www.MVSUsports.com Mississippi Valley State Football History 1st Game Jackson College 9/19/53 6-7 L 1st Win Philander Smith 10/17/53 20-12 W 100th Game Texas Southern 10/9/65 26-6 W 200th Game Alcorn State 1975 16-6 W 300th Game Prairie View 1985 56-17 W 400th Game Texas Southern 1995 28-21 W 500th Game Prairie View 2004 42-34 W 1st Postseason Game Louisiana Tech 1984 19-66 L 1st SWAC Game Arkansas AM&N 1968 6-48 L 1953:The Delta Devils play their first game in the 1955: MVC wins its first SCAC championship under history of the school on September 19, falling to the McPherson, sharing the title with Jackson College. Tigers of Jackson College 6-7. Cleophers Hatcher The Delta Devils compile a 7-2 record as McPherson coached the Delta Devils to a 2-4 record and retired helps shape MVC into a dynasty. following the season. Hatcher was responsible for the Delta Devils’ nickname, which has endured through 1957: MVC claimed its third straight SCAC under the years. The Delta Devils get their first victory by coach U.S. McPherson. McPherson’s final contest on defeating Philander Smith, 20-12. the sidelines for the Delta Devils ended in a 1919 tie with Wiley College. McPherson finished his career 1954:Ulysses “Killer” McPherson becomes the sec- with a 25-10-2 career record. His .675 winning per- ond head coach of the Delta Devils and rolls to a 6-3 centage was the highest percentage for a MVSU head overall record. The Delta Devils played the Braves of coach. Alcorn College for the first meeting between the soon- to-be long-time rivals. The Delta Devils also defeated 1958: Leroy Smith was hired before the fall of 1958 Jackson State College for the first time, a feat that to guide the Delta Devils. The team failed to win a would take 30 seasons to repeat. conference championship for the first time in three seasons, ending the year with the second-ever losing Ulysses S. McPherson, known as “Killer” becomes the season. head coach of the Delta Devils and guides Mississippi Vocational College to within a game of claiming their 1959: John A. Bell took over the program before the first conference championship. MVS was a member of ’59 season, winning 2-3-1 in his inaugural season. the South Central Athletic Conference. (SCAC). The Ironically, the two wins were enough to finish the sea- Delta Devils avenged their first loss in history by tam- son tied for the SCAC championship. ing the Tigers of Jackson College 19-8. McPherson, one of the most successful coaches in the history of 1960: Berley Pruitt, Rodney Buford and Ostuda Lane the school’s football program, guides the Delta Devils were all voted to the All-SCAC team. to their first winning season (5-3-1), en route to four straight winning seasons and three SCAC titles. 1961: First-year coach Doug Porter became the fifth head coach at Mississippi Vocational College. The www.MVSUsports.com The Delta Devils ended a four-game losing streak on 1969: Glossom ends his two-year stint as the head homecoming, knocking off South Carolina State 13-8 coach for MVSC with a 2-7 record in 1969. Tight end in the season finale. The Delta Devils ended their third Harry Key becomes the third straight Delta Devil draft straight losing season with a 2-4 record. choice after being selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 17th round of the 1970 draft. 1962: Lewis Thompson was honored as an All-Amer- ican for his efforts for the Delta Devils. MVC finished 1970: Sammie Price’s selection to the Pittsburgh the year with an overall record of 2-4. Courier All-American team, was a bright spot of first- year head coach Davis Weathersby’s first season. 1963: In Porter’s third season at the helm, MVSC The Delta Devils finished the year with a 1-8 record. reclaimed the SCAC championship by finishing the season with a 6-3 season. The Delta Devils began and 1971: Linebacker Ted Washington was drafted in the ended on a three game losing streak. Running back 17th round by the Kansas City Chiefs following the William Bell and lineman Clinton Vasser helped the 1971 season. The Delta Devils ended a five-season Delta Devils win the SCAC championship and earn losing streak, fi nishing 5-5-1. a membership on the Pittsburgh Courier All-America team. 1972: Felix Wicks was named to the All-NAIA squad after the Delta Devils finished the 1972 season with 1964: Porter guided the Delta Devils to their second a 5-5 record. winning season in his fourth season. MVSC’s Clinton Vasser was back on the Pittsburgh Courier All-Ameri- 1975: Although the Delta Devils finished the season can team for the second straight year. with a 5-5 record, the talent on the team was enough for the NFL to call up three Delta Devils in the 1976 1965: Two costly losses kept the Delta Devils from draft following the season. Quarterback Purnell Dick- claiming their fifth SCAC championship. Vasser was inson, wide receiver Ricky Feacher and defensive again named to the Pittsburgh Courier All-America back Melvin Morgan were all taken in the draft in team. Quarterback Eunice McGee was also named to rounds seven, 10 and 11 respectively. the All-American team. 1977: Weathersby would coach the Delta Devils to 1966: Curtis Maddox, a former Delta Devil standout a 12-10 victory over Alcorn State in his final game at replaced Porter as the MVSC point man and finished the helm of the program. He wrapped up his tenure his initial season with a 2-9 record. Wide receiver with MVSU with a 32-45-1 record. David McDaniels led the NAIA in receiving yards with 1,170 for the year. 1978: James T. Thomas became the ninth head coach for the Delta Devils preceding the 1978 season and in 1967: A 14-7 defeat to Jackson State marked the his first year guided MVSU to a 6-4-1 record, ending a last game of Maddox years as the Delta Devils head 12-year drought of winning seasons. coach. Offensive tackle Fred Freeman becomes the first Delta Devil draft choice, taken by the New York 1980: The Gunslinger’s Era began at MVSU when Giants in the ninth round. Archie Cooley took over for Thomas in 1980. Cooley guided his first squad to a 4- 4-1 record. 1968: Ending his career on a stellar 1,000 yard rushing year, running back Jeff Stenciel was drafted by 1983: Behind the pass and catch combination of the Atlanta Falcons in the 10th round. William Glos- the Willie “Satellite” Totten and Jerry “World” Rice, som and his Delta Devils were roughly initiated into the Delta Devils posted a 7-2-1 record, the school’s their inaugural season in the Southwestern Athletic most wins since the 1965 season. The Satellite Express Conference, finishing the year with a 1-7 record. was born and the Rice and Totten combination, along www.MVSUsports.com with notable teammates Joe Johnson and Carl Byrum 2009 Mississippi Valley State Football 2009 Missis- would carry the Delta Devils into the national spot- sippi Valley State Football the Year. light. 1999: Latraia Jones was named the Delta Devils 1984: The Delta Devils posted the school’s most wins head coach after Dorsey coached his final game at ever (9), defeated Jackson State for the first time since the MVSU helm. Junior running back Corey Holmes the 1954 season, knocked off Southern and Grambling would rush for 1,692 yards and the SWAC’s Offensive as well (the only season MVSU has defeated JSU, Most Valuable Player. GSU and SU) and played before its largest crowd ever, all in the most memorable season played. 64,000 2000: Despite a 2-9 season, Holmes again rushed to fans would attend the showdown between MVSU and the league’s Offensive Most Valuable Player honors. Alcorn State in Jackson’s Veteran’s Memorial Stadi- Holmes amassed 2,897 rushing yards, surpassing Carl um. Following the season Rice became the first Delta Byrum as the Delta Devils’ career rushing leader. Devil to be drafted in the first round of the NFL draft. 2001: The Delta Devils endured the lowest point of 1985: Totten would end his record-setting career by the program’s history. A 0-11 record marked the first holding over 50 records at the end of the 1985 season. ever winless season. Totten led MVSU to a 7- 2 record as a senior. Following the season, Carl Byrum was selected by December 21, 2001: Willie “Satelitte” Totten is an- the Buffalo Bills in the fifth round and Joe Thomas nounced as the school’s fourteenth head coach, was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the ninth becoming just the second MVSU graduate to coach round of the NFL draft. the Delta Devils. 1987: Cooley resigned after the 1986 season after 2002: Willie “Satelitte” Totten returns to the Delta recording the most wins as the Delta Devils Devils sideline as the head coach. In his inaugural point man. Ken Pettiford was hired to take over the season, the beloved coach helps alumni forget about program after Cooley’s departure. SWAC Hall-of- the dismal season from a year ago by posting a 5-6 Famer Vincent “Undertaker’ Brown was taken by the record and third place finish in the SWAC Eastern New England Patriots in the 1988 draft.