Peter (2012)

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Soundtracks

If You Could Read My Mind
Written by Gordon Lightfoot
Performed by Gordon Lightfoot
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records, Inc.
By Arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

User Reviews

Sad Stroy of Friendship and Teamwork

This was a great movie, not a superb one but good. The action was on par, the emotions were st great. But this movie is not about that it is about what happened to that team and how the school was changed. It is a feel good story at the end that makes you want to cry but feel good at the same time. I was surprised that Matthew McConaughey was able to play a role as important as this one. But he played as he should have the coach that would not stop and keep pushing his team to the top to give the town and school and kids something good for a change. I also thought Matthew Fox played good coming off such roles as Lost. Every scene in this movie is a good performance and gives you something to think about. And everyone plays there part as if they are the real people from that town.

There is a good lesson taught in this movie to never give up no matter how bad things get you can always refurbish yourself. This is a good movie to bring your kids to, it is not scary but it will be sad at how realistic they made it seem. Also it is another good sports football genre movie along side Remember The Titans and Rudy. So I recommend you to bring your family to this movie and you will not be disappointed at the least. I give this movie a 7 out of 10.