'' We Are Marshall '' is a 2006 American historical drama biopic film directed by McG . It depicts the aftermath of the 1970 plane crash that killed 75 people : 37 football players on the Marshall University Thundering Herd football team , along with five coaches , two athletic trainers , the athletic director , 25 boosters , and a crew of five . Matthew McConaughey stars as head coach Jack Lengyel , with Matthew Fox as assistant coach William " Red " Dawson , David Strathairn as university president Donald Dedmon , and Robert Patrick as ill-fated Marshall head coach Rick Tolley . Then-governor of Georgia Sonny Perdue has a cameo role as an East Carolina University football coach
1970 plane crash
Southern Airways Flight 932
We Are Marshall