— By Bill Cornwell
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Marshall fans get a chance for a day of football and fun April 23 when the annual Green-White Football Game takes place starting at 3 p.m. The scrimmage will be played inside the Chris Cline Indoor Athletic Facility due to the pending replacement of the artificial surface at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
The football team is nearing the end of its second full week of spring practice and second-year head coach Charles Huff says he’s pleased with the consistency he’s seen to this point.
“We’re doing a really good job of being consistent in the controllables,” Huff said. “Energy, effort, attitude, communication — the things that don’t take any talent.
“When you get to that level where you can be consistent with the controllables, I think what you stand on as a program is really starting to be infused throughout all the players.”
Edwards Stadium will continue to be a part of the spring football event as it will be open, offering concessions, music, games, inflatables and other on-field activities. Food trucks will be available to fans in the stadium’s East Parking area.
The stadium’s video boards will show a feed of the spring game taking place next door in the Cline Athletic Center. The game will not be streamed online.
Tailgating will be allowed in the stadium’s west parking area, with the gates opening at 10 am. Stadium and Chris Cline Center gates will open at 1:30 p.m.
Ticket and parking spot sales are now underway at herdzone.com.
Admission is $5 per person and west lot parking costs $20. Tickets and parking passes will also be sold on game day.
Those who purchase tickets will have access to both the Chris Cline Center and Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
Prior to the spring game, the annual spring Memorial Fountain ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. on the Memorial Student Center Plaza. The fountain will be turned on during the ceremony as a symbol of the Herd football program’s rebirth following the November 14, 1970 Marshall football plane crash near Tri-State Airport, resulting in the deaths of 75 Herd football players, coaches, athletic staff members and fans.
Bob Bronger, a member of the 1971 “Young Thundering Herd” football squad, will be the keynote speaker for the fountain ceremony.
Bronger is excited about his speech.
“Lifetime memories are the most treasured,” Bronger said, “and this is one of those moments for me.”