Southland’s All-Time 50th Anniversary Football Team Announced
Southland Conference
All-Time Football Teams (PDF)
FRISCO, Texas – The Southland Conference, as part of its year-long 50th Anniversary commemoration, has announced its All-Time Football team, and the squad features many of the finest collegiate and professional to play the game. MidSouth Bank, the official banking partner of the Southland Conference, is the presenting sponsor of the All-Time Team.
A blue-ribbon panel of approximately 50 individuals with coaching, administrative and media expertise in the Southland Conference led the balloting process, and hundreds of fans were also involved in a portion of voting through the league’s Facebook page. The overall balloting included an illustrious group of more than 200 outstanding former and current student-athletes and 15 legendary coaches that have patrolled Southland sidelines.
“We’re very proud of the Southland Conference’s legacy as one of the nation’s finest college football leagues during the past half-century,” Commissioner Tom Burnett said. “The quality of the overall list of nominated student-athletes and coaches throughout our five decades was spectacular by itself, and the final selections truly show the superior quality and competitive success we’ve been very proud of for a long time.”
Split between first and second teams, the overall group of honorees includes student-athletes that accumulated 114 first-team all-Southland Conference honors and 55 first-team All-American accolades. Additionally, All-Time Team members have combined to play 270 NFL seasons, 29 of them were NFL Draft choices, and collectively, All-Time Team members made a total of 16 Super Bowl appearances.
McNeese State, the winner of an all-time best 13 Southland Conference football championships, paced the all-time first-team with seven selections, and added a second-team pick as well. Among the former Cowboys named to the first team were running back Buford Jordan (1980-83), offensive lineman Reggie Nelson (1995-98), placekicker Shonz LaFrenz (1996-99), defensive lineman Kavika Pittman (1993-95), linebacker Terry Irving (1990-93) and defensive backs Zack Bronson (1993-96) and Leonard Smith (1980-82).
Stephen F. Austin, a four-time Southland champion, added four first-time picks, including quarterback Jeremy Moses (2007-10), the Southland’s all-time leading passer (13,401 yards) and 2010 Walter Payton Award recipient. Other Lumberjacks on the first team were linebacker Jeremiah Trotter (1995-97), punter Chad Stanley (1996-98) and return specialist Gralyn Crawford (2009-12).
Former member Louisiana Tech, an eight-time Southland football champion, also had four players selected to the first team, including tight end Mike Barber (1972-75), wide receiver Roger Carr (1971-73), and defensive linemen Fred Dean (1971-74) and Walter Johnson (1983-86). Additionally, former Louisiana Tech head coach Maxie Lambright (1971-78), who led the Bulldogs to three national championships and a pair of Independence Bowl berths, was selected as the All-Time Team’s head coach.
Former member Arkansas State placed three student-athletes on the first team, including offensive linemen Ray Brown (1983-85) and Randy Barnhill (1984-86), and linebacker Bill Bergey (1965-68).
Sam Houston State had two first-team selections, including current running back Timothy Flanders (2010-13), the Southland’s all-time leading rusher (more than 5,300 yards) touchdown producer (67) and points scorer (402). Former Bearkat wideout Matt Dominguez, the Southland’s career reception yardage leader (3,273 yards), was also named to the first squad.
Nicholls State placed a pair of defensive backs on the All-Time first team, including Lardarius Webb (2007-08) and Darryl Pounds (1991-94). Northwestern State offensive lineman Marcus Spears (1991-93), a 1993 Outland Trophy semifinalist, was also named to the All-Time first team, and was joined by Troy defensive lineman Al Lucas (1996-99), the 1999 Buck Buchanan Award recipient. Former member Texas-Arlington was represented on the All-Time first squad by offensive lineman Bruce Collie (1981-84).
The Southland Conference also announced an all-time second team to complement the first-team picks, including Abilene Christian quarterback Jim Lindsey (1967-70), who was joined in the second-team backfield by running backs Claude Mathis of Texas State (1994-97) and Larry Centers of Stephen F. Austin (1987-89). Offensive lineman included Kerry Jenkins of Troy (1995-96), Demetress Bell of Northwestern State (2006-07), Bill Phillips of Arkansas State (1968-71), Mark Cannon of Texas-Arlington (1980-83) and Murphy Yates of Sam Houston State (1988-91). Jackie Harris of Louisiana-Monroe (1986-89) was voted as the second team tight end, and Pat Tilley of Louisiana Tech (1972-75) and Cordell Roberson of Stephen F. Austin (2009-12) were the wide receivers. Louisiana-Lafayette kicker Rafael Septien was also selected.
The second-team defense included linemen Michael Bankston of Sam Houston State (1988-91), Marvin Upshaw of Trinity (1964-67), Bryan Smith of McNeese State (2005-07), and Arkansas State’s Clovis Swinney (1967-69). Linebackers selected were Doug Landry of Louisiana Tech (1982-85), Northwestern State’s Andre Carron (1988-91), and Eugene Seale of Lamar (1983-85). Defensive backs included Texas-Arlington’s Tim McKyer (1982-85), and a trio of Northwestern State Demons, Terrence McGee (1999-02), Mike Green (1997-99) and Jermaine Jones (1995-98). The second-team punter is Texas State’s Cory Elolf (2003-05) and the return specialist is Northwestern State’s Toby Zeigler (2002-05).
FIRST-TEAM PROFILES
QUARTERBACK
Stephen F. Austin’s Jeremy Moses (2007-10) was voted the Southland’s all-time quarterback after he became the league’s first-ever Walter Payton Award recipient in 2010, awarded annually to the best player in NCAA Division I FCS. The Southland’s 2009 Co-Player and 2010 Player of the Year, Moses was also a consensus first-team All-American in 2010, earning spots on the AFCA, AP, Walter Camp and Sports Network squads. He was also the Southland’s 2008, 2009 and 2010 passing leader, and the 2009 and 2010 total offense leader. Moses holds league career marks with 2,034 offensive plays, 13, 401 passing yards, 13,201 yards of total offense, 1,184 passing completions, 1,893 passing attempts, 121 touchdown passes, and holds five other Southland game and season passing records. Entering the 2013 season, Moses still held 10 NCAA FCS national passing records.
RUNNING BACKS
The Southland Conference’s all-time leading rusher, Timothy Flanders (2010-13) of Sam Houston State, was voted as a running back to the All-Time Team. Currently in his senior year, Flanders enters his final regular season game this weekend with staggering numbers, including Southland Conference records in yardage (5,329 through Nov. 16), rushing attempts (935), rushing (63) and total touchdowns (67), and points scored (396). While leading his team to back-to-back NCAA Division I Championship Games in 2011 and 2012, he set a Southland Conference season rushing mark as a sophomore with 1,644 yards, and almost matched it during his junior campaign with 1,642 yards. He also established a Conference season scoring record in 2011 with 144 points. Flanders was an All-America choice as a sophomore and junior, and is a candidate for the 2013 Walter Payton Award, given annually to the best player in the FCS. He was named the 2011 and 2012 Southland Player of the Year, and is also a three-time all-Southland first-team selection.
Also selected to the All-Time Team was McNeese State running back Buford Jordan (1980-83), a three-time all-Southland first-team selection in 1981, 1982 and 1983. He also became the league’s first-ever 4,000-yard rusher, and was the Southland’s 1981 and 1983 season rushing leader. Jordan was selected as the 1980 Freshman of the Year in the Conference, and followed that with the 1981 Offensive Player of the Year. He also was the Southland’s 1981 scoring and all-purpose yardage leader. After initially playing in the USFL, Jordan enjoyed a seven-year career with the NFL’s New Orleans Saints.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Texas-Arlington’s Bruce Collie (1981-84), a three-time all-Southland first-team selection in 1982, 1983 and 1984, was selected as an offensive lineman on the All-Time Team. Collie, who played at both the guard and tackle positions, was a 1984 first-team All-American on the AFCA, AP and Football News squads. He was a fifth-round draft choice of the San Francisco 49ers in 1985, and began an eight-year NFL career with 49ers, where he participated in Super Bowls XXIII and XXIV, and the Philadelphia Eagles.
Northwestern State offensive tackle Marcus Spears (1991-93) also earned a well-deserved spot on the All-Time Team as one of the Southland’s most-decorated players embarking on a 12-year NFL career. In 1993, Spears became only the second FCS (I-AA) player to ever be named to the Football Writers Association of America’s All-America Team, joining receiving great Jerry Rice in that esteemed category. Additionally, Spears was also one of nine Outland Trophy semifinalists in 1993, and earned consensus All-America honors in both his junior and senior seasons. He was a three-time all-Southland first-team selection before becoming a second-round draft choice of the Chicago Bears in 1994. In addition to the Bears, Spears also played for the Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns.
Also selected as an offensive lineman was Reggie Nelson (1995-98) of McNeese State, who earned first-team all-Southland honors as a tackle in 1997 and 1998. A consensus first-team All-American in 1997 (AFCA, Sports Network and Sportsticker) and 1998 (AFCA, AP, Walter Camp, Sports Network), Nelson was a team captain as the Cowboys advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game in 1997. A fifth-round pick of the San Diego Chargers in 1999, Nelson played for two years in the NFL with the Chargers and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Another selection to the all-time offensive line was Arkansas State’s Ray Brown (1983-85), who earned 1985 all-Southland and All-America honors as a tackle before being selected in the eighth round of the 1986 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. That began one of the most remarkable professional careers for an offensive lineman in history, as Brown played for 20 years in the NFL. In addition to the Cardinals, played with the Washington Redskins in two separate terms, the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions. A 2001 Pro Bowl selection, Brown was also a member of Washington’s Super Bowl XXVI championship team.
Randy Barnhill (1984-86) of Arkansas State was also named to the All-Time Team after being named first-team all-Southland as a guard in 1984, 1985 and 1986. He earned first-team All-America status by the AFCA and AP in 1986 while leading ASU to a Southland Conference championship and the NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game.
TIGHT END
Louisiana Tech’s Mike Barber (1972-75) was selected as the All-Time Team’s tight end. After a earning first-team all-Southland and All-America honors in 1974 and 1975, and playing on Tech’s Southland and national championship teams in 1972, 1973 and 1974, Barber was a second-round draft choice of the Houston Oilers in 1976. He went on to star in a 10-year NFL career with the Oilers, Los Angeles Rams and Denver Broncos.
RECEIVERS
Roger Carr (1970-73) of Louisiana Tech was chosen as a receiver on the All-Time Team after being selected as the Southland’s 1972 Offensive Player of the Year, a two-time first-team all-Southland pick, and a 1972 and 1973 first-team All-American by the AFCA and Associated Press. One of only four first-round draft choices from the Southland, Carr was the 24th overall selection of the Baltimore Colts in 1974. He began a 10-year NFL career with the Colts, Seattle Seahawks and San Diego Chargers, and played for the AFC in the 1976 Pro Bowl 1976.
The Southland’s career receiving yardage leader, Sam Houston State’s Matt Dominguez (1997-00) was also selected to the All-Time Team. A 1998, 1999 and 2000 first-team all-Southland pick, Dominguez caught 211 passes for a league-record 3,273 yards. He also caught 27 touchdowns while he was the 1997 Southland Freshman of the Year and the season receiving leader in 1998, 1999 and 2000.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Louisiana Tech’s Fred Dean (1971-74), the first four-time all-Southland first-team player leads the all-time defensive line. The 1972 & 1974 Southland Defensive Player of the Year, and a 1974 first-team All-American (AFCA, AP), Dean was a second round pick of San Diego Chargers in 1975. He embarked on an 11-year NFL career with the Chargers and San Francisco 49ers, earning 1981 NFC Player of the Year honors. Dean was a four-time NFL Pro Bowl selection while also leading the 49ers to wins in Super Bowls XVI and XVIII. In 2008, he became the first former Southland Conference player elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009).
Kavika Pittman (1993-95) of McNeese State was also selected to the All-Time Team after earning first-team all-Southland honors in 1994 and 1995, and he also picked as the 1995 Southland Defensive Player of the Year. He was a consensus 1995 first-team All-American as selected by the AFCA, AP, The Sports Network and Walter Camp. Pittman was a second round draft choice of the Dallas Cowboys in 1996, and went on to play nine years in the NFL with the Cowboys, Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers. He was a member of Carolina’s Super Bowl XXXVIII team.
Al Lucas (1996-99) of Troy was also voted to the All-Time Team, following a senior season in 1999 that saw him win The Sports Network’s Buck Buchanan Award as nation’s top defender. He was an all-Southland first-team selection in 1998 and 1999, and also earned All-American honors both seasons (1998: Football Gazette; 1999: AP, Walter Camp, Football Gazette, The Sports Network). He also played over two seasons with Carolina Panthers.
Louisiana Tech’s Walter Johnson (1983-86) was also selected to the All-Time Team after earning three straight all-Southland first-team mentions in 1984, 1985 and 1986, when he was also tabbed as Defensive Co-Player of the Year. Johnson earned first-team All-America honors in 1984 (AP) and 1986 (AFCA, AP). He was the 1983 Southland Freshman of the Year, and he remains the Southland’s career sacks leader with 38. He also participated in three NFL seasons with the Houston Oilers and New Orleans Saints
LINEBACKERS
Stephen F. Austin’s Jeremiah Trotter (1995-97) leads the group of linebackers voted to the All-Time Team. A first-team all-Southland pick in 1996 and 1997, Trotter was also selected as the 1994 Freshman of the Year. He was tabbed as a first-team All-American in 1996 by the AFCA, Walter Camp and The Sports Network. In 1998, he was a third round draft choice of the Philadelphia Eagles, and went on to an 11-year NFL with the Eagles, Washington Redskins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Trotter participated in Super Bowl XXXIX, and was a four-time Pro Bowl selection during his career.
Bill Bergey (1965-68) of Arkansas State was also selected for the All-Time Team, after earning first-team all-Southland honors in 1967 and 1968. He was also a 1968 first-team All-American as chosen by the AFCA and Associated Press. To this day, he remains the Southland’s single-season leader with 196 tackles (1968). He was a second-round draft choice of the Cincinnati Bengals in 1969, and went on to a 12-year NFL career with the Bengals and Philadelphia Eagles. A five-time Pro Bowler; Bergey also played for Philadelphia’s Super Bowl XV team.
McNeese State’s Terry Irving (1990-93) is the third linebacker chosen on the All-Time after earning first-team all-Southland honors in 1991, 1992 and 1993. He was also a consensus 1992 and 1993 first-team All-American as chosen by the Associated Press, Walter Camp, Kodak and The Sports Network), and was the Southland’s 1993 Defensive Player of the Year. A 1994 fourth Round Pick of Arizona Cardinals, Irving played five years in the NFL, all with Cardinals
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Nicholls State’s Lardarius Webb (2007-08) was selected as a defensive back on the All-Time Team after making the most of a two-year stay with the Colonels. He was selected first-team all-Southland both seasons, and was the 2007 Southland Newcomer of the Year. He was also selected as a first-team All-American in 2007 by Walter Camp, College Sporting News, and The Sports Network, and in 2008 by the AFCA, Associated Press, The Sporting News and The Sports Network. A 2009 third-round draft choice of the Baltimore Ravens, and is currently in his fifth season with the Super Bowl XLVII champions.
Fellow Nicholls State alum Darryl Pounds (1991-94) was also voted to the All-Time Team after earning first-team all-Southland honors in all four years of his career. As a freshman, Pounds was tabbed as the 1991 Southland Defensive Co-Player of the Year, and in 1994, he was selected as a first-team All-American by the Associated Press and Football Gazette. A third-round draft choice of the Washington Redskins in 1995, Pounds went on to play a six-year career with the Redskins and Denver Broncos.
McNeese State’s Zack Bronson (1993-96) is another four-time all-Southland first-teamer selected for the All-Time Team, and was also the Southland’s 1993 Freshman of the Year. Bronson is the Conference career leader in interception return yardage, and was selected as a 1996 first-team All-American by the AFCA, The Sports Network and Walter Camp.
Another McNeese State standout, Leonard Smith (1980-83), was voted to the All-Time Team after a pair of first-team all-Southland campaigns in 1981 and 1982. He was also selected as a 1982 first-team All-American by the AFCA and Associated Press. Smith was selected 17th overall in the 1983 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, the highest pick ever from the Southland (matched in 1989 by NSU’s John Stephens). He went on to a nine-year pro career with the Cardinals and Buffalo Bills, played in Super Bowls XXV and XXVI teams, and earned a 1986 Pro Bowl nod.
SPECIALISTS
McNeese State placekicker Shonz LaFrenz (1996-99) was the choice of voters for the All-Time Team after earning first-team all-Southland honors in 1997, 1998 and 1999. Still the Southland’s career field goal co-leader with 66, LaFrenz was a first-team All-American selection in 1997 (Sportsticker), 1998 (Walter Camp) and 1999 (Walter Camp).
Stephen F. Austin punter Chad Stanley (1996-98) earned the vote to the All-Time Team after a pair of first-team all-Southland seasons in 1997 and 1998. Stanley also earned first-team All-American honors in 1998 by the AFCA, Associated Press, Walter Camp, The Sports Network and USA Today/ESPN. He went on to play eight seasons with the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals and Houston Texans.
Gralyn Crawford (2009-12) of Stephen F. Austin was voted to the All-Time Team as return specialist. A 2010 all-Southland first-team selection, Crawford holds the Southland’s career mark with four returned kickoffs for touchdowns, and his career mark of 25.35 yards per kick return is second best in Conference history. He was a first-team All-American in 2010 (AP, Walter Camp, Sports Network) and 2011 (Sports Network) as a kick returner.
HEAD COACH
Louisiana Tech’s Maxie Lambright, who led his program in the Southland from 1971-78, was selected as the All-Time Head Coach of the 50th Anniversary team. Lambright led Tech to three consecutive national championships from 1972-74, including the first-ever NCAA Division II Championship in 1973, and his Bulldogs also won six Southland championships in his eight years in the Conference. His 73-17-2 (.804) overall record also included a 34-6-1 (.841) mark in league play. He was a four-time Southland Coach of the Year (1971-72-73-77), and his teams participated in seven bowl games, including the 1977 and 1978 Independence Bowls. He coached 56 first-team all-Southland Conference honors from 1971-78, and nine of his players were drafted by NFL teams.
VOTING PANEL: Bob Anderson, Former ULM SID; Walt Anderson, Former SLC Referee; Andrew Bechac, SLU Assoc. AD; Rob Bernardi, Nicholls State AD; Louis Bonnette, Former McNeese SID; Byron Boston, SLC Officiating; Pete Carlon, Former UTA AD; Kemmler Chapple, SLU SID; Clint Conque, Central Arkansas Coach; James Dixon, Lamar SID; Bobby Dower, Lake Charles American Press; Willie Fritz, SHSU Coach; Sam Goodwin, Former NSU Coach; Craig Haley, The Sports Network; J.C. Harper, SFA Coach; Jason Henderson, Lamar AD; Alex Hickey, Lake Charles American Press; Tynes Hildebrand, Former NSU AD; Robert Hill, SFA AD; Calhoun Hipp, Southland staff; Dave Hofferth, KBMT-TV, Beaumont; Doug Ireland, NSU SID; Todd Lamb, Southland staff; Bruce Ludlow, Southland staff; Steve McCarty, Former SFA AD; Tommy McClelland, La. Tech AD; David McCollum, Conway Log Cabin Democrat; Randy McIlvoy, Southland TV; Chris Mycoskie, Southland staff; Patrick Netherton, NSU Radio; Mark Papich, UIW AD; Rick Poulter, Texas State SID; Keith Prince, Former La. Tech SID; Ron Randleman, Former SHSU FB Coach; Teddy Renois, Thibodaux Daily Comet; Paul Ridings, Sam Houston SID; Lyn Rollins, Southland TV; Greg Sankey, Former SLC Commissioner; Vic Shealy, HBU Coach; Charlie Stubbs, Nicholls State Coach; Matt Sullivan, ULL Sports Information; Damon Sunde, SLU Sports Information; Tony Taglavore, NSU Radio; Larry Teis, Texas State AD; Jay Thomas, NSU Coach; Leroy Wilkinson, SHSU Radio; Bobby Williams, Sam Houston AD.