INSIDER
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October 2017
www.HerdInsider.com
SOLID START Keion Davis and his exciting kickoff returns helped propel Marshall to a solid September, with The Herd coming out to a 2-1 start in the 2017 season.
ALSO INSIDE:
Huntington High School football comes out swinging in September.
WHAT WE’VE GOT
THE INSIDER / October 2017 / 3
10.17
VOLUME 20 No. 2
HIGH SCHOOL
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EYES on PRIZE
Huntington High football jumped to the front of the state rankings with an impressive September start to the 2017 season.
MARSHALL
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SOLID START
Multiple kickoff returns for touchdowns, the emergence of a young running back. Marshall used these (and more) to start the season 2-1.
HISTORY
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HERD HEAVEN
For 31 years, Marshall played basketball at Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse. Here’s a look back at the players and teams from a bygone era. This page: On the cover: Students lead the Huntington Marshall’s Keion Davis looked Highlanders onto the field to for any challengers –but found take on Parkersburg on a typical none– during his second kick football Friday night in return for a touchdown against Huntington, West Virginia. the Miami Redhawks. cover and contents photos by Greg Perry/The Insider Magazine 555 Fifth Avenue Huntington, WV 25701 (304) 523-8401
General Manager Mike Kirtner Contributor Bill Cornwell
Creative Director Greg Perry Contributor James E. Casto
Associate GM Reeves Kirtner First Subscriber Geoff Sheils
Writer Dave Walsh Printing Printograph, Inc.
Web Operations Alex Hackney All contents ©2017 Kindred Communications
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HIGH SCHOOL
FOOTBALL
ALL EYES ON THE PRIZE Huntington (WV) High School football began the 2017 season with an impressive string of wins over solid teams. Quarterback Luke Zban (above) frequently spotted receiver Mikal Dawson (foreground) downfield for multiple touchdowns in the month of September.
photographs by Greg Perry/ THE INSIDER Magazine staff
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oing into week five of the 2017 high school football season, Huntington High had something in common with the Highlanders from a year ago: Both teams started 4-0. What coach Billy Seals wants the 2017 edition to avoid is the second-half fade the 2016 team experienced: a 3-4 record from that point and first-round exit in the West Virginia Class AAA playoffs. “I tell the kids I expect to win every game,” Seals said. “At this point I expected to be 4-0. If we were 3-1, would I be upset? No. We’re at a good point right now. This team is story by Dave Walsh very conscious we started 4-0 last THE INSIDER writer year and went 3-4 the last seven. It’s a week to week process. They understand that.” The Highlanders went into their homecoming contest against Mountain State Athletic Conference nemesis Capital on Sept. 22 ranked No. 3 in Class AAA. The Cougars had won three straight in this series as they prepared for their first trip to Huntington High’s Bob Sang Field in some time. The Highlanders opened the season with a 45-34 win at Kentucky 3A power Belfry after trailing 27-7 at one point. They followed with wins over then No. 2 Spring Valley, George Washington and Parkersburg. Huntington High features marqueé players in two-way line standout Darnell Wright, running back/defensive back Jadon Hayes, wide out/defensive end Mikal Dawson (right) and quarterback/defensive back Luke Zban. It doesn’t stop there, as Seals has seen many players step up their level of play as well. Part of that success goes to football players competing in wrestling in the winter and track in the spring. Seals also coaches the boys track team. The Highlanders were formidable in sprints and got key efforts in field events. Their shining moment came when they won Class AAA boys in the Friends of Coal/Gazette Relays in Charleston. “I think they go hand in hand,” Seals said. “Offensive and defensive line, wrestle. Skill guys, track. We felt it’s important to get the football kids involved in track. That’s something we did in Tennessee when I was there. It paid dividends for us. Up to this point, it’s paid dividends for us here.” Hayes was one of the track team’s many sprinters. “I kind of saw Jadon at the beginning. It’s like, ‘I don’t know if I want to run.’ Then you start to see the times go down. On that 98-yard run at GW (George Washington), I saw a difference. The kid for GW – their fastest player– has got the angle on him and he pulls away from him. Andrew Spears (linebacker). He’s made more plays in open space because of track. He cut three seconds off his 200 time. For skill guys, it’s the best thing to do.” Seals said the Belfry trip proved to be a good learning experience. The turnaround came moments after a Belfry score.
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“Our defense is coming off the field and we’d just given up a score,” Seals said. “I remember looking at everyone saying, ‘hey guys, keep playing. It’s a long game. Keep throwing punches’. We’ve got to continue to progress.”
Huntington High receiver Mikal Dawson. Hayes is a threat to go the distance any time at running back or kick returner. He had more than 700 yards rushing and 12 TDs going into the Capital game. “He has been a workhorse for us,” Seals said. “Last year, Luke goes down and we rode Jadon. He rushed for 1,400, 1,500 yards. He’s on pace to break that. Track helped. It’s not real hard to run behind those guys
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we have up front and he understands that. Everything he gets is based on ability by him and the five guys in front of him” Wright is a 6-foot-6, 275-pound junior. He’s one of the top line prospects in the country as many Division I powers want him. Schools such as Alabama, Georgia, Oregon and on and on. In track, he does shot put and discus and placed sixth in the state in the shot put. “The thing about Darnell is he’s such a raw product right now,” Seals said. “He’ll continue to get better. He’s so fluid, so athletic. That’s what colleges are salivating over. He came in the office the other day and I said, ‘you’re getting skinny.’ He said, ‘coach I’m 285’. He looks 250. He can run. When I asked Darnell the other day when he would name his top five schools, he said, ‘I’m really in no hurry. I want these college coaches to see the other guys on the football team. I want to help my teammates out the best I can.” Dawson knows about success. He played a big role in the Highlanders winning the West Virginia Class AAA boys state championship last March. He had two TD catches in the win over Parkersburg. A year ago, he was lost early in the season to injury as well. “If you don’t find number 13, you’re in real trouble,” Seals said. “He uses his body well. He’s got great hands and his route running is getting a lot better. If he gets you on the edge blocking, you’re in trouble. He’s a physical kid and enjoys that. He does all the little things. Probably the best practice kid I’ve ever coached. Full speed all the time. Getting limited snaps last year slowed the recruiting process at little bit. I’m telling you, if a school doesn’t come in and grab this kid, they’re crazy. 6-4, 215 and he easily can get to 230, 240.” Quarterback Zban is a 5-11 senior who Seals wants to stay healthy all the way through his final year. “He understands the offense. He is probably the smartest quarterback I’ve worked with knowing where to go with the football,” Seals said. “He does a nice job managing the game.” Then there are the many other players who know and fill their roles. continued on page 8
Jadon Hayes is a standout at running back and defensive back.
GO HERD!
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/ October 2017 continued from page 6 Chris Rogers has emerged at running back. He scored the first touchdown in the 14-0 win over Sring Valley. “It’s huge for Chris to step up for us,” Seals said. “He keeps those guys fresh. With Jadon playing defense, it’s important for us to this point. He’s giving us great minutes and being very productive.” Other names to watch include tight end Max Howell, guards Terrance Pankey and Noah Smith and center Chris Hannah. What Seals likes even more is that they all return next season. Seals also tipped his hat to defensive ends Stephen Perrine and Bryce Damous, down linemen Jaylin Summerlin and Malik Brown and Malik Grier in the secondary. “Kids take on the mentality of their head coach,” Seals said. “Where I’m a defensive-minded guy, the kids take pride in that. The offense has carried us to this point. We put 30 some on the board, we expect to win every game. The defense was not good the last two weeks in the second half. We’ve gotten a little complacent. Can’t do that.” Hayes, Wright and Brown all relish their roles and know how this season could play out if they stay business-like each Friday. Hayes suffered an injury in the 2016 playoff game against South Charleston and the Black Eagles came back to win. “That hurt. It made me so determined from that point on,” Hayes said. “I ran track to get faster for football. Coach Seals, dad and mom told me to run track to get faster. Focus is the key. Just worry about the next opponent.” “I like the competition,” Wright said. “I knew we could be a good team. We have to go out and prove it. Recruiting ... it’s a tough process. I’ve got some ideas (final five), but it’s all about team for sure for now.” “It’s fun to have those guys as weapons teams have to worry about stopping,” Brown said. “Our job is to stop other teams. We’ve got guys who can step up and make plays at any given time. Our depth is good. We roll guys in and stay fresh. Everybody’s buying in. In the second half of the season, the Highlanders visit Ripley and Hurricane, are home to South Charleston, travel to Woodrow Wilson and meet rival Cabell Midland for “The Shield” in the finale. INSIDER
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COLLEGE
FOOTBALL
SOLID START With exciting kickoff returns for touchdowns and the debut of Tyler King (above) at running back, Marshall jumped out to a 2-1 record to start the 2017 season.
photographs by Greg Perry/ THE INSIDER Magazine staff
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Ryan Bee (91) broke up this pass by Miami quarterback Gus Ragland as Artis Johnson (21) also closed in during Marshall’s 31-26 season-opening win in Huntington.
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n Sept. 17, 2016, Marshall University football fans exited Getting to 13 would mean Marshall would finish No. 1 in Joan C. Edwards Stadium mystified, trying to figure out C-USA East and be in the league title game after being picked how Akron had blasted the Thundering Herd to the tune fourth in the preseason poll. Getting to 14 means it’s bowl time of 65-38. That startling setback to a Mid-American Conference again after a one-year absence. school proved to be a sign of things to come as Marshall, hit Litton rushed for a TD and threw a scoring pass against by key injuries nearly all season and that needed togetherness Kent State, extending his TD pass streak to 24 games. That’s tops often times missing, would struggle to a 3-9 record. among active FBS quarterbacks. A year later, many of those same fans left the Joan with a “We grind out two wins at home. That’s what the team sense of optimism after Marshall blanked Kent needs,” Litton said. “We were not winning story by Dave Walsh THE INSIDER writer State, 21-0, to improve to 2-1. Some fans could those types of games last year. We hope that even be heard saying, “four more wins and we’re continues.” bowl eligible.” After a bye week, the Herd closed out non-conferIn between the wins over the MAC schools, North Carolina ence play Sept. 30 at Cincinnati. A win and the team heads into State defeated the Herd, 37-20, in Raleigh, N.C. Marshall once Conference USA play 3-1. A setback would leave the Herd 2-2. held a 20-10 lead in the second period before the Wolfpack Why the buzz now, when there was some apprehension charged back. present right before the season opener against MAC member In C-USA statistics as of Sept. 18, the Herd was fourth in and rival Miami (Ohio)? Marshall prevailed, 31-26. Maybe, just passing, 11th in rushing and eighth in total offense. Litton was maybe, the off-season shuffle among assistant coaches, newthe No. 3 passer. On defense, MU was No. 5 against the run, comers become impact players right out of the gate, backups No. 10 against the pass and seventh in total defense. Marshall prove they can handle their roles when starters go down and was No. 1 in sacks allowed and No. 2 in sacks by (seven vs. Kent that bond among players returns. State). “We have the mindset not to go through that again,” Herd As for individuals, newcomer at wideout Tyre Brady was quarterback Chase Litton said. “I can’t say enough about how No. 1 in receiving. Keion Davis, who had two kickoff returns for far this team has come. We’re getting back to being a team. scores against Miami (Ohio), was No. 1 in that category. Kaare Strength and conditioning show how we play and are at closing Vedvik was the No. 2 punter and sixth in field goals. When he out games. I’m eager to see the next nine games, eager to make kicks off, opponents are most likely to start on the 25 as the ball it 13, maybe 14.” reaches the end zone. continued on page 15
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Wide Eyes and Clear Sailing‌ Marshall defensive back Chris Jackson saw nothing but clear sailing to the end zone during his 72-yard pick-six against the Miami Redhawks the season opening win over the Miami Redhawks. photo by Greg Perry/The Insider staff
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Marshall continued from page 11
“I like where we are at this point, but I think there is no question that we have to get better as a football team,” Marshall coach Doc Holliday said. “But, I do like what this team is all about. I like how they play and right now we are a solid team that needs to continue to get better.” Brady is seeing his first action after sitting out the 2016 season following his departure from Miami to the Herd. Against N.C. State, he caught 11 passes for 248 yards, a single-game yardage record for Carter-Finley Stadium. His presence forces teams to adjust coverages, opening lanes for other receivers. “We expected it when he had 248 yards last week against N.C. State,” Herd wideout Marcel Williams said. “That was something that our coaches always talked to us about. When they doubled him, it allowed for Willie (Johnson) and I to get open with single coverage.” The Herd’s rushing attack finally came alive in the second half against Kent State. Redshirt freshman Tyler King, bothered by a knee infection the first two weeks, entered in the second half and amassed 101 yards on 14 carries and scored once. The TD came on a 29-yard dash with 1:08 left in the fourth period. “Being away from football so long, it’s just a good feeling,” King said. “I’m surrounded by a good group of guys. I’m on a team that cares, trusts in the game plan (by coaches) and are being coachable. There’s a time in the game when adversity hit us. We didn’t panic, didn’t fold. We stood together and made it
happen” King is just one example of what it means to have all players on the same page. “It helped me overall,” King said of the knee issue. “I felt like the coaches knew what they were doing. They didn’t want to rush into anything. They let me be a team player, sit on the sideline and root the team on. I stayed on course, listened to the coaches, kept my head in the game. “Once I crossed the goal, look back and see my teammates
come out, it felt so great. I give all the credit to them. Away from football for over a year and come out and have a game like that. I thank Marshall for giving me this opportunity, my second chance. We’re coming together as a team. “As the game goes on and it’s close, I figure I probably won’t get a chance to play. That was OK with me. I’m a young buck and they threw me in there. I said to myself, ‘this is what you’re thrown in for’. Give all the credit to the O line, quarterback, and receivers.” “All I know is when we put the ball in his hand, he made yards,” Holliday said. Up front, freshman Alex Mollette, Will Ulmer and Tarik Adams got pressed into action again and they responed. “There are three redshirt freshmen who have played a lot of snaps,” Holliday said. “That is good and bad. The good news is they are all freshmen and who are back for three more years. The bad news is they shouldn’t be playing as freshmen. I thought they have held their own, for the most part, and they will continue to get better. But, it is good to see those three young players go in and perform the way they have.” Litton said King made his presence felt before he stepped onto the field. That inspiring moment came at halftime.
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“You guys weren’t in there for halftime when we are all sitting and quiet, we needed the juice and Tyler King stepped up,” Litton told the media. “He had not played a snap the whole first half and he comes in there and he’s loud, he’s vocal and he’s letting everybody know you cannot sit here and be acceptable with this. This is not Marshall football. That message came loud and clear from him.” INSIDER
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Tanner Holden photo courtesy of Burgsports.com
Wheelersburg (OH) High School Football/Basketball
Athletes whose mothers and fathers were high achievers as athletes in the past are said to come from “good bloodlines”. That could certainly be said about Wheelersburg (Ohio) High Football junior receiver Tanner Holden. Tanner is the son of Marshall University Basketball Hall of Famer Rodney Holden. And, dad Rodney was one of the best rebounders in Thundering Herd hoops history as a member of Huck’s Herd, as he was part of Coach Rick Huckabay’s Marshall teams of the mid-1980s which won back-to-back Southern Conference titles and played in the 1984 and 1985 NCAA Tournaments. Tanner is excelling on both the football field and basketball court. The 6-6, 170 pounder is off to an impressive start in his junior season with a Wheelersburg football program that began 2017 with averaging over 40 points as it won its opening 4 games in convincing fashion Holden opened the season with five receptions good for 159 yards and four touchdowns in a 48-3 thrashing of Ironton and followed that with 4 catches in a 37-6 win over Fairland. He was on fire in the Pirates’ 41-0 shutout of Heath as he caught nine passes from quarterback Trent Salyers for 227 yards and three touchdowns. Holden and Wheelersburg continued to roll in week four with a 47-17 over Columbus Bishop Watterson as Holden recorded 9 catches for 211 yards and 3 scores. Holden is getting lots of college recruiting attention with his achievements on the football field this fall, but he’s also being recruited by basketball coaches after a solid sophomore season. Reportedly, one of those schools hoping he commits to them for basketball is his father’s alma mater — Marshall.
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The 1950-51 Marshall team was the first to play at the Field House.
Herd Heaven Remembering
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For 31 years, Marshall played basketball at Veterans Memorial Field House.
arshall fans called it “Herd Heaven” – and with good ed there. reason. In the 31 seasons that Veterans Memorial Field Jones was manager of the old Huntington Water Corp. (now House was home court for Herd basketball, Marshall part of West Virginia American Water) and one of the commuposted an enviable record. Of the more than 400 games it nity’s best-known civic leaders. He and others in the community played at the Field House, it won 296 and lost were convinced that an up and coming town only 113. like Huntington needed a modern arena and so story by James E. Casto THE INSIDER contributor In 1950, as Marshall prepared to play its set about laying the groundwork for its confirst game at the Field House, legendary Marstruction. shall coach Cam Henderson called it “just about the answer to In 1948, the Cabell County Court (now Commission) auany coach’s prayer.” Certainly the new arena was a long-overdue thorized the board to hire an architect to start work on a new step up from antiquated Radio Center where the Herd had been arena. The following year, the county issued bonds to pay for playing. “We have waited a long time for this but it was worth the project and construction work began on the northwest it,” Henderson said. corner of 5th Avenue and 26th Street. When the new structure The genesis of the Field House can be traced to 1945, when was completed, it was named Veterans Memorial Field House. A the West Virginia Legislature established the Cabell County dedicatory panel was placed on the 5th Avenue side of the buildRecreation Board. Initially the board was charged with supervis- ing reading: “Erected 1950 A.D. Dedicated to Those Who Gave in ing a network of 20 playgrounds scattered through the county. Freedom’s Cause the Last Full Measure of Devotion – 1917-1918, But Chairman Max Jones and his fellow board members had far 1941-1945.” bigger things in mind. The building’s official opening was Nov. 30, 1950, with a Huntington’s only public arena at the time was Radio Cenchoral pageant featuring more than 2,400 students from the ter, located in the 600 block of 4th Avenue. Originally named county’s schools. But for many Herd fans, the real opening Vanity Fair when it was built in 1915, the old building had been event came Dec. 2, when the Marshall basketball team played its modernized a bit but was still no longer up to being the home first game at the Field House – an 84-34 drubbing of Fairmont court for Marshall basketball or the many other events conduct- State College.
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Leo Byrd set many scoring records for Marshall in the late 1950s. In his final game at the Field House, 6,000 cheering fans gave him a four-minute standing ovation.
The game was broadcast live on WSAZ Radio, with Jack Bradley and Bert Shimp at the mike. The broadcast was sponsored by Huntington’s S.S. Logan & Son packing company. Despite its strong debut, Marshall’s first two seasons at the Field House were disappointing. Henderson led the 195051 team to a mediocre 13-13 finish. The 1951-52 finish of 15-11 was only a little better. But in 1952-53 the Herd posted a 20-4 record and launched a decade of spectacular success on the court. During a three-year span, Marshall won 24-straight home games at the Field House. It began with the last five games of 1953-54, continued through all 12 home games in 1954-55, and lasted through the first eight contests of 1955-56. Much of the success of those Marshall teams of the early 1950s can be credited to two stand-out players – Walt Walowac and Charlie Slack. Walowac’s 1,982 career points would stand as a Marshall record until broken by Skip Henderson in 1987-88. Slack’s rebounding skills were remarkable. During his senior season, he led the nation in rebounding. Another stand-out player during Marshall’s first decade at the Field House was Hal Greer. A star player at Huntington’s all-black Douglass High School, Greer broke Marshall’s color barrier when he joined the Herd, putting up phenomenal stats from 1955 to 1958. He would go on to a Hall of Fame career in
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Hal Greer, shown here clowning around with Coach Jule Rivlin, broke the color barrier at Marshall and went on to a Hall of Fame career in the NBA. (Photo courtesy the Herald-Dispatch)
the NBA. Greer would be Henderson’s last recruit. Ill health forced him to resign in 1955. He died the following year. Henderson had done the unthinkable when he coached his 1947 team to win the National Association of Intercollegiate Basketball (NAIB) tournament, a feat that gave Marshall its first national championship -- and set the stage for construction of the Field House. No individual looms larger in the history of Marshall basketball. Little wonder that today’s MU basketball arena is named Henderson Center. Taking over from Henderson as coach was Jule Rivlin, who had been a star on Henderson’s Marshall teams of the late 1930s, becoming Marshall’s first basketball All-American. In Rivlin’s first season as head coach Marshall went 18-5 and won the Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship. Standout players during his time at the helm included Sonny Allen and Leo Byrd, who was an All-American in 1959. The early 1960s were lean years for Marshall basketball. In 1963, Ellis Johnson replaced Rivlin and began to put the team back on a successful track. Johnson also won himself a permanent place in Marshall and Field House lore. During a home game against Toledo he continued on page 20
20 / THE INSIDER / October 2017 was frustrated over the officiating. When a stray dog wondered into the Field House, Johnson brought the pooch over to the bench, put glasses on the dog, and pointed it out to the referee. His obvious jab at the officials earned him a technical foul, but needless to say the fans loved it.
deen, would be Marshall’s head coach for only 28 months but during his brief tenure he breathed new life into the Herd. Under Daniels, attendance at the Herd’s home games had dropped significantly. But when the colorful and charismatic Stu Aberdeen took over as coach, the crowds came back, with the Field House sometimes selling out.
Three coaches who did their best to move Marshall forward in the Field House (left to right): Ellis Johnson, Stu Aberdeen, and Bob Zuffelato.
Under Johnson, Marshall went 20 and 8 in 1966-67, its best season in years, and made its first appearance in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Stand-out players during Johnson’s years as coach included George Stone, Bob Redd and Dan D’Antoni. Prior to the 1969-70 season, Marshall athletics was rocked by scandal when boosters were found to be giving illegal gifts to players and recruits. The NCAA suspended Marshall for a year and the MAC booted Marshall from the conference indefinitely. (It would be nearly 30 years before Marshall rejoined the MAC). In response to the scandal, Marshall fired Johnson, football head coach Perry Moss and Athletic Director Eddie Barrett. Assistant coach Stewart Way temporarily took over as basketball head coach. In the aftermath of the Nov. 14, 1970, air tragedy which claimed the lives of 75 Marshall football players, coaches and fans, the Field House was the scene of a memorial service that attracted an estimated 7,000 mourners to the arena – a service that remains etched in the memories of many who were there that tear-stained night. For the 1971-72 season, Stewart Way and Carl Tacy switched places. Way returned to his post as assistant coach and Tacy, who had been assistant coach, became head coach. Stand-out players Carl Lee and Dan D’Antoni’s little brother Mike lead Marshall to a 23-4 mark in 1971-72, its best finish in 25 years. In 1972-73, Tacy moved on to be head coach at Wake Forest and Marshall brought in Bob Daniels to replace him. Mike D’Antoni was the point guard for the NCAA Tournament in 1972 and the NIT team in 1973. The years from 1970 to 1974 had been great ones for Marshall, which posted home record of 51-6. But the same couldn’t be said for the next three seasons. In 1974-75, the Herd finished 13-13. For 1975-76, it posted a 13-14 record. And in 1976-77 it dropped to 8-19. Not surprisingly Daniels turned in his resignation at the end of the 1976-77 season. His replacement, the colorful and charismatic Stu Aber-
Dan D’Antoni (who is the current Marshall coach) was a standout during the Ellis Johnson years in the Field House.
Herd Heaven continued from page 20
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He placed his stamp not just on Marshall’s players but also plans to demolish it to make way for a new soccer complex. on the aging Field House. In his newspaper column, legendOn Feb. 10. 2012, Veterans Memorial Field House opened ary local sports columnist Ernie Salvatore praised the remake its doors one last time, welcoming back for a once-in-a-lifetime the Field House received at Aberdeen’s direction: “He remade Memorial Field House so attractively that fallen-away worshipers again flocked to it in record numbers to cheer his patchwork quintets, his foundation teams for what they knew would come.” Over the years, Marshall had developed a dominating advantage over visiting teams at the Field House, with students sitting virtually on top of the court. Aberdeen made the most of that when he exhorted the crowds to rock the building with thunderous noise. When, on June 11, 1979, Aberdeen was stricken by a fatal heart attack, he was The 1966-67 team under Coach Ellis Johnson (at far right) went 20 and 8, Marshall’s best record in years, and replaced by assistant Bob made the school’s first appearance in the National Invitational Tournament at Madison Square Garden. Zuffelato, who took the Herd to the Southern Conference finals in 1979-80 and posted a season event nearly 100 of the many Marshall players who graced record of 17-12. Then, in 1980-81, Marshall’s last season at the the court from 1950 to 1981. An audience of 2,000 fans loudly Field House, the Herd finished 18-10. cheered each one. The evening included a Herd alumni basketOn Feb. 16, 1981, in its last game at the Field House before ball game and veterans’ recognition ceremony. The last shot moving to the new Henderson Center, the Herd defeated Liberty ever in the building was made by Marshall great Russell Lee, and University 75-63. the crowd was addressed by West Virginia’s only living Medal of Following Marshall’s departure, the Field House was used Honor recipient, Woody Williams. sporadically for high school basketball games, graduations and Many of those at the farewell celebration warmly praised special events. The building was showing its age and badly in the Field House. But no one could top the title bestowed by Dan need of repair. The county had been more than happy to turn D’Antoni when he labeled it “the best little basketball house in the Field House over to the Cabell County Board of Education America.” in 1986, and the school system was similarly relieved when it passed the building along to the Greater Huntington Park and James E. Casto is the retired associate editor of The HeraldRecreation District a decade later. In 2011, the park district eaDispatch and the author of a number of books on local and gerly turned the Field House over to Marshall, which announced regional history. INSIDER