The Marshall Thundering Herd represents Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, competing in NCAA Division I (FBS) as part of the Sun Belt Conference. The athletic program comprises 16 varsity teams and boasts a rich history across various sports.
Marco the Bison, Marshall University's mascot.
The Thundering Herd Nickname and Mascot
Initially, Marshall athletic teams were known as the "Big Green." However, in 1925, Huntington sportswriter Duke Ridgley first used the phrase "Thundering Herd" to describe the football team. Buffalo mascots began appearing sporadically at Marshall sporting events as early as the 1930s.
In 1954, the editors of the Marshall University yearbook created a buffalo character named "Marco," derived from "Marshall College," and in 1965, a buffalo costume was purchased, marking Marco's return to sporting events. In 1970, a live buffalo was introduced as Marco the mascot.
Football: A Storied Program
Marshall plays football at Joan C. Edwards Stadium, which seats 38,019. The stadium opened in 1991 and hosted a record crowd of 41,382 in 2010 for a game against West Virginia Mountaineers. In 2003, the stadium was renamed in honor of Joan C. Edwards, a major donor, making it the first Division I-A football stadium named after a woman.
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Historically, the Herd played on Central Field through 1928 and at Fairfield Stadium from 1928 until 1990.
Best Final Ranking: FBS No. 10 (1999 Associated Press, 1999 Coaches' Poll) / FCS No.
Joan C. Edwards Stadium, home of the Marshall Thundering Herd football team.
On November 14, 1970, Southern Airways Flight 932 crashed near Kenova, West Virginia, killing all 75 passengers, including 37 members of the Thundering Herd football team. This tragic event remains a significant part of the university's history.
Basketball: The Cam Henderson Era
Men's basketball, women's basketball, and volleyball teams play their home games at the 9,048-seat Cam Henderson Center, named for Cam Henderson, who coached the school's basketball team from 1935 to 1955 and football from 1935 to 1949. Henderson won 358 games as a basketball coach and is known for inventing the fast break and the 2-3 zone defense.
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Henderson also recruited Hal Greer in 1954, the first African-American to play at the formerly all-white colleges of West Virginia. His 1947 championship basketball team spurred the move into the Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse.
Best Final Ranking: No.
WV Stories of Greatness - Cam Henderson
Soccer: A Growing Program
Hoops Family Field at Veterans Memorial Soccer Complex is a soccer-specific stadium with a capacity of 1,006 and is home to the Herd's men's and women's soccer teams. It was built on the former site of the Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse. The facility opened in August 2013.
Best Final Ranking: No.
Veterans Memorial Soccer Complex.
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Baseball and Softball
Jack Cook Field is a 3,500 seat baseball stadium that is home to the Marshall Thundering Herd baseball team. The facility opened on March 1, 2024. The Marshall softball team has played its games at Dot Hicks Field since 2008. The field is named after Dorothy "Dot" Hicks, a pioneer of the women's sports program at Marshall University.
Golf: The Marshall Invitational
Since its inception in 1968, the Marshall Invitational held at the Guyan Golf and Country Club has become one of the top collegiate golf tournaments in the Eastern United States. The Guyan Golf and Country Club has served as the home course for Marshall's golf teams since the late 1940s.
Marshall initially fielded a women's golf team from 1974 to 1983 and competed in the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women championships.
Traditions and Rivalries
Marshall University's fight song is "Sons of Marshall," and the Alma Mater was written in 1906 by C.E. Haworth. Marshall's biggest rivalries are with Ohio University, East Carolina University, and West Virginia University.
Facilities Expansion: The Herd Vision Campaign
In 2012, Marshall University announced a multi-facility expansion project known as the Herd Vision campaign. The university accepted ownership of the Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse, which was demolished and replaced by the Veterans Memorial Soccer Complex.
MU's former soccer facility next to Joan C. Edwards Stadium, Sam Hood Field, was replaced by the Chris Cline Indoor Athletic Facility, which included an indoor football practice facility, an indoor track, the Marshall University Athletic Hall of Fame, and a physical therapy research center.
The Herd Rises Campaign
In October 2019, Marshall announced a $150 million fundraising initiative called The Herd Rises campaign, with the primary goal of building an on-campus baseball stadium at the site of the old Flint Group Pigments industrial property on 5th Avenue.
Marshall University Athletic Facilities
| Facility | Sport | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Joan C. Edwards Stadium | Football | 38,019 |
| Cam Henderson Center | Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Volleyball | 9,048 |
| Hoops Family Field at Veterans Memorial Soccer Complex | Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer | 1,006 |
| Jack Cook Field | Baseball | 3,500 |
| Dot Hicks Field | Softball | N/A |
| Guyan Golf and Country Club | Golf | N/A |