Marshall, East Carolina share enduring bond from 1970 plane crash

GREENVILLE, N.C. -- Dwight Flanagan can still see the faces. He has gone back through old game programs and racked his brain to put the faces with the names.

He simply can't do it.

It's been nearly 53 years since Flanagan walked to midfield for the coin toss as one of East Carolina's captains that crisp Saturday afternoon. He shook hands with the Marshall captains, listened to the head referee's instructions and returned to the home sideline.

"For 60 minutes, you go against those guys, knocking heads, doing everything you can to beat them, and we're fortunate enough to win a tough, hard-fought game," said Flanagan, his voice solemn but steady.

"And then you hear the awful news later that night,…