Parading Herd

Marshall's football team and fans braved the bitter cold Saturday afternoon to enjoy a celebration parade in honor of the 1999 Mid-American Con-ference Championship and Motor City Bowl titles.

The number of fans attending was smaller than in previous years, said disc jockey Scott Hesson for WDGG-FM, which was one of the parade's sponsors.

"I think we had a good turnout, considering we had a basketball game on the road and considering the cold weather," he said.

The parade ended on 10th Street and Fourth Avenue in front of the Elks Club. Hesson introduced Bob Bailey, chairman of the Huntington City Council, who assisted Coach Bob Pruett in unveiling the new highway sign that reads "MAC Champions 97 98 99."

"Thanks a million and we'll put another double-0 there next year," Pruett said.

A second highway sign reads "Motor City Bowl Champions 98 99." Signs will be placed at all four entrances to the city, said Don Kleppe, executive assistant to Mayor Jean Dean.

"We have room for more expansions in the future," Kleppe said. "We could get five or six more years on them if we really scrunch them."

Richard Mitchell, of the Huntington City Works Co-mmittee, presented Pruett with a $2,000 check for the memorial bronze fund. The memorial will honor the 1970 Marshall football team plane crash victims.

"We want to challenge each one to give $5, $10, because it all adds up," Mitchell said. "We want to honor those people. Let's remember them. They're never going to be forgotten."

Kelsey Murphy, designer for Pilgrim Glass, presented Coach Pruett with a commemorative bowl for the football program, entitled the "Race of Man." It was designed to represent the football program from 1970 to the 1999 team, Bailey said.

Afterward fans listened to the farewell speeches of seniors Chad Pennington, Doug Chapman and Rogers Beckett.

"This year's team won in the 20th century with a MAC Championship and there's no reason we can't start the 21st century with a MAC Championship," Pennington said. "We've got all the tools ... we're going to have some great players that really helped out our senior class this year and I expect another undefeated season this year."

Although he said he will miss the departing seniors, Pruett added that he's looking ahead to next season.

"We hate to see these seniors leave because they're a great bunch, but we've got some good young guys coming along and they've given them great leadership," he said. "So see these seniors into the pros and see these underclassmen at the stadium."