6:00: Morning News

Herd preps for emotional home game against Charlotte

— By Bill Cornwell

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — After last Saturday’s 26-24 Conference USA loss at Southern Miss, Marshall’s football players say they’re turning the page to this week’s game at home with Charlotte.

It is a contest with much significance for Herd fans as it’s the game closest to the anniversary of the November 14, 1970 Marshall football plane crash in which 75 Herd players, coaches, administrators and fans died.

The Charlotte game has been designated as a ‘blackout’ contest. It kicks off at 2:30 p.m. at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.

The game is being telecast nationally on ESPN+.

The Southern Miss loss likely cost Marshall (5-3, 3-2) its chance at a C-USA East Division title, but there is still conference positioning and a bowl bid to play for.

As for Charlotte, it is a much-improved team in 2018 with a 4-5 overall record, 3-2 in Conference USA. Last season, the 49ers were a woeful 1-11 and 1-7 in the league.

The 49ers hung tough last week in a 14-3 loss at Tennessee.

Marshall sophomore offensive lineman Tarik Adams says the heritage passed along to the current Marshall team from the ’75’ is taken seriously.

“We bring out the all-black uniforms and put the 75 on our helmets to remember the crash and all the families affected by it in this community,” Adams said. “We really want to put on a good game for them and honor them in the right way.”

Junior safety Malik Gant doesn’t believe the team’s focus will be a problem this week.

“We know that there is a lot that goes into this week and our preparation, mentality and hearts go into this ’75’ game and we just have to lock-in and fix all the mistakes from the last game,” Gant said.

“Marshall is not like any other school — it’s way more than football,” Gant added. “It’s a community that backs you up no matter whether you win or lose because it’s more to them than just a football going into the air.”

Senior offensive lineman Jordan Dowrey also sees the big picture of this week’s game.

“This game is one that if you don’t come prepared, you’re letting a lot more people down than yourselves,” Dowrey said. “You’re letting down the whole community and we’ll make sure we’re prepared.”

Dowrey says everyone on the team knows why so many are hoping for them to win this weekend.

“We appreciate what have because we’re still playing the game because of what people did and we’re playing for them,” Dowrey said. “I don’t think I’ll have to say anything to get people to know what’s going on.”

The realization of the Charlotte game’s significance isn’t lost on senior wide receiver Marcel Williams, who had a standout performance in the Southern Miss loss with seven catches and 139 yards.

“I’m playing for something bigger than myself at the end of the day,” Williams said. “This is a community that thrives on football and the ’75’ for a long time and we need to do everything we can to make the ’75’ and this community proud.”

Marshall defeated Charlotte last year 14-3 and leads the brief all-time series 2-1.





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