By By Marty Stamper/The Meridian Star
Sept. 28, 2001
When you're in the company of the likes of Brett Favre, Louis Lipps, Sherrod Gideon, Reggie Collier, Sammy Winder, Richard Byrd, and Ray Guy, you're hanging with a pretty elite group.
Consider West Lauderdale assistant football coach Bud Brown a member of that group.
Brown, along with the others will be recognized as members of the University of Southern Mississippi Team of the Century Saturday during ceremonies at the USM-UAB game at M.M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg.
Thirty-six players, representing nearly every era of USM athletic history, are on the exclusive squad. The team was selected by voting through the athletic department web site; in-stadium voting during the USM-East Carolina game on Nov. 24, 2000; voting of a select committee of former players, administrators, and coaches; and by recommendations of former players and coaches.
Brown played for West Kemper High School before going to Hattiesburg to play safety for the USM Golden Eagles from 1980-1983. He was a key factor in the success of the Nasty Bunch defense in the early 1980s, posting a career high 123 tackles in 1983 and finishing his career with seven interceptions and earning All-America honors.
Following his career at USM, Brown went on to play in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins.
Former East Central Community College assistant coach and East Mississippi Community College head coach J.C. Arban was selected to the Special Recognition Team at quarterback, along with former Forest High School standout Todd Pinkston at wide receiver.
Members of the USM Team of the Century on offense are: ends Cliff Coggin and Bob Yencho, guards Amos Fowler and Hamp Cook, center Richard Johnston, tackles Glen Howe and Don Owens, tight end Marvin Harvey, wide receivers Louis Lipps and Sherrod Gideon, quarterbacks Brett Favre and Reggie Collier, left halfbacks Derrick Nix and Bubba Phillips, fullback Bucky McElroy, and right halfback Sammy Winder and Hugh Lauren Pepper.
Members of the defensive team are linemen Jerald Baylis, Richard Byrd, Don Hultz, and P.W. Underwood; ends Adalius Thomas and Fred Cook, linebackers Ronald (Clump) Taylor, Ken Avery, Doug Satcher, and Harold Hays; cornerbacks Patrick Surtain and Hanford Dixon; and safeties Bud Brown and Tommy Walters.
Specialists include: kickoff returner Tony Smith, punt returner James Henry, kicker Steve Clark, and punter Ray Guy.
Marty Stamper is a sports writer for The Meridian Star. Call him at 693-1551 ext. 3234 or e-mail him at mstamper@themeridianstar.com.