We did it.  My dear wife, Carrie, and I left the Marshall football game Saturday at halftime.  A big storm was brewing.  The Herd was up 49 to nothing and it was only going to get worse for the Morgan State Bears.  It did….but it probably could have been worse.  The Herd won 62 to 0.

The fountain, which was turned on the day of the Spring Game, was outlined in a sky of blue.  What a beautiful site it is to see this fountain flowing.

The first entry into the Joan C. Edwards Stadium of the 2016 campaign.  “The Joan” is a great place to watch college football.

Was there a storm brewing?  I think so.  It was quite windy before the game.

And so it began.  There is certainly reason for optimism in Huntington.  The two toughest games are against Pitt on October 1st at Heinz Field.  The other is the week before when the Louisville Cardinals come to town.  If the Cards beat Florida State this week…and I think they certainly can…the Herd will be entertaining a Top 5 team.  With an 8 o’clock kickoff…The Joan will  be rocking and rolling at kickoff, if not before.  Wow.

2nd down early in the game.  Chase Litton, sophomore quarterback for the Herd, was 13 of 16 for 309 yards and 6 touchdowns in the first half.  The offense was very impressive and the defense was improved as well.  I thought the defense was going to be better after watching them in the Spring Game.  I knew the offense would be sound.

Another touchdown and a scoreboard that better have plenty of fresh bulbs on the Marshall side.  This thing is going to be busy.

The storm was brewing to the west.  Note the clouds to your right, they were building in the Northwest.  And though the game went on, it was very wet and windy for much of the second half we did not see.  We relied on Steve Cotton to give us the play by play on the radio.

On the way home from Huntington on Sunday, it was September 11th.  As we drove through New Salisbury, we found this at the fire station.

I took pause.  I, like so many others, can’t believe it has been 15 years since our world changed for the very worst.  Remember how we all wanted to help each other out after that dreadful day happened.  I ask…where did that spirit go?  We need it back.  I hope it is not a national tragedy that brings it back.  But I think history will tell you that is what it would take.  Sad, but true.

I was in a classroom at the school I was working in at the time.  It was my “prep” period.  As was the custom, I went to see one of the friendlier teachers there to visit with him and just chew the fat.  I walked in his room.  I looked at the TV hanging from the top of one wall.  I thought he watching some documentary.  Then between his announcement and the urgency I heard from the television, I knew it was real.  I sat down and watched in bewilderment.  It was not horror, not yet.  It was a dumbfounding bewilderment.  I could not believe what I was seeing.  One of New York’s twin towers was in peril.  Then, I could suddenly believe and bewilderment did become horror.  As I watched the television, I saw the second plane fly into the unscathed twin.

The planes that fly into the Louisville airport, when they are using a west to east landing pattern, fly over our house.  We can hear them.  We can see them.  For a period of time, there were no planes in the air.  It was a surreal time…lonely in a way.

A couple summers ago Carrie and I were in New York City and we visited the site of the World Trade Centers.  I won’t forget this any time soon.  I wrote about it here then.

Names on stone and a place to reflect upon them.

This poor lady stood and rubbed her hand against a particular name over and over and over again.  She was there for a long time.  I wanted to give her a hug.

Lady Liberty is still hanging in there.  Lord knows it ain’t easy.

I have no doubt she could…speak the rights.

Danny Johnson