8 hen Mississippi State began its search in October 2003 for the 31st head coach in its long football history, the university sought an enthusiastic teacher with the energy to rebuild the Bulldog football program and an individual with an attention to detail who demands the Wdiscipline needed to bring structure to a vast organi- zation. On all accounts, MSU found its man when it hired Sylvester Croom on Dec. 1, 2003. “Sylvester Croom met all of the criteria we laid forth for the selection of a new head football coach at Mississippi State,” Director of Athletics Larry Templeton said. “We went after the best football coach, and we’re confident we found that individual in Sylvester Croom.” Since his hiring, Croom has undertaken the daunting task of constructing the foundation upon which the Bulldog football program will be rebuilt. There is little question that progress toward that goal has been achieved. In the three years since being named to head MSU’s football fortunes, the traits that made Croom the best coach for State have come to life. Croom 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 estab- lished new offensive and defensive systems, paying particular attention to an attack which mirrored what he taught as a National Football League assistant. And despite 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, a record he has been quick to point out is 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 a field goal each, three of those being SEC contests. The Bulldogs were just one made play away in each of those games from a winning season and a post-season bowl bid. 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 most relevant people in college football for the 2004 season. In so doing, Dodd said: “The State program took on a more organized look the moment he arrived.” Sports Illustrated rated him the 31st most influ- ential minority in all of sports. “In Mississippi and beyond, his impact has already been profound,” SI noted. Just this past February, Croom was invited to the 9 ven before coaching his first football contest on the Starkville campus, Croom was recognized nationally in 2004 for his impact on the college Egame. Dennis Dodd ranked him #2 on CBS Sportsline’s list of the 50 most relevant people in college football for the 2004 season. In so doing, Dodd said: “The State program took on a more organized look the moment he arrived.” posted the most yards on the ground in 17 the NFL overall, and he helped lead the years. His rushers helped Green Bay rank Lions to a postseason playoff berth. Hall of fifth in the National Football Conference in Fame running back Barry Sanders led the that category. As part of that effort, Green NFL in rushing and became just the third earned his second consecutive trip to the player in league history to crack the 2,000- Pro Bowl on the heels of his third-straight yard barrier that year. Wide receivers 1,000-yard season. He ranked fourth in the Herman Moore and Johnnie Morton both NFC in rushing. Additionally, Croom’s work surpassed 1,000 yards receiving, with with undrafted free agent Tony Fisher Moore leading the NFL with 104 catches. furthered his reputation as a successful Detroit became the first organization to White House by President George W. Bush teacher. Fisher’s rushing total was the most have teammates lead the NFL in both to celebrate African-American History by a Green Bay rookie in 16 years. rushing and receiving in the same season. Month. Croom was one of the 200 minority In his first season in Green Bay, Croom Moore and Morton entered the 2003 leaders invited to the program in the East helped the Pack qualify for the postseason season Nos. 7 and 21, respectively, on the Room. The President indicated that Croom for the first time in three years with a 12-4 NFL’s top active receivers list. was not only invited because he was the record. Green Bay defeated San Francisco In 1998, Sanders rushed for nearly 1,500 first African-American head football coach in the NFC Wild Card game, the Packers’ yards, and Morton duplicated the feat of in the SEC, but first postseason win in three seasons. Green more than 1,000 yards receiving in a because “he’s a posted a second-consecutive 1,000-yard season. One year later, Morton and strong leader and season and led the team in receptions for a Germaine Crowell combined for nearly a fine man. And I second-straight year. Green was second in 2,500 yards receiving and tight end David thank you for the NFC in both rushing yards and total Sloan earned a trip to the Pro Bowl with the blazing trails.” yards from scrimmage. Under Croom’s best production by a Lion tight end in 20 Croom came tutelage, Green was named the team’s years. to State from the Most Valuable Player and earned his first of Croom helped lead Detroit to its best NFL’s Green Bay three straight trips to Hawaii’s Pro Bowl. He finish in three seasons during the 2000 Packers, where he was also a second-team, All-Pro selection campaign, narrowly missing a second- served the by the Associated Press. straight, post-season appearance, what previous three would have been the third in his four seasons under then-Packer general seasons in the Motor City. manager/head coach Mike Sherman as the Croom became an in-demand Prior to his tenure with Detroit, Croom team’s running backs coach. He is a veteran speaker at alumni and booster tutored the San Diego Charger running of 30 years in the coaching profession, 17 events because of his forthright backs for five seasons (1992-96). During of which have come at the professional that span, the Chargers twice won level on the offensive side of the football. approach to directing the pigskin American Football Conference Western He spent four years as an NFL offensive program. But his non-stop energy on Division titles and participated in coordinator. postseason play three times. The ‘94 Croom’s Packer running attack ranked the banquet circuit was only Charger team not only won a Western third in the National Football League in exceeded by the fervor with which Division championship, it won a pair of 2003, averaging 160 yards per game. postseason contests and played in Super Under his guidance, Ahman Green he began shaping the Bulldog Bowl XXIX. blossomed into one of the true stars of the football operation. Under Croom’s direction, second-year NFL. He finished second in the league in back Natrone Means set a team rushing rushing in ‘03 and was the fourth most During his three seasons in Green Bay, record in 1994 with 1,350 yards. It was in productive rusher in the NFL over the three the Packers were the second-most San Diego where Croom first joined the seasons in which Croom was his coach. successful NFL franchise, winning nearly 70 staff of head coach Bobby Ross, with whom The natural by-product of Green’s stellar percent of their games over that stretch. he made the move to Detroit. season in 2003 was a third-straight, 12-4 “Sylvester is a great football coach,” “He’s as good a coach as you could ask regular season and a second consecutive Sherman said. “He is a salt-of-the-earth for on the field and in the classroom,” Ross NFC North title. Croom, who had already person who represents everything good.” said. “He is a great communicator with accepted MSU’s head coaching position, Sherman hired Croom on Jan. 30, 2001, coaches and with players. I’ve had some helped the Packers to the second round of and the latter arrived in Green Bay after great coaches work for me like George the NFL playoffs. four seasons as offensive coordinator for O’Leary, Ralph Friedgen and Frank Beamer. In 2002, Green Bay clinched the the Detroit Lions (1997-2000). I put Sylvester Croom in the same category inaugural NFC North championship with a Croom achieved noted success during as those guys.” second-straight 12-4 record. Croom’s backs those four years in charge of the Detroit Croom broke into the NFL as running contributed to a Packers’ rushing effort that attack. His 1997 offense ranked second in backs coach with the Tampa Bay 10 11 Buccaneers in 1987. He worked in Tampa postseason bowl games in for four years (1987-90) before joining the 11 years.