Jason Ford attended all the games he could as an underclassman at Marshall. He graduated, and eventually life pulled him away from Huntington and back to his native New Jersey. That makes weekly trips in to go to games a near impossibility and weeknight contests for various sports totally impossible. It would be easy for Jason and others with similar situations to become less informed, less involved, and less—dare we say it—less interested in Marshall University and Marshall Athletics. But he does not let an eight-hour-plus drive stand in the way of keeping up with all he can, especially in 2023. In Jason’s words:
Jason Ford
“I’m a true believer that everything in life happens for a reason and there is a path chartered for all of us. I would have never imagined that this path would lead me to Huntington, WV where for seven years I was fortunate to live, work, and attend Marshall University where I would transform into an avid and loyal Thundering Herd sports fan.
“Twenty years removed and 8.5 hours away from Huntington living in New Jersey, the bonds and friendships remain the same and the hunger to follow and cheer on Marshall athletics continues to grow. Outside of my annual trip to attend Marshall homecoming, I have been fortunate to catch Marshall football games when they are nationally televised, and the move to the Sun Belt Conference this past season has offered me more opportunities to watch them. With still having plenty of great friends in Huntington, they keep me regularly updated mostly on Marshall football. Recently with discovering the ThunderCast, this now has been my go-to source for all things Marshall athletics. It’s easy to search the internet and read articles but nothing beats having friends on the ground giving you the real stories and inside scoop. Go Herd!”
And we didn’t even have to pay Jason for the plug! Our sincere thanks for following us, Jason.
Don Robinson is a much further drive away, but he stays as involved as possible. He donates to the Big Green and is a member of the Tamp Bay Chapter of the Marshall University Alumni Association.
Don Robinson
“Now that I live far from campus in Tampa, FL, I do my best to stay up to date with Marshall University news. Just as when I was a student at Marshall, I follow Herd athletics closely. I don’t get back to Huntington as much as I would like, so being involved in a local alumni group is important. It’s always fun to reconnect with our alumni members at game watching parties. I try to help the University by attending away games in the area and contributing as a Big Green member. The recent move to the Sun Belt Conference has helped me see the Herd compete regularly, due to most games being televised by the ESPN family of networks or app.”
Score another one for the move to the Sun Belt for making it easier to watch games. And Don is a shining example of donating and being a member of a local group to try and keep others involved as well.
Sometimes you don’t have to be half a day or a flight away from Huntington to make trips rarer than you would like. John and Katie Maddy experience that in relatively close Lexington. But as Katie says, they do what they can with small kids and no longer living in town:
John and Katie Maddy
“Although we don’t live far from Huntington, as our children grow and become more involved in their own sports and activities, it’s becoming more challenging to make the drive from Lexington, KY to Huntington. We stay up to date on Marshall athletics in a variety of ways, including following Marshall forums such as HerdNation and HerdFans, following HerdZone on Twitter, and listening to The ThunderCast Podcast. As Big Green and Alumni Association members, we receive newsletters and bulletins frequently.
“We are also actively involved in the Central Kentucky Big Green and host and attend game watching parties locally. Fortunately, Marshall and UK are in the Sun Belt together for Men’s Soccer, so we are able to catch the Herd when they’re in town. Several years ago, UK hosted the NCAA Softball regional tournament and we were able to organize a Big Green tailgate to cheer on Herd softball. For those not local to Huntington, we recommend to keep an eye on the away schedules and try to catch a game when the Herd is nearby. Being involved in a local Big Green or Alumni Association chapter is a great way to stay involved.”
And I might add that I saw the Maddys down in Myrtle Beach with their kids to cheer on Marshall in the bowl game, so they definitely travel.
Matt Lockhart moved for work and then moved even further away for work. But you will still see him at games occasionally and he also is a fan of the ease of finding and watching Sun Belt games:
Matt Lockhart
“Being a Huntington native and son of Marshall, keeping up with The Herd is important to me. In 2019, I took a job opportunity seven hours away in Virginia. And then in 2021 we moved south of Atlanta. With young kids, traveling back and forth for Marshall games just isn’t realistic.
“Fortunately, the Sun Belt television deal with ESPN has been a great way I can stay connected to Marshall sports. Thanks to the internet (mainly Twitter and the Herd Nation message board) and text message threads with fellow Herd fans, I’m able to get as much information as I need. I rarely read HerdZone stories or the HD anymore for Marshall news.”
So whether you are a couple hours away or across the country, being an informed and involved Herd fan in 2023 is not impossible. If Marshall has a sporting event in your area, attend if you are able. If you can make it in for an annual or every so many years trip, do it. If there is an alumni chapter or Big Green chapter near you, get involved with it. If there is not one, consider starting one. But everyone can stay informed by checking out https://www.herdzone.com, or heck, listen to The ThunderCast (cheap plug!).
How do you stay involved and informed? Drop us a line at thundercast.pod@gmail.com, or hit us up on social media.
