Unlike a few foes in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, Mississippi Valley State can’t put checkmarks on two prestigious football lists, one for SWAC championships and the other for Hall-of-Fame alums.
The Delta Devils came close to snagging a ring in the ‘80s as their star wideout, future NFL great Jerry Rice, shattered NCAA records in a historically prolific offense. But Walter Payton’s alma mater (Jackson State) won six titles outright that decade, and Doug Williams’ school (Grambling State) won or split three. Steve McNair hadn’t arrived yet, but Alcorn State balled out to capture the remaining crown.
However, Mississippi Valley can always point to NFL legend Jerry Rice as evidence of past greatness. No one has to explain the possibilities to first-year coach Kendrick Wade. The two-time graduate was a star player who later served as an assistant coach before returning to accept the top job in December. He has a direct connection to the glory days, as his high school coach AND his coach at Valley was Willie Totten, the Black College Hall of Famer who passed the ball to Rice at what’s now named Rice-Totten Stadium.