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:

united states | friendship | football | university | coach | 

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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

Did You Know?

Trivia

After the film was released, Marshall University returned to East Carolina University. All players were given the option of traveling by plane or bus. After Marshall lost the game 33-20, Marshall returned to Pitt Greenville Airport. The plane was delayed with mechanical problems. Several players opted to take the team bus instead of traveling on the plane.

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Goofs

When Nate places the football on the tee at the ceremony, a voice on the microphone can be heard through the speakers. When the camera angle rises above Nate, no one is at the microphone.

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Quotes

Jack Lengyel: For those of you who may not know, this is the final resting place for six members of the 1970 Thundering Herd. The plane crash that took their lives was so severe, so absolute, that their bodies were unable to be identified. So they were buried here. Together. Six players. Six teammates. Six Sons of Marshall. This is our past, gentlemen. This is where we have been. This is how we got here. This is who we are. Today, I want to talk about our opponent this afternoon. They're bigger, faster, ...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

There are no opening credits, not even a title.

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Connections

References Kelly's Heroes (1970)

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Soundtracks

Groove Me
Written by King Floyd
Performed by King Floyd
Courtesy of Malaco Records

User Reviews

Not a cliché football movie.

The year of 2006 had three football movies..."The Gridiron Gang", "Invinsible", and "We are Marshall". Having seen the first two earlier in the year, I was not that excited for We are Marshall. I went in expecting a decent but cliché football movie.

I was wrong. We are Marshall is not another cliché football movie...it is so much more than that. The movie is definitely sad, as well it should be...throughout the movie, regardless of all the positive things that are occurring, you are often reminded that the plane crash is still in the characters' minds, and no matter what happens with their rebuilding the football team, that will haunt them forever. This isn't one of those movies where something bad happens and then it is healed.

Go see We are Marshall...will you be depressed? I was not...I left the theater calmly in deep thought. Will you be touched? I would say so.

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