Today In History: Plane Crash In West Virginia Killed Marshall University Football Team
Fifty-three years ago today, the close community of Huntington, West Virginia, experienced a tragic event—the Southern Airways Flight 932 crash. The chartered jet, carrying the Marshall University football team, went down just two miles from Tri-State Airport in Kenova, West Virginia, resulting in the deaths of all on board.
The tragedy occurred following the team’s game against East Carolina University, which ended in a 17-14 defeat for the Thundering Herd. On the flight were 37 players, the head coach, medical staff, the athletic director, and 25 dedicated supporters, including prominent local figures who had traveled to North Carolina to cheer for their team.
This heartbreaking incident was the culmination of a series of challenges faced by the Marshall football team since the early 1960s. These included the university stadium’s condemnation in 1962, a stretch without victories from 1966 to 1969, and NCAA sanctions for recruiting violations. Despite these setbacks, Marshall was beginning to recover, with a new coach, a renovated stadium, and renewed aspirations for success.
The crash’s impact on Huntington was profound, with one resident comparing it to the Kennedy assassination—a moment forever ingrained in the town’s memory. The community entered mourning, with businesses shutting down and the town adorned in black bunting. A memorial service at the university stadium and the cancellation of classes on the following Monday underscored the deep sorrow felt throughout the community.
In the wake of the tragedy, Marshall University hired a new football coach, Jack Lengyel, from the College of Wooster in Ohio. The NCAA allowed freshmen to participate in varsity play, and Lengyel formed a team of first-year players, walk-ons, and nine veterans who had not been on the doomed flight. The 1971 season started with a loss, but a poignant win against Xavier University, marked by a last-minute touchdown, offered a spark of hope and healing. During Lengyel’s four-year period, the Thundering Herd won nine games, but none resonated as deeply as that first victory following the tragedy. This story of resilience and recovery continues to highlight the strength of the human spirit in the face of overwhelming loss.