Nate McPeek has many fond memories of his playing years at Marshall.
On Saturday, he will add one more memory to the list by being inducted into the Marshall Hall of Fame.
“It’s just a blessing and an honor to be able to be a part of the Marshall Hall of Fame,” McPeek said. “Someone told me the other day that about 2 percent of people go into the Hall of Fame at Division I schools, so I’m honored the committee thought of me.”
McPeek’s career at Marshall spanned from 2000 to 2003, where he started all four years and 51 consecutive games as an offensive lineman for the Thundering Herd.
“At the beginning of the four years, I had a great career,” McPeek said. “I had a lot of good teammates and coaches. Just a big football family.
McPeek was named to the Mid-American Conference first team twice during his career.
He played at Russell before joining the Thundering Herd.
McPeek participated in one of the most famous games in college football history. After a long loss to Akron in the Rubber Bowl, linemen lifted quarterback Bryon Leftwich onto the field for the next snap in 2002.
Marshall would ultimately lose that game, but the lasting image of an injured Leftwich being carried to the line of scrimmage by his teammates after a 42-yard pass to Darius Watt overshadows the game’s results.
Leftwich was playing with a fractured left tibia during that practice.
“You couldn’t get away with it today,” McPeek said. “He actually left in an ambulance, came back, then came back into the game. Looking back, it was a pretty cool moment.
In McPeek’s senior year, the Thundering Herd pulled off a major upset against a top opponent.
“My senior year we were able to go to Kansas State, which was ranked in the top five or six in the country,” McPeek said. “They had Darren Sproles and a great team, but we ended up upsetting them and beating them that day. It was a huge victory.
Marshall won two MAC titles during McPeek’s era and won three bowl games: the 2000 Motor City Bowl against Cincinnati and the 2001 and 2002 GMAC Bowls against East Carolina and Louisville respectively.
The Thundering Herd beat the Pirates, 64-61, in overtime in the 2001 bowl game after trailing by 30 at halftime.
Once his playing career ended, McPeek turned his attention to coaching.
McPeek is currently the coach at Fredrick Douglass, where he guided the Broncos to the 2022 Class 5A state championship.
McPeek says his time with Marshall influences his approach to coaching today.
“Coach (Bob) Pruitt taught us that the formula to winning is to first know your ‘Why?’” McPeek said. “It’s difficult for every child to understand because they change and evolve from first year to senior year, physically and mentally. But I learned a lot about the process of becoming a football player from Coach Pruitt.
Given the success he had in college, McPeek wants to be someone his players can turn to for advice on how to excel in football at the next level.
Now in his fifth year at Fredrick Douglass, McPeek said he talks to his players about the importance of being in the best physical shape possible to succeed in college football.
“You have to work your body,” McPeek said. “I was able to train and come into Marshall as a 400-pound bench guy, a 400-pound squat guy and a 225-pound clean power guy. I really put in the work. This is the biggest adjustment; a lot of kids don’t go there physically ready. I feel like we’re doing a good job here.
McPeek’s hard work back then is still paying off as his alma mater honors him. McPeek is grateful for the experience and thanks the community’s support during his time there.
“I’m very grateful to the fans,” McPeek said. “We had a very good audience. I am so grateful for the way they always showed up and encouraged us. These fans know a little more about football and appreciate what the linemen do. and I am honored to receive this recognition.
Marshall fans will be able to cheer on McPeek once again Saturday when he will be honored during the game against Western Michigan at 3:30 p.m. at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
