http://www.herald-dispatch.com/x1974069247/Marshall-to-play-Navy
HUNTINGTON -- Marshall athletic director Mike Hamrick announced that Thundering Herd football has agreed to a series with one of college football's most storied programs.
Hamrick confirmed a home-and-home series between Marshall and the U.S. Naval Academy, starting with the 2016 season-opener in Annapolis, Md.
"You are talking about the Naval Academy, a program who has as good a tradition of college football as anybody," Hamrick said. "It's a class operation and I'm thrilled that we were able to schedule a home-and-home."
Navy possesses one of the proudest college football traditions in the nation, having played in the second-most games of any school. All time, the Midshipmen have played in 1,217 games, compiling a record of 640-520-57.
None of those games, however, has been against Marshall.
When the teams meet in Annapolis on Sept. 3, 2016, it will mark the first time the schools have ever met in football and only Marshall's third meeting all time against a service academy.
The other two were against Army in West Point, N.Y. -- a 38-0 loss in 1920 and a 35-25 victory in 1997.
Hamrick was excited about the prospects of the series for several reasons.
Not only did it offer the Herd a home-and-home date with a reputable program, it also offered fans an easy game to travel to while offering a unique atmosphere for college football.
"If you've never been to Annapolis on a Saturday afternoon college football game, it's something to see," Hamrick said.
"I anticipate our fans will enjoy that trip. It's very driveable and it will be great for our fans to go to.
"The years I was at UNLV, we played Air Force each year. Whether it's Air Force, Army or Navy, I've been to all three and there is something special about playing a military academy."
Marshall's return date on the 2016 season-opener is a contest scheduled for Oct. 13, 2018 -- the first non-conference home game slated for that season.
"I'm excited and thrilled that we are going to be able to play a military academy school in Huntington," Hamrick said. "To have the Midshipmen in Huntington will be a unique deal for fans to see."
Hamrick has been busy with football scheduling over the past few months. Along with Wednesday's Navy announcement, series have been inked with Louisville, Purdue and Miami (Ohio).
"We are trying to schedule teams that are close that our fans can drive to and we can get fans there. It just adds to the solid football schedules we've built for the future," Hamrick said.
Even though Marshall and Navy have never met on the football field, the schools share a direct correlation in the form of Jack Lengyel.
Lengyel coached Marshall's Young Thundering Herd from 1971-74 and was pivotal in reviving the program following the devastating Marshall plane crash of 1970 that killed all 75 passengers aboard.
He later became the athletic director at Navy, where he retired from in 2001 after 14 years there.
This should have been a no brainer a long time ago considering the most beloved coach in Marshall history, Jack Lengyel, later became the Athletic Director at The Naval Academy. His son is was also a high ranking officer in the Navy.