Jerry Rice: A College Football Legend

Jerry Lee Rice, born on October 13, 1962, is an American former professional football wide receiver celebrated for his remarkable 20-season career in the National Football League (NFL). Before his illustrious NFL career, where he won three Super Bowl titles with the San Francisco 49ers and played with the Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks, Rice established himself as a college football legend at Mississippi Valley State University.

Early Life and High School Years

Jerry Rice Sr. attended B. L. Moor High School in Oktoc, Mississippi. Despite enjoying mock games of basketball and football, Rice did not initially play sports for his high school. He enjoyed playing sandlot football and watching football on television. His mother initially forbade him from joining the school's football team in his freshman year, believing it was "too rough" for him.

During Rice's sophomore year, an incident where the school's assistant principal caught him skipping class led to him sprinting away. Rice played multiple positions in high school, including running back, defensive back, and tight end, but excelled most as a wide receiver. During the offseason before his junior year, he trained for the team by running the several miles back to his home as he did not have a ride. Rice had a breakout junior season, primarily playing wide receiver and defensive back. In his senior year, Rice was a Mississippi All-State selection at wide receiver.

College Career at Mississippi Valley State University

Rice attended Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU) from 1981 to 1984. When Rice arrived at Mississippi Valley State, he attended summer school and freshman orientation before the regular season. Two of his former teammates from B.L. In 1981, Rice's freshman season, he caught 30 passes for 428 yards and two touchdowns.

The "Satellite Express" is Born

In 1982, his sophomore year, Rice played his first season with freshman quarterback Willie Totten. They became friends and practiced into the evening. Under the direction of Cooley, Mississippi Valley State ran an "unusual" offense, playing four wide receivers who tended to line up on one side of the field. Rice caught 66 passes for 1,133 yards and seven touchdowns. Together, Totten and Rice became known as "The Satellite Express." Success on the field did not put any money in his pocket, and many times he relied on friends for food, stating that the food given to him at Mississippi Valley "were not enough for a growing man".

Record-Breaking Seasons

Rice had a record-setting 1983 campaign, including NCAA marks for receptions (102) and receiving yards (1,450). He was named a first-team Division I-AA All-American. He set a single-game NCAA record with 24 receptions against Southern University.

Recognition and Awards

During his college years, Rice became a member of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity and met his future wife Jackie Mitchell at an MVSU basketball game. Rice's record-breaking season at Mississippi Valley State caught the attention of NFL scouts. Sources vary on his 40-yard dash time, which was measured between 4.45 and 4.71 seconds. Both the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers showed interest in him.

1984 Season

Rice finished ninth in the 1984 Heisman Trophy voting as he broke his own Division I-AA records for receptions (103) and receiving yards (1,682). His 27 touchdown receptions that season set the NCAA mark for all divisions. Rice was named the 1984 SWAC Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year for the State of Mississippi.

The "Satellite Express" in Detail

Mississippi Valley State wide receiver Jerry Rice had the kind of hands that could “Catch a BB in the dark,” according to his coach Archie “Gunslinger” Cooley. Rice built strong hands by helping his father, a brick mason, in Crawford, Mississippi. “It made my hands rough, but it made me strong,“ recalled Rice.

With the Delta Devils, Rice and fellow Hall of Fame quarterback Willie Totten created a passing attack known as the “Satellite Express.” MVSU’s pass-happy offense featured unusual formations and a giant offensive line known as the “Ton of Fun.” The team had many nicknames: Rice was known as “World” and he called his receiving corps an unofficial fraternity titled “Phi Lookum Jukum.” In his 1983 junior season, Rice’s 102 catches led the nation as the team led the country by scoring 39 points a game. The numbers increased his senior year as Rice again led in catches, and his 27 touchdowns put him on top in scoring. As a team the Delta Devils led the nation in total offense (640 yards), pass offense (497 yards) and scoring (61 points per game). Rice placed ninth in the Heisman voting despite playing on the I-AA (FCS) level.

Read also: Jerry Robinson: A Bruin Icon

Often double and sometimes triple-teamed, Rice said, “You’ve got to get rid of the first man, run the pattern on the second man, and take the ball away from the third man.” Rice did some of his best work once he caught the ball. “I like to deliver a blow, “ said Rice. “I’m always looking to turn it up field and run over some people.” An assistant coach noted, “He came across the field with so much intensity, guys seem like they are getting out of his way.”

His physical attributes of being 6-3, 200 pounds, blessed with 4.45 speed, jumping ability, strength and toughness enabled him to score 35 touchdowns in his senior year of high school yet he received few scholarship offers.

NFL Draft and Early Career with the 49ers

In the first round of the 1985 NFL draft, Dallas had the No. 17 selection and San Francisco, as Super Bowl champion from the previous season, had the last. 49ers coach Bill Walsh sought Rice after seeing television highlights of his college performances. Walsh "saw the deep-threat the 49ers lacked … a player who could break open a game with one play." The 49ers traded their first, second, and third-round picks for the New England Patriots' first and third-round picks. The 49ers had the No. 16 selection overall and drafted Rice before the Cowboys had a chance. Walsh described Rice as "a swift, smooth player who's got great instincts running with the ball, going to the ball and catching in a crowd."

Rice was selected by the United States Football League (USFL), where the Birmingham Stallions selected him with the No. In July 1985, Rice was one of 21 rookie players who had not yet signed a contract. Rice signed a rookie contract for five years that paid him $377,000 per year. He wrote that during training camp, he was nicknamed "Fifi" because of his haircut, but he was praised by his teammates for his work ethic. It was with the 49ers where Rice switched from his college number, 88 (which was already taken by teammate Freddie Solomon), to his now famous #80 (in honor of his idol, Steve Largent). Rice made his NFL debut in the 49ers' regular season opener against the Minnesota Vikings.

During the 1986 off-season, Rice spent much of his time studying the 49ers playbook. Playing against the Los Angeles Rams, Rice had six receptions for 157 yards and a touchdown in a Week 2 loss. He followed that with a seven reception, 120-yard game against the New Orleans Saints in a 26-17 victory in Week 3. Following a two-touchdown game against the Miami Dolphins in Week 4, Rice had six receptions for 172 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-14 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. In Week 10, against the St.

Dominance in the NFL

Rice's No. In the 1990 season, Rice started all 16 games. In Week 3, against the Atlanta Falcons, he had eight receptions for 171 yards and a touchdown in the 19-13 victory. For his game against the Falcons, he won NFC Offensive Player of the Week. On October 14, in Week 6 against the Falcons, Rice caught a career-best five touchdowns to go with 13 receptions for 225 yards in the 45-35 victory. For the second time and against the same opponent in the 1990 season, Rice won NFC Offensive Player of the Week. On November 4, against the Green Bay Packers, Rice had a six reception, 181-yard performance with a touchdown. In the following game, against the Dallas Cowboys, he had 12 receptions for 147 yards and one touchdown in the 24-6 victory. In three of the last four games of the regular season, Rice went over 100 receiving yards. Rice had a successful year, leading the NFL in receptions (100), receiving yards (1,502), and receiving touchdowns (13), becoming the first player to lead the NFL in all three categories in the Super Bowl era: only Sterling Sharpe (1992), Steve Smith Sr.

During the 1992 season, a quarterback controversy swirled around Montana and Young. While he didn't get along with free agent addition Deion Sanders, he believed Sanders would help in the 49ers' pursuit of the Super Bowl. These assertions were proven correct, as Rice made it back to the Super Bowl with the 49ers in 1994, recording 112 receptions for 1,499 yards and 13 touchdowns, with Sanders winning the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award. The season began against the Los Angeles Raiders, where he had a seven reception, 169-yard game with two touchdowns (rushing for one more), moving into first place in the NFL records for career touchdowns, with 127. On September 18 against the Rams, his 147 receiving yards from 11 catches moved him past Art Monk as the NFLs active leader in that category and past Charlie Joiner for third all-time. In Week 12, in another game against the Rams, he had 16 receptions for 165 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns. For his game against the Rams, he won NFC Offensive Player of the Week. In Week 15 against the Chargers, he had 12 receptions for 144 receiving yards in the 38-15 victory. He passed Largent for second place in the 16th game of the season. Rice was selected to the Pro Bowl and First-team All-Pro teams. With a 13-3 record and making the postseason, the 49ers won against the Bears in the Divisional Round. In the NFC Championship, they faced the Cowboys for the third straight year. After two previous defeats, the 49ers were victorious against the Cowboys 38-28. During the 1995 season, Rice had a record-setting campaign.

Personal Challenges and Continued Success

During the offseason of 1996, Rice and Jackie were expecting their third child, and on May 16, 1996, Jada Rice was born. Minutes after the birth, however, Jackie suffered complications and nearly died from blood loss. She made a recovery after many surgeries. This caused Rice to miss almost all of June mini-camp and one week of training camp; he was supported by his teammates and coaches along the way. Even through these troubles, he was available for the start of the regular season.

Injury and Recovery

Before the 1997 season, Rice signed a seven-year, $32 million contract. During the 49ers' opening game of the season, Rice tore the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his left knee on a reverse. Warren Sapp of the Buccaneers grabbed Rice by the face mask and wrenched him to the ground, drawing a 15-yard personal foul. The injury broke Rice's streak of 189 consecutive games played; throughout high school, college, and the NFL he had never missed a game excluding three strike games. Wanting to make it back in time for the retirement of Montana's jersey number, he made his return 14 weeks later on December 15, much earlier than doctors wanted him to. Rice made a full recovery, coming back in time for the 1998 regular season opener.

Later Years with the 49ers

In Week 4, against the Atlanta Falcons, he had eight receptions for 162 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns in the 31-20 victory. In Week 11, in another game against the Falcons, he had ten receptions for 169 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown. Overall, he recorded 82 catches for 1,157 yards and nine touchdowns, becoming the oldest receiver to record a 1,000-yard season, at age 36, and returned to the Pro Bowl team. San Francisco made the postseason with a 12-4 record. They faced the Packers once again the Wild Card Round. Although Rice only had one catch for six yards in the game, the 49ers defeated the Packers 30-27. San Francisco was defeated in the Divisional Round by the Atlanta Falcons 18-20.

In Week 13 of the 1999 season, Rice had nine receptions for 157 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the 44-30 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. In the 49ers' regular season finale against the Atlanta Falcons, he had six receptions for 143 yards in the 34-29 defeat. Rice finished the 1999 season with 67 receptions for 830 yards and five touchdowns. The season was the first that Rice failed to reach 1,000 yards receiving while playing in all 16 games. In the 2000 season, his final season in San Francisco, he again missed 1,000 receiving yards, with 75 receptions for 805 yards and seven touchdowns.

Move to the Oakland Raiders

With the emergence of Terrell Owens in San Francisco and because of their desire to rebuild the team and clear salary, Rice was released by the 49ers in June 2001 and signed with the Oakland Raiders for a four-year, $7.8 million contract. He joined a Raiders team coming off a loss in the playoffs to form one of the oldest receiver duos with Tim Brown (age 35). During the season, he had an eight reception, 131-yard performance with three touchdowns against the Chargers, and a nine reception, 108-yard performance against the Broncos. Rice caught 83 passes for 1,139 yards and nine touchdowns for the year. Oakland finished the season with a 10-6 record and made the postseason. The Raiders played the New York Jets in the Wild Card Round, winning 38-24, with Rice having nine receptions for 183 yards and a touchdown. In the Divisional Round, the Raiders faced Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

In 2002, Rice caught 92 passes for 1,211 yards and seven touchdowns, while being named to his 13th Pro Bowl team, and to the Second-team All-Pro team. Rice's teammate, Raiders starting quarterback Rich Gannon, was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player for the 2002 season. Against the Tennessee Titans, where Rice had seven receptions for 144 yards and a touchdown, he surpassed Walter Payton as the all-time leader in scrimmage yards, with 21,281 scrimmage yards. He scored his 200th career touchdown against the Broncos. Oakland finished the season with an 11-5 record and made the postseason. They won in the Divisional Round against the Jets, 30-10. Rice had a receiving touchdown in the win. The team won in the AFC Championship against the Tennessee Titans, 41-24, making it to the Super Bowl.

Brief Stint with the Seattle Seahawks

Rice was traded to the Seattle Seahawks six games into the 2004 season in exchange for a seventh round pick and reunited with Seattle head coach Mike Holmgren, who had previously worked with Rice as San Francisco's offensive coordinator. After speaking with Largent, Rice was permitted to wear Largent's retired jersey No. 80. In a Monday Night Football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Ric…

Legacy and Honors

Widely regarded as one of the greatest wide receivers in history on any level, Mississippi Valley State's Jerry Rice joins his former college quarterback Willie Totten as both ends of the famed Delta Devil 'Satellite Express' will now be members of the College Football Hall of Fame. "World" Rice grew up in the small town of Crawford Mississippi and honed his remarkable hands by laying bricks with his father as a boy.

In 20 seasons (1985-2004), he was named to 13 Pro Bowls, won three Super Bowls and broke virtually every receiving record. Perennially among the annual league receiving leaders, Rice led the NFL in receptions two times, receiving yards six times, and touchdown receptions six times.

Rice was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006. Rice was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 2007, and in the same year was inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame.

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