Huntington Quarterly Autumn 2022

confident, composed and ready to compete. I think this is the biggest win in the history of the program. Thank you!!!!” As Steven Gilmore was fin

been since that awful day in 1970. This was the best football moment in half a century, and they’re not let ting go of it anytime soon,” Forde wrote. The impact on Marshall’s

The bond is tight between town and team, and has been since that awful day in 1970. This was the best football moment in half a century, and they’re not letting go of it anytime soon. —Pat Forde ”

ishing his dash into Herd foot ball fame, long-time Herd fans MarkWatts and DannyWoods were screaming their lungs out celebrating the play that would put Notre Dame away. Then they noticed No. 3 was coming straight for them and the entire Marshall cheering section. “I told Woody, ‘Man, he’s going to do a Lambeau Leap,’” Watts remembered, describ ing the tradition of Green Bay Packers players who jump into the stands to celebrate touch downs with their fans. “I started pounding on the padding lining

program, beyond the $1.25 million payday, is tough to quantify. Marshall Athletics Director Christian Spears said the win goes beyond the tangible financial windfalls. “You know what was more special?” Spears asked. “It was how that game made people feel about our program. For people who have been affili ated withMarshall’s program, to see us come full circle and win that game was surreal. The inspiration is bigger than all of us.”

the stands. It was surreal. ‘He’s coming up here!’” Gilmore was sandwiched betweenWatts on his right and Woods on his left, and there was nowhere in the football world Watts would rather be.

Huff couldn’t agree more. A few hours after the game he received a text from a longtime Marshall supporter that read, “Coach, I wanted to say that today was one of the Top 10 days of my life. You had the team so

Defensive back Steven Gilmore jumped into the stands and celebrated his interception with Herd fans Mark Watts and Danny Woods.

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