Marshall coaching tour makes stop in Parkersburg
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PARKERSBURG -- Mother Nature wasn't able to put a damper on Thursday evening's annual Marshall University coaches' tour, which was moved from its normal spot at the Buzzy Dils river lot for the "Rally by the River" to indoors at the Nemesis Shriners.
"It's all go Herd, baby!" exclaimed Joe Roedersheimer, who like always was in charge of providing food and drinks for the crowd.
"It's all about the Herd. Everything. Every day. We are national champions in soccer and we might be national champions in football, basketball, baseball."
Since 2009, the Marshall University Alumni of the Mid-Ohio Valley Thundering Bison Club has raised more than $250,000 for area scholarships.
Laurie Martin, who serves as president of the association, was glad to have the event this year after not being able to conduct it in 2020.
"We certainly do," Martin said of having a lot of great people who make things happen. "We had already talked to our sponsors who come back every year and we even had a few new sponsors. They pledged their funds they had already committed for our 2020 so we were able to award scholarships and we were able to award scholarships to the different departments at Marshall University.
"We also had our very first online auction in 2020. It (this year's version) kicked off tonight. Mary Hendershot has really been a strong presence in organizing this year's rally and we really hated we had to make that last minute decision to move it indoors. It was just too risky to have it outside when the weather has been the way it is and the forecast."
Men's head basketball coach Dan D'Antoni was glad to be back in the Mid-Ohio Valley.
"I enjoy what I do and I love basketball and I like to be around young people," he said.
"The championship soccer was terrific. I was excited as an alumnus. It was great."
When asked how things were going at MU with new head football coach Charles Huff being hired D'Antoni noted "changes at Marshall, but that's part of life.
"One thing that doesn't change is I get a chance to work with a bunch of young people which I really like. I always enjoy representing Marshall. I enjoy our fans."
Although coach Huff arrived a little later than expected, Mike Flanagan noted he "was very personable. I like the guy. He stressed consistency.
"He was asked what he learned from Nick Saban. He stressed that he is always stressing be consistent in what you do and it has paid off by winning so many titles."
When men's soccer coach Chris Grassie strolled into the Nemesis Shriners with the NCAA Division I national championship trophy in tow he received a standing ovation.
Everyone wanted a chance to pose with the trophy and the head man, who just recently inked a new five-year contract.
"This is my first time traveling, obviously, up here to Parkersburg and doing this one so I'm excited about it," said Grassie, who replied when asked if he was staying busy "it's funny, for me, I've been working a lot harder. I've been 12-hour days and a lot of recruiting to get done. I think a lot more opportunities have opened up to us and also just trying to do these things and make sure you maximize the success we've had. It's beneficial for the program and the school. Really trying to work hard to make sure we do that.
"I just wanted to come out and say thank you to everybody. I think it's been amazing. The reason we've been able to achieve what we have is because a lot in part is from the support we've received, and because of the amazing fans at the soccer stadium in the games. In 2019, it started when we were playing Kentucky and broke the record for the crowd and then WVU, and broke it again so we've had a lot of support. This makes me happy to come back and say thank you, essentially."
There are more than 40 items currently up for bid during the next two weeks and the auction items can be found at www.charityauctionstoday.com/auctions/marshallmov-23569.
Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com