Huntington and Hollywood collided on December 12 -- the day the We Are Marshall premiere took place at the newly renovated Keith Albee. But it was less about those in the limelight and more about loyalty… to a school and a city we love.

Armed with three of my Marshall pals, we hit the green carpet, where I had to conduct interviews with some of the talent-- like Matthew McConaughey and Anthony Mackie -- before the screening. My pals were to my left and right, taking it all in, snapping pictures and even asking a question or two. And I have to say that it was so surreal to be standing there interviewing these famous faces in the middle of Fourth Avenue with the Fredrick Building as a backdrop. When I was just college girl, living on Buffington Avenue and dreaming of my future, I never ever would have imagined that. I kinda thought I'd be working at the Gap forever.

There were so many highlights from the green carpet and after party. One, just seeing all the Marshall lovers outside the Keith Albee was so cool. The windows in all the building lining Fourth Avenue were filled with faces of people looking down at the festivities below. There was such an energy. We also chatted up Huntington native Katie Lee Joel -- Billy's wife -- who was doing interviews for Extra. She had nothing but great things to say about the city and even gave all the celebrities she interviewed homemade jelly from the area. I was then bummed I hadn't thought of that. But I would have skipped the jam and handed out the Thundering Herd biscuit from Tudors. Now that is a real local delicacy!

It was also special to meet all the "real" people behind We Are Marshall -- like Jack Lengyl and the very spirited Reggie Oliver. They were all delightful and excited. But not as excited as I was when, at the after party, I had my photo taken with Bob Pruett. To me, he's bigger than Matthew McConaughey will ever be, and that was my biggest highlight.

I also asked my own "Herd" -- my Marshall pals who attended the event with me -- to share their remembrances of the evening. Here's what they said…

"With months of marketing and media leading up to the premiere, it was finally time to see what the hubbub was all about," says David Romero, a 2001 grad, who worked as a sound utility on the film. "Seeing the green carpet and the bleachers lining Fourth Avenue was impressive, but anticipated. Watching the press scurry for position and seeing the limos line up to unload the stars was cool, but calculated. The most exciting part of the premiere was being surrounded by the Herd faithful and friends to witness our story, our triumph and know that the rest of the world was going to get a glimpse of the tiny town in West Virginia where I had gone to school."

Amy Neighborgall was raised in Huntington, so she liked putting faces with names she'd heard her entire life.

"The most exciting part of the night was finally meeting and seeing the people who I have grown up hearing about," says Amy, who owns and operates Huntington's Colonial Lanes. "I wasn't star struck by either Matthew -- I was star struck seeing the living legends of Marshall and Huntington. My grandparents knew just about everyone on the plane, so it just made it more than a story to me."

Finally, Chris Drummond, a 2006 grad, felt the same way, but for other reasons.

"The glitz and glamour of Hollywood was certainly exciting," says Chris. "Getting pictures with the rich and famous was great. But, to me, the Herd players and coaches of yesteryear stole the show. I had the most fun talking to Red Dawson, Jack Lengyl, Reggie Oliver and several other "young Herd" team members. It was also a great experience for me to talk with some of the people in the community who were portrayed in the film. I shook hands with Keith Morehouse, and Ernie Salvatore as well as Courtney (Proctor) Cross who was my daughter's first grade teacher and my neighbor, who lost both her parents in the crash. I can't imagine the impact that the film had on her.

"I am the son of two Marshall fans and alumnus, and they are the son and daughter of three more Marshall grads and alumnus, and my great-grandfather is the oldest graduate ever of Marshall University. One day I hope to say that my two children will be graduates of Marshall as well. My best friends graduated from Marshall, including my wife. We truly are a 'Herd Nation' and this night, to me, was not about Hollywood. It was about us. It was about the story of Marshall University and when all is said it done it will be one of the greatest stories ever told. This night introduced the world to that story and I will always remember being apart of that."

Couldn't have said it better myself!

---