Topic: First Herd games attended home and away???...share your story...

[backontrack]

Amazingly enough, mine was the 66-6 debacle in Oxford when I was a sophomore at Miami on October 2, 1971...about all that I remember is that everyone cheered when the Herd scored its only TD on a blocked punt...my first game in Huntington was in '74, also against the politically-incorrect Redskins, who were in the midst of a 32-1-1 three-year run with guys like Sherman Smith and Rob Carpenter...42-0, Miami...maybe even uglier with lots of guys carted off on stretchers...

[wvmafia]

I have been told that my first Herd home game was in 1977 against Louisville (a 56-0 loss).  I remember one play of that game...Marshall was running an option wide left(toward Cabell Htgn) and a Louisville LB came up and stole the pitch and went a long, long way for the TD.  The first game I remember was the 1978 game vs. Furman (42-12 loss).  It was pouring the rain and cold, I had my first "hot" Dr. Pepper and in the second half there were so few people there that we all (but about 500) went down on the sidelines to watch the game.

My first Herd road game was a 1980 tilt vs. East Tennessee State in the Mini-Dome...a heart-breaking loss!  21-16.  Will never remember how "in awe" I was over the dome!  At 11 years old, Riverfront Dump was the biggest thing I'd seen...that dome was the shiznit!

That 1980 trip started a stretch of about 7-8 years that saw me and my family visiting every SoCon facility and we got as far away as Pocatello, ID for the 1987 NC game.

Thanks for starting the thread.  Brought back a lot of great memories that I sat and shared with my sons for about an hour!  We are fired up for this year!!!!! 

I love making memories with them surrounded by sports!  We are going to the 5 home games + Louisville + Ohio U + Kentucky @ South Carolina + Steelers vs. Panther (pre-season if the game is played) + Titans @ Steelers!  Gonna be a BIG football season for the Giompalo men!

[mxman870]

First away game 65 I think at Eastern Ky. The Herd won I cant remember the score something like 28-10. First home game 1963 I was 9 and  the Herd beat the Toledo Rockets by 1 point 19-18 I think and I was hooked for life.

[luvherd]

I have no idea but both was in the early 60s or late 50z. My parents and Uncles are long gone so I have no way of verifying.

[mxman870]

The 87 trip to Appy State and their students throwing potatoes at us from the dorms was different too. The Herd lost that day 17-10 but made up for it24-10 in the playoffs to advance to Pocatella for our first championship game.

[gtrman4herd]

First home game was the 1969 game against OU, Fairlfield was still a grass field. We lost in the last minute. First road game was Morehead, not sure if it was in 79 or 80. Didn't go on the road much until the late 80's for Herd football, did go to away venues for basketball though.

I was also at that home game against Miami in '74, 42-0 thrashing. I recall a lot of Herd players getting hauled off on the cart that day.

[Herdmeister]

First home game was a 1 point win over Toledo in 1963. First away game was a loss at Morehead in 1969.

First basketball game was MU freshmen over West Liberty in Pine Grove, Dec 1956. First game in Huntington was 57-58 season with a win over Florida State.

[DC01HERD]

1st home game 1996 vs Howard University. My freshmen year was 1996. 1st road game 1997 vs West Virginia became a true Herd fan that day and a true fan of college football. I was such a huge NFL fan growing up that I never really paid attention to college football until I came to Marshall.

[mckayt]

My first home game was the NC game against Montana in 1995.  I was not even a College Football fan at the time.  I didn't follow ANYBODY and I didn't care.  A good friend of mine told me he was going down to Huntington to camp out for tickets and wanted to know if I wanted a ticket.  Of course I was asking stupid questions like, "Marshall is playing for the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP?  Wow thats great".  Anyway I went, we lost, and I fell in love with The Herd.  That offense had me hooked.  I never knew people were having that much fun before, during, and after college football games.  I immediately tagged The Herd as my team.

My first away game (if you actually call it an away game) was the 1997 Motor City Bowl against Ole Miss and we lost that game as well.  The only time I've seen The Herd win away from Huntington was the year we beat Cincy in the Motor City Bowl.  Those two bowl games are the only bowl games I've been able to attend.  I've been on the road to Georgia, Tennesse, Virginia Tech, WVU (never again), and ECU twice.  I really missed a lot of good away game chances because of work.  I'm headed to OU this year and I would be going to Louisville, but I've gotta go to Pinehurst to go golfing that weekend  ;D.  I hope our luck, with me in our opponent's stadium, changes at OU.

[wvmafia]

I made it to every SoCon venue, every MAC venue except lil Miami, Buffalo and Akron, every bowl game except the Helicopter Bowl and the last Pizza Bowl.  I've been to NC State, Clemson, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio State, Michigan State, morganhole, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Eastern Kentucky and Pocatello, Idaho.  <----all for football

For basketball, I've been to morganhole, Charleston, lil Miami, East Tennesse State, Chatty, Asheville, North Carolina, UNLV (Runnin' Rebel Classic), UK, Davidson, Louisville, Memphis, Morehead, Ohio U and 1987 NCAA tournament in Charlotte.

Seems like I'm missing some basketball venues.

[backontrack]

My first hoops game was also in Oxford...1971...75-74, Miami's MAC champs over that great Herd team...my first home game was Bunny Gibson's 50 point game in '78...

[IM4DHERD]

First away game had to be at Kent State while Dad was coach up there...First away game down here was Morehead State, first game after the crash.  First home game - Xavier.

[Thunders]

Don't remember who we played but it was in 1995 for my 1st home game. I do remember coming out of the tunnel leading to the student seats and thinking how cool it was. I place it up there with the 1st time I come up through the tunnel at old Browns stadium and seeing the field for the 1st time. 

I will always remember my 1st away game in 1999 again Clemson. Man, what a euphoric game. I will  never forget how I felt after than win. Was very hot that day and I drank a lot but man was it awesome to beat that team. They had no clue who was about to whip their ass. haha

[sardistim]

Xavier -- '71.  Mowed the lawn for extra chore money to pay for my season tickets.  I was 9-years-old and was determined I was going to watch the Herd after the crash.

First away game -- App State -- '85.  Got crushed, but did end season with a winning record.

First home basketball game -- St. John's -- Dec. '72.  WOW!

First away BB game -- SoCon tourney -- '84.  Hung banner on the upper deck wall "Cock the Mocs"  Final game was almost as great as the St. John's game.

Three out of the four were truly awesome.  I used to also watch the Herd's baseball team in the early '70's at the old St. Cloud field.  One year we fell one win short of making the College World Series.  Miami FL beat us two times in a row to knock us out of the regionals.  But I don't recall what my first game was.

[IM4DHERD]

Tim...Did you know the guys on the Baseball team?  I was a roommate of John Wilson and John Rulli and friends with Rod Butler, Harry Severino, etc.

[parshall2marshall]

1st home FB game - Xavier
1st road FB game - Morehead the week before
1st home BBall game - 1971-72 opener, we would almost always sit at halfcourt right on the opposite sidelines, not sure how we managed that.
1st road BBall game - 1977-78 or 78-79 Furman - Greg White, Ken Labanowsky, Stu vs. "Stitch" Moore and Al Daniel.

p2m

[Marshallguy04]

My first game was a blur but my freshman year when we played Troy. Got a chance to see a future NFL DE, DeMarcus Ware sack Stan Hill countless times sadly...that was 2004.
First away game was wvu in 2006 or whatever.
That was absolute hell.

[herdfan09]

Mckayt, you forgot cincy...

     I dont really remember my first home game, i was only about 5 maybe 6. One thing i do remember is that i was so young i was crying because my dad and mckayt wanted me to go into giavanis with them and as a 5 year old i thought it was a bar and that i shouldnt go in.LOL.... my first vivid memory was the, i think, 97 mac championship when it was snowing like crazy. It made me feel like i was in a big snow globe. I remember the people behind me would pick me up and throw me in the air everytime we scored.
     I havent really missed too many home games since then.. Been to Georgia, Tennessee, ECU, cincy, Virginia Tech, and WVU. Goin to Ohio this year
But cant make the Louisville trip since ill be at Pinehurst ;D ;D ;D ;D

[ought-three]

Home: 1984 vs. UTC (L 13-17)
Away: 2002 @ Ohio (W 24-21)

[mxman870]

First home game was a 1 point win over Toledo in 1963. First away game was a loss at Morehead in 1969.

First basketball game was MU freshmen over West Liberty in Pine Grove, Dec 1956. First game in Huntington was 57-58 season with a win over Florida State.

Meister,,,we both saw our first Herd game the same day. Awesome game and day for me.

[Herdmeister]

Meister,,,we both saw our first Herd game the same day. Awesome game and day for me.

Good deal! At that time in my life, I had no idea that I would be watching them 50 years later. In terms of basketball, my favorite Herd sport, it has been 55 years. Wow, I'm old.   ;D

[Herd 90]

First home game was in 1973 against Morehead State.  Our family had just moved in June from Tulsa, OK to Huntington.  Earlier that year, the Tulsa 6th grade all-star basketball players, which include me, played an exhibition game at half-time during the Oral Roberts / Marshall basketball game in which Marshall won.  Just a couple of months later my dad informed our family that we'd be moving to Huntington, WV because he'd accepted a job with Marshall University.

I went to every Marshall game from that point with my dad at Fairfield. 

My first road game was the game at Louisville where we scored in the last seconds to win.  Can't remember the score or year.

[Thundermonkey]

First Herd FB game, 1987 playoff win at home  51-23 vs. Weber State.

First Herd FB game as a student, 1989 home win 48-0 vs Catawba. Not sure if I even made it out of Prindle field for this one.

First Herd FB road game, 1997 at wvu.

[tomv]

First home game 1989 vs. W. Carolina  a 35-22 win.  I was 12 and was instantly hooked.

First road game, 1991 I-AA championship game.
First road game not a bowl or championship game:  Miami, 1997

Wow, just hit me.. this season will be 22 years that I've been following the Herd.  I'm getting old :)

[sardistim]

Tim...Did you know the guys on the Baseball team?  I was a roommate of John Wilson and John Rulli and friends with Rod Butler, Harry Severino, etc.

No, that's actually funny... I was just a geeky 10-12 year old kid whose mom dropped him off with two bucks in his pocket and a promise to be back in a few hours!  So, I'd watch doubleheaders for 3 hours behind the chicken wire with my scorecard, sitting near by some older men who'd call me "Pardner" and "Buddy."  By the time I got into my teens I stopped going to baseball games -- different pursuits.