The Southland Conference
Small College Football, Big Dreams
by
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They were not necessarily the biggest, strongest or fastest players. The vast majority were not heavily recruited. Yet, for those involved, the Southland Conference provided an opportunity – and a purpose. One such player was Billy Stewart, a linebacker at Texas-Arlington from the 1960s. “I was a three-year starter in high school,” said Stewart. “I was a good football player, but analyzing my talent, I shouldn’t have gone to the majors or the independents. I would have just been run over or lost. I chose to go to a small college because I felt it fit my talent ability where I could play football, be happy, and get a good education. “We were inundated with people exactly like me that didn’t go major (college) and chose to go to a place where we could play football and have success academically and athletically. In making that choice, our dreams were fulfilled.” The Southland Conference: Small College Football, Big Dreams, chronicles the playing days of Stewart and many others as well as taking a comprehensive historical look at the first fifty years of the league from its inception in 1964.
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About the Book
Did you know? Four future NFL receivers, Roger Carr, Mike Barber, Pat Tilley, and Billy Ryckman were all on Louisiana Tech’s 1973 national championship team. The Independence Bowl was created as a postseason game for the Southland Conference champion. Jacksonville State kicker Ashley Martin kicked three extra points to become the first female to kick an extra point in a NCAA Division I football game in the Gamecocks’ 72-10 win over Cumberland in 2001. Future Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III of Baylor made his first-ever collegiate start as a freshman against Northwestern State in 2008. Future Walter Payton Award winner, quarterback Jeremy Moses of Stephen F. Austin, set a single-game NCAA record by completing 57 of 85 passes for 501 yards in a game against Sam Houston State in 2008. Future NFL defensive backs from Nicholls State, Lardarius Webb and Kareem Moore each returned two interceptions for touchdowns against Northwestern State in 2007. Although Southeastern Louisiana didn’t compete in football in the Southland until 2005, the Lions played a “designated” conference game against Louisiana Tech in 1971. Super Bowl quarterback Stan Humphries of the San Diego Chargers played at Northeast Louisiana. Louisiana Tech, which joined the Southland in 1971, didn’t allow a conference opponent to score a single point in the third quarter until the 1975 season. Diontae Spencer of McNeese State returned two kickoffs and one punt return for a touchdown to tie a FCS single-game record.
About the Author
George Becnel is an award-winning journalist and has been a sports writer and editor for more than 30 years. A co-founder and senior writer for RiverParishFootball.com, Becnel is a former sports editor of The Courier in Houma, La., and has been cited with numerous writing awards, including having been selected “Columnist of the Year.” As sports editor, he guided a Courier sports section that placed among the top three for best sports section in its circulation size, including several first-place finishes. The Southland Conference: Small College Football, Big Dreams, is Becnel’s sixth book. Previous books by Becnel include: The Wildcats: A History of St. James High School Football; The Bulldogs, A History of Lutcher High School Football; The Cardinals: A History of E.D. White Catholic High School Football; Big Boy: The Life and (Often Hilarious) Times of Norman Swanner; and When the Saints Came Marching In: What the New Orleans NFL franchise did wrong (and sometimes right) in its expansion years.