Charlotte 49ers become bowl eligible for first time

Saturday was Senior Day, and despite a near-constant rain, the Charlotte 49ers prevailed against Marshall University. The 24-13 victory made for the greatest day in Charlotte 49ers football history as the team reached bowl eligibility for the first time and achieved a school-record six wins.

“It was not the ideal setting,” Charlotte 49ers head coach Will Healy said, noting the ever-present rain. “But it was a special day. Our growth as a program is something these guys will always remember. I know I will.”

Charlotte rallied from a 10-0 deficit to tie the score in the third quarter. Marshall regained the lead 13-10 and held that edge going into the fourth quarter. But Victor Tucker scored a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter as Charlotte notched its third come-from-behind win in the last four games.

“A word that can describe our team, I know coach Healy doesn’t like being an underdog, but I think we take pride in that,” said redshirt senior linebacker Jeff Gemmell, who led the 49ers with 10 tackles, including a sack. “I have a little piece of paper in my room that says ‘Take pride in being an underdog.’ That’s just who we are. Story of the year, every game we battle back. We battle. We don’t quit. We don’t quit.”

Read more on the Charlotte 49ers website, and check out Bowl Central.