\nBlue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River,<\/em>
\nLife is old there, older than the trees,<\/em>
\nYounger than the mountains, growin\u2019 like a breeze.\u201d-John Denver, “Country Roads<\/em><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
As a Mountaineer fan, chances are you sang those words (and more) before going further. After all, John Denver\u2019s hit represents the musical personification of the bond among West Virginia fans. I played it repeatedly while reflecting on the life of a man who represented the physical manifestation of the bond between West Virginia fans and their team. As I contemplated how to tell a story that begins and ends with the country roads that took Murphy \u201cMurph\u201d Tinsley<\/strong> home fifteen months ago, I thought this was the most appropriate soundtrack for remembering Murphy Tinsley.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, I only knew Murph as the man who operated the field camera behind the south end zone at Milan Puskar Stadium for decades. Indeed, he manned that camera for all but two games over 36 consecutive seasons. The truth, however, is simple: Murph was far<\/strong> more than \u201cjust<\/em> a cameraman.\u201d<\/p>\n Undoubtedly, he gained his deserved professional reputation as a cameraman and archivist of film. At the time of his death, in fact, he had thousands of hours of film archived at his home. More importantly, however, Murph captured and archived the people and stories of West Virginia with every personal interaction. In the process, he glued together the fanbase with the team he spent nearly 40 years filming.<\/p>\n Murph (on left) with brother, Joe Tinsley, during childhood. <\/p>\n Murph\u2019s story begins in St. Albans, where he was raised with his brother Joe \u201cE.I.\u201d Tinsley<\/strong>. Joe tells me that their mom \u201cnever knew a stranger and always put others first.\u201d By all accounts, Murph carried this trait forward in myriad ways. Fighting back a well of tears, Joe recalled talking to Murph every weekend and talking \u201coften about his beloved Mountaineers, and sports, and politics.\u201d Joe also recalled the hundreds of conversations he had with those who surrounded Murph on a daily basis. \u201cEverybody loved him,\u201d Joe declared.<\/p>\n Indeed, Murph positively impacted countless people over his life. Joe, mind you, makes his own positive impact on this world. He works at Orlando Regional Medical Center as a respiratory therapist, maintaining responsibility for ongoing treatment of hospitalized COVID patients. Still, he vividly recalls the sense of awe he felt when learning more about Murph\u2019s influence.<\/p>\n Murph graduated from WVU\u2019s Persley Isaac Reed School of Journalism many years ago. After that, he hung around with West Virginia Public Broadcasting for, John Nakashima<\/strong> quipped, \u201cabout five years\u201d as an intern waiting for a job opening. Shortly thereafter, Murph took his post manning his field camera. He developed quick rapport with everyone fortunate enough to meet him, including the team and coaches he set out to film. As a result, despite being the man behind the camera, he quickly became an integral part of the lifeblood of West Virginia football.<\/p>\n Murph\u2019s career as a fixture of Mountaineer football, however, began years before. His former roommate, Mountaineer great Tim Agee<\/a>, recalled their time together. \u201c[Murph] brought that pinball machine over, [and] we had epic battles.\u201d During Murph\u2019s memorial, Agee added that Murph was \u201ctrue gold and blue, through and through.\u201d A Mountaineer hall of famer himself, Agee\u2019s parting words to Murph? \u201cMy hall-of-famer behind the camera, rest in peace.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCountry roads, take me home,<\/em> On November 9, 2019, Murph passed away in a hospital room overlooking his beloved Mountaineers as they played (and lost) to Texas Tech. Despite best efforts through multiple surgeries over five days, the doctors at Ruby Memorial unfortunately could not stay ahead of the infection that plagued Murph. Ultimately, West Virginia lost much more than a game that day.<\/p>\n In his final days, Murph received visits, calls, and texts by the hundreds from his Mountaineer family. Former West Virginia linebacker Marc Magro<\/a> stood out among those who visited Murph in his final days. Magro recalled that his family would host Murph for dinner often, \u201cMurph was family for us, and we were family for him.\u201d<\/p>\n During the memorial, former Mountaineer defensive back Willie Edwards<\/a> said it best: \u201cMurph knew your story.\u201d And not just the surface. Murph took the time to learn who people were, where they were from, and what they were about. Edwards even pondered, \u201cI always wondered how did have all that time.\u201d<\/p>\n What impressed Magro most was how Murph just \u201cmet us where we were at in our walks.\u201d He gave of himself more than he expected from others. Simply, \u201cMurph just cared about people.\u201d Magro told those at Murph\u2019s service that \u201cin the brotherhood of football, we weren\u2019t shy about telling each other we loved each other.\u201d Murph was no exception to that rule.<\/p>\n In fact, Edwards remarked that he could not even recall when Murph came into his life: \u201cSomehow, he just showed up in my life.\u201d And he recalled both fondly and sadly that after just the third time they talked that Murph concluded with an \u201cI love you, Willie.\u201d Edwards joked that, after that, he always tried to be the first to say those words, but Murph \u201calways beat [him] to the punch.\u201d<\/p>\n Another Mountaineer legend, Grant Wiley<\/a>, said during his remarks on Murph\u2019s memorial video that \u201cthe last message I received from Murph was \u2018I love you.\u2019\u201d Simple, yet effective. Wiley added that Murph, \u201cNever hesitated to express how much we all meant to him,\u201d and that Murph, \u201cAlways put us first.\u201d<\/p>\n Other legends, like Owen Schmitt<\/a> and Quincy Wilson<\/a>, echoed the sentiment. Same with Pat White<\/a>, who called Murph, \u201cOne of the most uplifting spirits I\u2019ve ever come across.\u201d White concluded with a common refrain about Murph when he said, \u201cevery time we\u2019ve ever had any interactions, it was like I was speaking to my family.\u201d<\/p>\n Indeed, he was such an integral part of the family that Edwards said, as players and alumni, \u201cThe first thing we did when we got on the field was go to [his] camera and talk to Murph.\u201d That is telling. Players did not look first to their coaches, or their fans, or their trainers. No, they went to see Murph before any of that. Schmitt added \u201cit\u2019ll be hard not seeing you there on Saturdays.\u201d<\/p>\n Though glowing comments about Murph pour in from a veritable Who\u2019s Who of Mountaineer football history, Magro made sure to add this important note. Murph had the very same kind of \u201cClose friendships with people you\u2019ve never heard of.\u201d For a man who never knew a stranger, this, of course, is not surprising.<\/p>\n But the net was cast wide. Nakashima told attendees at Murph\u2019s memorial that he,\u201cWould never attack the downtrodden\u201d and that when he spoke, it was clear that, “To Murph, nothing was sacred except for sports.\u201d That allowed him to bond with people of all types.<\/p>\n Joe told me that people from all walks of life knew and loved Murph every bit as much as the football team did. When Joe worked to resolve the business details of his brother\u2019s life, everyone he called knew Murph. From Murph\u2019s own funeral director, to the broker insuring Murph\u2019s home, to the local prosecutor\u2014they all knew Murph. And they all told the same story. Murph had a big heart, and he laid his soul bare for all to see.<\/p>\n Perhaps the most powerful comments at his memorial came from Leigh Limerick<\/strong>. She said, \u201cHis whole life was archiving, and he was very sentimental. And he was generous, and he was thoughtful, and he was kind. And he never forgot anyone\u2019s name, or their story.\u201d There, again, we see that theme: Murph absorbed the vital details of every person he touched.<\/p>\n Leigh summed up that Murph had \u201cthe biggest heart of anyone they\u2019d ever known.\u201d And she told his brother, \u201cJoe, you arrived this week thinking you were the last of your line. And, while I guess that\u2019s technically correct, just know that we were all his family.\u201d And that, in a nutshell, is what Murph set out to do. He never met a stranger, and whether it was Pat White or Joe the Plumber, Murph made everyone around him feel like family. In that way, he really was<\/em> the glue\u2014the bridge\u2014between the people of West Virginia and the team he filmed.<\/p>\n A young Pat McAfee spends time with children at Ruby Memorial. (Photo courtesy Murphy Tinsley’s family archives.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Even professionally, Murph was more than just the fellow who manned the camera. One line in particular from Murph\u2019s obituary resonates loudly, \u201cAnyone who encountered Murph was ultimately his pupil.\u201d In this way, not only did Murph take his own snapshot of those he knew for his archive, but he also gave much back in return.<\/p>\n Just ask Pat McAfee<\/a>, the most visible of the Mountaineer football alumni that he impacted. During Murph\u2019s memorial, McAfee delivered a personal statement by video. He said, \u201cI\u2019m coming to you live from my studio, which is something I would have never dreamed about whenever I got to West Virginia.\u201d McAfee says of himself that he \u201chad no goals [and] no aspirations to get into this sports entertainment world.\u201d<\/p>\n What changed? Simply, McAfee met Murph. He said, \u201cMurph convinced me that I should do an internship at MSN (Mountaineer Sports Network) to learn about this business.\u201d Emotionally, he added that Murph \u201chad faith in me before I had faith in myself.\u201d Indeed, Murph \u201csaw something\u201d in McAfee \u201cbefore [he] had any idea.\u201d After spending countless hours together with Murph editing, producing, creating, and talking, McAfee said of the experience that he had an invaluable opportunity \u201cto learn about a man that\u2019ll never get the respect that he should.\u201d<\/p>\n This is but one example. There are many more. But this says a lot. Without Murph, McAfee himself admits that there would be no Pat McAfee Show<\/em>. The fanbase would not have such a high-profile personality to keep Mountaineer Nation visible in the spotlight. That is simply another way that Murph put his own stamp on the world he documented and archived so well. And Pat says that \u201cevery time I speak in front of a camera, Murph knows none of this would be happening without him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll my memories, gather round her,<\/em> Murphy Tinsley’s home now serves as a guest house for visitors to Morgantown. (Photo courtesy Joe Tinsley family archives).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Rasheed Marshall also told those present at Murph\u2019s memorial that Murph \u201chad such a passion for being behind the camera capturing our moments as athletes.\u201d Murph did that job to perfection. He captured the best and worst moments, and all of those in between. He captured defeat. And he captured victory, both large and small, not only in football, but in life.<\/p>\n Based on what others say about him, it is clear that Murph was exceptional at his job for one reason above all others. He cared about the people, enough to go well beyond the surface and get to know who those people were. As a result, Murph was able to capture not just the moments on the field, but the passion and grit and stories behind those moments. And by capturing them with such a deft touch, Murph bridged those athletes and their fans.<\/p>\n According to Joe, Murph\u2019s camera stand has now been removed and retired. Just think about that for a moment. West Virginia has a notoriously high bar to retire anything. The Mountaineer football program has retired only two jersey numbers in its history, those of Ira Rodgers and Sam Huff. Murph did an oft-overlooked job so well that his post will never be filled.<\/p>\n And while the archival mind of Murph is no longer with us, many pieces of him live on. In fact, his family renovated Murph\u2019s home and adorned it with archival images taken by him through his storied career and plenty of Mountaineer memorabilia. The home, which is available for rent<\/a> by those who want to stay in Morgantown for a few days (or a few weeks), stands as a physical reminder of the life of a man who, I hope, ultimately does get the respect he deserves. In the words of Wilson, Murph, there is \u201cno greater Mountaineer than you, my man.\u201d Indeed, Murph is the perfect blue collar story to represent our blue collar family<\/a>.<\/p>\n Murphy Tinsley braces for impact from an incoming runner. (Photo courtesy Murphy Tinsley’s family archives).<\/p>\n \u201cTake me home, country roads,<\/em><\/p>\n Country roads, take me home,<\/em> <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Remembering Murph Tinsley \u201cAlmost heaven, West Virginia, Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River, Life is old there, older than the trees, Younger than the mountains, growin\u2019 like a breeze.\u201d-John Denver, “Country Roads As a Mountaineer fan, chances are you sang those words (and more) before going further. After all, John Denver\u2019s hit represents the musical […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2744,"featured_media":34872,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2,6],"tags":[7510,7506,7507,759,7508,7509,3650,237],"class_list":["post-34864","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-big12","tag-grant-wiley","tag-murphy-tinsley","tag-pat-mcafee","tag-quincy-wilson","tag-rasheed-marshall","tag-tim-agee","tag-west-virginia-football","tag-west-virginia-mountaineers"],"modified_by":"Tony Siracusa, CFB Managing Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34864","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2744"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34864"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34864\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34872"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34864"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34864"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34864"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Remembering Murph Tinsley: Not Just A Cameraman<\/h3>\n
Remembering Murph Tinsley: Modest Beginning<\/h3>\n
![\"remembering](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/02\/photo2-e1612479129623.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n(Photo courtesy Joe Tinsley family archives).<\/p>\nTaking Up The Camera<\/h3>\n
Modest Ending<\/h3>\n
\nTo the place I belong,<\/em>
\nWest Virginia, mountain mama,<\/em>
\nTake me home, country roads.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\u201cMurph Just Cared About People\u201d<\/h3>\n
Remembering Murph Tinsley: His Mountaineer Family<\/h3>\n
The Glue: Not Just the Team He Filmed<\/h3>\n
Archiving More Than The Game<\/h3>\n
Remembering Murph Tinsley: The Mentor<\/h3>\n
![\"remembering](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/02\/photo4-e1612479633866.jpg\")
<\/p>\nInfluencing A Career<\/h3>\n
Remembering Murph Tinsley: Murph Landing<\/h3>\n
\nMiners\u2019 lady, stranger to blue water,<\/em>
\nDark and dusty, painted on the sky,<\/em>
\nMisty taste of moonshine, teardrop in my eye.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n![\"remembering](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/02\/photo5-300x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\nRetiring Murph Tinsley<\/h3>\n
![\"remembering](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/02\/photo-6-e1612480909479.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\nTo the place I belong,<\/em>
\nWest Virginia, mountain mama,<\/em>
\nTake me home, country roads,<\/em>
\nTake me home, down country roads.<\/em><\/p>\n