Rarely has so much respect and notoriety been gained from a loss -- and a serious injury. Byron Leftwich was knocked out early in the cold, windy Rubber Bowl when he suffered a direct hit on the same left shin that had been surgically repaired months before. After being helped off the field, Leftwich initially tried to overrule his mother, Brenda, and Marshall coach Bobby Pruett that he leave the stadium for X-rays.
Leftwich wanted to stay, but Pruett had the final word. When the ambulance driver couldn’t guarantee his return prior to game’s end, Leftwich instead rode off for X-rays in a rental van with Marshall support staff.
Limping heavily, Leftwich returned to the field in the third quarter with his team trailing 27-10. Upon his return, Leftwich completed 14-of-24 passes for 208 yards with an interception on what later was learned to be a broken left leg.
Overall, Leftwich threw for 307 yards on 26-of-36 passing. Overshadowing the Herd’s shocking 34-20 upset loss was the image of teammates Steve Sciullo and Steve Perretta carrying Leftwich downfield after long completions.
"Forget the Heisman," Marshall center Jeff Edwards said. "Forget New York. Forget all that stuff. He just proved to me what kind of player he is. He’s not in it for himself. If he were in it for himself, if he were in it for the Heisman he wouldn’t have been out there at the end of the game."
