We Are Marshall Page #4

lt's a new day, men.

l like those boys, Don. l do. l do.

The thing is, l'm gonna need

Oh, that l can't help you with, l'm afraid.

Well, actually, you can, Don.

You see, l need you to petition

the NCAA for me.

Ask them to make an exception.

Allow us to play freshmen.

Now, it's the only chance we have

to get any edge on recruiting...

...much less put a full football team

on the field.

l mean, we are way behind here.

Well, you know the NCAA

better than l do, Jack.

They're rigid as a board.

They don't make exceptions.

Usually true.

Yeah.

Hey, you know, my son, he crapped

his pants yesterday. Now, he's 4.

All right, now, my wife is out shopping,

so l had to clean him up.

She got home. l told her what happened.

She says, ''l can't believe it.''

l said, ''l can't believe it either.

The kid's 4 years old...

...he shouldn't be doing that sh*t.''

Pun intended.

You know what she says to me?

She says, ''Jack, no, not that.

l can't believe you finally

changed a diaper.''

What are you talking about?

There's a first time for everything.

Hey, l know you.

ln the middle. Yes, l do.

Ask me your name. Go ahead,

l won't even look. Ask me your name.

-What's my name?

-Nate Ruffin.

Team co-captain. Eleven interceptions

in only seven games last year.

Redbook.

Stuff really works.

Hey, we can do this, doc.

What are those, 1 -by-5s?

One-by-sixes.

They don't look that wide from down here.

-Saw you guys play once.

-Did we win?

lt was the Ashland game.

Well, that'd be a no, then.

Well, you guys looked pretty good

till the fourth quarter.

Probably should've gone to the nickel.

You know, you're probably right.

You know, l appreciate you

coming out here to see me...

...but they already came out here to ask me

back and l already told them that l'm not...

-...coming back, so....

-Yeah, l heard. l heard about that.

Just thought l could make you

a better offer.

You know, they asked you

to be the head coach.

l want you to be the assistant coach.

l think that's a demotion, Jack.

Well, maybe.

Maybe not.

l mean, it's the same duties,

practically, just less pay.

Same hours. Less responsibility.

Same team, less pressure.

l tell you, Red, you know,

the cupboard is pretty bare.

And l could use some recruiting help

from someone who knows the area.

You know, Carole and l

moved here two years ago. lt was...

...spring of '69.

They had hired me as a receivers coach...

...but when l got here, they told me

l was in charge of recruiting too, so....

That first year l went out

and l got us 20 kids.

Went to 20 homes.

Sat in 20 living rooms.

And l promised 20 mothers

that l'd look after their sons.

lt'd have been the class of '73.

There's not one of them left.

So let me ask you, Jack:

How am l supposed to look a mother in the

eye and promise her anything ever again?

l don't know, Red.

l just don't think l could

take that field again, Jack.

ls that the Ohio Valley Coal line?

The same one that went off the tracks

near Akron last winter?

Yep. That's the one.

Back on track.

Well, listen,

if you're able to figure it out...

...door's always open.

lt was a pleasure meeting you, Red.

Nice meeting you.

l'll keep that defensive-nickel

package idea in mind...

...for my fourth quarters in the future.

Maybe get a few more W's.

One-by-six, huh?

Yup.

Same coverage, less boards.

Hey, Tom.

Guess we got us a coach, huh?

Hey, look.

When they first roomed us together

freshman year, l wasn't too sure about you.

You know? But we stuck it out,

and now you're my best friend.

l mean, remember freshman two-a-days?

l'm puking my guts out and

l wanna quit football and you won't let me?

Now, you never gave up on us

out there on the field...

...and l'm not gonna give up on you now.

Tom, man.

lt's our team. Now, they left this to us.

lt's up to us! lt's on our shoulders, man.

l need you with me, Tom.

l should've been with them, Nate.

-Look, Tom, l understand, and l feel--

-No, you don't! You don't, Nate! You don't.

What you talking about?

l overslept.

That's why l wasn't on the plane, Nate.

l overslept.

l wasn't hurt or sick.

And l should've been there.

l should have been with them!

l'm sorry. l just can't play football

right now. Okay? lt's not in me.

l can't do it, you understand that, right?

Look at me.

l'm sorry.

Tom.

Thought you might like some dessert.

Thank you, Annie.

l'm gonna get you some silverware.

Yup.

Game day.

Yup.

So l'll give you one year.

Well, if that's all the time we've got,

we'd better get started.

Coach Mickey Jackson.

Coach McNally.

Coach Riley.

First line:
NCAA, address--

l assume you have it, Luann.

lt's somewhere in Kansas City.

Salutation:
To whom it may concern.

As l am sure you are aware, we....

l'm gonna take a road trip

southeast of here...

...and go get this Shaw kid

down in Martinsville.

l'm gonna take a shot at Gibbs.

Go get us a quarterback, coach.

-Jake. Red Dawson.

-Yes, sir?

l know coaches from quite a few schools

have already come to talk...

...about your son playing football for them.

l hope that he hasn't made his mind up.

Ain't no way he's made up his mind yet.

Wait, there he is, right there.

Oh, what's the good word, coach?

No? Sh*t.

Truman Andrews. Here we come.

Sh*t.

Luann?

Sir?

Has the NCAA returned

any of my calls yet?

No.

Six, seven, eight, nine, 1 0,

Kids that we wanted who are now

in West Virginia. Who's that?

Bob Lambert. West Virginia.

Sh*t.

Twelve. West Virginia.

Red, we gotta broaden our

recruiting base or something.

We gotta get creative about...

...who we're going after,

where we're going after them...

...and how we're going after them.

lsn't that right, doc?

Good morning, Red.

Well, how are we doing?

West Virginia will be

competitive next year.

Yeah, very.

How about you?

Well, Jack, l haven't heard anything

positive back yet.

And l think l've done everything l can.

Maybe we need more time.

l don't know.

Time's the only thing

we don't have, Don.

l mean, hell, it's already April.

Time is not our friend.

Let me ask you a question.

Now, are you married?

Yes, l am. 25 years in May.

Twenty-five years. l am willing to bet...

...that you didn't propose over the phone.

No, l didn't.

Okay. And l know damn well

that she didn't say yes in a letter.

-Jack?

-Doc?

-No, Jack. l know....

-Yes. Doc?

You can do it.

You're an outlaw. Pioneer.

Gunslinger.

This is a whole new game, doc.

You....

You.

There's a first time for everything, Don.

lf we're gonna survive, this has

to be one of those times.

And you're the only man that can do it.

Excuse me, sir? Excuse me,

l'm sorry to bother you like this...

...but my name is Don Dedmon,

l'm president of Marshall University.

May l speak with you

for a moment, please?

What are you doing in Kansas City, Don?

My town, my school, we're hurting.

We want to play football,

and we cannot do it without your help.

Please.

Guess who's going to change our diaper.

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