2003 FB Guide.P65

2003 Blue Raider Football 73 GoBlueRaiders.com 2000, 2001 tswa coach of the year andy mccollum Motivator. Dis- saw the team win eight games, grab a share among the coaching community with the Blue ciplinarian. Innovator. of the Sun Belt Conference championship, set Raiders having the No. 5 rated offense in the Relentless. These are 46 team and individual records, and defeat a country in 2001 and the No. 16 unit in 2000. some of the ways Andy team from Defensively, the Blue Raiders continue to show McCollum has been de- the SEC. marked improvement under McCollum. From scribed during his short In just 1999 to 2002, the Blue Raider defense has tenure as head coach at four years as improved 26 spots in the national Middle Tennessee. head coach, statistics. Known for his exciting and unpredictable play, McCollum has won In his short time as a head McCollum has compiled a mark of 21-24 in a league champion- coach, McCollum has done a his four years at the helm of the Blue Raider ship, produced the confer- great job of not only devel- football program. ence player of the year and offen- oping players but also as- McCollum, the 2000 and 2001 Tennes- sive player of the year, had a fresh- sistant coaches. see Sports Writers Association Coach of the man All-American, and placed 10 ath- McCollum has sent 11 Year, is coming off a 4-8 season that saw him letes on the first team all-conference coaches on to either face the toughest squad. If the professional, colle- schedule in school that isn’t giate, or high school “Coach McCollum has shown history while being a real knack for recruiting. impres- ranks. Over the past three challenged with the He’s energetic and enthusias- sive seasons, Coach Mac has most injuries he has tic and kids really seem to be enough, placed two assistants in encountered during able to relate to him. He doesn’t the hard- the pros, two at national his four years. But mind mixing it up with the big working power Florida, and one each at through it all, boy conferences and he’s won McCollum SEC members Arkansas and McCollum coached more than his fair share of has also Mississippi State. At the 2002 seven all-confer- battles the past couple of developed AFCA Coaches Convention, years.” ence performers, in- back-to-back- McCollum and his staff were one - Bobby Burton, Rivals.com cluding candidates to-back 1,000- of just five in the country se- for the Heisman Tro- yard rushers, the lected to speak before their phy, Outland Trophy, and the Ray Guy award nation’s completion percentage leader peers. while defeating a team from the SEC for the (2001), and the country’s No. 2 (2001) McCollum, known for his second straight year. and No. 3 (2000) scorers. ability to bring in top-notch talent, The energetic McCollum guided the Blue Offensively, McCollum’s teams has not let any of the Blue Raider Raiders to an incredible 2001 campaign that have stirred up plenty of conversation faithful down during his four seasons. The fearless McCollum has made his mark in UP CLOSE WITH MCCOLLUM the recruiting arena by bringing some of the BORN: March 1, 1959 area’s top talent to Murfreesboro. With each HIGH SCHOOL: Marietta (Georgia) recruiting class, McCollum’s talent seems to COLLEGE: Austin Peay State, 1981 (Bachelor of Science Degree); Middle Tennessee, 1983 get better and better, which is a mark of a solid (Industrial Safety and Driver Safety Education). program and one that is well respected. FAMILY: Wife, Gwen (Ashland City, TN). Son, Drew, 9, and daughter, Andrea, 8. A former coach and player under legend- PARENTS: Johnny and Peggy McCollum. Andy has a brother, Davis, and a sister, Angie. ary Blue Raider coach Boots Donnelly, COACHING EXPERIENCE: 1982-88: Head Junior Varsity coach in 1982, then assistant coach McCollum has brought with him an exciting until 1988 ... 1989-93: Assistant coach at UTEP ... 1993-98: Assistant coach at Baylor Uni- offensive strategy and a defensive scheme versity ... 1995 (seven weeks): Assistant coach at Tennessee ... 1998-present: Head coach predicated on speed and athleticism. In his first at Middle Tennessee. year, the Blue Raiders set four team records HONORS: 1994: Listed by Max Emfinger as one of the top 10 recruiters in the country ... and 15 single-game and/or single-season 1995: Listed by Max Emfinger as one of the top 10 recruiters in America ... 2000: TSWA marks. The Middle Tennessee passing offense Coach of the Year ... 2001: TSWA Coach of the Year. ranked 32nd in the nation, while two receivers PLAYING CAREER: Collegiately at Austin Peay from 1977-80 (honorable mention all-OVC in were rated among the top 26 in catches per 1979 as a receiver). game. In his second season, the offense set a RECORD At MT: 21-24 (4 years) school record with five 40-plus point games, NOTEWORTHY: Hobbies include golf, fishing, jogging, racquetball, and basketball ... Has and then added three individual single-game coached eight all-Americans. marks, five individual single-season records, and five individual career marks. 2003 Blue Raider Football 74 GoBlueRaiders.com The Blue Raiders Under McCollum z Won the Sun Belt Conference Championship in its first year z Played 16 televised games z Produced an SBC Player of the Year and an SBC Offensive Player of the Year z Garnered 10 SBC first team selections z Developed a 1,000-yard rusher in three straight seasons (2000-02) z Had a Heisman Trophy candidate in 2002 z Developed the nation’s pass completion percentage leader (Wes Counts, 2001) z Had the nation’s 5th-ranked offense (2001) and 16th-ranked offense (2000) z Improved 36 spots in total defense from year one to year three (108th-77th-72nd) z Had the nation’s third-leading scorer (2000) and second-leading scorer (2001) z Improved 87 spots in the national rankings in rushing offense (94th-24th-7th) from 1999-2001 After serving as an assistant at Middle z Has had a receiver ranked among the Tennessee in the ’80s, McCollum made his nation’s top 20 two different years way back to Murfreesboro following nine sea- z Produced a first team Freshman sons at Baylor and UTEP. All-American (Brandon Westbrook) In 1989, McCollum, 44, left Middle Ten- z Sent two coaches to the NFL nessee to become wide receivers coach un- z Amassed a 16-4 record at home der offensive coordinator David Culley at z Gone 9-4 in the month of November z Seen his offense score 30 or more points Texas-El Paso. That year, UTEP was rated 21 times in 45 games 10th nationally in passing. From 1990-93, z 2002 Preseason Associated Press poll saw the Blue Raiders receive one vote, which McCollum was in charge of the linebackers was their first vote in school history while doubling as the special teams coordinator. fense, and No. 12 in rushing defense. With an assistant coach working with wide receiv- In 1993, McCollum joined Chuck Reedy’s McCollum as special teams coordinator that ers, tight ends, and special teams. In 1985, staff at Baylor as linebackers coach and im- same season, the Bears were judged to have MT was ranked No. 1 in I-AA, going 11-0 in mediately earned a reputation as an outstand- the SWC’s top unit after recording eight regular season play. In 1988, McCollum’s Blue ing recruiter and top-flight tactician. In 1995 blocked punts and converting four of those into Raider secondary led the nation in pass de- and 1996, Max Emfinger rated McCollum touchdowns. fense and set three new NCAA records. among the top 10 recruiters in the nation. McCollum, who was named Middle During his time as an assistant at Middle In the spring of 1995, he left for the Uni- Tennessee’s 13th head coach on Dec. 8, 1998, Tennessee, McCollum recruited or coached versity of Tennessee to serve as linebackers got his start in coaching when Donnelly picked the likes of Dwight Stone, Tony Burse, David coach but returned seven weeks later to take up the phone in 1981 and asked him to be a Little, Don Griffin, Vince Hall, Kenny Tippens, over the role of assistant head coach and de- graduate assistant. After just one year as a Marty Carter, Walter Dunson, Steve Dark, and fensive coordinator at Baylor. graduate assistant in which he was head coach Ricky Martin. All of the above are former Blue As defensive coordinator in 1995, the of the junior varsity squad, McCollum was Raider greats who are either playing in the NFL Bears ranked No. 5 nationally in total defense, named full-time in 1982. or did at one time. No. 5 in pass defense, No. 9 in scoring de- From 1981 to 84, McCollum served as McCollum, from Marietta, GA, graduated from Austin Peay in 1981, where he was a four- year letterman as an offensive guard and tight end. He later earned his masters degree from MT in 1983. A four-year starter, McCollum played offensive guard in 1977 and then was a tight end/receiver from 1978-80. As a prep player for Ray Broadaway at Marietta High School, McCollum was a three- year starter at quarterback. As a senior, he earned third team all-state honors and was se- lected Cobb County Player of the Year, North Georgia Athlete of the Year, and Most Valu- able Player at Marietta. In his final year, McCollum led the Blue Devils to a 10-2 record and the region championship.

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