EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS: Attached photos are jpeg and cutline follows end of release.

TROY – When a new movie depicting the 1971 Marshall University Thundering Herd football team is shown in theaters nationwide beginning Dec. 22, one member of the cast will be a Troy University Trojan.

Troy University alumnus and current admissions counselor, Bobby Jon Drinkard, will appear in “We Are Marshall,” which tells the story of the university’s efforts to start a football program from scratch after the 1970 squad was killed in an airline crash.

Drinkard became involved in the movie when a casting director he knew through some friends in Los Angeles contacted him and asked if he would be interested.                             

Drinkard will play the role of a Marshall football player who played his last game against East Carolina, and ends up dying in the crash that claims the lives of the entire team, coaches, and several boosters.

“The movie deals with a combination of a tragedy, drama, and perseverance, in pursuit of Marshall University and community coming together to field a football team from scratch the following year,” Drinkard said. “It will leave some people in chills and some people in tears. It's going to be a very good movie.”

Drinkard also says he plans to continue pursuing acting.

“I’ve been tinkering with this profession for a few years so I will always be interested in exploring the profession.” Drinkard said.  “I feel everyone has a window within themselves to explore and open up. Acting fosters a journey within everyone to pursue a virtual place that we have never been before. I enjoy it.”

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Bobby Jon Drinkard

[TEAM] Troy University alumnus and current admissions counselor Bobby Jon Drinkard will appear in the movie “We Are Marshall,” that tells the story of the university’s efforts to start a football program from scratch after the 1970 squad was killed in an airline crash. Drinkard, who wears the number 26 (far right, front row) for the Thundering Herd in the movie, plays the role of a football player who played his last game against East Carolina and ends up dying the crash.