‘We Are Marshall’: When a Team Heals a Town

We Are Marshall is a heavy story. It is an American tragedy. There was a plane crash in 1970 that resulted in the death of Marshall University’s football team. Coaches and many fans were also killed. The movie is not just a sports story. It is a story of a community in which they have been crushed by loss. The film chronicles the choice to revive the football program. This becomes the town’s process through colossal bereavement.

Football as a Vehicle for Grief

The game is not the hero in this film. Football is a vehicle for redemption. The new, young team has an enormous weight to carry. They are playing for the absent. Each game and each practice is an offering. The stadium becomes a place of shared tears. It becomes a place of shared hope. Winning games is not the primary point, just like bonuses on McLuck are not what gamers strive for. It is about the experience and enjoying the moment – the film depicts just that.   

It was a very big challenge to rebuild the team. They started from close to zero. The new coaches and players had a very tough job. They needed to fill in for a painful past. They also needed to forge a new destiny for the town. The film portrays their struggle realistically. Their process is similar to that of mourning. It is time-consuming, hard, and fraught with traps. But every step forward matters.

A Community’s Shared Cause

The team’s turnaround was the town’s cause. Everybody in Huntington was involved. It is a universal idea for all cultures. It is like a community rallying together after a flood. People rally around a cause to deal with their misery. Supporting the team gave people a way to deal with their sorrow. It gave them something to look forward to, too. This shared objective helped to redistribute the immense burden of grief. It eased the burden for all.

Science Says

Studies in group psychology have already shown this to work. Collective rituals are shown to heal societies. These rituals provide individuals with a sense of unity. They provide them with a sense of forward movement. According to experts, however, collective behavior is only half of the healing process. Individual counseling and social support are also a must. Scientists are still trying to study the best way to heal from trauma. This film shows one effective way that worked in this town.

The True Victory

The true victory in We Are Marshall is not a championship. The victory is simply a matter of getting back onto the field. The final game is not a question of the board score. It is an indication of the fortitude of the town. It was their way of indicating that they would endure. They chose to continue as one, not forget.

Final Words

The film leaves a powerful message. How one responds to tragedy determines who one is. Rebuilding is a powerful and valid reaction to loss. The story illustrates healing as a process, not an event. It does illustrate the incredible strength inherent in community. It reminds us that we don’t have to face our darkest hours alone. Those around us can help us to carry the burden.