Bill Winter (1990) - Marshall Athletics Hall of Fame

Bill Winter

Induction:
1990
Class:
1964

In 1964, the NCAA changed its football substitution rules and teams moved from one set of players who played both offense and defense to the modern “two-platoon” system of separate units. For Marshall, however, Bill Winter continued as a two-way player, staying on the field for Coach Charlie Snyder as an offensive lineman and a linebacker, and he even served as the team’s place-kicker. Teammate Tom Good, who went on to play in the NFL, called Winter, “the hardest hitter I’ve ever seen.” Recruited to Marshall after winning West Virginia All-State honors at Nitro High School, Winter continued to receive accolades at Marshall where he was a second team All-Mid-American Conference choice in 1963 and then won first team All-MAC accolades as a senior the following year when, as a team captain, he led the Thundering Herd to a 7-3 record. Winter went on to play for the Charleston Rockets in the Continental Football League, then went on to a long and successful career as a high school coach in Virginia. Winter was inducted into the Marshall Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990.