Fifty Plus (50+) - We are Marshall

Okay, not much related to cycling here but just returned from a private screening of the movie "We Are Marshall" that is coming out soon. I'd recommend it to anyone that's looking for a good movie over the holidays. Its one of the better sports flicks I've seen. I was in college at the time so it was very easy for me to relate to the story. Its one of those movies that lasts over 2 hours but the time in the theatre moves along very, very quickly. Even my high school son and college daughter really enjoyed it. Plus noone enjoys popcorn any more than I do so I was a nice treat. Hopefully I can burn off a few of the extra calories this weekend......

I'm looking forward to it as I was attending high school in West Virginia at the time of the accident. I remember being stunned by the news and it dominating all of the news for days. And following the stories over the next few years as they rebuilt the program.

We played Marshall in a bi-district basketball playoff game when I was in high school. A fight broke out at the end of the game (we were winning) and since I was given the gym bag with everyone's valuables, my job was to run into the locker room. This I did as soon as the floor filled with bodies & fists flying so I missed my only chance to be involved in a sports riot.

McCounaghey (sp?) is a native Texan who lives in Austin so he'll have the accent down cold...

The Marshall in question is Marshall University, located in Huntington, West Virginia. I don't remember many Texan accents in that area.

The Marshall in question is Marshall University, located in Huntington, West Virginia. I don't remember many Texan accents in that area.
How true! South central Appalachian, sounds nothing like Texan!

While I'm not a critic nor do I follow Matthew M's films, I think he did a really nice job in this one-regardless whatever accent he was trying to do! He plays a pretty unique character. If you saw Pirates of the Carribean, think Johnny Dep without the alcohol.

How true! South central Appalachian, sounds nothing like Texan!

Oh...:o ...well, my parochial worldview is hereby revealed...since anything with FOOTBALL and MARSHALL would immediately be connected in my head since Marshall High School is a powerhouse football & basketball school in east Texas.

How true! South central Appalachian, sounds nothing like Texan!
...of course I failed to mention that northern Appalachian, which they speak here in the NH mountians, sounds nothing like Texan either! :o

Oh... ...well, my parochial worldview is hereby revealed...since anything with FOOTBALL and MARSHALL would immediately be connected in my head since Marshall High School is a powerhouse football & basketball school in east Texas.
BTW, they play football here in the NH mountains, but we don't have a marching band, nor a drum corps, nor cheer leaders, nor majorettes. One of the co-captains goes to my church. He plays both ways, special teams, and probably doesn't miss 5 minutes in a game.

Don't ask me. I graduated from University of California at Santa Barbara. WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A FOOTBALL TEAM, and are proud of it. Of course we are proud of our women's volleyball team, our NCAA champion mens soccer team and our on-campus surfing beach.

A lot of great bicycling also. Just one warning. Don't venture onto Del Playa on a Saturday night without being completely plowed yourself. The bicycling then is just too dangerous.

I have strong personal recollections of the plane crash. Our high school star running back went to Marshall on a football scholarship. I was a good friend of his younger brother. When word came of the crash...we were much relieved to learned he was on the injured reserve and hadn't made the trip. That was a long time ago. Looking forward to seeing the movie.

... BTW, they play football here in the NH mountains, but we don't have a marching band, nor a drum corps, nor cheer leaders, nor majorettes. One of the co-captains goes to my church. He plays both ways, special teams, and probably doesn't miss 5 minutes in a game.

My sweet wife is from New England and was little overawed the first time I took her to a HS football game with 20,000 people in attendance. This was at Ratliff Stadium in Abilene, TX where one of the home teams was playing Odessa Permian of Friday Night Lights fame. If it had been in Odessa there would have been 30,000 in the stands. Two weeks ago there were 40,000 people in attendance at Southlake Carroll vs Euless Trinity game in Dallas area..I heard it caused a two hour traffic jam. Its probably a good thing that not everyone is so crazy about schoolboy football as we Texans. For those interested http://www.texasfootballratings.com/2006bracketsfree.html

<How true! South central Appalachian, sounds nothing like Texan!>

I strongly disagree with this statement. Our Tennessee hill country accent is very similar to most Texans. Of course, they picked it up from Davy Crockett and Sam Houson, both native East Tennesseans. As a matter of fact, if it wasn't for Davy and Sam, the Alamo would still be in Mexico.

<How true! South central Appalachian, sounds nothing like Texan!>

I strongly disagree with this statement. Our Tennessee hill country accent is very similar to most Texans. Of course, they picked it up from Davy Crockett and Sam Houson, both native East Tennesseans. As a matter of fact, if it wasn't for Davy and Sam, the Alamo would still be in Mexico.

You're right, of course. That's why Texas musicians do so well in Nashville - they can be understood and don't have to hire translators...:D

As for the Alamo still being in Mexico, yes, we Texans owe a lot to Sam getting kicked out of Tennessee - some of our greatest statesmen had shady pasts acquired in the more civilized 'east' that were forgiven by the other reprobates populating this great state during its infancy.

Davy Crockett getting killed in the Alamo massacre saved Texas?

Davy Crockett getting killed in the Alamo massacre saved Texas?

As a matter of fact, it did. The ill fated and mis-informed two week stand by Travis, Crockett, Bonham and others gave the other Texians (i. e. Houston and Johnston) time to get better organized, as well as being an anvil upon which the Mexican army got slightly bent, if not broken. It also made clear, as did the massacre of 450+ prisoners at Goliad, that there was no way out for those Texians under arms except to defeat Santa Ana. It was run and leave everthing, be killed, or fight. It made clear that they were fighting for their life.

As a side note, those in the Alamo knew nothing of the Texas Declaration of Independence.

That's the history lesson for today and my apologies to JPPE for the highjacked thread.

True enough, but I believe the defeat of Mexico on Texas land was inevitable. If not that year then the next or the next.

After all the Mexican War came along a decade later and ended with the cessation of much more land to the USA.

Even if the Alamo would have been abandoned, the end result would have been the same. At least that is how I see it. But I don't belittle their courage.

True enough, but I believe the defeat of Mexico on Texas land was inevitable. If not that year then the next or the next.

After all the Mexican War came along a decade later and ended with the cessation of much more land to the USA.

Even if the Alamo would have been abandoned, the end result would have been the same. At least that is how I see it. But I don't belittle their courage.

Without the perceived success of the Texas Revolution there would have been no Mexican War. The continued raids by Mexico across the Nueces and the annexation of Texas precipitated the war. No Texas Republic would have meant no annexation. Remember, the border more or less was the Nueces, not the Rio Grande.

As to the Alamo, had the Alamo and Goliad not taken place it is questionable that a Texian army would have held together or that there would have been support for the cause. Bravery at the Alamo? Certainly, but in defiance of orders. As to the Fannin and Goliad...its a poor an example of military leadership as can be found, particularly if you ever see the fort he held but abandoned and the place where his army was surrounded.

Don't ask me. I graduated from University of California at Santa Barbara. WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A FOOTBALL TEAM, and are proud of it. Of course we are proud of our women's volleyball team, our NCAA champion mens soccer team and our on-campus surfing beach.

A lot of great bicycling also. Just one warning. Don't venture onto Del Playa on a Saturday night without being completely plowed yourself. The bicycling then is just too dangerous.

From UCSB to Arkansas? That's a contrast. I often wondered why UCSB call it I'll vista, rather than the Spanish Isla Vista.

That's the history lesson for today and my apologies to JPPE for the highjacked thread.
Here is the photo to show the Alamo is a bicycle subject.
http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/8257/alamobicyclecopki7.th.jpg (http://img143.imageshack.us/my.php?image=alamobicyclecopki7.jpg)

And Texans like to talk about it:
http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/7003/alamoguidewi4.th.jpg (http://img114.imageshack.us/my.php?image=alamoguidewi4.jpg)

It is a fascinating place. But believe it or not, I found a guide inside the Alamo this past February, whom was a graduate of the U. of Texas and couldn't have cared less about the Longhorn team that had just won the National Championship the month before. I think he was an alien or maybe from the University of California at Santa Barbara.

Mono: you tell 'em how it was & you've got it right IMHO....:D

JPPE: apologies for hijacked thread (I'll try to do better but can't make any promises...:o )

Davy Crockett, in his final words to the Tennessee Assembly (after being defeated by Andy Jackson's cohorts) said, "You can go to Hell, I'm going to Texas!"

Davy Crockett, in his final words to the Tennessee Assembly (after being defeated by Andy Jackson's cohorts) said, "You can go to Hell, I'm going to Texas!"

As a 5th-generation Texan from both sides of my family, I can assure you that some still feel the same way :D

Don't ask me. I graduated from University of California at Santa Barbara. WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A FOOTBALL TEAM, and are proud of it. Of course we are proud of our women's volleyball team, our NCAA champion mens soccer team and our on-campus surfing beach.


Another championship. That's two now right? :) . I did watch that great game against UCLA.

I heard that "We are Marshall" is an American style football movie. I never got any interest in that game. But I do have a couple of young co-workers who are football fans and spoke highly of the previews. I'll pass on the kudos of "jppe" to them.

Davy Crockett, in his final words to the Tennessee Assembly (after being defeated by Andy Jackson's cohorts) said, "You can go to Hell, I'm going to Texas!"
This New Years Day, the Volunteers from Tennessee will be going down to Tampa, FL where the mighty Nittany Lions will tree their coon dog.

On a lesser note, I expect the Longhorns to throttle the Hawkeyes at the Alamo Bowl.

For some odd reason, Massachusetts football fans went on a rampage this week. After the Univ of Massachusetts lost the I-AA championship game, there was a riot.

As to the Alamo, I've been to both of them. The one in San Antonio and the one in Brackettville, TX. The first one is where Travis and Crockett fought, the second one is where John Wayne, Richard Widmark, and Lawrence Harvey fought.

You can read about the Marshall plane crash here:
http://www.wvculture.org/History/disasters/marshallplanecrash01.html

http://www.marshall.edu/library/speccoll/virtual_museum/Memorial/default.asp

<<This New Years Day, the Volunteers from Tennessee will be going down to Tampa, FL where the mighty Nittany Lions will tree their coon dog>>

It's a shame that Joe Pa will lose his last game to the mighty Vols.

I still remember many years ago when I was in Neyland Stadium on a warm December Saturday when Penn State came to Knoxville with All Americans Franco Harris and Lydell Mitchell in the backfield. I don't think they ever got past their own forty.

The last two or three time the Vols and Penn State have met, I'll have to admit, Joe Pa did outsmart us, but he was much younger then!

What does "hijacking a thread" mean?



.

I believe JoePa has been talking about coaching for another one or two years.

BTW, the all-time record for Tennessee vs Penn States is 2 - 2, with PSU winning the last two by 31-13 and 42-17 scores.

<<This New Years Day, the Volunteers from Tennessee will be going down to Tampa, FL where the mighty Nittany Lions will tree their coon dog>>

It's a shame that Joe Pa will lose his last game to the mighty Vols.

I still remember many years ago when I was in Neyland Stadium on a warm December Saturday when Penn State came to Knoxville with All Americans Franco Harris and Lydell Mitchell in the backfield. I don't think they ever got past their own forty.

The last two or three time the Vols and Penn State have met, I'll have to admit, Joe Pa did outsmart us, but he was much younger then!

What does "hijacking a thread" mean?
Hijacking a thread about football and movies on an alleged, and only sometimes actually bicycle related, list, by discussing football?? You've got to be kidding! Are there only certain characters and "personalities" allowed to post their clever and whimsical OT prose on any subject that pops in their head? Pie anyone?

The last two or three time the Vols and Penn State have met, I'll have to admit, Joe Pa did outsmart us, but he was much younger then!
Yeah, he was a young 67 years old in 1994 when Penn State beat Tennessee, 31-13 in the 1994 Citrus Bowl.

Coach Fulmer has got it right:
"We're honored to be playing a team like Penn State and coach Paterno,'' Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said. "Like so many coaches, I've looked up to him for years. He's always had well-prepared, tough and athletic football teams and I'm sure this one is no different.''

Should be a good game, with truth and justice prevailing.

From UCSB to Arkansas? That's a contrast. I often wondered why UCSB call it I'll vista, rather than the Spanish Isla Vista.

Yeah, life takes strange turns. When I was there, everyone called it Isla Vista. Maybe someone has decided to be painfully hip.

I-Like-To-Bike wrote.

<<You've got to be kidding!>>

You're right, I was kidding!

What do Marshall, the Alamo and the Tennessee-Penn State Bowl Game have in common? Beats me!

Should be a good game, with truth and justice prevailing.

Should you not have included the the American Way Of Life?

I-Like-To-Bike wrote.

<<You've got to be kidding!>>

You're right, I was kidding!

What do Marshall, the Alamo and the Tennessee-Penn State Bowl Game have in common? Beats me!
They share the same relationship to bicycling as at least half the posts on this forum. They are of interest to the poster(s), and if no one else is interested will go away sooner rather than later.

Should you not have included the the American Way Of Life?
That is a given. Shoot, everybody knows that!

I like pudding.

I like pudding.
I like pudding too. I love pizza and beer; especially when watching college football games on TV.

Pizza and Beer! With pudding afterward!

That would be nice when watching the OutBack Bowl, with Tennessee facing Penn State.

Or the Alamo Bowl, with Texas against Iowa.

It would have been nice to watch Marshall too, but they didn't make a bowl game this year.

Here is the photo to show the Alamo is a bicycle subject.
http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/8257/alamobicyclecopki7.th.jpg (http://img143.imageshack.us/my.php?image=alamobicyclecopki7.jpg)


Of course the Alamo is a bicycle subject, especially its basement. That's where Pee-Wee Herman went to look for his stolen bicycle.