Joe Everyguy's Story of Making It in Division I-A Football (Chapter Two)

Starting his senior season of high school was both exhilarating and melancholy.

Joe knew what a great senior season could do to his chances of landing some top-flight offers, but looking at his buddies, many of whom he'd played ball with since since Pop Warner, he knew that after this season, he'd never play with any of them again.

Mill Creek was not exactly a hotbed of talent, and he doubted that any of his other teammates would play college ball, except for maybe a couple at some Division II schools. 

The prospect of playing 'big time' football, however, made the pain of leaving his buddies behind a little less sad.

Following his first game, he received an offer from Troy State and got his first 'in home' visit'.  The coach that came played up the fact that they often competed with SEC schools and had a program that was on the rise. 

He said his linebacker corps were junior- and senior-laden and that coming to Troy could not only mean a possible starting job quicker and significant playing time earlier than at most schools.

He and his parents listened as he talked about the school's academic program and the convenience of playing in-state, within easy driving distance for his parents.  The coach seemed warm and genuine and he enjoyed how the coach spoke to him as an adult.

He was offered an official visit during his high school's bye week in a few weeks.  He politely thanked the coach for the offer and said he was seriously considering his offer and the visit.

Following the coach's visit, Joe could almost imagine playing for the Trojans.  Many of the points the coach made were good ones, especially how Joe could fit into their plans for quickly developing him for significant playing time. 

He even looked at the roster over the Internet and could see that indeed within a year, he could indeed see himself in the mix for a starting job.  Not that he was conceited, but some of the other players Joe had seen in action, and he was less than impressed with the results.

His third game was a disaster for the team but a bonanza for him.  A couple of costly interceptions and an ill-timed fumble cost his team a win against a division rival. 

Joe, however, registered three sacks, a multitude of tackles, two stops behind the line and a fumble he scooped up and returned 36 yards for a TD to keep his team close in the fourth quarter. The local paper named him the county defensive player of the week.

It also brought him his first SEC offer as Coach Mullen of Mississippi State himself gave him a call and told him he was very interested in him coming to State and how impressed he was seeing the write up in the paper. 

He invited him to come next week to see that Bulldogs play Vanderbilt.

It was a chance to meet coach Mullen in person, meet some of the guys and see a game, coach Mullen explained. 

Mullen also told him that State was building a young team and that he could be part of getting them back into the mix in the SEC race.  Mullen told him that State had a solid reputation for great defenses that attracted pro scouts.  

Mullen reminded him that he could easily get lost in the shuffle of a bigger program but he could really be a key figure at State.  He said he admired his leadership role on that defense as well as his play.  In fact, he said a lot of things that got Joe thinking.

He accepted the visit and was both excited and nervous at the prospect of the trip.  He laughed at himself for almost acting 'girlish' wondering what clothes to take to 'fit in'.  It was to be his first visit and he wanted to both make a good impression and also see what they had to offer.

On Friday, he left school early and drove over to Starkville.  He was going to stay on campus in a dorm room or somewhere.  He wasn't sure where exactly, but was given directions to the athletic offices. 

He was to meet with Coach Mullen after practice, meet the team and be shown around by two of the football players before an early bedtime.

Driving into campus, Joe was taken with the beauty and small town charm of Starkville.  It was not intimidating at all.

Following the map, he quickly found the practice facility and the athletic offices.  He was taken to an office where six other young men were nervously waiting. 

He was told coach Mullen would be there in about 15 minutes and to just introduce himself to 'the guys'.  Most were like him, on their first visit. 

One, Pete Slocomb, from Columbus, Miss., said it was his first and only visit.  He told everyone he was born to play for State and that this was his dream come true.  He was already committed and was obviously trying to get the other five to do likewise. 

His brother, he explained, spent years here under Sylvester Croom and despite the won- loss record said that State had given him a great education and a lifetime of great memories and friends. 

He said his brother explained they were just half a dozen players from turning the corner, and maybe the guys in this room were the ones that could do it. 

Before, there was always a 'sizing up' and some friendly rivalry when guys from other teams were around, but now he only felt friendliness and curiosity.

They talked about what positions they played, where they were from and why they were here.  They all seemed like pretty neat guys.

Before long Coach Mullen entered the room and welcomed them and invited them to come and 'meet the boys'.  Upon entering the locker room someone yelled, "Hey Joe! Joe Everyguy!", and he looked to see a player standing on his locker stool waving.

"Hey everybody, that's the young gun who popped me in the backfield at my own high school homecoming for my only loss that year."  At first Joe didn't recognize him, but the guy followed up by hollering, "You've laid out so many since then, maybe you forgot, but I'm Phil Welbourne from Lindsey. 

"My senior year we played your team for the only time, and the only time I was tackled for a loss was by some skinny freshman who didn't even fill out his jersey."

Everyone laughed. "You filled out a little in three years, I see.  Welcome to Mississippi State!"

This statement was quickly followed by someone introducing each recruit by name with a cute story of some kind.  He immediately felt a kinship and soon they were in the Coach Mullen's office while the players changed clothes.

Coach Mullen and his staff spent a few minutes welcoming them and extolling the virtues of state. 

Coach Mullen said he knows what it takes to become a championship team and recounted the championship seasons he was involved with at Florida and told them that being a championship team involved a group of men all wanting to be champions together.  It is, was and will always be, team first.

He was so intent on listening to Coach Mullen he didn't see the recruit ambassadors who entered the room.  Each pair came up and claimed his recruit.  Joe was glad to see Phil Welbourne grinning as he approached Joe. 

He stuck out his hand and said with a big toothy grin said, "I can't believe they stuck me with the kid that made me look bad all those years ago, so let's go get something to eat and see if I can show you a bad time."

The night that followed was one of the most fun he had ever had, but because it was game night, it was over far too soon. 

As he fell asleep that night he was still remembering all the sights and sounds of campus and all the haunts and fun places he had seen.  He could actually envision himself being a part of this group. 

He hadn't seriously thought about State until now, but they did certainly have more to offer than he initially thought.

In a hard fought game the following day, State beat Vandy in a defensive struggle that was finally decided when Phil Welbourne took a pitch and broke a tackle as he reached the end and streaked the last 26 yards for a 21-17 win.

The recruits were invited into the locker room after the game.  It was certainly a different mood from the prior week when they had been severely slapped by Alabama. 

"Guys, today you beat a bowl team from last year, you've made a statement that the rest of the SEC and nation had better hear.  These dogs can bite!  And they're hungry!  And they're only getting hungrier and their teeth are only getting bigger!  This is a great time to be a Mississippi State Bulldog!" Coach Mullen said.

Caught up in the moment and feeling very much a part of it all, Joe didn't hesitate to bark with the rest of the 'dogs'. 

Before he left on Sunday morning, he was still very much feeling the love as he visited parties and got to know more of the team.  On the ride home, he remembered Phil's last words as he got in his car for the trip home.

"My time here is ending soon Joe, I'd like to know that you're coming in to pick up the mantle and keep what we've got here building.  Coach Mullen's the real deal and he's going to take this team somewhere special, he just needs some special guys to help him and Joe, you're one of them."

The drive home was surprisingly short as he replayed the great moments and sights he had seen. 

"Wow", he thought, "Can it get any better than this?"  He would soon find out as his other visits were to follow.

** End of Chapter Two **

Chapter one can be read at Joe Everyguy's Story of Making It in Division I-A Football