1987 Marshall Thundering Herd football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1987
| team = Marshall Thundering Herd
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Southern Conference
| short_conf = SoCon
| record = 10–5
| conf_record = 4–2
| head_coach = George Chaump
| hc_year = 2nd
| off_coach =
| oc_year =
| off_scheme =
| def_coach = Jon Tenuta
| dc_year = 1st
| def_scheme =
| captain = Cecil Fletcher
| captain2 = Keith Baxter
| stadium = Fairfield Stadium
| bowl = NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game
| bowl_result = L 42–43 vs. Northeast Louisiana
}}
{{1987 Southern Conference football standings}}
The 1987 Marshall Thundering Herd football team represented Marshall University as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1987 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by second-year head coach George Chaump, the Thundering Herd compiled an overall record of 10–5 with a mark of 4–2 in conference play, placing second in the SoCon. Marshall advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs for the first time in program history, beating James Madison in the first round, Weber State in the quarterfinals, and SoCon champion Appalachian State in the semifinals before losing to Northeast Louisiana in the NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game.{{cite web |title=FCS Champions|url=https://www.ncaa.com/history/football/fcs|publisher=NCAA|access-date=February 15, 2016}}
The team played their home games at Fairfield Stadium in Huntington, West Virginia.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1987
| rankdivision = NCAA Division I-AA
| poll = NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee
| timezone = Eastern
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 5
| nonconf = y
| w/l = w
| opponent = Morehead State
| site_stadium = Fairfield Stadium
| site_cityst = Huntington, WV
| score = 29–0
| attend = 15,049
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-marshalls-win-over/160464685/|work=The Courier-Journal|title=Marshall's win over Morehead so ugly...|date=September 6, 1987|accessdate=December 7, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 12
| w/l = l
| away = y
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Ohio
| site_stadium = Peden Stadium
| site_cityst = Athens, OH
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 15–23
| attend =
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-marion-star-senior-frosh-backs-help/160464756/|work=The Marion Star|title=Senior, frosh backs help OU trample Herd|date=September 13, 1987|accessdate=December 7, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 19
| away = y
| nonconf = y
| w/l = l
| opponent = Eastern Kentucky
| site_stadium = Hanger Field
| site_cityst = Richmond, KY
| score = 34–37
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ironton-tribune-marshall-blows-lead/143970405/|work=The Ironton Tribune|title=Marshall blows lead in loss to Colonels|date=September 20, 1987|accessdate=March 23, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 26
| nonconf = y
| w/l = w
| opponent = Youngstown State
| site_stadium = Fairfield Stadium
| site_cityst = Huntington, WV
| score = 38–13
| attend =
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman-marshall-38-y/143975326/|work=Austin American-Statesman|title=Marshall 38, Youngstown State 13|date=September 27, 1987|accessdate=March 23, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 3
| away = y
| w/l = l
| opponent = Furman
| site_stadium = Paladin Stadium
| site_cityst = Greenville, SC
| score = 36–42
| attend = 13,122
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109757166/furman-rallies-past-marshall/|work=The Courier-Journal|title=Furman rallies past Marshall|date=October 4, 1987|accessdate=September 18, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 10
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| opponent = Louisville
| stadium = Cardinal Stadium
| cityst = Louisville, KY
| score = 34–31
| attend = 21,658
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/messenger-inquirer-marshall-downs-louisv/160464839/|work=Messenger-Inquirer|title=Marshall downs Louisville on final play; Western wins|date=October 11, 1987|accessdate=December 7, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 17
| homecoming = y
| w/l = w
| opponent = East Tennessee State
| site_stadium = Fairfield Stadium
| site_cityst = Huntington, WV
| score = 27–7
| attend = 15,316
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/kingsport-times-news-turnovers-kill-east/160464924/|work=Kingsport Times-News|title=Turnovers kill East Tennessee St.|date=October 18, 1987|accessdate=December 7, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 24
| w/l = w
| opponent = VMI
| site_stadium = Fairfield Stadium
| site_cityst = Huntington, WV
| score = 42–7
| attend = 12,212
| source = {{cite news|title=Marshall 42, VMI 7|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|date=October 25, 1987|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94243019/marshall-42-vmi-7/|accessdate=February 4, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 31
| away = y
| w/l = w
| opponent = Chattanooga
| site_stadium = Chamberlain Field
| site_cityst = Chattanooga, TN
| score = 28–26
| attend = 6,107
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ironton-tribune-petersen-herd-outla/160464362/|work=The Ironton Tribune|title=Petersen, Herd outlast UTC|date=November 1, 1987|accessdate=December 7, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 7
| away = y
| w/l = l
| rank = 18
| opponent = Appalachian State
| opprank = 2
| site_stadium = Conrad Stadium
| site_cityst = Boone, NC
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 10–17
| attend = 14,306
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89185167/apps-clinch-crown/|work=The Herald|title=Apps clinch crown|date=November 8, 1987|accessdate=November 18, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 14
| w/l = w
| rank = 20
| opponent = Western Carolina
| site_stadium = Fairfield Stadium
| site_cityst = Huntington, WV
| score = 47–16
| attend = 14,423
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salisbury-post-marshall-sets-sc-reco/160465076/|work=The Salisbury Post|title=Marshall sets SC records in romp over Catamounts|date=November 15, 1987|accessdate=December 7, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 28
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank = 14
| opponent = James Madison
| opprank = 8
| site_stadium = Fairfield Stadium
| site_cityst = Huntington, WV
| gamename = NCAA Division I-AA First Round
| score = 41–12
| attend = 15,584
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87000325/marshall-air-raid-sends-jmu-packing-411/|work=Daily Press|title= Marshall air raid sends JMU packing 41–12|date=November 29, 1987|accessdate=October 12, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = December 5
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank = 14
| opponent = Weber State
| opprank = 10
| site_stadium = Fairfield Stadium
| site_cityst = Huntington, WV
| gamename = NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal
| score = 51–23
| attend = 13,197
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-thundering-herd-st/160465146/|work=The Salt Lake Tribune|title=Thundering Herd stampedes Wildcats|date=December 6, 1987|accessdate=December 7, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = December 12
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 14
| opponent = Appalachian State
| opprank = 2
| site_stadium = Conrad Stadium
| site_cityst = Boone, NC
| gamename = NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal
| score = 24–10
| attend = 14,621
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89186193/marshall-ends-appalachians-title-dreams/|work=The Charlotte Observer|title=Marshall ends Appalachian's title dreams|date=December 13, 1987|accessdate=November 18, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = December 19
| neutral = y
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| rank = 14
| opponent = Northeast Louisiana
| opprank = 3
| site_stadium = ASISU Minidome
| site_cityst = Pocatello, ID
| gamename = NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game
| tv = ESPN
| score = 42–43
| attend = 11,513
| source = {{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31118147/div_iaa_championship/ |title=Div. I-AA Championship |newspaper=Billings Gazette |location=Billings, Montana |page=5-B |date=December 21, 1987 |accessdate=April 30, 2019 |via=newspapers.com}}
}}
}}
{{cite web|title=2008 Marshall Football Guide|publisher=Marshall University|year=2008|access-date=December 20, 2020|page=187|url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/herdzone.com/documents/2018/6/13/08_fb_guide_6.pdf|archive-date=February 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220222191902/https://s3.amazonaws.com/herdzone.com/documents/2018/6/13/08_fb_guide_6.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=1987 Marshall Thundering Herd Schedule|publisher=HerdZone|work=Herdzone.com|access-date=December 20, 2020|url=https://herdzone.com/sports/football/schedule/1987}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Marshall Thundering Herd football navbox}}
Category:Marshall Thundering Herd football seasons
Marshall Thundering Herd football
{{collegefootball-1987-season-stub}}