HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Jesse Smith, the captain of the 1974 Marshall Football team, will serve as the keynote speaker for the 2025 Spring Fountain Ceremony, which will take place at 11:30 a.m. on April 12 at the Marshall Memorial Fountain. The event, which is a longtime tradition, will precede the 2025 Marshall Football Spring Game, marking the conclusion of the first spring practice under head coach Tony Gibson.
The ceremony will be held outside of the Marshall Memorial Student Center, with fans encouraged to attend before heading to the Spring Game later in the afternoon. Parking for the event will be available in the West Lot at Joan C. Edwards Stadium, which opens at 9 a.m. on April 12. The cost for parking is $20.
Smith’s ties to Marshall run deep, having joined the university as an offensive lineman for the Young Thundering Herd in 1971 after graduating as Valedictorian from Barrackville High School in Fairmont, West Virginia. Over his four years with Marshall, Smith played alongside fellow team captain Allen Meadows, leading the squad as co-captain during the 1974 season.
Following his time with Marshall, Smith enjoyed a long career with Monongahela Power, where he worked for 20 years before retiring in 2003. A graduate of Marshall University in 1975 with a B.A. in Political Science/History, Smith also earned a Master’s Degree from West Virginia University in 1979. He currently resides in Conyers, Georgia, with his family.
The ceremony is part of a day full of football activities, leading into the 2025 Spring Game. Marshall fans will gather to watch the team’s first spring scrimmage under new head coach Tony Gibson. Gates for the game will open at 2 p.m., with kickoff scheduled for 3 p.m. The first half will feature a live scrimmage, while the second half will serve as a Fan Day, giving supporters a chance to interact with the team.
Tickets for the Spring Game are available for just $5, with Gibson aiming to attract 10,000 fans to the stadium.
Photo Credit: Marshall University