6 7 8 t took just over three years for Sylvester Croom to rebuild a Mississippi State football program that I was devastated by six straight losing seasons – three before his arrival – a second NCAA probation with sanctions during the previous decade, countless student-athlete departures, all the while installing new offensive and defensive systems with a new coaching staff. With that as a backdrop, Croom was a consensus landslide winner of the Coach of the Year Award in 2007 for leading the Bulldogs to an 8-5 overall record. Croom inherited all that and more when he accepted the challenge of reconstructing the Bulldog program for the 2004 football season. His work eventually built an organization that had endured six straight seasons with no more than three wins into one that earned eight wins overall in 2007, including a post-season bowl victory, and four SEC triumphs. When Mississippi State began its search in October 2003 for the 31st in the school’s long football history, the school sought an enthusiastic teacher with the energy to rebuild the Bulldog football program and an individual with an attention to detail who demands the discipline needed to bring structure to a vast organization. History will record that MSU found its man when it hired Sylvester Croom on Dec. 1, 2003. Since that hiring, Croom undertook the daunting task of constructing the foundation upon which the Bulldog football program would be rebuilt. There was little question that progress toward that goal was being achieved, even as the team won just three games in each of his first three years. In those first three years since being named to head MSU's football fortunes, the traits that made Croom the best coach for State came to life. Croom immediately became an in-demand speaker at alumni and booster events because of his forthright approach to directing the pigskin program. But his non-stop energy on the banquet circuit was only exceeded by the fervor with which he began shaping the Bulldog football operation. He established new offensive and defensive systems, paying particular attention to an attack which mirrored what he taught as a assistant. And despite

9 the fact he had been away from the college game for 17 years as a pro coach, he has been unwavering in his demand for student-athlete accountability, on the field and off it. His first two Bulldog teams finished 3-8, records he was quick to point out were not acceptable at MSU. That said, the final marks were still one-win improvements over the team he inherited. His first team posted the school’s first victory over a ranked team in four years, a 38-31 win over then-No. 20 Florida, and his second squad captured the Egg Bowl Trophy for the first time in four years. His third team concluded the year 3-9, but lost four games by Sports Illustrated rated a field goal each, three of those him the 31st most influ - being SEC contests. The Bulldogs were just one made ential minority in all of play away in each of those games from a winning season sports. “In Mississippi and a post-season bowl bid. Croom’s fourth team turned and beyond, his impact those near-misses into success has already been in 2007. State won three of its first four games, including two profound,” SI noted. road triumphs – one at Auburn, a team that eventually earned national ranking during the ’07 season. Croom’s team also won three of its last four regular season games, back-to-back wins over nationally ranked opponents Kentucky and Alabama, and a heart-throbbing victory over Ole Miss, to reclaim the Egg Bowl Trophy. That ’07 team capped the stunning turnaround by defeating Central Florida 10-3 in the 49th annual AutoZone in Memphis, Tenn. Croom and his ’07 Bulldog squad were the centerpiece of an ESPN documentary “Say It Loud,” which CROOM'S COACHING RECORDS YEAR SCHOOL RECORD BOWL / PLAYOFFS ASSISTANT COACH 1977 Alabama 11-1 Sugar 1978 Alabama 11-1 Sugar 1979 Alabama 12-0 Sugar 1980 Alabama 10-2 Cotton 1981 Alabama 9-2-1 Cotton 1982 Alabama 8-4 Liberty 1983 Alabama 8-4 Sun 1984 Alabama 5-6 1985 Alabama 9-2-1 Aloha 1986 Alabama 10-3 Sun 1987 Tampa Bay 4-11 1988 Tampa Bay 5-11 1989 Tampa Bay 5-11 1990 Tampa Bay 6-10 1991 Indianapolis 1-15 1992 San Diego 11-5 AFC Semifinals 1993 San Diego 8-8 1994 San Diego 11-5 XXIX 1995 San Diego 9-7 Wildcard Round 1996 San Diego 8-8 1997 Detroit 9-7 Wildcard Round 1998 Detroit 5-11 1999 Detroit 8-8 Wildcard Round 2000 Detroit 9-7 2001 Green Bay 12-4 NFC Semifinals 2002 Green Bay 12-4 Wildcard Round 2003 Green Bay 10-6 NFC Semifinals

HEAD COACH 2004 Mississippi State 3-8 2005 Mississippi State 3-8 2006 Mississippi State 3-9 2007 Mississippi State 8-5 Liberty

10 aired in February 2008 celebrating African-American History Month. And Croom was recognized regionally and nationally for orchestrating that turnaround. He was named the National Coach of the Year by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and was selected the 2007 Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year by both the league’s coaches and by the Associated Press. He also was chosen the Coaches Association Region 2 Coach of the Year, in a vote by the nation’s college coaches, and the Southeastern Coach of the Year by both the Touchdown Club of and the Little Rock Touchdown Club. He was also honored as one of 10 finalists for the Liberty Mutual National Coach of the Year and was a finalist for the American Heart Association Paul “Bear” Bryant National Coach of the Year. Even before coaching his first football contest on the Starkville campus, Croom was recognized nationally in 2004 for his impact on the college game. Dennis Dodd ranked him #2 on CBS Sportsline’s list of the 50 CROOM VS. most relevant people in college ALL OPPONENTS football for the 2004 season. In so doing, Dodd said: “The State Alabama 2-2 program took on a more Arkansas 0-4 organized look the moment he Auburn 1-3 arrived.” Central Florida 1-0 Sports Illustrated rated him the Georgia 0-2 31st most influential minority in all Florida 1-1 of sports. “In Mississippi and Gardner-Webb 1-0 Houston 0-1 beyond, his impact has already Jacksonville State 1-0 been profound,” SI noted. Kentucky 2-2 In February 2007, Croom was LSU 0-4 invited to the White House by Maine 0-1 President George W. Bush to Murray State 1-0 celebrate African-American Ole Miss 2-2 History Month. Croom was one South Carolina 0-2 of the 200 minority leaders invited Tennessee 0-1 to the program in the East Room. Tulane 3-1 The President indicated that UAB 2-1 Croom was not only invited Vanderbilt 0-1 because he was the first African- West 0-2 American head football coach in the SEC, but because “he’s a strong leader and a fine man. And I thank you for blazing trails.” Croom came to State from the NFL’s , where he served the previous three seasons under then-Packer general manager/head coach Mike Sherman as the team’s running backs coach. He is a veteran of 32 years in the coaching profession, 17 of which have come at the profes - sional level on the offensive side of the football. He spent four years as an NFL . Croom’s Packer running attack ranked third in the National Football League in 2003, averaging 160 yards per game. Under his guidance, Ahman Green

11 blossomed into salt-of-the-earth person who represents everything good.” one of the true Sherman hired Croom on Jan. 30, 2001, and the latter arrived stars of the NFL. in Green Bay after four seasons as offensive coordinator for the He finished (1997-2000). second in the Croom achieved noted success during those four years in league in rushing in charge of the Detroit attack. His 1997 offense ranked second in ‘03 and was the the NFL overall, and he helped lead the Lions to a postseason fourth most productive rusher in playoff berth. Hall of Fame running back led the the NFL over the three seasons in which Croom was his coach. NFL in rushing and became just the third player in league The natural by-product of Green’s stellar season in 2003 was history to crack the 2,000-yard barrier that year. Wide receivers a third-straight, 12-4 regular season and a second consecutive and both surpassed 1,000 NFC North title. Croom, who had already accepted MSU’s head yards receiving, with Moore coaching position, helped the Packers to the second round of NOTEWORTHY leading the NFL with 104 the NFL playoffs. ACCOMPLISHMENTS catches. Detroit became In 2002, Green Bay clinched the inaugural NFC North the first organization to I Named Southeastern Conference championship with a second-straight 12-4 record. Croom’s Coach of the Year in 2007 have teammates lead the backs contributed to a Packers’ rushing effort that posted the I Part of San Diego staff that led the NFL in both rushing and most yards on the ground in 17 years. His rushers helped Green Chargers to Super Bowl XXIX receiving in the same Bay rank fifth in the National Football Conference in that I Highly instrumental in the devel - season. Moore and Morton category. As part of that effort, Green earned his second opment of NFL star running backs entered the 2003 season consecutive trip to the on the heels of his third- Ahman Green (Green Bay), Natrone Nos. 7 and 21, respectively, straight 1,000-yard season. He ranked fourth in the NFC in Means (San Diego) and Barry Sanders on the NFL’s top active rushing. Additionally, Croom’s work with undrafted free agent (Detroit) receivers list. Tony Fisher furthered his reputation as a successful teacher. I On the Alabama staff that led the In 1998, Sanders rushed Fisher’s rushing total was the most by a Green Bay rookie in 16 Crimson Tide to 10 bowl games in his 11 for nearly 1,500 yards, and years. seasons, including back-to-back national Morton duplicated the feat In his first season in Green Bay, Croom helped the Pack titles in 1978 and 1979 of more than 1,000 yards Tutored four first-round draft picks qualify for the postseason for the first time in three years with a I receiving in a season. One (E.J. Junior, , Cornelius 12-4 record. Green Bay defeated San Francisco in the NFC Wild Bennett and ) while at year later, Morton and Card game, the Packers’ first postseason win in three seasons. Alabama Germaine Crowell Green posted a second-consecutive 1,000-yard season and led I Played on three straight (1972-74) combined for nearly 2,500 the team in receptions for a second-straight year. Green was SEC championship teams at Alabama yards receiving and tight second in the NFC in both rushing yards and total yards from and the Crimson Tide’s 1973 national end David Sloan earned a scrimmage. Under Croom’s tutelage, Green was named the championship team trip to the Pro Bowl with team’s Most Valuable Player and earned his first of three I Named Kodak all-American as a the best production by a straight trips to Hawaii’s Pro Bowl. He was also a second-team, senior captain in 1974 Lion in 20 years. All-Pro selection by the Associated Press. I Has an Alabama football annual Croom helped lead During his three seasons in Green Bay, the Packers were the award named for him — “The Sylvester Detroit to its best finish in second-most successful NFL franchise, winning nearly 70 Croom Commitment to Excellence three seasons during the percent of their games over that stretch. Award” 2000 campaign, narrowly “Sylvester is a great football coach,” Sherman said. “He is a missing a second-straight,

12 post-season appearance, what would have been the third in Croom began his Alabama coaching tenure on the his four seasons in the Motor City. staff of legendary Tide head football coach Paul Prior to his tenure with Detroit, Croom tutored the San Diego “Bear” Bryant and stayed in Tuscaloosa when Ray Charger running backs for five seasons (1992-96). During that Perkins was hired to succeed Bryant. span, the Chargers twice won American Football Conference Croom only left UA when Perkins took him to Western Division titles and participated in postseason play three Tampa Bay when the latter was named the head times. The ‘94 Charger team not only won a Western Division coach there. championship, it won a pair of postseason contests and played “Mississippi State has hired a real good man,” in Super Bowl XXIX. Perkins said. “Sylvester is a great character guy, and Under Croom’s direction, second-year back Natrone Means he’s a bright coach. He gets along well with people, set a team rushing record in 1994 with 1,350 yards. It was in San and he’s very organized.” Diego where Croom first joined the staff of head coach Bobby Croom also enjoyed a measure of teaching success Ross, with whom he made the move to Detroit. on the collegiate level at Alabama. Four of his players “He’s as good a coach as you could ask for on the field and in - E.J. Junior (1981), Mike Pitts (1983), Cornelius the classroom,” Ross said. “He is a great communicator with Bennett (1987) and the late Derrick Thomas (1989) - coaches and with players. I’ve had some great coaches work for all became first-round NFL draft picks following their me like George O’Leary, and . I days with Croom. Two of his - Wayne put Sylvester Croom in the same category as those guys.” Davis (1983-86) and Thomas Boyd (1978-81) - rank Croom broke into the NFL as running backs coach with the one-two on Alabama’s all-time tackle chart, while in 1987. He worked in Tampa for four Thomas still ranks first in career sacks at UA. years (1987-90) before joining the in the same Croom first enjoyed achievement at Alabama as a capacity for one season (1991). player under Bryant, lettering for three seasons But the Tuscaloosa, Ala., native also has a solid resume on the (1972-74), and starting the final two at center, helping college coaching level. He worked for 11 seasons at his alma the Tide to a 22-2 overall record as a starter. During mater, the , all on the defensive side of his playing career with the Tide, Alabama captured the football. Croom oversaw both the inside (1977-81, 1984-86) three straight SEC titles and the national champi - and outside (1982-83) linebackers during his tenure with the onship in 1973. The Crimson Tide went to the Crimson Tide. He helped Alabama to back-to-back national Cotton, Sugar and Orange Bowls during his playing championships in 1978-79. With his help, Alabama led the career. Southeastern Conference in total defense during the 1979 and As a senior captain, the 6-0, 229-pound Croom was ‘80 seasons. named all-SEC and a Kodak All-America, in addition That ‘79 team recorded five shutout wins, gave up just seven to earning the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the best touchdowns all season, and allowed only 180 yards of total offensive lineman in the league. He earned a trip to offense per game during its championship run. the 1975 in Mobile, Ala., for his standout During his coaching tenure at Alabama, the Crimson Tide play. He was so respected by the Alabama coaching went to 10 postseason bowl games in 11 years. He accom - staff for his devotion to the game of football that the panied Alabama teams to the Sugar Bowl (1977-79), Cotton program each spring awards the “Sylvester Croom Bowl (1980-81), (1983,’86), Liberty Bowl (1976,’82) and Commitment to Excellence Award.” Aloha Bowl (1985) while in Tuscaloosa. Croom helped Alabama Before making his mark at center while at UA, he teams to a composite 102-28-2 had stints at , tight end and tackle. record during those 11 seasons. “In my career, I’ve been around a lot of great leaders,” Ozzie Newsome, Hall of Fame tight end, current general manager of the Baltimore Ravens and former teammate of Croom’s at Alabama, said. “And he led that huddle, trust me. He was impressive at a lot of things, but mostly a leader.” At just 20 years of age, Croom earned a bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in biology in 1975 from Alabama. He earned his master’s degree in educa - tional administration in 1977 from the Tuscaloosa school as well. A 1975 free agent signee of the Saints following his playing days at Alabama, Croom played one season in the NFL before going back to Tuscaloosa to launch his coaching career as a graduate assistant in 1976. He worked with the centers during that one-season apprenticeship. Born Sept. 25, 1954, in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Sylvester Croom Jr., starred at Tuscaloosa High School as a linebacker and tight end. His wife, Jeri, is also a Tuscaloosa native. The couple has a daughter, Jennifer, who lives with husband Ira Bates and daughter, Ryan, in Mobile, Ala. The son of a Tuscaloosa minister, Croom’s late father, mother and aunts were all school teachers. The elder Croom, who was an all-America football player at Alabama A&M, served as the team chaplain at the University of Alabama and was recently recog - nized posthumously by the institution as one of the 40 pioneers of civil rights in the state.

13