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HUNTINGTON–Thundering Herd greats Byron Leftwich, Randy Moss, Chad Pennington and John Wade will return to campus for a glorious evening on April 23 when Marshall combines the annual Big Green Scholarship Banquet with the a special Marshall Athletics Hall of Fame Induction ceremony.

The Big Green Banquet featuring a special Sons of Marshall Hall of Fame induction will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 23 at the new Marshall University Student Recreation Center just across the street from the Joan C. Edwards Stadium where this quartet of champions made football history for the Thundering Herd.

“We are ecstatic that these four are going into the Hall of Fame together,” said Director of Athletics Mike Hamrick.

“What they achieved at Marshall and even now in the National Football League, underlines the outstanding football program the university has provided its fans and alumni. This special evening is the best way we can show them how grateful we are.”

From 1994 through 2002 when Wade, Pennington, Moss and Leftwich played for the Herd, Marshall University posted a 104-18 won-loss record, eight seasons of at least 10 wins, two undefeated seasons, one national championship, seven conference championships and five consecutive bowl victories.

All four have already been elected to the Marshall University Athletic Hall of Fame, however because of their pro football careers, they have not been able to be inducted at the usual fall ceremonies.

The normal Hall of Fame Induction banquet will be held again this fall, said Joe Feaganes, a member of the Hall of Fame selection committee, on the weekend of the Ohio-Marshall game.

John Sutherland, executive director of the Big Green Scholarship Foundation, said, “This is the second year we’ve had nationally renowned M.U. athletes honor us at our featured fundraiser.”

Last year Mike D’Antoni, current coach of the New York Knicks and former MU point guard, spoke to a packed-house audience.

“We expect another full house on April 23,” said Sutherland. “Our Big Green staff is prepared to take reservations now.”

Sutherland said corporate sponsorships will be $2,000 for a table of eight and single tickets will be $80. Paid reservations can be made at the Big Green office or by calling 304-696-4661 or toll free at 866-443-7310. The banquet time is set for 7 p.m. with a 6 p.m. reception for corporate table sponsors and their guests.

Marshall's annual Green-White Spring Game will be held the following day, April 24, and all four former Herd greats will be introduced.

It will be the first spring game under new Marshall head coach Doc Holliday and his staff, as they set the tone for the 2010 opener at The Ohio State University on Sept. 2.

Holliday's first home game is nine days later, when the Herd hosts Holliday's alma mater and his long-time home as an assistant coach for Don Nehlen and Bill Stewart, the West Virginia Mountaineers. That game is Sept. 11.

Speaking of Spring Football, here are all the teams in Division I, FBS (I-A), by leagues, in alphabetical order for, the beginning dates and ending dates and/or spring games nationally (highlighted are teams of local interest; * - MU opponent for 2010):

Boston College: 3/18 -  4/24

Clemson: 3/8 -  4/10

Duke: 2/15 - 3/27

Florida State: 3/16 - 4/10

Georgia Tech: TBA - 4/24

Maryland: 3/23 - 4/24

Miami, Fla.: 2/23 - TBA

North Carolina: 3/15 - 4/10

N.C. State: 3/9 -  4/17

Wake Forest: 3/16 - 4/17

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Connecticut: 3/16 - 4/17

Rutgers: TBA - 4/24

USF: 3/16 - 4/17

Syracuse: TBA - TBA

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Illinois: TBA - 4/24

Indiana: 3/23 - 4/17

Iowa: TBA - 4/17

Michigan: 3/14 - 4/17

Michigan State: TBA - TBA

Minnesota: TBA - 4/24

Northwestern: 3/29 - 4/24

Penn State: 3/26 - 4/24

Purdue: 3/24 - 4/17

Wisconsin: 3/13 - 4/17

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Baylor: 3/15 - 4/10

Colorado: 3/8 - 4/10

Iowa State: 3/23 - 4/17

Kansas: 3/27 - 4/24

Kansas State: 3/21 - 4/24

Missouri: 3/9 - 4/17

Nebraska: 3/24 - 4/17

Oklahoma: 3/9 - 4/17

Oklahoma State: 3/8 - 4/17

Texas: 3/26 - 4/4

Texas A&M: TBA: 4/17

Texas Tech: 3/2: 4/3

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East Carolina: 3/15 - 4/17*

Houston: TBA - TBA

Memphis: 3/15 - 4/17*

Rice: 2/22 - 3/27

SMU: 3/29 - 4/24*

Southern Miss: 3/3 - 4/10*

Tulane: 3/22 - 4/24*

Tulsa: 3/9 - 4/17

UAB: 3/24 - 4/17*

UCF: 3/18 - 4/17*

UTEP: 3/25 - 4/24*

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Army: 2/17 - 3/27

Navy: 3/29 - 4/23

Notre Dame: 3/26 - 4/24

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Akron: TBA - TBA

Ball State: 3/24 - 4/17

Bowling Green: 3/19 - 4/16*

Buffalo: 3/20 - 4/24

Central Michigan: 3/18 - 4/17

Eastern Michigan: TBA - 4/16

Kent State: 4/5 - 4/30

Northern Illinois: 3/23 - 4/24

Temple: 3/16: 4/17

Toledo: 3/17 - 4/19

Western Michigan: 3/18 - 4/17

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Air Force: 2/18 - 3/17

BYU: 3/15 - 4/10

Colorado State: 3/26 - 4/24

New Mexico: 3/23 - 4/17

San Diego State: TBA - 3/20

TCU: 3/4 - 4/10

UNLV: 3/15 - 4/17

Utah: 3/9 - 4/17

Wyoming: 3/6 - 4/17

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Arizona: TBA - TBA

Arizona State: 3/30 - 4/24

California: 3/6 - 4/17

Oregon: 3/30 - 5/1

Oregon State: 3/29 - 5/1

Stanford: 2/22 - 4/10

UCLA: 4/1 - 4/24

USC: TBA - TBA

Washington: 3/30 - 4/30

Washington State: 3/25 - 4/24

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Alabama: 3/12 - 4/17

Arkansas: TBA - TBA

Auburn: 3/23 - 4/18

Florida: 3/17 - 4/10

Georgia: TBA - 4/10

LSU: 2/25 - 3/27

Mississippi State: 3/23 - 4/17

Ole' Miss: 3/27 - 4/17

South Carolina: 3/16 - 4/10

Vanderbilt: TBA - 4/10

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Arkansas State: 3/29 - 4/24

FAU: 3/31 - 4/24

FIU: TBA - TBA

Louisiana-Lafayette: 3/3 - 3/27

Louisiana-Monroe: 3/15 - 4/24

Middle Tennessee: 3/16 - 4/10

North Texas: TBA - TBA

Troy: 3/15 - 4/3

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Boise State: 3/8 - 4/17

Fresno State: TBA - TBA

Hawaii: 4/1 - 4/30

Idaho: TBA - 4/23

Louisiana Tech: TBA - TBA

Nevada: TBA - 4/3

New Mexico State: 4/5 - 5/1

San Jose State: TBA - TBA

Utah State: 3/23 - 4/24

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