- Jun 12, 2001
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My family was affected by the tragedy. My dad was back from the Vietnam war and was finishing up his college degree there. (He was a baseball player, too - shortstop.) My aunt, dad's baby sister, was a Marshall cheerleader and was dating one of the football players.
It was really, really strange that night. My dad and I were there at the airport waiting to pick up the boyfriend. I was five. I don't really remember the explosion but I do remember everyone running outside. My dad made me promise to sit with some woman while we went outside too. There was a lot of crying and I didn't know why.
The next thing I remember was my dad and I going over to my aunt's apartment and watching her cry. I didn't understand what was going on but the whole town was like one big funeral. Over the next month, everyone we'd meet in the street would hug my folks and cry. I mean the whole town.
And now Marshall will go down to ECU three days before 36th anniversary of the worst aviation disaster in American sports history. I think after the game, I would ride a bus back to West Virginia instead.
ESPN Story
It was really, really strange that night. My dad and I were there at the airport waiting to pick up the boyfriend. I was five. I don't really remember the explosion but I do remember everyone running outside. My dad made me promise to sit with some woman while we went outside too. There was a lot of crying and I didn't know why.
The next thing I remember was my dad and I going over to my aunt's apartment and watching her cry. I didn't understand what was going on but the whole town was like one big funeral. Over the next month, everyone we'd meet in the street would hug my folks and cry. I mean the whole town.
And now Marshall will go down to ECU three days before 36th anniversary of the worst aviation disaster in American sports history. I think after the game, I would ride a bus back to West Virginia instead.
ESPN Story
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