By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
Sept. 18, 2003
The East Central Eagle Club/Alumni District will hold its fall football review meeting from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at the the Crescent City Grill Mahogany Bar.
Representatives from the University of Southern Mississippi will include football legend Reggie Collier, executive director of the Eagle Club Dick Vogel, wide receivers coach Dave Warner and director of athletic department for the Southern Miss Athletic Foundation Leigh Ann Warner.
Leigh Ann Warner will be the primary speaker at the September meeting. She will show drawings and discuss the plans for the renovations of USM's athletic facilities.
The renovation project that was introduced in April include such major projects as the addition of luxury suites and club level seating and press box renovation and expansion at M.M. Roberts Stadium, additional seating and luxury suites at Green Coliseum, construction of a tennis stadium, construction of a facility for the olympic sports programs, completion of the softball complex, lighting for the track/soccer complex and the addition of artificial "field turf" at Roberts Stadium. Other smaller projects also are included in the plans.
Dave Warner will talk about the Golden Eagles' (2-1, 2-0 Conference USA) first three games of the 2003 season.
The receivers coach will also field questions about USM's upcoming contest against Nebraska on Sept. 25.
Collier, who played for the Golden Eagles from 1979-82, will also speak to the group.
The USM Hall of Famer, who came to prominence in the final game of 1979 leading the Eagles to a 14-6 win over Arkansas State, will talk football and sign autographs.
Collier helped guide USM to a No. 20 ranking in the AP Poll in 1980, a season in which the team's opener against the Tulane Green Wave was televised on ABC. Collier led a final-minute drive to set up an Eagles' game-winning field goal.
USM finished the 1980 campaign with an 8-3 record, and the team earned a berth to the Independence Bowl.
In the 1981 season, Collier became the first player in NCAA history to rush for 1,000 yards and pass for 1,000 yards in a single season. He finished the year with 1,005 rushing yards and 1,004 passing yards.
Collier also led the Eagles to 13-all tie against Alabama, and USM finished the season with a 9-1-1 record and a trip to the Tangerine Bowl.
In his final season at USM, Collier guided the Eagles to a 7-4 recorded, which included a 38-29 win over Alabama. He ended his college career with 2,304 rushing yards and 3,662 passing yards.