1991 Marshall Thundering Herd football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1991
| team = Marshall Thundering Herd
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Southern Conference
| short_conf = SoCon
| record = 11–4
| conf_record = 5–2
| head_coach = Jim Donnan
| hc_year = 2nd
| off_coach = Greg Briner
| oc_year = 1st
| def_coach = Mickey Matthews
| dc_year = 2nd
| captain = Derek Grier
| captain2 = Madison Sayre
| captain3 = Ricardo Clark
| captain4 = Matt Downey
| stadium = Marshall University Stadium
| bowl = NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game
| bowl_result = L 17–25 vs. Youngstown State
}}
{{1991 Southern Conference football standings}}
The 1991 Marshall Thundering Herd football team represented Marshall University as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1991 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by second-year head coach Jim Donnan, the Thundering Herd compiled an overall record of 11–4 with a mark of 5–2 in conference play, tying for second place in the SoCon. Marshall advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Championship playoffs, where they beat Western Illinois in the first round, Northern Iowa in the quarterfinals, and Eastern Kentucky in the semifinals before losing to Youngstown State 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}}
Marshall played home games in the newly-opened Marshall University Stadium in Huntington, West Virginia.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1991
| rankdivision = NCAA Division I-AA
| poll = NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = August 31
| w/l = l
| away = y
| rank = 14
| opponent = Appalachian State
| site_stadium = Kidd Brewer Stadium
| site_cityst = Boone, NC
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 3–9
| attend = 17,671
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89682276/appalachian-avenges-loss-stops-marshall/|work=The Charlotte Observer|title=Appalachian avenges loss, stops Marshall|date=September 1, 1991|accessdate=November 28, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 7
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank = T–14
| opponent = New Hampshire
| opprank = 8
| site_stadium = Marshall University Stadium
| site_cityst = Huntington, WV
| score = 24–23
| attend = 33,116
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/valley-news-unh-comes-up-short-2423/162876023/|work=Valley News|title=UNH comes up short, 24–23|date=September 9, 1991|accessdate=November 28, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 14
| nonconf = y
| w/l = w
| opponent = Morehead State
| site_stadium = Marshall University Stadium
| site_cityst = Huntington, WV
| score = 70–11
| attend = 24,127
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lexington-herald-leader-marshall-thunder/162876210/|work=Lexington Herald-Leader|title=Marshall thunders past struggling Morehead St. 70–11|date=September 15, 1991|accessdate=November 28, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 28
| nonconf = y
| w/l = w
| rank = 20
| opponent = Brown
| site_stadium = Marshall University Stadium
| site_cityst = Huntington, WV
| score = 46–0
| attend = 22,223
| source = {{cite news |title=Marshall 46, Brown 0 |agency=Associated Press |date=September 29, 1991 |page=69 |newspaper=Boston Sunday Globe |via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/58555769/1991-s28-briefs/ }}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 12
| away = y
| w/l = w
| rank = 13
| opponent = Furman
| opprank = 2
| site_stadium = Paladin Stadium
| site_cityst = Greenville, SC
| score = 38–35
| attend = 16,125
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109797794/marshall-defeats-furman-3835/|work=The Times and Democrat|title=Marshall defeats Furman, 38–35|date=October 13, 1991|accessdate=September 18, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 19
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| rank = 8
| opponent = NC State
| opprank = 11 (I-A)
| site_stadium = Carter–Finley Stadium
| site_cityst = Raleigh, NC
| score = 14–15
| attend = 41,019
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-state-fourth-quarter-rally-carries-w/140230625/|work=The State|title=Fourth-quarter rally carries Wolfpack by Marshall 15–14|date=October 20, 1991|accessdate=February 4, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 26
| w/l = l
| away = y
| rank = 6
| opponent = Chattanooga
| site_stadium = Chamberlain Field
| site_cityst = Chattanooga, TN
| score = 31–38
| attend = 8,026
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-news-sentinel-utc-38-mars/162874302/|work=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|title=UTC 38, Marshall 31|date=October 27, 1991|accessdate=January 12, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 2
| w/l = w
| homecoming = y
| rank = 19
| opponent = Western Carolina
| site_stadium = Marshall University Stadium
| site_cityst = Huntington, WV
| overtime = 3OT
| score = 27–24
| attend = 20,466
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-catamounts-fall-t/162876455/|work=The Charlotte Observer|title=Catamounts fall to Herd in 3 OTs|date=November 3, 1991|accessdate=January 12, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 9
| w/l = w
| rank = 15
| opponent = The Citadel
| opprank = 18
| site_stadium = Marshall University Stadium
| site_cityst = Huntington, WV
| score = 37–31
| attend = 18,003
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-state-payton-pedro-spart-rally-mar/162875341/|work=The State|title=Payton, Pedro spart rally; Marshall beats The Citadel|date=November 10, 1991|accessdate=January 12, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 16
| w/l = w
| rank = 10
| opponent = VMI
| site_stadium = Marshall University Stadium
| site_cityst = Huntington, WV
| score = 61–0
| attend = 17,535
| source = {{cite news|title=Marshall 61, Virginia Military 0|newspaper=The Charlotte Observer|date=November 17, 1991|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94343153/marshall-61-virginia-military-0/|accessdate=February 6, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 23
| w/l = w
| rank = 8
| opponent = East Tennessee State
| site_stadium = Marshall University Stadium
| site_cityst = Huntington, WV
| score = 63–9
| attend = 18,256
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/kingsport-times-news-marshall-annihilate/162876664/|work=Kingsport Times-News|title=Marshall annihilates Bucs, 63–9|date=November 24, 1991|accessdate=January 12, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 30
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank = 8
| opponent = Western Illinois
| opprank = 14
| site_stadium = Marshall University Stadium
| site_cityst = Huntington, WV
| gamename = NCAA Division I-AA First Round
| score = 20–17
| attend = 16,840
| source = {{cite news |last1=Dickerson |first1=Chris |title=Western Illinois rallies but falls to OT field goal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88717142/the-rock-island-argus/ |access-date=November 10, 2021 |work=The Dispatch-Argus |date=December 1, 1991 |page=D6 |via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = December 7
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank = 8
| opponent = Northern Iowa
| opprank = 4
| site_stadium = Marshall University Stadium
| site_cityst = Huntington, WV
| gamename = NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal
| score = 41–13
| attend = 16,889
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-marshall-stops-n/162876783/|work=The Des Moines Register|title=Marshall stops Northern Iowa|date=December 8, 1991|accessdate=January 12, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = December 14
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank = 8
| opponent = Eastern Kentucky
| opprank = 2
| site_stadium = Marshall University Stadium
| site_cityst = Huntington, WV
| gamename = NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal
| score = 14–7
| attend = 21,084
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-twelfth-man-1-too-ma/145344862/|work=The Courier-Journal|title=Twelfth man 1 too many for Eastern in I-AA semi|date=December 15, 1991|accessdate=April 14, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = December 21
| w/l = l
| neutral = y
| nonconf = y
| rank = 8
| opponent = Youngstown State
| opprank = 13
| site_stadium = Paulson Stadium
| site_cityst = Statesboro, GA
| gamename = NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game
| tv = CBS
| score = 17–25
| attend = 12,667
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-macon-telegraph-youngstown-st-takes/162876999/|work=The Macon Telegraph|title=Youngstown St. takes IAA title|date=December 22, 1991|accessdate=January 12, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
}}
{{cite web|title=2008 Marshall Football Guide|publisher=Marshall University|year=2008|access-date=December 1, 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=1991 Marshall Thundering Herd Schedule|publisher=HerdZone|work=Herdzone.com|access-date=December 1, 2020|url=https://herdzone.com/sports/football/schedule/1991}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Marshall Thundering Herd football navbox}}