I’m not a huge sports fan, but I do tend to have a soft spot for dramatic films based on ball games that I’d otherwise pay no attention to. The mixture of coming of age athleticism and a struggle to overcome unimaginable odds just gets me every time. The story of the 1970 Marshall University Thundering Herd football team is probably as dramatic as it gets. ‘Ashes to Glory’ documents the tragic events that have inspired an upcoming Warner Bros. feature film. (Directed by McG of Charlie’s Angels fame) Unfortunately, ‘Marshall University: Ashes to Glory’ just didn’t connect with me on a level that I’d hoped it would.
Overwhelming tragedy is met with what some call the ‘greatest comeback story in sports history’ when a plane carrying the team, coaches and family of the 1970 Thundering Herd football team tragically crashes, killing everyone on board. Marshall University is left stunned as colleagues and fellow students learn of the loss of practically their entire football program. While some feel it necessary to call it quits, a group of positive thinkers that put together a brand new team made up of sophomore’s and alumni’s in an attempt to pay tribute to their lost teammates and keep the Marshall tradition going. It’s a great story that is inherently interesting and uplifting, yet director Deborah Novak’s straightforward handling of the material seems to favour communicating dry facts over raw emotion.
I had many issues with ‘Ashes to Glory’. First and foremost, the meandering talking head interviews simply seemed to focus too much on information that just wasn’t necessary. Specifically, the creation of the Marshall Football program is covered in too much detail, offering a look at a process that every American University has gone through in the creation of their own sports programs. I could feel myself shifting in my seat, waiting for things to progress. The other major issue I had with the film was the unfortunate choice of music. Such an emotional story is deserving of an equally powerful orchestral score, but instead gets a synthesized mess that sounds like it was purchased off of a royalty free music website. It may seem insignificant, but every time that music played I was taken out of the film. Royalty fees can be costly, but music that’s more reminiscent of the era would have been much more appropriate and timely.
I won’t deny the fact that this is an inspirational story that’s definitely worthy of being told on film, whether it is in the documentary or dramatic form. Unfortunately, ‘Marshall University: Ashes to Glory’ simply didn’t succeed in maintaining my interest. Although I personally can’t recommend this film, I do hope that the upcoming feature film will give those interested an accessibly entertaining, yet emotionally honest look into the Marshall University football team’s inspiring story.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758794/
The movie’s out already man.
First of all, regarding that picture of a plane crash. THAT IS NOT THE PLANE CRASH THAT TOOK THE LIVES OF THE MARSHALL UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL TEAM, COACHES, AND PASSENGERS. I’m not sure what that picture is. The plane crash in Huntington happened in a wooded area. You can find them at HeraldDispatch.com.
Second, please realize Deborah Novak did not have a Hollywood budget to work on. She had to scratch and crawl for funds. The music was originally composed and recorded on the spot.
I agree with some of your remarks, but you really don’t understand the documentary genre. Documentaries are not made with a Hollywood flare. Their made for truth and honesty. Deborah Novak and John Witek and very good filmmakers and I applaud them for ASHES and the upcoming documentary about Marshall’s greatest coach, CAM HENDERSON.
herdcrazy,
First off, the picture was taken from an archival news site, so if the picture isn’t of the plane wreckage, then i apologize on behalf of that site.
Second, I realize that Deborah Novak didn’t have a Hollywood budget. However, it doesn’t change the fact that the music in the film was horrible.
Third, just because this film didn’t work for me doesnt’ mean it won’t work for others. Just because I didn’t like it doesn’t mean it’s not a good film, and just because you DID enjoy it doesn’t mean you know more about documentary filmmaking then everyone else.
By the way, here’s the link to the site that carries that photo:
http://wvgazettemail.com/static/century/gz1113.html
It is taken directly from the Charleston Newspapers files. Just because the crash occured in a wooded area doesn’t mean the wreckage remained there for all of eternity.
He Wants To Raise You Up From Out Of The Ashes!
By. Rev. Ashley Beagle
Decoursey Baptist Church January 4,2007- Super Bowl Sunday
8276 Decoursey Pike ,Covington, Ky 41015
Email- revrabeagle@hotmail.com Cell: 859-653-9050
Psalms 41:1-11
Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. 2 The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. 3 The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness. 4 I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.5 Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish? 6 And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it. 7 All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt. 8 An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more. 9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. 10 But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them. 11 By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.
• I saw the Movie “We Are Marshall” three weeks ago with Rev.& Mrs. Butch Pennington,Rev. & Mrs. Tim Robbins, Another Pastor and his wife and my wife Kimberly. It so inspired me that the Lord impressed this message on my heart for our Church this morning.
Facts of Marshall University Plane crash from the Herald- Dispatch-By Bob Withers
The Herald-Dispatch
HUNTINGTON — Well-wishers bidding goodbye to the 75 Marshall University football players, coaches and fans who took off from Kinston, N.C., after a heartbreaking 17-14 loss to East Carolina University in Greenville, couldn’t have known that was the last time they would see them alive.Flight 932, a chartered twin-engine, 95-seat Southern Airways DC-9, had a crew of five — pilot, a first officer, two stewardesses and a charter coordinator — when it departed Kinston at 6:38 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, 1970, for an expected 52-minute fight.The crew established contact with controllers at Tri-State Airport at 7:23 p.m., announcing that they were descending to 5,000 feet. The controller advised them of rain, fog, smoke and a ragged ceiling. At 7:34, as the plane approached Tri-State from the West, its crew reported passing the airport’s outer marker and a controller cleared them to land. The crew requested a “step three” while discussing approach lighting — flyers’ jargon for medium intensity.But at about 7:36, tower personnel saw a red glow west of the airport.The jet had struck a tree on a hill 5,543 feet west of the runway threshold. It cut a swatch 95 feet wide and 279 feet long through other trees, leaving behind several pieces of its right wing and nose.The plane dipped to the right, almost inverted and crashed into a hollow nose-first 4,219 feet short of the runway and about 225 feet south of the middle marker. The impact scattered engines and other parts over a wide area, and the resulting ground fire melted most of the fuselage or reduced it to a powder-like substance.All 75 people on board died. The crash would be labeled the worst air disaster in American sports history.
Job 2:7-107 So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. 8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. 9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. 10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.
* This morning when the Church is down and out, distressed and discouraged- we need to remember Marshall University.
You see when Coach Tolley died in that crash along with the entire football team. Marshall decided to suspend the entire Football program. But, a little known Coach with a heart for a team that was hurting named Jack Lengyel came to coach what would be known as the young Thundering Herd.
* Jack refused to quit or give up against all adversity and brought Marshalls Football Program back to the field. There slogan became “Up From The Ashes.”
* This morning we must purpose in our hearts like Daniel in the Old Testament and Coach Lengyle- not to give up or quit!!!
2 Peter 2:6-9
6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) 9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
* You see the Lord is all about bringing us up out of the ashes!
Job 42:10-17
10 And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. 11 Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold. 12 So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. 13 He had also seven sons and three daughters. 14 And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch. 15 And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren. 16 After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, even four generations. 17 So Job died, being old and full of days.
• If we press on with the determination of Coach Lengyel, god will reward us!
• Today Marshall University has a very,very strong program thanks to one man who was willing to be brought up from the ashes and build a football program!
Many in the Bible have been brought up from the ashes!
Jonah- from the belly of a whale / Daniel from a lions den / David as he fled from Saul and when he conquered Goliath / The Apostle Paul & Barnabus when they were delivered from a prison cell by an angel and the list is endless.
You see we must come up from the ashes- Jesus said it was the only was to have Salvation-
John 12:27-32
27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. 28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. 29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. 30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. 31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. 32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
• He had to be lifted up above the earth so that all men could see Him paying sins price on an old rugged cross.
• Many doubted then and still do today if He was the Son of God but, he was lifted up from the ashes on that third day when God raised Him from the dead!!!
Today your life may be a wreck-
I counseled a young lady in my office Thursday night that is addicted to marijuana, sex, alcohol, etc.My main focus was to show her that God could bring her up out of the ashes of her current situations & problems!
John was in the ashes of exile on Patmos when he rose from the ashes and became the Revelator!
Revelations 4:1
After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
• This morning God invites you to rise from the ashes of sin and be a partaker of His grace!
John 11:22
22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
• all you have to do is ask- John 3:16
Invitation- This morning maybe you need to ask God to help you rise above the problems, sorrows and sins. Maybe you like the mythical phoenix bird need to rise from the ashes. Maybe we as a Church just like the University need to realize that “We Are Decoursey!”
Closing Remarks- I would highly recommend you see “We are Marshall”, I have never had a movie impact my life like this one did!I also bought the Documentary on DVD at Sams Club- This further impacted my thoughts and lifes journey!
wtf
this is sad
[...] the technical aspects of a film that explores important social issues or tragic events? Last year I reviewed a film called ‘Marshall University: Ashes to Glory’. It looked at the horrible death of the Marshall University football who parished in a plane crash. [...]