"We Are Marshall" Sparks Enrollment

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Posted: 4:36 PM Oct 11, 2008
Last Updated: 4:36 PM Oct 11, 2008
Reporter: The Associated Press
Email Address: news@wsaz.com

15 comments

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) - California native Julie Mello was so impressed by the movie "We Are Marshall" that she wound up enrolling at the university.

Her story doesn't stop there, though. Once on campus, she struck up a friendship with Red Dawson, one of the coaches depicted in the Hollywood film. Dawson now runs a construction company in the Huntington area and was moved by Mello's fascination with the movie.

The 65-year-old former coach helped move the 18-year-old freshman into her dorm and has counseled her when she's been homesick.

Now she calls him "Uncle Red." Mello says Dawson shows her the ropes and it's nice to know he is watching out for her.

The 2006 release of the movie dramatized the true story of rebuilding Marshall's football team after the deadly 1970 plane crash.

Mello said she found the movie so inspiring she wanted to go to school in Huntington.

She estimates she's seen the movie more than 100 times. Now Mello is in the middle of her freshman year. She said Huntington has exceeded her expectations.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Educated WVU Alum on Oct 13, 2008 at 04:08 PM
This is a very good story for Marshall! Bringing people from out of state to attend college in WV is good for our state. Not one WVU has said anything bad about this story. I don't understand why you even mentioned WVU in your comments!? And UHERDME, why are you so concerned with WVU? In reality WVU could care a less about MU.

Posted by: Sean on Oct 13, 2008 at 03:45 PM
LOL I am transferring to WVU cuz I am sick and tired of Marshall...

Posted by: booger on Oct 13, 2008 at 02:54 PM
Quick story: My freshman year at MU in '92, I was depressed and homesick. I was 17, first time away from my family. I was so lonely, I went to the top of Holderby Hall to think about my decision of going away to school, and think about going back home. I was standing in the same spot that they filmed the scene with Nate Ruffin and the other player, arguing about whether he should play or not. I decided that I would give it a little longer, and went back down to my dorm, and met a girl, and well, you see where it's going... It was just cool to see the spot where I made one of my first decisions as an "adult", a decision that would shape the rest of my life, being a location in a movie. I get chills when I see that part. I've never regretted my choice to stay at Marshall, and to this day, that night stands out as one of those moments I'll never forget. Go Herd!!!

Posted by: Anna on Oct 12, 2008 at 07:19 PM
Welcome to our little town.. We are very excited to have you.. If you are so interested, in the movie. You can ask almost everyone in our community that was old enough in the 70's to remember. I mean EVERYONE.. I was raised on this story, and it was amazing to get "a small visual" through the movie, of something my parents spoke about over dinner. They were friends of Dr. Joe Chambers and his wife, they passed away in crash.

Posted by: k on Oct 12, 2008 at 06:23 PM
Wow!! we need more people to see Marshall and the entire state of West Virginia in this type of positive light. I too am a grad from MU and proud of it. It's about time we get our due!!! Go Herd!!!

Posted by: Beth Ann on Oct 12, 2008 at 05:30 PM
Nice to read something good and interesting like this. I wish her all the best and glad she got to meet Red Dawson and he is there for her.

Posted by: Class of 1992 on Oct 12, 2008 at 10:04 AM
Fantastic! I hope your time at Marshall will be a good one. I'm very proud of the Green and White, movie or no movie. As for the "Eers" fans, let's hope they remember that the movie portrayed them in a positive light and that all posts should be ones of encouragement!

Posted by: Scott on Oct 12, 2008 at 02:15 AM
I think that's awesome! What a fabulous recruiting tool. I'm sure the administration had hoped for the movie to have such affects. Hope you continue to enjoy Marshall, Julie! It's my alma mater as well, and I loved the experience.

Posted by: Rico on Oct 12, 2008 at 12:27 AM
Matthew McConnaughey said "If this movie gets one person to enroll at Marshall then it will be worth the $60 Million it cost to make it." How prophetic.

Posted by: Ron on Oct 11, 2008 at 06:57 PM
Nice story. How odd that must be to meet one of the real heroes from the real event. I have some favorite movies, but I don't think I could ever watch something 100 times. Is she kidding?

Posted by: UHERDME on Oct 11, 2008 at 05:47 PM
Don't worry Rick, just wait there will be some uneducated Blew and Yeller fans on here posting stupid comments about this nice story. They just can not stand it when MU get's any kind of positive press about anything. When this story came out in the Charleston papers these folks came out of the woodwork.

Posted by: rick on Oct 11, 2008 at 05:20 PM
Before someone says something stupid or hateful let me thank you for moving here and attending my alma mater. Red is a good man to have as a friend. Good luck in the future.

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