Aug. 23, 2008
Name Recognition, Awareness Ignited by 'We Are Marshall' Production
Most Prospective Students Have Seen It; Class of 1974 Alum Recalls the Dark Days After Crash
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Entertainment Editor
Huntington, WV (HNN) – What would the opening of a semester be without some reference to “We Are Marshall,” not the cheer; the movie. About 100 students and parents gathered on the warm night to watch the Warner Bros. flick at Buskirk Field, where a portion of the movie had been shot.
Jean Gilman, director of student recruitment, said the movie “helped us a lot with name recognition and awareness. We are increasing our recruitment scope by going out of state a lot. Instead of explaining where Marshall University, they already know. They have seen the movie. It helped us get in the door of a lot of places.” She added that most of the students have seen the movie. “If they haven’t , we suggest that they go see it . If they have they come up with a little background about the university, which is always great. We then suggest they come on campus to see it for themselves by scheduling a campus visit.”
Another recruiter, Tim Wilburn, said, “When I’m out recruiting that’s the first thing people say, We Are… Marshall. They do a lot of reenactment from the movie. It has brought more attention [to the school] as they want to find out more about Marshall. It’s impacted probably more than we all realize. “
Wilburn said that the showing on the field might become an annual event. “It has a strong impact. We have the Memorial Fountain behind us.”
Before Kate Mara’s narration began, I caught up with a Marshall alumni who had just dropped his son off to start the semester. Bob Breunij, now from New York, brought his two other children to the showing. A freshman in 1970, he remembers the campus as news of the crash spread.
“I knew a lot of football players. People were crying terribly. [The crash] was right before Thanksgiving and we left and didn’t come back until after the holiday,” Breunij recalled. “We left within three days; I think they canceled school.”
Having a special bond with those from his home state, he attended the funerals of “all the guys from New Jersey. I remember going to Marcelo Lajterman’s and Art Harris’ funeral.” He called the service at the Field House “devastating.”
Although he noted specific historical inaccuracies in thefilm , he has watched it over and over. He does not question it’s tribute and respect for the university. He would have preferred a heading of “this is BASED on a true story,” rather than “this is a true story.”
For instance, he does not remember any struggle to field a 1971 team.
“They canceled the last home game [in 1970] and the next year we were back. I don’t remember [fielding a team in 1971] being an issue.” However, he knew Pete Naputano (#84) who was not on the plane. “I’m still to this day friends with him.”
But, the movie [favorably] portrays the university as a “place with so much pride” in their team , town and school. “My kids think I’m obsessed with this place, even thirty years later. That part comes out, We Are Marshall. I got my kid coming here now. This place is a great place,” Breunij said, as the crowd increased and we were asked to step further back so no one could hear.
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Most Prospective Students Have Seen It; Class of 1974 Alum Recalls the Dark Days After Crash
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Entertainment Editor
Huntington, WV (HNN) – What would the opening of a semester be without some reference to “We Are Marshall,” not the cheer; the movie. About 100 students and parents gathered on the warm night to watch the Warner Bros. flick at Buskirk Field, where a portion of the movie had been shot.
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Another recruiter, Tim Wilburn, said, “When I’m out recruiting that’s the first thing people say, We Are… Marshall. They do a lot of reenactment from the movie. It has brought more attention [to the school] as they want to find out more about Marshall. It’s impacted probably more than we all realize. “
Wilburn said that the showing on the field might become an annual event. “It has a strong impact. We have the Memorial Fountain behind us.”
Before Kate Mara’s narration began, I caught up with a Marshall alumni who had just dropped his son off to start the semester. Bob Breunij, now from New York, brought his two other children to the showing. A freshman in 1970, he remembers the campus as news of the crash spread.
“I knew a lot of football players. People were crying terribly. [The crash] was right before Thanksgiving and we left and didn’t come back until after the holiday,” Breunij recalled. “We left within three days; I think they canceled school.”
Having a special bond with those from his home state, he attended the funerals of “all the guys from New Jersey. I remember going to Marcelo Lajterman’s and Art Harris’ funeral.” He called the service at the Field House “devastating.”
Although he noted specific historical inaccuracies in thefilm , he has watched it over and over. He does not question it’s tribute and respect for the university. He would have preferred a heading of “this is BASED on a true story,” rather than “this is a true story.”
For instance, he does not remember any struggle to field a 1971 team.
“They canceled the last home game [in 1970] and the next year we were back. I don’t remember [fielding a team in 1971] being an issue.” However, he knew Pete Naputano (#84) who was not on the plane. “I’m still to this day friends with him.”
But, the movie [favorably] portrays the university as a “place with so much pride” in their team , town and school. “My kids think I’m obsessed with this place, even thirty years later. That part comes out, We Are Marshall. I got my kid coming here now. This place is a great place,” Breunij said, as the crowd increased and we were asked to step further back so no one could hear.
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Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
