We're Coming to Win!
by: Gary Kline

I hear the words of respect that is creeping into the national conscienceness when discussing Marshall football. A few words here and there among the scattered publications that once was void of any mention, if not unflattering of our beloved team, has given way to a new level of respect.We've come a long way. Yet somehow I see the evidence that not all fully understand just how far we've come. Every step we take up college football's stairway of success has been met by those who don't truly believe. To say that this program thrives on being in this position is an understatement. Just ask those doubters in the MAC who refused to believe that we could compete at their level when we moved up in '97'. Just ask the South Carolinas, Louisvilles, Clemsons, and BYUs of the world. Each team came into their game with Marshall with an unbelievable amount of incredulity toward Herd Nation's belief that they could win. The print media and local sports taverns were filled with those who could not understand how we could believe the way we do. We saw evidence to that fact on these very boards. With each milestone reached we move ahead, leaving a trail of excuses and predictions of our certain fall from the lofty heights that we have achieved and the heights that we still aspire. I'll never forget the look on WVU fans faces when we took the lead in the fourth quarter with a scholarship deprived and D1AA laden group of athletes who believed they belonged. I'll never forget the postgame tirade of a Louisville coach desparately looking for reasons other then superior talent that they were just soundly defeated. I'll never forget my walk out of Clemson's stadium to the thunderous roar of "We are....Marshall" by those fans trickling out. The fans, dressed in orange, who just hours before arrogantly proclaimed we didn't belong, looked on in disbelief. I'll never forget the BYU quarterback punching his own player for not being able to handle the severely underestimasted talent and speed of the Herd linebackers and linemen. I'll never forget......

A wise man once said that those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it. We, my fellow brothers and sisters of Herd Nation, have reached a new level in our climb. And once again we are met by those who don't believe we belong. It seems so familiar. Conversing with our next adversary appeared cordial at first. Both sides exchanged their feelings of respect toward each others program. However, once it was known that the fandom of Herd Nation actually believe that they will not be traveling hundreds of miles to worship at the feet of the icon of a college football deity, the passions of incredulity was once again expressed. The respect that was voiced earlier was nothing more then a veneer overlayment hiding their true feelings. We are viewed as a good team on a different level. Perhaps. I suppose that the British felt the same when they moved their world class, highly tooled and trained military to our soil to squelch the spirit of a ragtag group of men and women who found that fighting with a cause seem to strengthen their resolve and lessen the gaps of obvious superiority. Laugh if you will at this analogy that appears on the surface to be a blatant stretch. Herd Nation has heard the laughter before. What this analogy reveals is that sometimes in the course of history, the spirit of unity and just cause can level the inequities that appear to exist. As

long as this spirit, borne out of tragedy, still burns in the heart and souls of our coaches, players, and followers we will continue to surprise those who don't subscribe.
The sound of a train rumbling through the night can be heard in the distance. The low rumble and distance hides the fact that a very large powerful locomotive, full of inertia and momentum, is heading with a southern destination. Next stop Gainesville. This train, fueled by the passions of those souls lost on a dark rainy night so very long ago, will be carrying the spirit of Herd Nation. The distant rumbling will soon give way to the loud roar and ground quaking thunder of the Herd Express. The sound will be deafening and it's magnitude will provoke the sudden feelings that we were underestimated once again. I hear it my friends and it can't be stopped.

We are not coming for moral victory. We are coming to win!