Escarpeta signs autographs, calls Marshall 'family' by Tomoko Horie

Oliver, Escarpeta join, promote film
By Lauren N. Eubank, The Parthenon

The University of New Hampshire Wildcats were not the only visitors on the field at Joan C. Edwards stadium this weekend.

Arlen Escarpeta, who played Young Thundering Herd quarterback Reggie Oliver in "We Are Marshall," returned to Huntington on Saturday to join Reggie Oliver and support The Herd in its attempt to defeat The Wildcats.

Today, Escarpeta will make various promotional appearances in Charleston with the West Virginia Film Office and the West Virginia Division of Tourism.

Students who did not get a chance to see Escarpeta at the game or other events can see the actor Wednesday. He will sign copies of the "We Are Marshall" DVD from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the Memorial Student Center plaza. The DVD will be on sale at the Marshall Bookstore for $21.99.

"Arlen Escarpeta brings Hollywood back to Huntington whenever he visits Marshall University," Bill Bissett, chief of staff and senior vice president for communications, said.

"As his acting career continues, it is a testament to the great experience that everyone connected to the filming of 'We Are Marshall' that this young man would come back and share this release of the film's DVD with us," Bissett said.

Last weekend, Escarpeta and Oliver signed copies of the "We Are Marshall" edition of Huntington Quarterly as well as other memorabilia Saturday morning before the game during Huntington's annual ChiliFest. Later in the day, they attended a student tailgate and joined the football team in the Thunder Walk to the stadium.

Escarpeta also is spending time this week promoting "We Are Marshall" and working with the West Virginia Film Office and the West Virginia Division of Tourism Charleston and Huntington areas.