Marshall Magazine Spring 2022

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HOMECOMING 2021

A fter more than a year of virtual gatherings and celebrations done via a screen, Marshall University was thrilled to return to in-person activities in the fall with a Homecoming celebration that was aptly dubbed Back and Better Than Ever! The theme accompanied activities the week of Oct. 4-9 in one of the largest on-campus celebrations of the year. It also served as an inspiration for alumni and students, many of whom were returning to the Huntington campus for the first time since the start of the pandemic. To celebrate such a momentous occasion, and to honor the 50th anniversary of one of Marshall’s most iconic teams, this year’s Homecoming grand marshals were the players, coaches and staff of the Young Thundering Herd, the re nowned 1971 Thundering Herd football team that helped set the benchmark for a return to prominence for Marshall University and its athletic program. The team was led in the Homecoming parade by Young Thundering Herd mem ber and 1974 team captain Allen Meadows and Lucianne Call, former cheerleader and daughter of former director of athletics Charlie E. Kautz, who perished on Southern Airways Flight 932. Among the highlights of Homecoming 2021 were the annual Homecoming parade and bonfire, Picnic on the Plaza, Unity Walk, Stampede 5K and a huge gathering of Herd alums, students and supporters at the annual Marshall

Family Tailgate presented by the Woodlands Retirement Community. This year’s Mr. and Miss Marshall were Zach Ihnat and Caroline Kinder. Ihnat is a civil engineering and Spanish major sponsored by Alpha Sigma Phi from Charleston, West Virginia. Kinder is a secondary math education major fromOna, West Virginia, who was sponsored by Marshall’s Baptist Campus Ministry. Other standouts during Homecoming 2021 were the overall winners of the annual Homecoming Stampede 5K, Stephen McCollam of Charleston, West Virginia, and Roegan Good of Frame, West Virginia. The remaining top five finishers from the event were Eric Desmond of Huntington, West Virginia; Brookelyn Reynolds of Waverly, West Virginia; and Lucia Okuno of Prichard, West Virginia. The overall winner of the virtual office decorating competi tion was Marshall Urology. Wrapping up the week, the Thundering Herd defeated Old Dominion 20-13 in overtime during the annual Homecoming game. Quarterback Grant Wells threw for 299 yards and two touchdowns tossed to Shadeed Ahmed and Willie Johnson, bolstered by a 77-yard rushing effort by freshman sensation Rasheen Ali. With the win, Marshall extended its Homecoming record to 27-4 since the opening of Joan C. Edwards Stadium in 1991, with a current win streak of nine straight games. Relive more of the excitement from Homecoming 2021 online at HerdAlum.com .

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