American Rhetoric: Movie Speech

"We Are Marshall" (2006)

Coach Jack Lengyell: "We Cannot Lose"

For those of you who may not know, this is the final resting place for six members of the 1970 Thundering Herd. The plane crash that took their lives was so severe, so absolute that their bodies were unable to be identified. So they were buried here. Together. Six players, six teammates, six sons of Marshall. This is our past, gentleman. This is where we have been. This is how we got here. This is who we are today.

I want to talk about our opponent this afternoon. They're bigger, faster, stronger, more experienced, and on paper they're just better -- and they know it, too. But I want to tell you something that they don't know.

They don't know your heart.

I do. I've seen it. You have shown it to me. You have shown this coaching staff, your teammates, you have shown yourselves just exactly who you are in here [beats chest].

And when you take that field today, you've got to lay that heart on the line, men. From the soles of your feet with every ounce of blood you've got in your body, lay it on the line until the final whistle blows.

And if you do that, if you do that, we cannot lose.

We may be behind on the scoreboard at the end of the game but if you play like that, we cannot be defeated.

Now, we came here today to remember -- six young men, and 69 others, who will not be on the field with you today. But they will be watching. And you can bet your ass that they'll be gritting their teeth with every snap of that football. You understand me? How you play today from this moment on is how you will be remembered. This is your opportunity to rise from these ashes and grab glory.

We are --

Team: Marshall!

Coach Jack Lengyell: We are --

Team: Marshall!

Coach Jack Lengyell: We are --

Team: Marshall!

Coach Jack Lengyell: Funerals end today.